Can't disagree more. His play- especially in the middle- has been a huge calming influence on the squad and his change of pace and vision have been one of the keys to opening up the attack. Subtract Manneh, more Bolo, better squad.The way Bolanos has played so far this year...don't think he'll be that big a miss.
Ha Ha
I'm more interested in your feedback, TBH.
I walked onto my college team back in the day (BCIT), and I was one of the few who wasn't involved in the Provincial program at the time and had real bios. In the end, for me, playing was playing, and I was able to out-perform other players that showed up with more formal training, and more of a resume. I'd come to the program after taking grade 11 & 12 off footy to recover from a bag leg break. I guess I passed the eyeball test in preseason evaluations and the friendlies / tournaments we entered to prep for the season. We had something like 60 players that season ('94) at preseason, I think coach carried 18 for the season.
Times have definitely changed, and way more high performance training out there.
The Rovers seem stacked w/ former WCF academy players, and others who'd had formal training somewhere.
I don't get to see as many senior games since I retired.
I'm just wondering how to measure the academy programs.
I always measured my success as a coach by how many players I helped to move on to a higher level, whether it be to a Provincial Team or a National Team, or into the first team at a pro club. Either in North America, or in Europe.
I don't see many players coming out of the academies these days playing in their respective 1st. Teams, or on the National Teams, in fact if appears that we have less representation on the National Team Program from BC than ever before.
I don't hear of many going to play in Europe, I might be wrong.
So the question is: "Are these academies producing players"?
Why are we not getting more playing in the MLS?
Are there players going to the NASL & USL from academies?
I was in England recently at St. George's Park, the England training centre.
The discussion came up about academies in the U.K.
Interestingly, listening to ex pro's comments, it was obvious that they thought academies are failing to produce the amount of players expected.
The main reason was that they only play against players their own age & level.
They talked about how in older days, the better players played in "The Central League" or the reserve league, where some of the players were experienced pro's coming off an injury, or some experienced players out of form & not in the 1s. Team.
Playing against men was the best way to develop & show that they are ready for 1st. Team selection.
Lots of clubs now are "loaning out players" to clubs in the lower leagues to gain valuable experience.
Harry Kane went to play at Millwall & says it was a massive step in him being ready to play in the Premier League.
Players at our academies don't have that luxury, to gain playing time at senior level & the jump to the 1st. Team is too high.
I am aware that some will go to play for the Whitecaps 2 team.
But, will that be enough to get them the chance to step up to the MLS Team?
I'm interested in finding out how a lot of players from their final year at academies adapt to playing in the Men's Senior Leagues.
According to https://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/residency:Sorry if I messed up this post. I did it on my Ipad & it's not the same as my computer.
I'll have to get my 7 year old Grandson to help me. LOL.
I don't get to see as many senior games since I retired.
I'm just wondering how to measure the academy programs.
I always measured my success as a coach by how many players I helped to move on to a higher level, whether it be to a Provincial Team or a National Team, or into the first team at a pro club. Either in North America, or in Europe.
I don't see many players coming out of the academies these days playing in their respective 1st. Teams, or on the National Teams, in fact if appears that we have less representation on the National Team Program from BC than ever before.
I don't hear of many going to play in Europe, I might be wrong.
So the question is: "Are these academies producing players"?
Why are we not getting more playing in the MLS?
Are there players going to the NASL & USL from academies?
I was in England recently at St. George's Park, the England training centre.
The discussion came up about academies in the U.K.
Interestingly, listening to ex pro's comments, it was obvious that they thought academies are failing to produce the amount of players expected.
The main reason was that they only play against players their own age & level.
They talked about how in older days, the better players played in "The Central League" or the reserve league, where some of the players were experienced pro's coming off an injury, or some experienced players out of form & not in the 1st. Team.
Playing against men was the best way to develop & show that they are ready for 1st. Team selection.
Lots of clubs now are "loaning out players" to clubs in the lower leagues to gain valuable experience.
Harry Kane went to play at Millwall & says it was a massive step in him being ready to play in the Premier League.
Players at our academies don't have that luxury, to gain playing time at senior level & the jump to the 1st. Team is too high.
I am aware that some will go to play for the Whitecaps 2 team.
But, will that be enough to get them the chance to step up to the MLS Team?
I'm interested in finding out how a lot of players from their final year at academies adapt to playing in the Men's Senior Leagues.
Take that Jigsaw lol.
Zlatan is 35 - Would you take him before he blew out his knee?
That, and the MLS continues to take in other over the hill players with big contracts so why not one of our own?
Agreed, he'd also be a fantastic mentor.
I think he's got a lot in him still, he's the best Canadian by a country mile, and I would LOVE to see him in a Caps jersey.
How many of that 40 are actually from BC?According to https://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/residency:
More than 40 Whitecaps FC Residency players have been called into Canadian youth and senior national teams since January 2016.
Looking at the current VWFC2 Roster and almost ALL local players on that squad are Residency graduates... one exception would be Mark Village who despite dodgy coaching @ UFV managed to overcome all odds and make a go of it without drinking the Residency kool-Aid.
Good question... I'd be surprised if it were more than half, maybe zero as U-15 shouldn't really count in my books for this discussion.How many of that 40 are actually from BC?