Timbers academy

[Unregistered]

No it's not. See below. Those kids are on Westside, but there are also kids on FC and Crossfire who will be playing D1 who had no involvement with the academy at all. Last year the best player wasn't even selected for the academy. He only ended up the WCC freshman which of the year. We're all glad you love the academy, but facts are still facts.

Who's the best player you're referring to? Thanks Dad!

[Unregistered]

Walk On's

to D1 Schools are recognized as the barometer of achievement of 'club' teams these days.

Nice.

[Unregistered]

Who's the best player you're referring to? Thanks Dad!

Here's a link. You can read it for yourself. If you think there were academy players better than him last year, that's fine. Most people disagree. Sorry if it hurts your feelings or pride, but it's true.

http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2...aspx?path=msoc

[Unregistered]

I would think the Timbers would be targeting to finish ahead of the non-MLS teams and at least be in the middle of the pack of MLS teams; right now they trail Crossfire and De Anza and trail all of the MLS-affiliated teams. Also, would think they want to show progress and right now they are underperforming what the Timbers did at that age last year (which finished above SJ and Vancouver).

Winning of course is just one criteria - don't know how many of them are on track to play for the first team (or probably a fairer question, what % of them compared to other MLS academy teams are demonstrating that they are on target for 1st team).

Academy players on track to play for any first team is pretty rare. FCD, RBNY, Galaxy, RSL have had few, but there won't be many in any given year. At Timbers, the answer is probably not many, if any, but time will tell and sooner or later there will be a player with what it takes to make it at that level which will be hugely impressive. There just aren't very many players at that level: Barrett, Mwanga, Hurtado, Richards, Evans, Rubin is who I can think of from the past several years off the top of my head that signed pro deals. That's not very many guys considering the number of good players there are out there. It really is a whole different level.

[Unregistered]

With that said

Academy players on track to play for any first team is pretty rare. FCD, RBNY, Galaxy, RSL have had few, but there won't be many in any given year. At Timbers, the answer is probably not many, if any, but time will tell and sooner or later there will be a player with what it takes to make it at that level which will be hugely impressive. There just aren't very many players at that level: Barrett, Mwanga, Hurtado, Richards, Evans, Rubin is who I can think of from the past several years off the top of my head that signed pro deals. That's not very many guys considering the number of good players there are out there. It really is a whole different level.

Only the Westside products Barrett, Mwanga, Hurtado & Rubin are playing for the First teams with their pro clubs.

The Eastside Homegrown fellas are either out of the league (Richards) or have never seen a minute of first team action in the MLS (Evans).

Ty Harden the Junction City product is the only other regular player from Oregon who is getting playing time in the MLS.

It's tough.

[Unregistered]

Only the Westside products Barrett, Mwanga, Hurtado & Rubin are playing for the First teams with their pro clubs.

The Eastside Homegrown fellas are either out of the league (Richards) or have never seen a minute of first team action in the MLS (Evans).

Ty Harden the Junction City product is the only other regular player from Oregon who is getting playing time in the MLS.

It's tough.

Yes it's tough. So...for the majority of players, the goal would be to play in college. You can accomplish this through the Academy or on a good club team.

[Unregistered]

Yes it's tough. So...for the majority of players, the goal would be to play in college. You can accomplish this through the Academy or on a good club team.

The goal for any player should be to play at the highest level where he can actually play. For almost every player that's nowhere near the professional level; so yes, college is a great goal.

There are different college levels too and despite what you read on TS, D1 isn't necessarily better either in terms of soccer quality, or more importantly, fit for a particular player. While it's definitely true that the top D1 programs are better than the other divisions (for example,the UW is better than all the other NW programs), a lot of the rest aren't better than other programs just because they're D1. Even if a program is "better" or a more prestigious conference, from the player perspective, making a D1 roster but never playing is a pretty high price to pay. Most of the kids who are good enough to even get a look at a D1 school are good enough to be important players on either an academy or club team. Going from that, to not playing much, or worse, none at all, is tough.

[Unregistered]

WA Xfire First Team players a REGULAR event

Academy players on track to play for any first team is pretty rare. FCD, RBNY, Galaxy, RSL have had few, but there won't be many in any given year. At Timbers, the answer is probably not many, if any, but time will tell and sooner or later there will be a player with what it takes to make it at that level which will be hugely impressive. There just aren't very many players at that level: Barrett, Mwanga, Hurtado, Richards, Evans, Rubin is who I can think of from the past several years off the top of my head that signed pro deals. That's not very many guys considering the number of good players there are out there. It really is a whole different level.

Look North and you will see what a REAL Academy program can do elevating players into the professional ranks!

[Marbull]

Ty Harden the Junction City product is the only other regular player from Oregon who is getting playing time in the MLS.

Is he the guy that plays backup goalie for the Galaxy ?

[Unregistered]

Look North and you will see what a REAL Academy program can do elevating players into the professional ranks!

That's a good point, although they're Sounders Academy players (Yedlin, Kovar, Okoli) not Crossfire. Same idea.

[Unregistered]

Harden

Is he the guy that plays backup goalie for the Galaxy ?

Is a regular defender this season for San Jose Earthquakes.

Brian Rowe is a former South Eugene HS & UCLA GK who has been a MLS reserve GK.

[Unregistered]

Congrats to the U18s for making the DA playoffs as a wildcard.

[Slow Xavi]

Congrats to the U18s for making the DA playoffs as a wildcard.

Well done boys!

[Unregistered]

Congrats to the U18s for making the DA playoffs as a wildcard.

Awesome! Does this mean the u16s go too?

[Unregistered]

Awesome! Does this mean the u16s go too?

Not the team. There might be one or two who go.