Alex Popp

developing top local talent. Why not create that same opportunity for girls in St. Louis? As the first majority female-owned club in MLS, it seems like a no brainer. #allforCITY (2/2)

If CITY ownership can't get an NWSL team, why can't they start a girls academy program? For those who don't know, academy programs are free, fully funded youth development pathways for elite players. MLS academies have transformed the boys' side by identifying and (1/2)

There’s a lot of frustration amongst the general population with the loss Monday, but it’s just as frustrating to see the blatant misinformation being spread about youth soccer in the country. Easily 95% of the posts I am seeing are objectively false

@_davidskerr Thanks! Hopefully that's a gap MLS can fill eventually, but I imagine scouting is even harder at something like u9.

@al_popp Sadly yes in most cases but there are exceptions, however pay to play at those ages shouldn’t be terribly expensive, and if it is shame on that club for charging that much for the younger age groups. There’s always other less expensive clubs that should offer good environments

@_davidskerr This is great, thanks David! I agree completely. My question is pay-to-play mandatory for u9-u11 to get a realistic shot at an academy spot at u12?

Is there a lot to improve about youth soccer in this country? Yes, absolutely there is Has youth soccer and player development improved in this country? Yes, monumentally over the last 15 years Are ussoccer, the USMNT/YNT’s and MLS trending in a positive direction? 1000% yes

@JacKLynch321 @AndyJ0seph @Sean_C2 I disagree that the only path is club for u9-u11. Futsal, indoor, rec leagues, other sports. Again, I'd be interested to see what academy scouts are looking for at u12. Some MLS clubs have invested in u9. I'm sure that will get expanded on in the future.

@al_popp @AndyJ0seph @Sean_C2 If they only join an academy at age 12 it's highly unlikely they go on to be good, regardless of talent, in Europe and South America they are in academy's by the age of 6 or 7

He's right though. Saying youth soccer should be free to play is great and all, but if we want to make it happen we have to figure out a way to implement it. Youth soccer has expenses. Expenses that cost money. Who is going to pay for it?

@AndyJ0seph @Sean_C2 I'd like to see how scouting works for the academies, my hope is that it's not exclusively from club soccer. But that's still not a requirement, not sure it's fair to call that a hidden cost. The truly gifted kids will be found at the academy level whether they played club or not

@al_popp @Sean_C2 For soccer, so much can be learned before physical development. It's why players are able to break into senior teams as teenagers. And to secure an MLS Next invite, it basically requires the parents to spend thousands on club soccer pre-12U. Pay for play is still linked to it

@AndyJ0seph @Sean_C2 Is there really a benefit for select clubs at u12 and under? I'm not sure there is, let the kids play as many different sports as possible and then get into the academies at u13. what are the hidden costs for mls academies? I haven't seen that at all

@Sean_C2 It has hidden costs built in and starts at 12U. That’s way too late when youth clubs start at a way earlier age

@dsloaned This was true in 2010 but MLS academies are free now. It’s scouting those top players (that want to continue playing soccer) that seems to be the challenge.

It’s going to be very hard for the US to catch up with other countries ⚽️ Some context - I’ve played football at a high level in North America, and also LOI underage in Ireland. Players I’ve played with are now in the Premier League, League of Ireland, NCAA & other European professional leagues. In Europe, the higher the level you play the cheaper football gets. You actually start to get paid if you’re at the very top, and at the very least, your gear, travel etc is covered by the club. My club even had to pay fines for my red / yellow cards…. However, in the US, you have to pay more to play at a higher level. The best kids at 12 years old are almost always from middle/upper class backgrounds, playing in the big cities. Then suddenly, football starts to get intertwined with your grades and education, which doesn’t help the people who actually need football. For some people, football is literally all they have. Part of me thinks that’s sometimes why they make it — there’s no plan B. In the US, the backup plan is baked into football. The pool of players is already filtered by class, and filtered again by education. You’re left with — well, Christian Pulisic… 🇺🇸⚽️

@MattBakerSTL MLS academies are free, no? It costs nothing to kick the ball around in the backyard or join a school league. If anything, it's a scouting problem with getting our best into the academies. Scouts should be present at the St. Paul CYC tourney and a scott gallagher showcase

@MattBakerSTL Need to keep finding ways to get games with the top 15 teams. CONCACAF isn't competitive enough unless we are playing mexico every window.

@Beganovic2026 @BiHGooner He is looking at Adams, looks back at the ball, then looks back at Adams while raising his arms to the face. It's a pretty ugly challenge IMO.

@al_popp @BiHGooner If you look at the run from Dzeko, he is looking back at the play, Adams comes across him and as he does dzeko turns and braces

3 reactions to the red card Europeans: yeah can’t do that, even unintentional it’s a red card Americans that know ball: I don’t like it but it’s a red card Americans that don’t know ball: wtf! We better be bombing the refs country tomorrow

@BiHGooner @Beganovic2026 Like I already said, I think balo's challenge was a red. But there wasn't intent to injure, I think Dzeko did have intent to injure. Head up and arms raised to the head at contact.

@al_popp @Beganovic2026 How is Dzeko & Adam’s collision worse than this. He could’ve finished his ankle for good. LOL

@bparsons831 @NobletStrength Have a player laying down to block going under the wall and have the wall jump. If all of them jumped it would have been blocked.

@MikeyOver1 the curse of chris wondolowski

@ManagerTactical gonna ask a lot of wes in the middle today

Pulisic is out injured and Pepi will start up top with Balogun… for the first time. I like it!! What is Pochettino cooking?

@NHL @NHL_On_TNT @Sportsnet @TVASports

TARASENKO JUST DID THE FORSBERG!! 😱 #StanleyCup EW. 🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT 🇨🇦: @Sportsnet & @TVASports