Checkin on our Pro Academies

[Unregistered]

The local clubs (girls) that played in the once top shelf US Club ECNL league of yesteryear produced on field records during that short spell that were even more abysmal then the professional DA teams housed with the MLS Timbers & NWSL Thorns do modern day.

So, it's fair to say they professional DA does a better job at not sucking as the local neighborhood clubs.

Which actually supports the reality that the talent level, level of competition and training is factually better than what our local club fare churns out.

Now that this reality is evidenced can we move on?

That is your yard stick - the pro academy doesn't suck as bad as the local clubs use to? Didn't grade inflation applied to youth academies as well.

If you want folks to move on, maybe you could (i) refrain from the random swipes at local clubs, (ii) build a better academy, or (iii) both.

[Unregistered]

1 decent team out of 9 Does not mean they have a good SYSTEM AND ACADEMY! It just says that they have a year (at the very youngest age group) with some talent that they have not ruined yet. And FYI even though the 06’s are having some success in Seattle they are not one of the “top teams in the country”, northwest sure, one needs to look no further than the results from the so cal showcase in November to show that...

Which result are you referring to specifically?

[Unregistered]

That is your yard stick - the pro academy doesn't suck as bad as the local clubs use to? Didn't grade inflation applied to youth academies as well.

If you want folks to move on, maybe you could (i) refrain from the random swipes at local clubs, (ii) build a better academy, or (iii) both.

Everyone goes on about building better academies and blaming coaches, but the reality is Oregon is limited by the size of its player pool, which is relatively small. Oregon teams typically do fine against teams from Utah and Idaho, but at the highest level, our teams are going to lose to So Cal and Nor Cal teams.

[Unregistered]

Regardless of whether you are affiliated with the Timbers (Timbers Academy, Timbers Affiliate club) or not, I really think most people in Portland/SW Washington metro area agree that the Timbers Academy should be the desired landing spot for the best players in the area. All ***** talking aside, all soccer in Oregon would benefit from TA being the top of the pyramid, and the results reflected by the teams placed on the field.

Yes, 06 is a very good team and indicative of the possibilities when teams are formed without bias, or undue outside influence. Several posters have mentioned that the directors have failed, and I believe that is a valid assessment. Not only because of the records for the teams, but. because of the soccer community's overall view and feeling towards the Academy. Timber's academy needs to set the example and create the culture in this area. If that is the case, then regardless of whether a club is an affiliate club or not, the goal will be to develop, identify and move to Timbers Academy. No question. I really would like to see a change and see TA become what it could....should be. Right now, all things associated with Timbers are negative. From MLS first team down. That is the prevailing opinion, and it is sad.

When it's the only show in town 'Timbers/Thorns' (the best of the best-amateur and pros in PDX) they have no competitor or comparable.

Oregon youth boys club teams have only been nationally relevant a handful of times in the last 25 years.

No coaching or leadership at the Timbers DA can change this reality.

The girls of this state don't even have a pulse at the national level of elite players going on 30 years.

The outcomes on the field for the timbers/thorns DA are expected and predictable when they compete against the nation's elite. Same as it ever was.

Our community of local clubs has no identifiable 'feeling' about the Timbers/Thorns DA program. Please support this bizarre statement with some facts or evidence based on the feelings of 60,000 registered youth players, admin and coaches. Haven't seen any survey's or polls on this 'feeling'.

Record setting sellouts for the Timbers and a multi million dollar stadium expansion to accommodate thousands on a waiting list to attend matches hardly makes it negative.

The Thorns are the Nation's flagship professional club with attendance figures that approach 15 to 20 thousand per match.

Not sure what reality you live in your head. Quite negative it seems and oblivious from the facts.

[Unregistered]

That is your yard stick - the pro academy doesn't suck as bad as the local clubs use to? Didn't grade inflation applied to youth academies as well.

If you want folks to move on, maybe you could (i) refrain from the random swipes at local clubs, (ii) build a better academy, or (iii) both.

Since you understand the Timbers/Thorns DA are better than the club offerings it follows the discussion is over.

How much better? Is strictly driven by the level of talent this area can produce.


Next.

[Unregistered]

Since you understand the Timbers/Thorns DA are better than the club offerings it follows the discussion is over.

How much better? Is strictly driven by the level of talent this area can produce.


Next.

Come on man, I don't hate the Thorns Academy, but it is just another pay-to-play setup run by a local club.

As for Timbers Academy, we can all hope for a better future; maybe they can build off of the 06s!

[Unregistered]

Don't listen to anyone talking about the size of Portland determining exactly how many pro players can or can't be produced, especially in light of what's been built (i.e not built) at TA and local clubs.

There are plenty examples around the globe of small populations churning out outsized proportions of top players. But you actually have to - gasp - work at it.

[Unregistered]

Don't listen to anyone talking about the size of Portland determining exactly how many pro players can or can't be produced, especially in light of what's been built (i.e not built) at TA and local clubs.

There are plenty examples around the globe of small populations churning out outsized proportions of top players. But you actually have to - gasp - work at it.

Don't ever confuse the 'globe's' appetite and love for the world sport of football with a Pacific Northwest region of the United States of America, that's truly disingenuous to anyone with an IQ above 10.

Americans and Oregonians love American Football, Basketball & Baseball so much so that the only regions of this great country that produce elite soccer players regularly are the most populated, that allow a bigger pool of leftovers to pursue and play the sport competitively.

Culture trumps population. We have no Soccer Culture in these backwoods to speak of.

Gasp...Reality.

[Unregistered]

The problem seems to be that a) several clubs (not all) are openly hostile to the Timbers, sometimes for valid reasons and sometimes for not; and b) at least someone at Peregrine seems to think that local clubs ought to be responsible for producing high-level talent that the Timbers then can polish, and that if the Timbers Academy fails to turn out top pros, it's because the local clubs didn't supply them with sufficient incoming talent.

Not a healthy environment. And I'm sure lots of people will agree with both A and B, and insist it's the other side's fault.

[Unregistered]

The problem seems to be that a) several clubs (not all) are openly hostile to the Timbers, sometimes for valid reasons and sometimes for not; and b) at least someone at Peregrine seems to think that local clubs ought to be responsible for producing high-level talent that the Timbers then can polish, and that if the Timbers Academy fails to turn out top pros, it's because the local clubs didn't supply them with sufficient incoming talent.

Not a healthy environment. And I'm sure lots of people will agree with both A and B, and insist it's the other side's fault.

Conversely you would never witness the AJAX club of holland sign a local player to their Academy that couldn't play the game well enough to make the 1st team someday.

I admit it's truly unfair for the Timbers DA to attempt to make a 'pro' out of what comes from the daycare clubs in this area.

The Local clubs are concerned with their overhead and payroll of unemployed guys calling themselves 'paid' coaches. Creating great teams and players is not a calling card of any of this local lot. Jus gettin pd please.

This in not only unhealthy, it's truly sickening.

The knife cuts both ways.

[Unregistered]

Conversely you would never witness the AJAX club of holland sign a local player to their Academy that couldn't play the game well enough to make the 1st team someday.

I admit it's truly unfair for the Timbers DA to attempt to make a 'pro' out of what comes from the daycare clubs in this area.

The Local clubs are concerned with their overhead and payroll of unemployed guys calling themselves 'paid' coaches. Creating great teams and players is not a calling card of any of this local lot. Jus gettin pd please.

This in not only unhealthy, it's truly sickening.

The knife cuts both ways.

Here's an idea:

ODP... should be free. (For the kids). Paid for by Peregrine. If the objection is the local clubs aren't training players adequately (as opposed to there being insufficient talent for coaches to work with), then reducing the cost from $400 or whatever to $0 ought to be a no-brainer. If there are 250 kids in the program, that's $100k, or about the cost of a first-team centerback who can't play defense (https://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/2...evolution.html).

That way, Timbers coaches can get earlier looks at the talent pool, and start their training on the right foot if the local clubs are judged to not be good enough.

[Unregistered]

Here's an idea:

ODP... should be free. (For the kids). Paid for by Peregrine. If the objection is the local clubs aren't training players adequately (as opposed to there being insufficient talent for coaches to work with), then reducing the cost from $400 or whatever to $0 ought to be a no-brainer. If there are 250 kids in the program, that's $100k, or about the cost of a first-team centerback who can't play defense (https://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/2...evolution.html).

That way, Timbers coaches can get earlier looks at the talent pool, and start their training on the right foot if the local clubs are judged to not be good enough.

If the OYSA had not sold their soul to Peregrine, they OYSA could make ODP free.

Contract is almost over and hopefully OYSA gets their act together to serve their membership.

[Unregistered]

Here's an idea:

ODP... should be free. (For the kids). Paid for by Peregrine. If the objection is the local clubs aren't training players adequately (as opposed to there being insufficient talent for coaches to work with), then reducing the cost from $400 or whatever to $0 ought to be a no-brainer. If there are 250 kids in the program, that's $100k, or about the cost of a first-team centerback who can't play defense (https://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/2...evolution.html).

That way, Timbers coaches can get earlier looks at the talent pool, and start their training on the right foot if the local clubs are judged to not be good enough.

Idea #2:

Call the Nike clubs' bluff, and permit OYSA to tear up the league/cup administration contract if it likes. Remove the conflict of interest that comes with running these things, and thus the expectation that all youth clubs be treated equally.

Once that's done, then the Timbers play hardball. Tell the youth clubs--if you play nice with us (meaning have a reasonable curriculum, give us player referrals, and don't stand in the way of players moving up), we'll play nice with you--regardless of Alliance membership or shoe company sponsorship. If you don't--if you try to keep your players out of ODP, or threaten them if they are interested in the Timbers Academy, then we will sh*t all over your club in every way imaginable.

If someone wants to start a rival academy (a real one), great. But clubs who tell whoppers to parents about how their neighborhood nonprofit is all little Johnny or Suzie needs to be a star, and if s/he tries for Timbers and Thorns and fails to make it s/he won't be allowed back, and that their a-hole with a British accent and a C license is all the kids will need, ought to be ashamed of themselves.

[Unregistered]

Americans and Oregonians love American Football, Basketball & Baseball so much so that the only regions of this great country that produce elite soccer players regularly are the most populated, that allow a bigger pool of leftovers

Oh look! An "OUR BEST ATHULEATS" truther in the wild!

I'm with you that OR lacks a soccer culture to speak of, but it's not because of other sports. It's because no one is nurturing a soccer culture here. Lay blame for that wherever you want.

[Unregistered]

Size of player pool is a false argument

Everyone goes on about building better academies and blaming coaches, but the reality is Oregon is limited by the size of its player pool, which is relatively small. Oregon teams typically do fine against teams from Utah and Idaho, but at the highest level, our teams are going to lose to So Cal and Nor Cal teams.

Population of Oregon: 4.191 million
Population of Croatia: 4.154 million (Made the World Cup final 2018)
Population of Iceland: 338 Thousand (Played in the World Cup 2018 Made Qfinal Euro 2016)

Population is not the issue ... it's a combination of a lack of true soccer culture, a pay to play model, a lack of clubs who truly focus on player development, quality coaches who put player development over trophy chasing, etc. .... as many posters have pointed out.

I'm sick of hearing the population argument!

Want to see how it's done? Pick up the Croatian Development Curriculum:

https://development-curriculum.romeo...nt-curriculum/