Mariners Squad 2023/2024

[Omni]

Off topic, but question for those that know.

I came across a very very very very interesting and unique player development programme from the MLS.

If I was 10 years younger I would write it into a major proposal and take it too APL & FA, I believe its that good. IMO this system is simple, cheap for parents, would be Australia wide and by that many local towns.

Love to send it to RP, but unsure how, anyone know an address to send to him, email or post. Not sure I want this to go to a assistant who decides what to pass on.

BTW, have written it up in a kinda article and will send to the Roar, hopefully they will put it out for others.

Again, IMO the conceptual framework this system works in is simple and IMO, once understood is obvious to set up... and like many things once having seen it you wonder why it’s not been done before.

I’ve done a lot of work in the sport in the US. There’s some pretty horrendous youth plans in the US. Almost everything is pay to play, and parents are essentially scammed out of a lot of money promising things like a professional contract or college scholarship to literally everyone. Part of it is also the lack of solidarity payments, I’m in San Antonio which is a USL club (2nd div) if an MLS team wants someone from their academy it’s a free. It’s a mess here. And many of the US poster children didn’t grow up and come through the US system but a foreign system by virtue of being army brats. The best example of the US system working is probably not even American but Canadian, Alfonso Davies.

There is a lot of hype for a current Philadelphia Union academy player though. Time will tell if he’s the next Davies or just another Freddy Adu.

The big thing I’d say is that Australia isn’t the US much like it’s not the Netherlands so we always need to be careful what we import.