‘Flying Kiwis’ (great weekly wrap) has Houltesen (spp) as a good chance for a pro contract. Timbers II have left some roster spots still open.
Kiwis at US Colleges
Any news on Holthusen or Brown?
‘Flying Kiwis’ (great weekly wrap) has Houltesen (spp) as a good chance for a pro contract. Timbers II have left some roster spots still open.
He got cut after the first week of pre season with Timbers II - source inside
‘Flying Kiwis’ (great weekly wrap) has Houltesen (spp) as a good chance for a pro contract. Timbers II have left some roster spots still open.
He got cut after the first week of pre season with Timbers II - source inside
Possibly. I see T2 have just signed two youngsters from Costa Rica (a winger) and Honduras (forward).
Season in USL for T2 started yesterday with loss to Sounders2. No Houltesen in match day squad so doesn’t look promising for him.
Also no Tuiloma so hopefully he’s in the MLS match day squad again this weekend.
T2 I note is coached by Kiwi Cameron Knowles. Young coach aged 35.
So Cory Brown has signed with Fresno FC. Are they a feeder club of some MLS franchise? Also what happened with Holthusen?
So Cory Brown has signed with Fresno FC. Are they a feeder club of some MLS franchise? Also what happened with Holthusen?
Fresno have links with Vancouver, who drafted him.
Portland TImbers III (PDL League) are playing a US Open Cup game against Reno 1868 (USL). Lots of goals Reno being 5-3 up. There is a 21 yr old Kiwi midfielder playing for Portland called Joash Sutherland. Anyone know of him?
Portland’s Kiwi connection continuing.
From Christchurch, alumni of Xavier University just like Cory Brown. Plays in centre midfield. Came out of Ole and trained with the NZ u17s and u20s, but never got called up to either squad. And yep, Joash is his real name, bit of a strange one :)
From Christchurch, alumni of Xavier University just like Cory Brown. Plays in centre midfield. Came out of Ole and trained with the NZ u17s and u20s, but never got called up to either squad. And yep, Joash is his real name, bit of a strange one :)
FC Twenty 11 was his Chch junior club (merger between Burnside AFC and Avon Utd, which had its roots in the Shamrocks club). Regular Canterbury junior rep. Went to Ole mid 2013, so would have spent 18 months there before college. Good player.
Hopefully he can progress to Portland’s USL side.
Portland III eventually lost 7-3 in this cup tie.
So Cory Brown has signed with Fresno FC. Are they a feeder club of some MLS franchise? Also what happened with Holthusen?
Anyone know what Holthusen is up to?
Winter football in Auckland?
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY: Our final addition to the #UAlbanyFutbol family is Sam Philip. Sam joins us from the Wellington Phoenix out of New Zealand. Welcome Sam! pic.twitter.com/SbwOvHck4l
— UAlbany Men's Soccer (@UAlbanyMSoccer) August 2, 2018
All the best to Xavier Green (@OhioStateMSOC) and Ashlen Stroud (@UMMensSoccer) who will both taking on their first season of @NCAASoccer beginning this week. #TheOléWay #OléOverseas
— Olé Football Academy (@TheOleWay) August 6, 2018
Charles Spragg will be play UW badgers after the U-19s
It seems to me there are far more Kiwi-raised players currently fashioning a pro career after not taking the US college route than those who do. Are the college bound kids just more realistic about their chances in pro football?
Some. Others are realistic about where they are at the moment and need more time to develop.
It's a pseudo-pro environment and you can get a lot of your education paid for. It gives you about as much football as if you played in the national league and you can then add to it by coming home or playing in the amateur leagues over summer break.
You're also then right in front of MLS and USL scouts. Kyle Adams got interest from Houston/RGV and gave up his last college year to go pro. He went into it with a development mindset, rather than hedging his bets. I imagine there are other players who feel it's probably the closest to pro football they will get.
Education aside (and that's a big aside btw), is it the quality of college football/playing against other youth that doesn't seem to lead to many pro contracts? Many more seem to be making a pro career without going that route.
It seems to me there are far more Kiwi-raised players currently fashioning a pro career after not taking the US college route than those who do. Are the college bound kids just more realistic about their chances in pro football?
Maybe they have been overlooked both locally and nationally because the nepotism in NZ Football. They have given up on NZ an see America as a free market where if you are good enough you will succeed and where the level of coaching/facilities is higher. A lot do not have a European passport or connections and specifically parents who can afford private academies. There more than 50 boys at US colleges last year getting a good education plus enjoying football.
It seems to me there are far more Kiwi-raised players currently fashioning a pro career after not taking the US college route than those who do. Are the college bound kids just more realistic about their chances in pro football?
Maybe they have been overlooked both locally and nationally because the nepotism in NZ Football. They have given up on NZ an see America as a free market where if you are good enough you will succeed and where the level of coaching/facilities is higher. A lot do not have a European passport or connections and specifically parents who can afford private academies. There more than 50 boys at US colleges last year getting a good education plus enjoying football.
But most don't kick on football-wise to pro; and I'm wondering if it's the college system itself. Currently playing MLS/USL/other pro league who have been through college system - Boxall Bros, Cory Brown, Kyle Adams, Kip Colvey, Sam Brotehrton + not too many more.
The list of current players making a pro career of sorts without US college is much greater.
It seems to me there are far more Kiwi-raised players currently fashioning a pro career after not taking the US college route than those who do. Are the college bound kids just more realistic about their chances in pro football?
Maybe they have been overlooked both locally and nationally because the nepotism in NZ Football. They have given up on NZ an see America as a free market where if you are good enough you will succeed and where the level of coaching/facilities is higher. A lot do not have a European passport or connections and specifically parents who can afford private academies. There more than 50 boys at US colleges last year getting a good education plus enjoying football.
But most don't kick on football-wise to pro; and I'm wondering if it's the college system itself. Currently playing MLS/USL/other pro league who have been through college system - Boxall Bros, Cory Brown, Kyle Adams, Kip Colvey, Sam Brotehrton + not too many more.
The list of current players making a pro career of sorts without US college is much greater.
The US College system is results based rather than developmental & with a a roster of 28/30 many players get no game time. The football standard of Colleges is very mixed.Just because a college is NCAA Div 1 doesn't necessarily make it "good". Colleges can choose to switch between Divisions (I,II,III) eg. Pfeiffer won Div II but switched to Div III & being in a certain Division is based on the number of sports they offer, what scholarships they are allowed to offer etc.
Some US coaches here dont think it is now the best football route for those with genuine potential to go pro & are prepared to forego further education.
Of course, each to their own & depends what the "student athlete" wants to get out of the experience etc
I played football with a kiwi lad this year heading back for this second year over there... paid scholarship... average player at best and he is hoping his team will break the top 10 nationally this year.
Not sure how he got a deal as there are far more talented players than him. He does work hard, and is a top young man, but I couldn't believe it when I heard it.
If he can get a deal... for me then the system has to be a little hit and miss.
I played football with a kiwi lad this year heading back for this second year over there... paid scholarship... average player at best and he is hoping his team will break the top 10 nationally this year.
Not sure how he got a deal as there are far more talented players than him. He does work hard, and is a top young man, but I couldn't believe it when I heard it.
If he can get a deal... for me then the system has to be a little hit and miss.
Is he academically smart ? A player also has to meet the minimum educational requirements to play College sport & high academic achieving students are more desirable to the College for their rankings etc.
Hard to tell... not "worldly" IMO.
But strikes me as someone who would put in the hard yards... that being said he is doing by his own admission an easier course than some.
It seems to me there are far more Kiwi-raised players currently fashioning a pro career after not taking the US college route than those who do. Are the college bound kids just more realistic about their chances in pro football?
Maybe they have been overlooked both locally and nationally because the nepotism in NZ Football. They have given up on NZ an see America as a free market where if you are good enough you will succeed and where the level of coaching/facilities is higher. A lot do not have a European passport or connections and specifically parents who can afford private academies. There more than 50 boys at US colleges last year getting a good education plus enjoying football.
But most don't kick on football-wise to pro; and I'm wondering if it's the college system itself. Currently playing MLS/USL/other pro league who have been through college system - Boxall Bros, Cory Brown, Kyle Adams, Kip Colvey, Sam Brotehrton + not too many more.
The list of current players making a pro career of sorts without US college is much greater.
Collier and Francis de Vries are 2 more I can think of. NZ would only have 30-40 pro male footballers, so that’s a fair number that have come out of the college path. On a percentage type basis (US college players to total pro players) probably only behind US and Canada themselves.
Plus many of young Kiwi kids going to US Colleges, will be focusing on the academic side more than football side. Going to a US College may well open up some career paths post football - I’m sure Nelsen and Tim Brown made lots of useful contacts in the US from their college days, that would have been helpful for their post game careers.
Lastly what alternative paths are there for young Kiwis?
A UK youth contract that will produce more Paynes, Howiesons, Adams, Butlers etc than Chris Woods
The Nix who as NZ’s only pro side, can only sign so many young Kiwis
And lastly Ole who seem to be able to get their very best grads, a trial or contract in Europe
Collier yes. Jury out on dr vries I think. 3rd div Sweden is park football, not even NZ Premiership level.
But what alternatives for the kiwis without a 2nd passport. Exactly. Long term I think the answer lies in increasing the number of pro clubs in nz and oz, and dispensation for kiwis to be treated as locals. And yes i know all the issues.
Anyway, off topic. Next us college player to break through will be joe bell. Bonus that he has a UK passport too.
Bell will be hoping for a big WC.
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Collier yes. Jury out on dr vries I think. 3rd div Sweden is park football, not even NZ Premiership level.
3rd tier Swedish football is professional, but also would rank alongside the NZ National League level. The difference is the exposure to Europe. de Vries also has a EU passport, as he was a youth player at FC Basel at 18!
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Same level as NRFL Premiership if not at a faster pace due to rolling subs.
Sadly Connor Probert was injured.
First team players from Birkenhead, Hamilton Wanders, Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs.
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Same level as NRFL Premiership if not at a faster pace due to rolling subs.
Sadly Connor Probert was injured.
First team players from Birkenhead, Hamilton Wanders, Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs.
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Same level as NRFL Premiership if not at a faster pace due to rolling subs.
Sadly Connor Probert was injured.
First team players from Birkenhead, Hamilton Wanders, Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs.
It’s still kids v kids
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Same level as NRFL Premiership if not at a faster pace due to rolling subs.
Sadly Connor Probert was injured.
First team players from Birkenhead, Hamilton Wanders, Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs.
It’s still kids v kids
On Monday 17th Sept North Kentucky play Purdue Fort Wayne.
There will be 8 NZ boys on display, you have to wonder where has all the talent gone
College football is still essentially youth competition. By no means an indicator of “talent”. Plenty of talent not in the college system.
Same level as NRFL Premiership if not at a faster pace due to rolling subs.
Sadly Connor Probert was injured.
First team players from Birkenhead, Hamilton Wanders, Three Kings and Eastern Suburbs.
It’s still kids v kids
Yep, but its basically U23 competition. It is what it is.
Still a better option than staying in NZ - get a degree, international experience and travel etc.
Most hope its a stepping stone for something better whether inside football or out.
Did your son/daughter not make it?
My kids are 5 and under... so not yet.
But I assume this is not asked of me, as I support the system as a good stepping stone.
There are exceptions, but let’s be honest, it’s a stepping stone to the NZ Premiership for most.