2017 Preseason Thread
- Thread starter NYCFC_Dan
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And that answers our starting CDM question. Right folks???
Always want to be with older/better competition. He may struggle to get minutes with NYCFC, but the techniques he'll learn from more skilled players during practices is a ton more than he'd learn from fellow teenagers at IMG. And if he gets minutes, then the games will present situations he won't experience in practice, so it's constantly a win/win for him.
That makes sense. My understanding is that IMG is the closest thing we have to a La Mesia in this country.
I would also think that it is imperative that he get game time somewhere too, no?
I have never coached soccer, but there are a few things that hold true across sports and talent levels.
Its easier to get better if you're playing with people who are better than you. Sands will have to up his game to compete against people like Villa in training. In IMG he is probably one of their best players, whereas here he goes against genuinely good players. Sands' will get better, faster, training with the first team.
While the IMG coaches are good at their craft, we have a professional coaching staff that is light years ahead of what is going to be available to a glorified youth academy. Every single one of those academy coaches would leap at a MLS coaching gig. Everything is at a higher level, and more importantly its more personalized to the athlete.
If the FO signs Sands to a deal to stay with the first team its because they think that the best ROI possible on one of our limited first team slots is a 16 year old kid. That says a lot about the kid's potential.
Maybe he's this year's Shannon Gomez (without the injury). Won't be on the 18 but he'll train everyday with the first team, play in Cup competitions. Gain experience and work for first time minutes in the future?
Sounds like a pretty accurate read of the situation to me, except Gomez was 19 when he signed that deal and I believe he takes an international spot. Whereas Sands is 16 and domestic.
Though Gomez always sounded like transfer bait to me, hes regularly capped for his international team and from a country with a very low GDP/c. Sounds perfect for Greek/Croatian/Turkish league to me.
If he makes the team, he's definitely starting in the Cup games (yes plural) and I'd be surprised if he didn't get time in MLS matches, as either the extra DMid or CB at the end of games to close it out.
If we're really lucky, he's actually a wunderkid that can start matches and hold his own against grown men. [but not holding my breath]
Gomez doesn't count as an international.
Definitely best for him not to be coached by Richie.
That won't happen.
And I just realized Ulrich told you why. You don't bring up a kid and never give them a game. Unless you're a real asshole of an organization who doesn't want to sign a lot of talented youngsters.
ZYanksRule
Registered
I wrote it in the schedule threat, but I guess it makes sense here, too -- according to NYCFC.com YES is televising the preseason games on the 15th and 18th.
dannd23
Registered
Sign Sands, let him train with the big boys, occasionally make a bench if he warrants it, and play games with our newly formed U19s. If he is this good at this age, he's likely to be highly sought after by teams in Europe once he turns 18 and can get a WP in the EU. Even if doesn't play for us, might as well benefit from that potential decent transfer fee.
Is that where he landed? Yikes
Richie Williams is the coach at residency program for U17. We're you thinking of something else? Certainly possible that there are worse Richies out there coaching.
ETA: my bad. Hackworth is the coach for u17. I don't think that's particularly better, though. And either way, we don't want him playing for Richie.
There are two different soccer programs at IMG. There's the IMG Academy which is essentially a high school of aspiring professional athletes, and there's the USSF residency program. They use the IMG facilities, but not the same team.
I don't know if our twins are part of the Academy or Residency program.
Link to USSF residency program: http://www.ussoccer.com/us-under17-mens-national-team/residency
This is the link to the IMG Academy program/staff: https://www.imgacademy.com/sports/boys-soccer
I figured Richie lost his job and was now at IMG. Sounds like there is a difference between the residency program and IMG though
Looks like academy. Still, I stand by the overall position (as you seem to, as well) that he's better off training with our first team and getting in a game or two when possible if he's even close to ready. We can always go and let him play games for his DA club on a semi-regular basis.
Personally, I think one of the issues that has held back youth development in MLS and in the US is the lack of kids given real training time with top level squads. I'd love to see that resolved and the residency program disbanded.
