Soccerinsanity, I'm pretty sure your talking about my DS's PreA team, and it seems you may not know about our scrimmage against our club's Classic League D1 team. While they are undoubtedly a strong team with several excellent players they were not, infact, able to beat or even score against the PreA team. That's not a diss; afterall, our PA team is composed primarily of players who played 98 last year. At this age, a year, even 6 months, can make a huge difference in size and speed, and for that fact alone I think the two leagues provide all our playes wtih the best opportunities. A great smaller player may get more playing time on a D1 right now and in a few years, when the sizes level off, he might just be kicking ass on those who are in PreA now; but for those like my DS who because of size was actually asked last year by his 99 coach "to hold back" in practices, PreA is where he needs to be, right now.

He told me he "had forgotten how fun soccer could be." Isn't that what its all about? Whatever works for the kid- that's the best league for him, and that's why having both leagues is such a great thing for all our N Tx. players. We don't have to hold hands and sing Kum Ba Ya, but why can't we just support each other instead of trying to tear down one leaugue or the other?

Would you care to name your club and I'll confirm for you?

I'm not trying to tear down the league.

The discussion is about whether the PA kids are better soccer players. In one club's case, I was told by our coach that the club's plan was to pack their stables by recruiting from the other clubs because their good guys already had d1 spots so they were not moving many of them up. Thus, it wasn't about moving their own great kids up, it was about collecting more great kids = strong PA and d1 team.

....Not a thing derogatory about the PA league!?!

I am curious too MammaBear - if you are where I think you are - all of your PA teams are very quality, well-coached squads - but your comments about playing your Classic 1 team are not quite true as my BB have played the PA a few times and their team has yet to give up a goal in those games.

Momma, a bird doesn't sing because it has an answer..........


The 98 FCD Gentile team plays the 98 FCD Pre-A team in a real game scenario and the CL team wins every time. Scrimmaging and winning against teams that wouldn't finish top 5 in 99 CL is always fun, let us see how it goes down the road.

Ratfink-Tx Hunter- I was referring to 99D1 against 98preA. Sorry to be confusing- I thought I was on a 99 thread, but I agree that a 98 D1 could be a serious challenge for PreA team particularly if it has a lot of players who played 99 last year. Its those different match ups that , to me, makes the new league an exciting addition- more steps on the ladder, more places for every player to find where he fits best, more chances for US soccer to advance. Infact, inter league freindlies could be a great testing place where winning wouldn't affect standings and therefore we might see a different style of play.

So where's the "tearing down the league" Mamma? You seem to be backtracking when the Rat and the Hunter backed me up?

Im so confused?

Mamma bear is alittle gung ho cause her DS got a few Ball hairs at an early age . Coach said tone it down ? Ur dreamin.
I have yet to see a d-1 99 be scared of another player . Are you confusing this with a rec (acid) flash back . Look I'm glad ur DS has matured .That means when he's 35 he'll look 45 . If you don't have more than one bull rider in the rodeo then every one is your first . Hit the Ganja and chill , it's a long road..

MammaBear wrote: Soccerinsanity, I'm pretty sure your talking about my DS's PreA team, and it seems you may not know about our scrimmage against our club's Classic League D1 team. While they are undoubtedly a strong team with several excellent players they were not, infact, able to beat or even score against the PreA team. That's not a diss; afterall, our PA team is composed primarily of players who played 98 last year. At this age, a year, even 6 months, can make a huge difference in size and speed, and for that fact alone I think the two leagues provide all our playes wtih the best opportunities. A great smaller player may get more playing time on a D1 right now and in a few years, when the sizes level off, he might just be kicking ass on those who are in PreA now; but for those like my DS who because of size was actually asked last year by his 99 coach "to hold back" in practices, PreA is where he needs to be, right now.

He told me he "had forgotten how fun soccer could be." Isn't that what its all about? Whatever works for the kid- that's the best league for him, and that's why having both leagues is such a great thing for all our N Tx. players. We don't have to hold hands and sing Kum Ba Ya, but why can't we just support each other instead of trying to tear down one leaugue or the other?

Smaller players ??? Do me a favor and google Emerson.. AKA EMO. Think he's training with Fulham.Think it's safe to say he's smaller than about 90% of the kids playing PRE A & Clasic 1 In his age bracket and going 1 year up or down . You have alot to learn if you hang the success of your son on his size alone . In fact I would put some money on a few 00 teams giving a 98 pre A team a run for their money..

plantit

I agree with you and actually worried that my post would lead to the impression that i thought a smaller player = not as good as a bigger one. All one has to do is look at Messi to see that isn't so. In the case of my own son, i fully recognize that strength and size does not equal skill/talent, however past coaches and evalutions have viewed size as a strength and told us so while i've known smaller players who were told it there were not 'match ups' for them, so what I meant was that a coach may think that and that the different age levels of the two leagues may help a player who is laboring under such a misconception.

as to my own son, he percieved that he couldn't do anything with out getting called for a foul- again, he percieved it, i'm not saying it was a fact but it frustrated him and now that he is no longer one of the biggest kids on the field he plays with more fire and has been called for fewer fouls- so right or wrong it has benefited him, at least mentally.

MammaBear wrote:plantit

I agree with you and actually worried that my post would lead to the impression that i thought a smaller player = not as good as a bigger one. All one has to do is look at Messi to see that isn't so. In the case of my own son, i fully recognize that strength and size does not equal skill/talent, however past coaches and evalutions have viewed size as a strength and told us so while i've known smaller players who were told it there were not 'match ups' for them, so what I meant was that a coach may think that and that the different age levels of the two leagues may help a player who is laboring under such a misconception.

as to my own son, he percieved that he couldn't do anything with out getting called for a foul- again, he percieved it, i'm not saying it was a fact but it frustrated him and now that he is no longer one of the biggest kids on the field he plays with more fire and has been called for fewer fouls- so right or wrong it has benefited him, at least mentally.

did your BB play in the 99's before PA?

Godzilla wrote:Just because Go99 bb no playing futbol and take up rollerskating no mean stop posting. We need more garbage so we can breakdown into energy.

Intelesting week 2. Why Barca play well against top team and let down when playing teams should beat? DTS also tying make lizard curious. As usual, Omega wrong on all fronts can't even get one light? One must open up and see light or quit like GO.


DTR - FCD Premium - Tying
SR - FCD Central - SR Winning
DTS - FCD Lopez - DTS Winning
Barca - Titans - Barca Winning
DTN - Comets - DT Winning

Me no like what Godzilla say. New guy in town . Godzilla step aside DoctorZeta coming through.

DoctorZeta wrote:

Godzilla wrote:Just because Go99 bb no playing futbol and take up rollerskating no mean stop posting. We need more garbage so we can breakdown into energy.

Intelesting week 2. Why Barca play well against top team and let down when playing teams should beat? DTS also tying make lizard curious. As usual, Omega wrong on all fronts can't even get one light? One must open up and see light or quit like GO.


DTR - FCD Premium - Tying
SR - FCD Central - SR Winning
DTS - FCD Lopez - DTS Winning
Barca - Titans - Barca Winning
DTN - Comets - DT Winning

Me no like what Godzilla say. New guy in town . Godzilla step aside DoctorZeta coming through.

hey whats up coach!

Saw the FCD 98 pre academy play and as for confirmation there are about 4 kids total on the squad who are from FCD the rest are from outside the club. So you can either say FCD has chose to fill it's team with outside talent or has admitted that it does a very poor job of developing it's own talent and prefers the talent from other clubs. I can say that there are better kids playing on the CL teams than some of those on the pre academy. Solar chose to go another route and promoted from within. The downside is the 98 CL team that was number 2 folded so they lost a CL spot and the other 98 team lost it's premier league bye. Certianly big losses for solar but I guess it at least says they believe in the product they develope.

Excellent point, GO!

go99 wrote:Saw the FCD 98 pre academy play and as for confirmation there are about 4 kids total on the squad who are from FCD the rest are from outside the club. So you can either say FCD has chose to fill it's team with outside talent or has admitted that it does a very poor job of developing it's own talent and prefers the talent from other clubs. I can say that there are better kids playing on the CL teams than some of those on the pre academy. Solar chose to go another route and promoted from within. The downside is the 98 CL team that was number 2 folded so they lost a CL spot and the other 98 team lost it's premier league bye. Certianly big losses for solar but I guess it at least says they believe in the product they develope.

So will you be looking for greener pastures, Solar perhaps.......?

no idea and the idea of driving to houston etc to beat teams 8 to 0 is not appealing. Guess alot will depend on who the coaches are and what they are teaching.

go99 wrote:no idea and the idea of driving to houston etc to beat teams 8 to 0 is not appealing. Guess alot will depend on who the coaches are and what they are teaching.

wouldnt it be the 2 SR coaches as well? is one better than the other cause they get 2 for 1 overthere!

Whoever the coaches are, if they can't teach a better brand of soccer than is being played in CL then why bother. Just stay in CL, frankly much of the competition being faced is worse or just on par with what the kids faced here in CL.

Here's my twist on PA - it is better competition for the Aug-Dec birthdates, but lesser competition for the Jan-July birthdates.

The Aug-Dec BBs are in essence playing up,and the Jan-July BBs are playing down.

Don't know how one can "sell" the program to the Jan-July BBs. It just does not seem to be in their best interest. Look at it this way, this year's 99s (the Jan.-July 99s) in Classic League will have some who want to play U13 PA next year, but they will be playing with a bunch of 00s (current 00s that are Aug-Dec. How can that be better competition for them?

OTRS, don't agree with you on this point. Not only is there great competition at the top of PA, there will be a tournament next July in Chicago where the winners of each region will compete for a national championship.


In terms of local competition, the PA is identical to CL D1 the last couple of years, whereas the top 2-3 teams dominate the lower 7 or 8. There is a battle in the middle and the bottom gets beat up every week.


For many PA players, this is the best place for them to mature and understand the complexities of the game.

I think we are talking apples and oranges here.

I agree the overall team competition is good in all the ways you stated - the top, middle, and bottom.

I do know about the end of the year tourney in Chicago - and it should be GREAT competition and fun - and I am willing to bet already this early that your BB will traveling to Chicago!

I am talking about individual player competition. Your BB being a younger player is probably getting great competition - he is practicing and playing with older boys that he did not get to play against in CL because they were the age group up. On the other hand, your Nat'l pool striker is playing boys younger than he played with in CL - for him the competition is weaker. He was playing boys born in 97 in CL. He has no birth year 97s to play against anymore.

Thanks OTRS. I respect your opinions and agree that locally, a couple of our 98 D1 players may be "playing down" in most matches. However, that is not the case for the majority of our team. More of an exception than the rule with 19 players.


My point is that the top PA players need to play better competition Nationally and they will get that chance if they earn it Regionally.

MammaBear wrote:Ratfink-Tx Hunter- I was referring to 99D1 against 98preA. Sorry to be confusing- I thought I was on a 99 thread, but I agree that a 98 D1 could be a serious challenge for PreA team particularly if it has a lot of players who played 99 last year. Its those different match ups that , to me, makes the new league an exciting addition- more steps on the ladder, more places for every player to find where he fits best, more chances for US soccer to advance. Infact, inter league freindlies could be a great testing place where winning wouldn't affect standings and therefore we might see a different style of play.

Mamma - seriously I am so confused - you are impressed and surprised a Pre Academy 98 Team that has a majority of 98 boys and a few large 99 Boys from a top 99D1 team has a good chance of beating a 99Boys Clasic team that was about a game away from going to the 2nd Division???