B11 EA2 apparently imploded and the roster is currently a mix of 2012 and 2011 boys thrown together from across CV/EC/SD so Albion doesn’t have to forfeit games. They don’t train together at all, just come together on game day and are coached by whoever is available among the EA and MLSN staff.
Sami always seemed to be the real deal.
Yup; SN is/was by far the best coach my kid has had the chance to interact with at Albion. (Although, to be fair, my boy isn't MLSN, so perhaps it's better at the top---RM made a great impression this weekend.)
Interesting. Thought it was a u15 invite for everyone.
You would think, but the announcement definitely did not go out to all teams with U15 players. I don't think either of the B11 EA/EA2 squads received it; those players only learned of it via word of mouth.
Odd that they wouldn't want to maximize the player pool for the higher level teams. (Maybe want to ensure they have a team below EA2?)
I don't know if they've decided on a coach for the U16EA2 squad next year--or, indeed, if they'll even have one and/or an Academy team at that level. (Last season they sent the B11 EA2 slot to CV where it imploded, and did not field Academy at Robb).
Looks like a case of too many "elite" teams and not enough players or coaches. Don't be surprised if they mash players into levels that are not appropriate just to fill a team. The 1st and 2nd teams at every age group are all that matter. The rest are just filler.
Wonder if the MLS HG and MLS AD were even notified. Hard to evaluate players in a one-off session. Most big clubs held 1-2 full weeks of age group sessions.
Looking at standings seems some (a lot?) of EA2 kids should be on at a minimum EA if not AD.
Seems they brought out the AD boys after all. Still hard to believe they could do much assessing based on ~45 minutes of play.
Rosters are essentially set and it was an exercise to evaluate a handful of players for HG/AD. Majority of EA2 going to EA and majority of EA going to EA2 or down to U14 age group.
Makes a lot of sense (except that AFAIK all the boys there were U15). I'm mostly curious how they slot the B11s into the mix, especially since AN wasn't even there to speak for his players.
Most of the B12 EA team fall into the younger group. Only a few bump up to U15.
That sounds like the Albion to which I'm accustomed. Curious why you say they were not evaluated, though; my understanding is they blended the B11 and B12 EA boys into two separate squads and at least one of them faced the EA2 team for a while--although clearly the EA2/MLSN match(es) were the main attraction.
I'm pretty sure the club was clear that all players would be evaluated for HG placement first. Hard to evaluate B11's for HG without the other B11 teams present. And they are way out of their depth in their current league, perhaps a step down to Academy would be more appropriate.
Agreed on HG, but my sense is almost none of the kids out there yesterday are in that discussion; AD seems more likely.
The existing coaches view matters more than any one-off training.
Pretty sure a combo B12 EA2/EA team handily dismantled the B11 EA in a scrimmage a few weeks back. AM had a good look at the squad then.
I know at least 2 B11 AD's possibly dropping to B12 AD. One B11 who came out of an MLS Academy (involuntarily) that has been filling in on any team they can until they can get moved to B11 HG or B12 AD.
