The TopDrawerSoccer Show: focus on the future with Top Drawer Soccer

Taylor Rockwell and Travis Clark discuss the USA's possible roster for the 2017 U17 World Cup, Erik Palmer-Brown's looming move to Manchester City, and Weston McKennie's seemingly settled career at Schalke.

Our Prospect of the Week... is a player that Taylor had never heard of until Travis said her name. It's an ongoing tradition!

Three big questions today from The TopDrawerSoccer Show digital mailbag:

1) At our DA club it's readily acknowledged that, "The dream is playing for the USA, but the goal is college money." Given that most folks at the national level seem to agree that the college game/coaching isn't conducive to developing pros (especially elite, international-level ones), should US Soccer be more focused on working with the NCAA to make the collegiate experience more development friendly?

2) Which is a better indicator of Stanford's current level — the victories over Wisconsin and Georgetown, or the loss to Florida?

3) Why is it that the US has so few youth prospects in countries like France and Spain in comparison to England and Germany? Is it the language, the style of play, or something else?

OFFER: 20 percent off a TopDrawerSoccer Premier subscription when you use discount code "podcast" at http://topdrawersoccer.com/subscribe

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Daryl Grove and Travis Clark each select an XI of future US Men's National Team players. If you're interested in the future of the USMNT, this is the show for you.

Taylor Rockwell and Travis Clark welcome you to the seventh episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show, publishing every Wednesday at 6 a.m. Eastern.

Up for discussion:

Gianluca Busio became the second youngest player in MLS history this week. Is he more likely to be the next big thing or the next Freddy Adu?

We also discuss the start of the start of the 11th season of the US Soccer Development Academy (as well as the inaugural campaign for girls clubs).

As promised by Travis, here's a link to the USDA map: http://www.ussoccerda.com/imagedata/Girls_DA_Membership_Map_2017_18.jpg

Our Prospect of the Week has been called the next next John Harkes... by Taylor Rockwell... in this episode.

Three big questions today from The TopDrawerSoccer Show digital mailbag:

For European teams/players is it better to go on loan or keep working through the academies?

What is the major cause of the drop-off in numbers between children's soccer and teen/high school soccer in the states?

Is teaching your kid to play full back the millennial equivalent of teaching them to throw left handed?

OFFER: 20 percent off a TopDrawerSoccer Premier subscription when you use discount code "podcast" at http://topdrawersoccer.com/subscribe

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Daryl Grove and Will "Eugoogly" Parchman welcome you to the sixth episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show, publishing every Wednesday at 6 a.m. Eastern.

Up for discussion:

The US Boys U15s lost to Mexico in the CONCACAF Championship final, but several players stood out. We take a look at midfielder Gio Reyna (yep, son of Claudio), forward Gianluca Busio, right back Joseph Scally and left back George Bello.

See Reyna and Busio combine for a goal here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2017/08/this-u15-golazo-is-gianluca-busios-breakout-moment/

Highlights of Scally and Bello here: http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/the91stminute/2017/08/highlight-video-u15-bnt-outside-backs-george-bello-joseph-scally-shine/

We also discuss American soccer's scouting problem. US Soccer has nine full-time and 100-150 part-time scouts. Neither is enough for a country this size.

Our Prospect of the Week was born in Bath, sits on the bench in the Premier League, and is eligible for the US, England, Ireland, and maybe even Italy.

Three big questions today from The TopDrawerSoccer Show digital mailbag:

Is it possible to develop an "American" style of play?

Are kids not in the Development Academy being overlooked?

Do the Keibals' criticisms help or hurt American soccer development? (spoiler alert: we talk pro/rel)

OFFER: 20 percent off a TopDrawerSoccer Premier subscription when you use discount code "podcast" at http://topdrawersoccer.com/subscribe

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Taylor Rockwell and Travis "No Known Middle Name" Clark welcome you to the fifth episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show, publishing every Wednesday at 6 a.m. Eastern.

Up for discussion:

It's college soccer time! With more and more youngsters turning pro, what is the current "state of the union" of college soccer and what does the future hold? Which teams and players are poised for success in the coming season? How do dynasties get established? All that and more!

We have but two Prospects of the Week on today's show! One each from the men's and women's sides of college soccer.

Questions from the digital mailbag:

What can we do to develop late bloomers, who might otherwise miss out on necessary opportunities?

What is the one thing Travus would change about the college game if he could?

What to expect from Penn State, Florida State, and UVA this season?

And finally, as mentioned in the introduction, Will Parchman is leaving sports writing. Here are some of his parting thoughts: https://medium.com/@WillParchman/ive-been-asked-before-why-i-went-into-sports-journalism-in-the-first-place-4e026ba50b23

But don't despair! Will and Daryl will be back next week for Khaleesi's final show!

Daryl Grove and Will "Khaleesi" Parchman welcome you to the fourth episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show, publishing every Wednesday at 6 a.m. Eastern.

Up for discussion:

The Crossfire Premier compensation claim on DeAndre Yedlin's move to Spurs is officially on the FIFA docket. We explain why this could change the shape of American youth soccer.

The pros and cons of pay-to-play — it's not good, but not all bad — and a couple of ideas to fix the system.

We have not one, not three, but two Prospects of the Week today. You'll have to listen to the show to find out who they are.

Three questions from the digital mailbag:

Is US Soccer trying get Efrain Alvarez back into the national team fold?

Why can't the U.S. consistently produce national-team quality fullbacks?

What are the top three things a coach looks for in a defensive player?

Taylor Rockwell and William "Will" Parchman welcome you to the third episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show!

Up for discussion:

Schalkemericans! What does the upcoming season have in store for Weston McKennie, Haji Wright and Nick Taitague?

Youngsters in Europe - Comparing and contrasting the situations of young Americans like Cameron Carter-Vickers, Matt Miazga, Timothy Weah, and Christian Pulisic. Plus, what's the ideal situation for a future USMNT-er to find his footing?

Prospect of the Week — Her (hint, hint) name is revealed in the show. So you'll have to listen to find out.

Listener questions from the TopDrawerSoccer mailbag:

1. It has been noted that the U.S. suffers from a lack of full-time scouts inside the United States. What are the repercussions of this, and how has the USSF been trying to solve it?

2. Is the ODP system the only (or best) way for youth in remote areas to be discovered?

3. How do I know if I am wasting money on my kids coaching? What should I be looking for in terms of growth?

#PlayYourKids!

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Daryl Grove and Will Parchman welcome you to the second episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show.

Up for discussion:

The U17 World Cup draw — was it good news for the United States, and are we right ot be excited about this team? 

MLS Development Academies — what commonalities do the successful MLS academies share? What do the not-so-successful academies share? And is Oscar Pereja really as committed to HomeGrown Players as we all think?

Prospect of the Week — Whose name is ... revealed in the show. So you'll have to listen to find out.

Listener questions from the TopDrawerSoccer mailbag:

1. Which player sees the most minutes in 2018: Ethan Horvath, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Emerson Hyndman, or Lynden Gooch?
2. In 10 year's time, what position will the US be best known for producing?
3. How does girls' soccer development differ from boys in the US? What is the typical path an elite girl might take?

#PlayYourKids!

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Daryl Grove and Will Parchman welcome you to the inaugural episode of The TopDrawerSoccer Show.

Up for discussion:

The Development Academy Championship Finals, featuring a stunner from Andrew Carleton in the U16 game.

The new Barca Academy, which has been set up in the Arizona desert. Is this just a marketing ploy from one of the world's biggest clubs? Or will American kids be schooled in the ways of La Masia, producing more American Messis than we know what do with?

Our Prospect of the Week, who we will not name in the show notes. You'll have to listen to find out.

Listener Mailbag, including:

When will we see the first $20m+ MLS player sale?

What exactly does Tab Ramos do as Youth Technical Director?

Why aren't Real Salt Lake adding more prospects to their roster? 

HELP THIS SHOW START STRONG! Please subscribe via iTunes (or the podcast app of your choice) and leave us a review.

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Introducing ... The TopDrawerSoccer Show!

Join Daryl and Will and Taylor every Wednesday, as they uncover the underbelly of American soccer.

Player development, pay to play, Homegrown Players, the path to the US national team and plenty more. 

Subscribe now and catch the first full episode on Wednesday, July 19.

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