Last Minute Talk

Orlando, Fl Today's objective. Get back to our team identity of possession and pressure. During yesterday's victories the standard of play left a lot to be desired. I don't do excuses so the message is clear, refocus and get back to our bread and butter.

We will be playing El Temporal Azul.

The U.S. men's national team is currently preparing for friendlies and World Cup qualifiers, but the future of the program is also in action this week. The U.S. Under-18 men's national team kicks off its participation in the Libson International Tournament on Wednesday, the first tournament for new coach Javier Perez.

U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team head coach Javier Perez has named a 20-player roster for the four-team 2012 Lisbon International Tournament from May 23-26 in Portugal.
Perez's squad travels Thursday, May 17, and will play a friendly against Sporting Lisbon on Sunday, May 19, before kicking off tournament play against Poland on Wednesday, May 23.

D.C. United Academy Update
United's U-16's extend unbeaten streak to seven matches
Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2012) – Coming off a one-week layoff, D.C. United's Youth Academy teams resumed their 2012 USSDA run this past weekend, with the U-16's and U-18's facing Mid-Atlantic Division rivals Potomac and Baltimore Bays Chelsea.

The Revolution 18s claimed a 2-2 draw against Player Development Academy at Durfee High School in Fall River, Mass. on Saturday.

It was a weekend to forget for the Revolution Youth Academy, as the 16s and 18s went a combined 0-3-1 on Apr. 21 and Apr. 22 against a pair of New Jersey-based clubs.

The New England Revolution U-16s earned national recognition this week, breaking into ESPN's Under-15/16 2011-12 US Soccer Development Academy Power Rankings. The Revs make their debut in this year's rankings as ninth in the country.

The U-16s are currently 6-2-0 – excluding their recent 6th place finish in the 2012 Future Champions Guateng tournament in South Africa – and sit at first place in the Northeast Division.

Photo by Brad Smith/ISIphotos.com

The immediate future of the U.S. men's national team is consumed with Olympic qualifying, but the wave of players in the pipeline behind them are getting to work as well.

New U.S. Under-18 coach Javier Perez has called in 35 players for his first training camp since taking over at the helm a little more than a month ago, with a heavy Development Academy presence being a theme on the roster.

Virginia's Brian Ownby, a U.S. Soccer Development Academy alum from the Richmond Strikers program, was selected by the Houston Dynamo during Tuesday's first round of the 2012 MLS Supplemental Draft.

The U.S. Soccer Development Academy was well represented during Tuesday's Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft as 15 alumni were chosen in the three-round selection process by MLS's 19 teams.

Since 2003, Soccer America has reviewed soccer clubs from across the country and highlighted the best of the bunch. Two weeks ago, they continued the tradition by releasing the 2011 edition of the Best Boys Soccer Clubs. Drum roll please...

1. Baltimore Bays
2. FC Dallas
3. New York Red Bulls
4. Chicago Fire
5. PDA

Least you think this is a minor accomplishment, let me remind you that the Fire have gone from being unranked in 2008, up to No.

Yesterday was the end of the European transfer deadline. As many of you know it was a crazy day with players going here and there and teams making last second deals. We had 22 Americans move during this transfer period, most of them happening yesterday.

(H/T to Soccer America, MLSSoccer.com and a couple other places for helping me put this list together)

Here is a list by country/league along with where the Yank came and went to.

Academy players are not only competing for their chance to become the national champions at the 2011 Finals Week, but are also gaining valuable knowledge and training on how to achieve the ultimate goal of many players here: to become a professional soccer player.
This morning, the U-17/18 age group piled in to Weasler Auditorium at Marquette University to hear Jeff Agoos, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and one of the all-time appearance leaders for the U.

With six teams still in the hunt for a place in the championship game in the U-17/18 group at 2011 Development Academy Finals Week, we have a breakdown on what happens with any combination of results.
The order of tiebreakers is:
Goal Difference
Goals Scored
Head to head
Here are your scenarios for the final U-17/18 group games:

Group 1
Pateadores wins the group with.

Well ... It's raining here in Milwaukee and has been storming all morning, but don't worry - We have a plan. With some slight adjustments to the schedule, all four U-17/18 games will be played on turf today at Uihlein Soccer Park and Marquette Univeristy. Here is what our second U-17/18 match day looks like now:
2 p.

The eight Under-17/18 teams at 2011 Development Academy Finals Week have wrapped up their first official match day, with Pateadores, Dallas Texans, FC Dallas and CASL Chelsea FC Academy earning three points from the first game.
U-17/18 Results
Pateadores 2, New York Red Bulls 0
Dallas Texans 2, Players Development Academy 1
FC Dallas 1, Baltimore Bays Chelsea 0
Weston FC 0, CASL Chelsea FC Academy 3
Full U-17/18 results, standings and a schedule are available here.

The U-17/18 teams are first up at Development Academy Finals Week. Before the games kick off on Saturday afternoon, we've got everything you need to know about all eight teams right here at ussoccer.com.
Study up and choose your favorites ... Tomorrow's schedule includes four games in Milwaukee, Wis.

Eight teams qualified for the 2011 Finals Week in Milwaukee after winning their respective group over three days of play at the U-17/18 Playoffs.
Group 1
Pateadores advanced win a 3-1 win over Empire United and a strong nine points
Group 2
The group was up for grabs in the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake AZ game, with the Red Bulls winning 3-0
Group 3
Even with today's loss, Players Development Academy advanced with their group-high six points
Group 4
In a close race, Dallas Texans took the group with a 4-1 win over Charlotte Soccer Academy and a plus 7 goal differential
Group 5
FC Dallas defeated Real Colorado 3-1 to win the group
Group 6
The group was up for grabs in the Seattle Sounders FC and Baltimore Bays Chelsea game, and Baltimore advanced with the 2-0 win
Group 7
Weston FC advanced with a 3-1 win over Derby County Wolves and a greater goal differential than Chivas USA
Group 8
The group was determined by the Albertson SC and CASL Chelsea FC Academy game, with CASL Chelsea winning 2-0
For a complete list of the U-17/18 group standings, click here.

Last week when we checked in on the Sounders Academy both teams had effectively clinched their divisions with a game left to play. And Seattle won both of those final games (by a combined 6-1) to head into the postseason with positive momentum. The Sounders were one of only three clubs to win their division in both age groups, along with DC United and Empire United.

After the Philadelphia Union's 6-2 demolition of Toronto FC on Saturday afternoon, the two teams faced off again in Reserve League action. The Union came into the game with one win and one loss so far in the season.

The teams created numerous chances on goal, but in the end the match finished scoreless.

Professionals and Development Academy players make up Mike Matkovich's United States Under-18 roster for next week's trip to Lisbon, Portugal.

The U-18s will face the Netherlands, Portugal and Finland on May 25, 26 and 28, respectively, in the Lisbon International Tournament.

U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team head coach Mike Matkovich has named 24 players who will train in Portland, Ore., from April 16-24, on the Nike Campus. The training camp will feature friendlies against the Portland Timbers on April 19, and will finish with a pair of friendlies on Saturday, April 23, against the University of Portland and the University of Washington - one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

PEAK PERFORMERS:
U-15/16 Performer of the Week: Joseph Julius – Forward, PA Classics
Julius started both games for PA Classics and scored a total of four goals to guide the team to a 1-0-1 record against the New York Red Bulls and Players Development Academy.

Development Academy Alumni Chris Agorsor and Korey Veeder signed with Major League Soccer and were allocated via a weighted lottery Monday, Feb. 14, and Tuesday, Feb. 15, respectively.
Agorsor was the 2007-08 Development Academy U-17/18 Player of the Year and led the Baltimore Bays to the first Development Academy U-17/18 championship, in which his team defeated LAFC 4-2 in overtime in Carson, Calif.