http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3640962.html Feb. 7, 2006, 12:16AM 1836 to hold tryout session By BERNARDO FALLAS Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Houston 1836 will hold an invitation-only preliminary tryout session Saturday. Only players recommended by coaches with the South Texas Youth Soccer Association, Hispanic leagues or ST Amateur will be allowed to participate in the session. It's scheduled from 2-6 p.m. at Delmar Stadium, 1900 Mangum Road. "For those guys that would be coming into our camp, they would have to be better than what we have here," 1836 coach Dominic Kinnear said. "That's the criteria: be better than the guys here." The team's coaching staff, the South Texas group, the leagues and ST Amateur will help select 28 players, who will then be evaluated by Kinnear on Feb 19 at another tryout. A decision on whether to fill two open positions with 1836's developmental squad will follow. -------------------------- WTF? "Hey, I play for the... ummm... ummm... that new team!" Most of my Mexican soccer friends will beat out your American soccer friends...
That's cool that they're holding a tryout session b/c Houston has so many talented players of all races. I don't know how serious the coaching staff and scouts will take it though b/c they're probably going into it not expecting much. They talked about 1836 practicing already on FSN after the Rox game. I thought the season started in April...seems kind of soon. This is going to be a weird season b/c the World Cup is in June and most people will be focused on that so the MLS is going to lose a majority of its fans during that month.
You remind me of Eric... "What do you play in Africa... chase the Monkey...? Pfffshhhh..." "No, I believe you call it--SOCCER!" "Yeah... cute sport... especially the way ya'll bounce those balls off your heads..." SwoLy-DEEZ NUTZ, sucka.
I think they're serious about picking a couple of guys up for the reserve team. It's probably tough to find people willing to move to a new city for the amount that reserve players get paid (about 10-12K a year). Players may not want to move unless they think there's a real good chance of them making the full roster. Their preseason is 2 months long, they've already announced preseason games against FC Dallas on Feb. 18th and against Real Salt Lake in Austin on the 25th.
I think its a bad idea to have tryout sessions. Its kind of like the Rockets or Texans having tryout sessions. These people are professionals. It looks stupid to get some one in there with no professional experience. Can't they find the talent in the college ranks?
After playing for years in the HFA (Houston Football Assoc.) and in some of the many hispanic leagues across the city, I can honestly tell you there are many players in Houston who are good enough. Many of them chose to start families, couldn't get into college, or just didn't have the means to be found. It's not like Brazil where they are scouting the alleys and beaches for players. In this country, you have to be known and take the traditional routes. They may find a player or two that are capable. They may not. I was invited years back to tryouts for the then Dallas Burn before the MLS kicked off. I also tried out for the Hotshots. I just didn't have the time to commit myself to the training and everything necessary to play on that level.
Do you know where the game in Austin is going to be played? This is the first I've heard of it, but I want to make sure that I'm there.
Round Rock ISD Stadium February 25th at 6:00 pm There's supposed to be more information regarding tickets and stuff on Wednesday.
TMac, I meant "Eriq" as in LaSalle, the actor portraying Darryll in "Coming to America". Your "these people are professionals" statement is fuzzy in the fact that we already know that. Also, are you saying that the people they find could not possibly know how to (a)play, (b)behave, or (c)speak English? leroy420, I know someone playing in division 2A HFA. What division do you play? Again, it's another shot against MEXICO, IMO.
I live in Austin now and play Over 30 Premier. Mexico still sucks. It tells me more about the lack of a true scouting network. I'd be willing to bet that there are some damn good players down in the valley that no one knows about. Like I said, there are people out there who just didn't get the opportunity.
And it's also no different than inviting a player from a local college team who didn't get drafted to try out for the practice squad. They aren't going to fill any spots on the first team with these guys.
Pro soccer in the U.S. you mean. The rest of the world, mainly Europe, have academies where kids learn academics and soccer and are trained until they can compete on the 2nd and 3rd teams of the professional club. Romario and Ronaldo are just two who came up through the Dutch ranks (PSV Eindhoven if I am not mistaken).
