So why do so many people have trouble understanding the negativity towards the new GDA? In this very same thread, it has been acknowledged that Boys DA has been a failure while at the same time, implementing that same failing structure on what has been a successful women's side.
My experience has been on the boys side as nobody has experience on the girls side as of yet. However, that hasn't stopped a large percentage of individuals from not only jumping in with both feet, but trying to defend it to the naysayers who have already experienced it with disastrous results. I don't mind those who jump in with the hopes that it will be all that has been advertised as I can see the appeal but to defend a product that has produced no results in 10 years and has been accepted as a failure by its creator (US Soccer) demonstrates either ignorance or stupidity. And with no shortage of both, US Soccer has no incentive to improve it's product.
By the way, when I said I was confused, I was being facetious.
I don't believe the same structure is being implemented as the Boys DA. As @Fact acknowledged above, there are differences. When you say it has produced "no results in 10 years" why do you believe that? Just this year alone, the following US Soccer Development Academy players earned Caps on the US Men's National Team:
- Kellyn Acosta, FC Dallas
- Paul Arriola, Arsenal FC (SoCal)
- Steven Birnbaum, Pateadores (SoCal)
- Ethan Horvath, Real Colorado
- Jordan Morris, Seattle Sounders FC
- Darlington Nagbe, Internationals
- Christian Pulisic, PA Classics
The end game for the USSDA is complete and total residential programs that are funded by the Academies (aka MLS clubs). US Soccer knows that the "pay to play" system for soccer leaves a whole lot of talent on the side of the road. The USSDA is our best bet to eliminate the pay to play system for the top talent. Will it happen on the girls side? Only time will tell, but the ECNL won't give in that easily.