[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Sure, if you want to change the argument from "Canada have comfortably been top 4 in the u17 level since 2011." to "They’re in the top 4 Concacaf countries for total qualifications since 2011, right behind the U.S and Mexico.", then fair enough, that is correct.

If we want to talk about MLS academies and their development of Canadian talent then I think there are some big issues with how these clubs develop players and transition them from prospects to quality players at the pro level. For years our U-17 and U-20 teams have consisted largely of products from the 3 MLS clubs. At the U-17 level this isn't really an issue as everyone is a prospect and at best a few players have played USL Championship first team football, so there's not as much of a gap between Canada and the other countries. Where the MLS clubs struggle is the ability to move these players from prospect to something better. Because of the rapidly growing level of play in the league clubs are desperate to win and win now and as such young talent is rarely trusted to jump into the first team.

In the almost 40 years combined of these clubs being around the number of players who go from prospect to have a big career at a high level is small; Davies is the obvious example. Outside of that, is there anyone else? Kone looks to be one with his small sample size. Sam Adekugbe flourished once he got out of Vancouver. Max Crepeau will be solid assuming he can come back from injury. Osorio has had a good career but he was largely developed at Nacional. After that, the best career is probably Russell Teibert or Doneil Henry; not exactly names you want to see on a team sheet.

Even within the last year TFC have given up on Jayden Nelson, Ralph Priso and are burying Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, all at a time when they need first team minutes to develop.

So our competition at the U-20 level sees other countries field players with more pro experience playing against tougher competition while our players are largely reserve team players. And we lose to 10 man Cuba with an outfield player in goal or St. Kitts and Nevis.

This is where in theory CSB and the creation of the CPL helps out; more academies can produce more players who can move into a first team role much easier. The level of play is not as high and is easier to jump into. For the first few years it's been a moo point as the CPL head office didn't really like academies, but that's changing. Cavalry has always had one, and Pacific, York and HFX are all establishing them.

CPL pro experience was supposed to be the big difference this time around at the u20 Concacaf tournament last year. I’m not holding my breath that it will move the needle at the u20 level for our program.