yazan07

I think I'm the only one still reading this thread, but I'm going to keep posting on it anyway. If for no other reason, it will be a personal collection of all the articles and videos I have foind about Caleb an the U-23s haha Here is the most recent one, a reaction to the latest scrimmage with the senior side. This interview features Porter, Zarek, and Benny Feilhaber.

I haven't seen the third jerseys in action yet and I was thinking it would be cool if they wore them on Saturday for Can't, but then I realized that they are marketing this game as a white-out, and it wouldn't make sense if everyone was wearing white except the team.

Actually tip off is at 6 so the bball game should be over closer to 8. Weird that it's timed like that, but it makes my evening easier, get to watch everything without having to miss anything.

Another Zarek Valentin podcast, this time with guest star Kofi Sarkodie. Obviously since it's these two, they spend a lot of time talking about Akron and Porter.

No there is another new kid.

I heard that DJ said to Zeke "Hey I bet I could beat your high score on Guitar Hero" and then Zeke went up to him and told him to take back what he said.

Random thoughts: I don't know if anyone else noticed, but there was an unidentified new kid warming up with the team. We couldn't find his name anywhere. Supposedly he is a replacement on the roster for Green, but he is definitely a smaller guy. I heard that they just found him playing basketball at the rec or something. I hadn't been following OU this year, but has Cooper been playing like that all year? He did not impress me at all tonight. Not the same kid who has been giving us nightmares the past couple years. Hey and how about the return of Willy Kollman to Akron basketball games? Doesn't it feel like everything is right with the world again? I think the ROWDIES really got into the players' heads tonight. They were not having it at all. The first guy who fouled out was staring at us and I swore he was going to come over and take some of us out. Also if you're going to give me a bunch of balloons, you better not take them away, that's just mean.

Here is Darren's first interview as a professional. http://www.mlssoccer.com/video/2012/01/12/...select-mattocks Not sure why but I was laughing the whole time. I think it was the way he was awkwardly looking at the camera. He's probably just really excited about today, I know I would be if I were him.

Aww I really wanted Darren to get the 1st overall pick. Oh well, let's see where he goes!

Robbie Rogers just signed with Leeds United so maybe Speas will take some of his minutes.

I think it was Ives who I saw posted a picture of Darren talking to Impact head coach Jesse Marsch the other day after one of the games. Maybe a sign of what is coming tomorrow? As for Luke, I really hope he gets picked up. Remember, if he doesn't get picked up tomorrow, the supplemental draft is Tuesday and he could get drafted then. Just from his updates on twitter I can tell he's been worried about it. Gosh twitter is so creepy. I feel weird just following a person's life who I've never talked to. Oh well, that's what it's there for.

From Ives Galarcep's twitter: SoccerByIves Ives Galarcep Though they've lost Robbie Rogers (not a surprise) Columbus Crew have 2 B happy w/2 homegrown signings (Matt Lampson & Ben Speas) B4 Draft

Actually it just got released, I only knew Wenger would be there because they mentioned it during one of the combine games. I'm also excited about Kofi getting another call up, but I'm disappointed that Perry Kitchen still has not been called up. I know there was an injury or something during the last camp, is that still an issue? I really wanted to see him on this roster and I thought he had a chance to go far. And yeah Ando is going to be so excited when he finds out about Josh Gatt.

Well Wenger has other commitments, he isn't there because he's at the Hermann Trophy reception and then he has U-23 camp apparently. Still though, Darren really doesn't have much to prove. He is still a top pick no matter what. The first team that wants a striker is going to pick Darren. It will probably be Montreal, but if he goes lower it's just because those teams wanted a more defensive player, in my opinion.

Watched part of the first half of the first game. Darren set up the goal that Prime scored, and the teams ended the half tied at 1.

I read about this in various outlets, and some people think that this could be the last cycle of the residency program, and that it is unnecessary because of how far the club academy system has developed. Any thoughts on this by anyone?

I mostly follow DC United and I know from their academy they have signed Bill Hamid, Andy Najar, Conor Shanosky, and Ethan White. I also know Aaron Horton was a homegrown from the Crew academy. Crew academy also just signed Matt Lampson, OSU's GK. Not really sure about the rest of the league. Some of those guys went to college for a while and then signed with their club, some signed before they would have even reached college. Andy Najar was I think 17 when he signed with the first team. Pretty much you have to have played with that club's academy team for at least a year (I think) to qualify as a homegrown product. Last year Philadelphia tried to sign Corey Hertzog to a HGP contract and the league didn't allow it because his only affiliation with the club had been with them for some training, I believe.

Incoming freshman Alfred Koroma also made the roster.

Crew8, thanks for this information. I wasn't aware of the different homegrown deals either. I'd think we could lose Chad Barson this way if the Crew comes across with the right GA homegrown deal. I was just talking to a buddy about this yesterday. We knew GA offered more than HG contracts do, but we also agreed that for a player like Wil Trapp who will not make it to his senior year, it wouldn't make sense for him to get a lower contract than if he were a player not already affiliated with a club. Good to know. I think 2011 was also our first and last time to dominate the superdraft the way we did. From here on out most of our guys will be homegrown players when they are signed.

Interesting, I didn't know exactly what the rules were. I think if this kid has a problem he should take it up with FIFA, maybe be they would listen to him haha

This is definitely an interesting discussion topic. Obviously there have been a number of German born additions, and it would be weird if eventually the USMNT was simply communicating in German. I don't think it is as big of an issue as this kid is making it out to be. There are only four big players in the senior team picture (Williams, Johnson, Chandler, Jones) and two of them (50%, if you're not a math wiz) were capped under Bradley. So really, half of it was Bob's doing. So in that respect, I disagree. I also don't agree with the idea that college kids are better than pros. It could be true in some cases, but based simply on the difference in season length, I would imagine the pros are better. Also, in Porter's recent camp, as mentioned, there were five foreign born players, but there were also three college guys, so it's not like they are being completely snubbed. Another reason I have to disagree is because Clint Dempsey said so. In a recent interview, he touched upon this topic and said that if a player is eligible and is willing to proudly wear the USA kit, then they should be allowed to play for us. Dempsey was born in raised in Texas and is one of the best American soccer players there is, so his opinion counts. I think as Americans we like to have an image of what an American looks and sounds like. There have been times where even I had wished we had more guys named Michael Bradley on the team, which is weird since I have an Arab name and I'm American. Interestingly enough though, is that isn't really the discussion here, since the German born guys have more "American" names than the "actual Americans." Which sounds more "American," Timothy Chandler, or Carlos Bocanegra? Jermaine Jones, or Josmer Altidore? Daniel Williams, or Oguchialu Chijoke Onyewu? (had to use his full name to really hit the point home). These guys don't sound like Americans, but they are. Which qualities make a person more American? I do agree that for someone who is stepping on US soil for the first time to be doing so in order to train with the US national team, that is a little strange. The thing is though, this isn't the first time this practice has been conducted. We have snatched up players who were born in other countries and made them American because they can play here. The only reason it is an issue now is because out coach is German and there have been several more German-born additions. I will be interested to see how the U-23 situation plays out since there were quite a few of the German-borns called in. Again though, I don't think it would really be an issue though until practices are being conducted entirely in German.

Meves' knowledge of the game has visibly increased. He also has a great throwing arm and reasonable reflexes. However I imagine that if a top 10 goal keeping talent was introduced into the Akron system... he could very possibly start the first year. Akron has never had qualms about starting qualified freshmen over experienced upperclassmen. I would personally be sad to see a dedicated player have to transfer for playing time senior year... but as we all know, avoiding hurt feelings has never been Porter's main concern. If it turns out this new guy is an all around "complete" keeper, he could very well start over Meves. On the flip side, Akron is still the kind of program that even a top 10 talent freshman could find being red shirted for one season time well spent. Yeah that's in a nutshell what I was trying to say in that big paragraph up there. I Completely agree.

Does anyone know if any of the new recruits will be joining the team in the Spring?

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writ...amp;xid=shareFB

I think that is a very high possibility. From everything I have read, Andrew Wenger is the best player in the draft, with the ability to play many positions. Darren however, is the best striker in the draft, and as of now, Montreal's best attacking option is a guy who would rather be in Houston and has made that clear. (I am still waiting to hear how that unfolds). I think Montreal takes Darren because they need him. I also think he gets good minutes there. If he falls second and gets taken by Vancouver, he doesn't play as much because they are deeper up top. That is the way I see it. Montreal will trade Brian Ching for Kofi Sarkodie and draft Darren Mattocks which will leave them with 5 former Zips on the roster And they pick up Luke Holmes in the second round, change their name to "Zippers de Montreal"