The Revolution Academy needs to make some changes.

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It should also be 1/3 the size it is currently and free to all. I see the benefit in year long training. But the system is made up almost entirely of players who just want to play in college and have no expectations or goals of playing professionally or for the national team. I don't know how to get over the geography issue, but if you really want to see improvements focus on the top talent and let the rest play elsewhere.

A few residential academies would suffice for the best players. Now is US soccer the best judge of the best players? Who knows, but they must get a few right.

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A few residential academies would suffice for the best players. Now is US soccer the best judge of the best players? Who knows, but they must get a few right.

If all the MLS clubs had residential academies and played each other that would be ideal for top player development. Who would pay for it though?

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If all the MLS clubs had residential academies and played each other that would be ideal for top player development. Who would pay for it though?

Well MLS should- but we don't need non-MLS academies or even the same number of MLS academies as there are clubs.

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If all the MLS clubs had residential academies and played each other that would be ideal for top player development. Who would pay for it though?

Very few MLS clubs, and certainly not the Revs, would be willing to spend money to fly teams of teenagers all over the country to play other MLS clubs. People keep bringing up this MLS DA only league, but it will never work due to geography, especially with kids still in school. If you separate out the non-MLS DA teams, they would need to be replaced with other teams to fill out the league (which would obviously need to be stronger competition to make any sense). Perhaps quality college teams could play in their off season, although this probably is not allowed by NCAA.

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Very few MLS clubs, and certainly not the Revs, would be willing to spend money to fly teams of teenagers all over the country to play other MLS clubs. People keep bringing up this MLS DA only league, but it will never work due to geography, especially with kids still in school. If you separate out the non-MLS DA teams, they would need to be replaced with other teams to fill out the league (which would obviously need to be stronger competition to make any sense). Perhaps quality college teams could play in their off season, although this probably is not allowed by NCAA.

Putting money aside (unrealistic I know) an all residential model would be able to coordinate in-house education, travel and practice. It would mean the kid that lives in Wyoming would have equal access to those in Southern California. It would produce way better players but at great cost.

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Very few MLS clubs, and certainly not the Revs, would be willing to spend money to fly teams of teenagers all over the country to play other MLS clubs. People keep bringing up this MLS DA only league, but it will never work due to geography, especially with kids still in school. If you separate out the non-MLS DA teams, they would need to be replaced with other teams to fill out the league (which would obviously need to be stronger competition to make any sense). Perhaps quality college teams could play in their off season, although this probably is not allowed by NCAA.

Son's college team scrimmages a boarding school during preseason so not sure why scrimmaging a MLS academy would not be allowed.

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Talking soccer

Very few MLS clubs, and certainly not the Revs, would be willing to spend money to fly teams of teenagers all over the country to play other MLS clubs. People keep bringing up this MLS DA only league, but it will never work due to geography, especially with kids still in school. If you separate out the non-MLS DA teams, they would need to be replaced with other teams to fill out the league (which would obviously need to be stronger competition to make any sense). Perhaps quality college teams could play in their off season, although this probably is not allowed by NCAA.

quality college team would not be interested in playing against revs u18

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quality college team would not be interested in playing against revs u18

Point taken. Perhaps a not so quality college team, then?

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Putting money aside (unrealistic I know) an all residential model would be able to coordinate in-house education, travel and practice. It would mean the kid that lives in Wyoming would have equal access to those in Southern California. It would produce way better players but at great cost.

It would be the ideal solution but certainly costs the most. Some clubs are starting residential programs but clubs like the Revs would never do it in a million years

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The Revs really favor acquiring players with lots of yellow cards.

It also seems that the photographer for the U17 team must have had the players zapped or something- look at their faces! LOL

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That's an odd thing to say. They kinda were except for one who RR benched. That one doing well in Europe.

Wow - turn to other entertainment for a few days, and this thread rages on....

How do you know they're doing well in Europe? Who are they playing for? I'd love to follow the actual press instead of this site.

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Wow - turn to other entertainment for a few days, and this thread rages on....

How do you know they're doing well in Europe? Who are they playing for? I'd love to follow the actual press instead of this site.

Friend them on FB and you'll see

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Friend them on FB and you'll see

Not until FB has a thumbs-down button.

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Wow - turn to other entertainment for a few days, and this thread rages on....

How do you know they're doing well in Europe? Who are they playing for? I'd love to follow the actual press instead of this site.

The poster would know how they are doing if the poster were their parent. Just sayin.

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Ah he didn't grow. Now what?