Games of the week....

JJP said:
You clearly know a lot about soccer but I think you are placing way too much emphasis on the DA label and style of play, and not enough on talent on the field. Losing 3 top players is a huge loss. Losing a defensive starter to another team and another top winger to injury means that 4 of their starting 11, or 5 of their top 12 has to be replaced. Percentagewise that is a huge loss, nearly 40% of the starters and loss of top offensive reserve.

I'm really not sure what your point is because you make no sense. Saying last year's Strikers was a big fish in a small pond is false. There was no DA League last year, they beat up on GSA, Galaxy and everyone else's academy team and they did it in great style. That was a great team. They were the big fish in the ONLY pond.



I'm sure transitioning to new systems added to Strikers difficulties. But they ran a 4-3-3 last year that was winger oriented and a 4-3-3 this year that involves their center mids more. I don't think the transition from one flavor of 4-3-3 to another flavor of 4-3-3 is that difficult. What made the transition difficult is they added a bunch of players, mainly defenders, that were new to academy several of whom were flight 2 players the year before. The GK and right winger who used to bail them out of trouble are gone. So they are struggling. I know they are still looking for players, and they added to their roster a new defensive player over the break.

Galaxy is a brand new team. Most of their starters are new, or they were rostered with the 03 Galaxy team but played up a year and have now moved back down. You were wrong to say that Galaxy has been successful this season because they were continuously good with the same players, coaches, and systems, and should just admit it.

There is no continuity in this Galaxy team. They recruited top players from a bunch of teams and got a new coach for this new group, and he has them playing more direct. Last year's team actually played more of the passing system you seem to favor.
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We have different perspectives,. Your a OC parent of a player that some connections to those teams.

I have older kids and scout players for certain organizations starting with this age group that have the potential to play at the highest levels. We use a ton of footage & reports for evaluations so I see a lot of players and teams.

What you think you see and what we care about is much different. A players from any team can be a diamond in the ruff, doesn't have to be in the da league but the % of the players in that league that have potential is greater so we spend more time there.

We see continuity when a player has been with a club the previous year or a number of years, if they play up we are more interested. However, also very important to see how these players do when the coach or style changes,. If they regress or don't make progress as a result hard to recommend them because this normally means they will have a difficult time in new environments when the fair weather turns stormy. There are a number of Galaxy players in the mix, some from GSA, and other LA clubs but very few from the OC area. Maybe that will change in the future now that da starts younger and there are more oc clubs.

Yes SCDSL or CSl is a small pond. When you play Dallas cup, internationally or the other top national tournaments how players do at those carry more weight for me.
 
mahrez said:
What you think you see and what we care about is much different. A players from any team can be a diamond in the ruff, doesn't have to be in the da league but the % of the players in that league that have potential is greater so we spend more time there.
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You tell me how Galaxy was continuous from the previous year, and then when I tell you that Galaxy has added new players, changed coaches, and plays in a different style, your reply is "what you think you see."

What did you think you saw when you mistakenly said Galaxy is benefitting from continuing the same systems and coaches and players from the previous year? Because I would really like to know how someone who claims to be a scout and claims to watch a bunch of film doesn't notice a new coach and bunch of new players and a slightly different system of play.

We see continuity when a player has been with a club the previous year or a number of years, if they play up we are more interested. However, also very important to see how these players do when the coach or style changes,. If they regress or don't make progress as a result hard to recommend them because this normally means they will have a difficult time in new environments when the fair weather turns stormy.
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Really? There are a few players who have remained at the top of the age group for a while, but every year most kids I see go up and down. If you really can tell whose going to be a great player at this age, more power to you. Most people I've talked to say they make their best guesses but nobody really knows and they are surprised all the time who emerges as a top player and who doesn't.

Yes SCDSL or CSl is a small pond. When you play Dallas cup, internationally or the other top national tournaments how players do at those carry more weight for me.
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You can scout where you want or ignore SCDSL, CSL, Orange County players I could care less. I'm just pointing out to you that the teams you idolize, the LA players in Galaxy and Golden State, got their asses kicked last year in CSL/SCDSL by the Orange County players on the Strikers.
 
JJP said:
You tell me how Galaxy was continuous from the previous year, and then when I tell you that Galaxy has added new players, changed coaches, and plays in a different style, your reply is "what you think you see."

What did you think you saw when you mistakenly said Galaxy is benefitting from continuing the same systems and coaches and players from the previous year? Because I would really like to know how someone who claims to be a scout and claims to watch a bunch of film doesn't notice a new coach and bunch of new players and a slightly different system of play.



Really? There are a few players who have remained at the top of the age group for a while, but every year most kids I see go up and down. If you really can tell whose going to be a great player at this age, more power to you. Most people I've talked to say they make their best guesses but nobody really knows and they are surprised all the time who emerges as a top player and who doesn't.



You can scout where you want or ignore SCDSL, CSL, Orange County players I could care less. I'm just pointing out to you that the teams you idolize, the LA players in Galaxy and Golden State, got their asses kicked last year in CSL/SCDSL by the Orange County players on the Strikers.
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Your a parent who doesn't listen very well so let's take the blinkers off:

#20, #18, #9, #8 #43, #11, #15,#1, #7,#13. Are all continuous Galaxy players. If you know so much please tell us all how long these players have been with the Galaxy? Or are which ones have been called into the YNT camps.

At the same time list what your team has in comparison this year.

The Galaxy academy system doesn't change according to a coach. The training and system is consistent throughout the ages.

I don't know what your agenda is and I don't idolize any youth teams. What happen years ago to some players on different teams is no concern of mine. All that matters is what there doing now.

What few players are you talking about? Put up numbers and teams and we can talk.
 
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JJP said:
Don't know much about Real SoCal, but last year's Strikers beat last year's GSA and everyone else en route to tearing their way to State Cup. This year's Strikers lost their right winger (who was their best offensive player), their best center mid, and top notch GK due to the age change, they were moved to 02 academy team. They also lost quality defensive player and their replacement right winger, whose a very skilled and fast player, is recovering from a serious injury and has not been in top shape or form.
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That there is significant actually. If by comparison then GSA has for the most part remained and 03 team even before the new age matrix came into effect. Strikers 02 would have the slight advantage since their best players were playing against a year younger.
 
mahrez said:
Your a parent who doesn't listen very well so let's take the blinkers off:
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And who are you? Some guy who borrows the name of a Leicester City premier league player and then says he is a scout.

You want to take the blinkers off, then let's do it. Say who you are and who you work for and what analysis you do and what reports you write up.

#20, #18, #9, #8 #43, #11, #15,#1, #7,#13. Are all continuous Galaxy players. If you know so much please tell us all how long these players have been with the Galaxy? Or are which ones have been called into the YNT camps.
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Why are you even bringing up youth NT camps? That has nothing to do with anything we've discussed.

You've listed 10 players. Galaxy lists 21 players on their roster and I've heard, although I don't know, they actually have 24. That's a minimum of 11 new players and possibly up to 14. How is it even possible to say that a team with a minimum of 11 new players is continuous from last year? It's mind boggling that I actually have to discuss this with you.

Of the 10 players you mentioned #20 and #8 have been with Galaxy practically since the folding of Cosmos, and never played with the Galaxy 03 team when my son's team played them. I believe, though I cannot say with 100% certainty because I don't really care, that #20 and #8 played all their games with the 02 team last year. I know #20 is now playing with the 03s. I've heard that #8 plays occasionally with the 03s as well. As far as I'm concerned, #20 and #8 are new additions to the 03 team because they are now actually playing with the 03s. By my count, that is 13 new additions. If you want to take #8 and #20 off the list because they have actually played with the 03s last year, or you think just being rostered with the 03s is sufficient even if they don't play with them, it's still 11 new additions to a team. That is not a continuous team.

I'm not going to waste time discussing individual Galaxy players. There is no issue with any of the Galaxy players, they are all fantastic and frankly, IMO, a lot more of them should have been called up and named to the youth NT.

The issue is that you WRONGLY stated that Galaxy is doing great this year because their team was continuous from last year. You are completely wrong. Any team that plays 11-13 new players is NOT, under any circumstance, a continuous team. Galaxy is doing great this year because they added a lot of great players, 11 completely new ones and 2 who were playing up, to a core that was already very good.

At the same time list what your team has in comparison this year.
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What are you rambling about. I never compared my son's team to anyone. Stay on the subject.

The Galaxy academy system doesn't change according to a coach. The training and system is consistent throughout the ages.
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I can't believe I'm reading this. So changing coaches doesn't mean anything? The hiring of Brien Kleiban and the implementation of his philosophy has not had any impact on the Galaxy Academy? Because that's essentially what you are saying, that at Galaxy they run the same system and play the same way regardless of who coaches.

Let me just say I respectfully disagree with you. I think there are differences in coaches, I think those differences actually matter, and I think those differences will cause changes in playing styles.
 
JJP said:
And who are you? Some guy who borrows the name of a Leicester City premier league player and then says he is a scout.

You want to take the blinkers off, then let's do it. Say who you are and who you work for and what analysis you do and what reports you write up.



Why are you even bringing up youth NT camps? That has nothing to do with anything we've discussed.

You've listed 10 players. Galaxy lists 21 players on their roster and I've heard, although I don't know, they actually have 24. That's a minimum of 11 new players and possibly up to 14. How is it even possible to say that a team with a minimum of 11 new players is continuous from last year? It's mind boggling that I actually have to discuss this with you.

Of the 10 players you mentioned #20 and #8 have been with Galaxy practically since the folding of Cosmos, and never played with the Galaxy 03 team when my son's team played them. I believe, though I cannot say with 100% certainty because I don't really care, that #20 and #8 played all their games with the 02 team last year. I know #20 is now playing with the 03s. I've heard that #8 plays occasionally with the 03s as well. As far as I'm concerned, #20 and #8 are new additions to the 03 team because they are now actually playing with the 03s. By my count, that is 13 new additions. If you want to take #8 and #20 off the list because they have actually played with the 03s last year, or you think just being rostered with the 03s is sufficient even if they don't play with them, it's still 11 new additions to a team. That is not a continuous team.

I'm not going to waste time discussing individual Galaxy players. There is no issue with any of the Galaxy players, they are all fantastic and frankly, IMO, a lot more of them should have been called up and named to the youth NT.

The issue is that you WRONGLY stated that Galaxy is doing great this year because their team was continuous from last year. You are completely wrong. Any team that plays 11-13 new players is NOT, under any circumstance, a continuous team. Galaxy is doing great this year because they added a lot of great players, 11 completely new ones and 2 who were playing up, to a core that was already very good.


What are you rambling about. I never compared my son's team to anyone. Stay on the subject.


I can't believe I'm reading this. So changing coaches doesn't mean anything? The hiring of Brien Kleiban and the implementation of his philosophy has not had any impact on the Galaxy Academy? Because that's essentially what you are saying, that at Galaxy they run the same system and play the same way regardless of who coaches.

Let me just say I respectfully disagree with you. I think there are differences in coaches, I think those differences actually matter, and I think those differences will cause changes in playing styles.
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Look at my avatar and yes that one of orgs I scoct
JJP said:
And who are you? Some guy who borrows the name of a Leicester City premier league player and then says he is a scout.

You want to take the blinkers off, then let's do it. Say who you are and who you work for and what analysis you do and what reports you write up.



Mahrez is a player that was in my home club QKFC as a youth. My avatar is one of the places I scout for.

Now whats your deal again? You want to take the blinkers off but not reveal your indenity, what club you son plays but want everybody else to do so. So what is a jjp? and what is your inlovement in what club again?

BK has been there for two years since I arrived in the States and I don't think he's changed much or the training or system they run. Unless I hear or see different that's the way things are.

You seem to be arguing with your self about trifling stuff, never said continuity is the only factor rather it does help when players already are filmiar with the style and system you are trying to play. If 10 or 11 players already know this makes teaching the others easier. That's it nothing else. That team has done good so far due to a combination of many things and not just by recruiting new players as you claim.

What's your agenda again and why do you almost always post about the Strikers or Slammer's and can't take any feedback in a construction manner?

We all want players to succeed so if they are invited to a YNT session or get a call up to camp should'nt we be happy for them and give them some recogniziton?

I have nothing to argue with you about, if you make it out to Dallas cup ping me and we can get a aperitif and talk more.
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Listen Mahrez. I'm not here to do internet wars or unmaskings. You are the one who said let's take the blinkers off, not me. If you don't want to that's fine by me.

You are clearly new to this age group and doing your scouting now. My son has played in this age group for years and has played with or against most of the older top players in this age group, i.e. the portion of this age group whose birthdays fall from 1/03 to 8/03. I'm still learning the kids whose birthdays fall from 8/03 to 12/03 because this is the first season I have actually seen them play.

Read your posts. You said Strikers are not doing well now because they are a big fish in a little pond. You said Strikers are struggling because they are learning a new passing system. You set forth Galaxy and GSA as teams doing well this year because of the continuity of their systems and players and coaches.

What you said is arguably true about GSA. They have the same coach, they run the same system, most of the players are the same. They did lose 3 of their best players to Galaxy, so IMO it's really not the same team, but it's close enough I won't argue the point.

What you said about Strikers is just completely wrong. There are reasons why the Strikers aren't as good this year, but it's not for the reasons you stated. Big fish, little pond argument does not apply to the Strikers. DA is new to 2016-17. In 2015-16, every top team was in SCDSL or CSL. Galaxy academy or pre-academy was in SCDSL along with Strikers, GSA was in CSL. I actually don't remember if Strikers won SCDSL that year, but it was obvious to everyone by the end of 2015 that the Strikers were the team to beat in SCDSL. That Strikers team wiped out everyone in 2015-16 National Cup. Their 02 RW simply destroyed everyone, nobody had an answer for that kid, and their LW was almost as good.

Every DA team was in the National Cup tournament for 2015-16 and every top non-DA team was also in that tournament. That tournament was the big pond, and that 2015-16 Strikers team was without a doubt the biggest fish in that pond. In 2016-17, the Strikers moved to DA League, which is now the new big pond in SoCal. When you say Strikers were the big fish in a little pond and now they are a little fish in a big pond, it's simply not true. They were always in the SoCal big pond. They were never in the little pond for SoCal.

You then said Galaxy is doing great this year because it's continuing from last year's team, that's just not true. Galaxy in 2015-16 was not a great team. They did not win league, they lost to a lot of different flight 1 teams, they did not make an impact in National Cup. My recollection of that Galaxy 2015-26 team was that it was filled with a lot of skilled, little players who had good, but not great speed. That Galaxy team was completely dependent on favorable reffing to survive against the top teams who could physically and tactically break them down. I saw that Galaxy team play many times and watched them get taken apart by several flight 1 teams and it would have been worse but they got some real friendly officiating.

For you to say that Galaxy is great this year because they followed the academy recommended 4-3-3 system and Strikers are struggling this year because they switched over to the academy style 4-3-3 and are learning it . . . I'm sorry it's just a completely absurd thing to say.

The Galaxy team has been completely revamped. They added a lot of new players from other teams and had top 03 players that were playing up move back to the 03 team. Adding up to 13 top players is a huge personnel addition the impact of which is so huge it's the only explanation for why Galaxy is doing so well this year compared to last year.

The Strikers team is worse this year because they lost several dominant players including 02s that were physically dominating 03s. You say you are a scout. Why are you scouting? I'm guessing it's to find top players, because adding great players makes a difference.

I don't understand why a scout would discount the impact that adding or losing top players has on a team, and focus on systems or big fish, little pond paradigms that don't even apply.
 
JJP said:
Listen Mahrez. I'm not here to do internet wars or unmaskings. You are the one who said let's take the blinkers off, not me. If you don't want to that's fine by me.

You are clearly new to this age group and doing your scouting now. My son has played in this age group for years and has played with or against most of the older top players in this age group, i.e. the portion of this age group whose birthdays fall from 1/03 to 8/03. I'm still learning the kids whose birthdays fall from 8/03 to 12/03 because this is the first season I have actually seen them play.

Read your posts. You said Strikers are not doing well now because they are a big fish in a little pond. You said Strikers are struggling because they are learning a new passing system. You set forth Galaxy and GSA as teams doing well this year because of the continuity of their systems and players and coaches.

What you said is arguably true about GSA. They have the same coach, they run the same system, most of the players are the same. They did lose 3 of their best players to Galaxy, so IMO it's really not the same team, but it's close enough I won't argue the point.

What you said about Strikers is just completely wrong. There are reasons why the Strikers aren't as good this year, but it's not for the reasons you stated. Big fish, little pond argument does not apply to the Strikers. DA is new to 2016-17. In 2015-16, every top team was in SCDSL or CSL. Galaxy academy or pre-academy was in SCDSL along with Strikers, GSA was in CSL. I actually don't remember if Strikers won SCDSL that year, but it was obvious to everyone by the end of 2015 that the Strikers were the team to beat in SCDSL. That Strikers team wiped out everyone in 2015-16 National Cup. Their 02 RW simply destroyed everyone, nobody had an answer for that kid, and their LW was almost as good.

Every DA team was in the National Cup tournament for 2015-16 and every top non-DA team was also in that tournament. That tournament was the big pond, and that 2015-16 Strikers team was without a doubt the biggest fish in that pond. In 2016-17, the Strikers moved to DA League, which is now the new big pond in SoCal. When you say Strikers were the big fish in a little pond and now they are a little fish in a big pond, it's simply not true. They were always in the SoCal big pond. They were never in the little pond for SoCal.

You then said Galaxy is doing great this year because it's continuing from last year's team, that's just not true. Galaxy in 2015-16 was not a great team. They did not win league, they lost to a lot of different flight 1 teams, they did not make an impact in National Cup. My recollection of that Galaxy 2015-26 team was that it was filled with a lot of skilled, little players who had good, but not great speed. That Galaxy team was completely dependent on favorable reffing to survive against the top teams who could physically and tactically break them down. I saw that Galaxy team play many times and watched them get taken apart by several flight 1 teams and it would have been worse but they got some real friendly officiating.

For you to say that Galaxy is great this year because they followed the academy recommended 4-3-3 system and Strikers are struggling this year because they switched over to the academy style 4-3-3 and are learning it . . . I'm sorry it's just a completely absurd thing to say.

The Galaxy team has been completely revamped. They added a lot of new players from other teams and had top 03 players that were playing up move back to the 03 team. Adding up to 13 top players is a huge personnel addition the impact of which is so huge it's the only explanation for why Galaxy is doing so well this year compared to last year.

The Strikers team is worse this year because they lost several dominant players including 02s that were physically dominating 03s. You say you are a scout. Why are you scouting? I'm guessing it's to find top players, because adding great players makes a difference.

I don't understand why a scout would discount the impact that adding or losing top players has on a team, and focus on systems or big fish, little pond paradigms that don't even apply.
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I reread just in case, but no I didn't say or post what your arguing to yourself about

This is all I posted and you blow it up with all these tangents

"GSA, Galaxy and some of the other teams or players don't have to relearn, adapt to a new coach, or style of play because they have been doing this all along"

I don't consider any of these teams great, some are doing better than others and that's about it. Kids are a work in progress at this age but and the same time by U15 you can usually tell which ones might have a future playing in the bigger lakes outside their local league(s). In the MX league players this age are already on 3rd division teams or academies if they show the potential.

All teams lose or add players ever year in DA, that's they way things go. GSA lost some, Galaxy added some, other teams like the LA united one one started from scratch. All the teams arrived in the DA differently and where all new this season.

When there is a team with 11 returning players that competed for a usys championship the previous year and now they are in the bottom half of the table, one begins to wonder why? Excuses about losing players or injuries for the reason why they don't t move the ball around or play out the back well really don't cut it. There has to be something else

I have no idea if you have any soccer background other than being a parent that keeps tabs on kids which is kind of creepy but lets put us these videos and you can give your expert opinion on what you see:

This is the Strikers 02/03' that you like to boast about "kicking ass" as you posted:

GSA ussda u13

Galaxy ussda u13

Besides keepers having a good or bad day what's the difference in the teams or players seen in these videos?
 
My buddy said likely 2 guest players with both wanting to sign but Cup tied for nationals. This team will be the elite CDA team for the U15 age group. They will take the top players from the CDA clubs to form this top team.
 
galaxydad said:
My buddy said likely 2 guest players with both wanting to sign but Cup tied for nationals. This team will be the elite CDA team for the U15 age group. They will take the top players from the CDA clubs to form this top team.
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So they applied for the u15 age group for Dallas cup which is for 02's? What was the team name?

For u14s/03's there was only two teams from SC that were on the early acceptance list and there both from the DA league.
 
galaxydad said:
My buddy said likely 2 guest players with both wanting to sign but Cup tied for nationals. This team will be the elite CDA team for the U15 age group. They will take the top players from the CDA clubs to form this top team.
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is it going be the LAFC academy team?
 
mahrez said:
So they applied for the u15 age group for Dallas cup which is for 02's? What was the team name?

For u14s/03's there was only two teams from SC that were on the early acceptance list and there both from the DA league.
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Not sure but know they have been accepted and will be attending and playing in the 03s.
 
mahrez said:
So losing's 3 players is a lot of talent but they retained what 11? Stretching a bit or maybe to much realiance on too few players? Again a perfect example of the bigger fish in the small pond. When things changed what happen? Oh I know let's see if we can "re- learn" to move the ball around now, text book example.
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What's your explanation for big fish small pond? Strikers Galaxy and GSA have been swimming in the same pond for years. I like how you ignore most of the nonsense you posted.

If you want to discount the loss or addition of strong players as to why teams are doing worse or better, that's up to you. I disagree. Both Strikers and Galaxy lost a lot of players and added new players. The players the Strikers added were nowhere near as good as the players Galaxy added. The key players the Strikers lost were their best players. The players Galaxy lost were replaced by much better players.

In case you didn't know, usually good players are better at moving the ball around.

I'm not saying coaching or system of play is unimportant. I'm just amazed that you discount the impact of talent, and yet you call yourself a scout. Your whole job is to find talent. From what you posted, you focus on kids that are playing well on teams that run academy systems. That is the easiest, no value added scouting there is, because you have to do zero projection.

I'm not sure what you are trying to imply when you find it weird that I know who most of the top players are. My son started playing CSL at age 8, he is now 13. He has played with or against all the top players for 7 years now. All I have to do to know who the best players are is attend my son's games. If your kid plays on top teams, various tournament teams, Mexican league teams, futsal league teams, for 7 years you will know who all the good players are.

Finally, I got to ask. Who is grdusty? You have a guy following you around these boards with 0 postings, liking all your posts, and disliking the posts of anyone who disagrees with you. Weird.
 
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