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Posts posted by Soccer Dudes Dad
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On 2/18/2025 at 10:57 AM, SimonBolivar said:
USL2 is not a good league and has 144 teams vs MLSNextPro that is, obviously, much better connected to moving up. Him getting minutes with a NextPro team would be really impressive, but are you sure they didn't mean MLSNext which is not the same as NextPro.
Playing with u19's on our local MLS academy team. If he steadily progresses, they are telling him he could get a few minutes with 2nd team this summer...
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On 2/18/2025 at 12:21 PM, Bottlecap said:
USL is supposedly starting a pro/rel top flight league to compete with MLS and has four tiers to their pyramid so that could be interesting (especially if MLS is interested in a merger 🤷🏽♂️
Supposedly, they are going to invite a ton of universities into this mix. Several college scouts have told me this. The universities dont believe the NCAA has any legs to stop them...
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On 2/17/2025 at 9:47 PM, Bottlecap said:
How does school work with USL2? I’m assuming he’s a freshman, so I’m assuming training in the morning, academy online schooling, then training again in the evening, correct? I think that’s how ATXFC does it. Is USL2 free and will they pay all expenses, including travel? Will they pay for a parent to travel with their 15yo?
All things being equal regarding playing minutes, obviously ATXFC has more prestige and likely better coaches and far superior competition, but from what I’ve seen you can get dropped pretty quickly from the club and they are ALWAYS trying to recruit someone better than who they have. USL2 may seem safer to latch onto for longer but likely have fewer pro connections at the highest levels and therefore fewer opportunities to advance up the pyramid, IDK.
I would ask about QOL outside of soccer/training, talk to other players and parents in the club. Are they happy? Is their kid happy? Is your son absolutely obsessed with soccer? Because you kind of have to be to basically be a 365 day athlete, especially at 15. Will he miss going to his high school to do online courses? There are a ton of questions to ask even before you start getting into playing time and prestige of club.
My own son is 13 and on the highest level team for his age at his club but with ECNL. He chose that over MLS next because he still wants to do a lot of shit outside of soccer, including playing other sports, basketball and American football might actually be his favorite.
Ask A LOT of quality of life questions of the clubs and talk to your family about the answers. Burnout and confidence loss is super common at those levels but you prolly already know that. Talk about what he will do if/when that happens. It sounds like he’s awesome, so what’s his ultimate goal? MLS? Europe? College? Just having fun at the highest level for as long as possible?
I think another poster on here has a son who’s at the professional level through MLS or MLS2 but I can’t remember whom. Hopefully he sees your post.
Out of curiosity what position does he play? Mine moved from the 9 to a winger and finally to RB which is a hot position right now because, at least on his team, he’s a box to box wingback style RB due to his physicality and speed and that feels like that’s a position of need and novelty in the game rn. I’m wondering about if your kid plays an attacking spot where it feels like there’s always gonna be another Messi coming up right behind him.
Great advice here...thanks!! Lots to consider for sure. Most notably that the track record here has been abysmal for home growns. Not a single home grown player has made the first team in over a decade. Two years ago, wholesale changes in the academy were made and the new academy director seems to really have his stuff together. So that will be changing as several kids under 18 are playing and excelling with the 2nd team.
Update, HE chose the MLS Academy. Came up with a pros and cons list, talked to the academy directors from both clubs and made, what seems to me, a very informed decision. Gotta say, I'm pretty proud of his maturity for a kid that just turned 15.
He is a number 10 though since we have made the move, he has been playing primarily as a "false 9" or out on the left wing. First two games, he played with his age group, but the next three has been with the u19's...starting and playing the full 90. Has picked up one goal and two assists so far...
He is practicing in the AM sessions with the an integrated 2nd team/u19 workout. They tell him if he keeps progressing, he could get a few minutes with the the 2 by summertime...
Fingers crossed...
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Question for those with futbol knowledge as mine is very limited...
My son just turned 15. He plays for a non-academy team that plays its games in MLS Next. This non academy team is new (<3 years old) but they have serious money backing them and they have international alliances (mostly in Spain and Mexico). My son is now starting to play with the u19 team, which is a very good team, and discussions are being had for him to start working out twice a week with the USL2 team...
All of this sounds great, however, the local MLS academy team is also recruiting my son heavily. They say he would practice with u18s and get some game minutes + play games with his proper age group (u16) in the MLS Next league.
My question to the group is, what do you think is the better pathway? USL2 and then possible international clubs? Or local MLS academy and their pro pathway? -
5 hours ago, PTINS said:
Akeem Olajuwon was a soccer goalie and didn't start playing basketball til he was 15. He was the definition of raw when he came to Houston.
Athletic skills translate. The rest can be taught.
Interestingly, you almost never hear of a pro soccer player who "didnt pick up the game" of soccer until he was 15-16. That athletic trait does seem to flow that way very often. Maybe because the eye to foot trait has to be learned from an early age?
And before you get all get pissed for "derailing" the thread, I'm doing my part to get us to a 1000. -
On 7/17/2024 at 4:37 PM, perfectchaos007 said:
Beryl only took my power out for 2 days and sleeping in 80+ degree heat for just 2 nights had me pondering how anyone lived in Texas before the good Lord invented Air-conditioning
8 fricking days for me. I have a small generator and a window unit so that saved me, but the five of us (wife, MIL, myself and two teenage boys) and my two dogs in the master bedroom for eight days... I was seriously contemplating a drano cocktail.
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6 minutes ago, Stinkpalm said:
Aggy never grows up or matures… they just eventually die. Which, if I recall correctly, is exactly what he did a couple years ago.
Holy shit. That dude died? Man, he was a lunatic poster that perfectly embodied every stereotype of Aggy.
Sux the he's dead but man, he was "off the charts" insane with his rants... -
4 hours ago, Grimas said:
That was the exact expression I had when my kid asked a few years ago if he should follow my career (and his grandfathers) as a E&P geologist… 😂
My dad almost killed me when I said I was going into the oilfield. He was a Drilling Fluids guy for 42 years.
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17 hours ago, beer said:
I missed this whole group somehow. I really should browse more. PM if you want any info about straight south, that's where I tend to hang out. Have been sort of house shopping for a place on the coast somewhere between Gibraltar and Motril. Granada is 2.5-3 hours by train. Fútbol team about to get relegated tho. It's not really a day trip but the Alhambra/Generalife is worth the trip. Málaga itself is just kinda "going to the beach" for Brits but driving up the coast up much nicer and full of little places with gorgeous views. Faster to get there going to Granada and renting a car from there ..easy drive to the coast and turn right.
May will still be crisp mornings perfect 15-20 degree days all day in the city. Beaches a tad warmer.
Don't leave Madrid without a churro. Doesn't sound like much but it is.
Churros are proof that God exists and he loves us...
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On 4/21/2024 at 12:48 PM, tejas60 said:
heading to Madrid May 7. can you tell me where/what these pics are?
already got tickets to Prado Museum and definitely hitting up Botin Restaurant.
good job by your son!
Pics 1, 2, and 3 are the cathedral of Segovia.
Pics 4, 5, and 6 are the Castle Manzanares el Real.
Pic 7 is Catherdral of Segovia.
Pic 8 is Castle Manzanares.
Pic 9 is a dish called Iberico Secreto at La Mi Venta restaurant in Madrid.
Pics 10 and 11 are wide city views close to the Cathedral of Madrid.
If you go to Segovia, it's definitely amazing but make sure to drive to Castle de Manzanares. Old castle, semi restored, beautiful museum and amazing views from the turrets... https://www.spain.info/en/places-of-interest/manzanares-el-real-castle/
The drive to La Sierra de Guadarrama National Park. Mountain views, probably still snow at the summit, and widlife... https://www.spain.info/en/nature/sierra-guadarrama-national-park/
Also, after leaving the park, and on the way to Segovia, visit the Royal Palace of La Granja of San Ildefonso. Its a beautiful palace and chapel with some amazingly landscaped grounds...and the small city has many shops and restaurants on cobblestone streets... https://www.spain.info/en/places-of-interest/royal-palace-granja-san-ildefonso/
Segovia speaks for itself. https://www.spain.info/en/destination/segovia/This could be done in a day, but it would be a looong day. I suggest at least two-three days. All of this is within an hour and a half, by car, from Madrid.
HAVE FUN and post pics of the trip...
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On 4/20/2024 at 3:50 PM, ClubWhatever said:
Are you Beckham?
Hahahaha. Not hardly.
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5 hours ago, Incredulity said:
I try really hard to let my kids manage and grow their out sports lives and just be supportive. Of course I have ideas and attempt to encourage them to think about this or that in a very positive way. It is so cool when the thing you have helped them with, or suggested, is directly tied to a goal, or good play.
It was really cool. Especially considering that, because I never played soccer (just American sports), he tends to completely disregard anything I might say about soccer that is any way tactical...😒
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12 hours ago, Mo Horn said:
Great shot
Thanks. I mentioned to him at breakfast, to play close attention to the goalies line. I was flabbergasted that he actually listened to me and caught this one playing up too high...
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13 hours ago, Incredulity said:
Congratulations on your sons success. Good stuff!
Many thanks!
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Update. Madrid and surrounding area was great. Didnt get to venture out as much as I wanted because of the non-stop soccer itinerary. But it was a blast. Got to see Real Madrid vs Celta de Vigo and also Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.
And yes, I am a shameless dad and posted a video of my son (IDGAF)... Goal was first of four he scored vs Rayo Vallecano...-
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3 hours ago, Buzzrock said:
Oldest restaurant in the world. Supposed to be legit.
Botín
913 66 42 17
https://g.co/kgs/qzombRWDefinitely going to see this... thx!
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18 hours ago, 52-80 said:
Is your son about to be an international sporting start millionaire ?
LOL. He is talented but I'm not sure about all that. I just want college paid for. Anything above that is gravy...
18 hours ago, RDCanecutter said:Do what a Spanish dad would do, ditch the kid, he'll be fine, hit on tourists, crash at your mistress' apartment after long begging argument to be allowed back in, repeat.
Also, Avila, Segovia, Salamanca, El Escorial. They are to the north and north west where your nearest mountain range is. You actually cross mountains to get to those three towns from Madrid.
Hell you could have fun for a couple of days just riding the subway around Madrid and popping up at various stations Plaza del Sol and Plaza Mayor for just lurking.
great ideas! Thx!!
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Will be there for the next 18 days while my sons have soccer tryouts. Since I am not allowed into the facilities with him, my days are open. Besides the local sites, I'd like to travel around during the day. I'll have a car... Looking for day trip recommendations. I am very fond of mountain scenery... Surly help and advice is greatly appreciated.
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Thanks texasdago! I will not be skiing (nursing a bad knee) but just want to be in the mountains...
Much appreciation for the help! -
I'll be in Rome for a few weeks this January. Looking to go to the Dolomites for a long weekend. Would definitely like some recommendations on places to go and to stay...
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Summer of 94. I'm recently married and have a 10 month old.. Dad had a stroke the previous February. He's feeling his mortality a bit so decides he wants to do a summer "road trip" with his family. Dad rents a 34 foot motor-home and invites my family along and offers to pay, if I'll do the driving. I'm game for this so we pile in the RV and set out from Beeville TX.
We drive out west to the Grand Canyon, head north through Utah, farther north to Yellowstone and the Tetons. Farther north thru Glacier in Montana and then into Canada on the Ice Fields Parkway all the way to Jasper...and then back south all the way to TX. NOW, you might say "what a fun and scenic trip!"...and you would be right on the "scenic" part. The "fun" part, not so much.
It was fucking miserable. Eight people are not meant to be in that close of a proximity for 8000 miles and three weeks.
There were many misadventures on the Griswoldesque road trip. Among these are the time I fell in McDonald Creek and almost drowned. The time a fucking Bighorn Sheep appeared out of nowhere on a scenic overlook and tried to run me down, and when my ex dropped a $1300 video camera off the side of a footbridge in Malign Canyon. However, the real kick in the balls came when, somewhere in Canada, I think on the way to some fucking waterfall (Takawkaw Falls maybe) that my mom desperately wanted to see, I had a "little incident" with the RV. By little, of course, I mean fucking monumental. You see, as a 20 year old young man with extensive driving experience in Texas, I paid little attention to road warning signs such as "No vehicles over 24 ft allowed on mountain pass roads." This had worked well for me on the other roads, especially in the US. In Canada, not so much. About a half a mile before the top of this pass, I tried to turn the 34 foot RV left on an especially tight switchback, and found that the vehicle was too long.So now what? Well, as you can imagine, there are not any places where I could simply turn around. At least not without risking a 1000 foot fall off the mountain. SO, I had to REVERSE that fucking RV down the mountain, thru switchbacks, about 12 miles, and over three hours before I found a turnout that I could use. Talk about "ass puckering adventure... Needless to say, oncoming, and descending, traffic was not happy with the idiot from Texas. I received many single finger waves and much verbal "encouragement" on my way down. But i did make it. Probably the worst three hours I ever spent on the road... Ex old lady was so scared and carsick, she actually got out and walked...
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6 hours ago, NoName said:
the 2009 Texas team finished as the #3 overall FEI team. they had the #17 offense. they were fine, but yeah, not special. that said the OU team was the #2 DFEI team in the country. The Nebraska team was #5. They also scored 21 on the #1 DFEI team (Alabama) with a true freshman QB playing. their offense was fine but not the strength of the team vs the defense.
regarding guys drafted:
- GG was drafted in 2014
- Jordan Shipley was drafted in 2010
- Marquise Goodwin was drafted in 2013
- +Justin Tucker (doesn't really count)
- there were more than a few other dudes who at least were on a NFL roster for a little while or who played for a few years.
the star power was on defense on that team though drafted guys were Muckelroy, Earl Thomas, Keenan Robinson, Lamarr Houston, Sam Acho, Sergio Kindle, Curtis Brown, Chykie Brown, Emanuel Acho, Aaron Williams, Kheeson Randall, Kenny Vaccaro and Alex Okafor.
side note, but this kind of says all you need to know about the Texas offense in 2009. 116 catches for 1st place and 39 for 2nd. Shipley caught 4 passes vs OU (what a game plan there btw, Colt threw for 127 yards while going 21/39 for a 3.3 avg lol), and 6+ in every other game.
i agree. more talented RB room, more talented WR room and a more talented TE room. add in a better offensive coordinator/scheme and a better OL and he is set up for success. looking back, Colt McCoy really and truly did a lot with not a lot.
Man whatever happened to Desean Hales? I thought he was a certified stud coming out of Klein Oak...
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On 10/20/2022 at 1:43 PM, Masshole Horn said:
Only 20 hours late on that joke. Still, 49-0 gets rep.
St
Story of my life...day late and a dollar short...
MLS NextPro vs USL2
in Futbol
Posted
Agreed. And maybe it does help the development pathway. I think I read where USL is putting more kids into European clubs than MLS...