J Wells

[J Wells @JW49067]

@darren_1066 @FullTimeTripp True and I think we agree more than not. My point is that he would have played with his mates whether he was in the Academy or not, but would he have become the footballer that he was without the Academy?

[J Wells @JW49067]

@segalmr @bigdog44K And yes, I know that goalkeepers are different.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@segalmr @bigdog44K The exception is Matt Turner. Current backup US goalkeeper and started in 2022 WC. Turner didn't play soccer until he was 14, to stay in shape for basketball and baseball. He started playing in goal when the only other goalkeeper for his freshman team was injured at tryouts.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@darren_1066 @FullTimeTripp It absolutely helps and I never disagreed with that.

Rooney may have rode his BMX after scoring against Arsenal at 16, but he was also in the Everton academy at 9 years old. He was far from a simple street baller.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@darren_1066 @FullTimeTripp It is the beauty of soccer and when I was a kid (49 now) I played FB, basketball, soccer and baseball in the local field. I also played on teams for all of those sports at some point. Having a kick about doesn't develop top players. Does it help? Always, but it won't do it alone.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@j8Bomaye @FullTimeTripp My thought is soccer in the US loses top athletes in the 8-12 year old range because it's only looking in 1 place for them. That place is academy programs at pay-to-play clubs via tournaments and showcases. 2% of club players from households making under $50k (1/3 of US homes)

[J Wells @JW49067]

@rock22_j @j8Bomaye @FullTimeTripp Agreed, add in hockey as well

[J Wells @JW49067]

@darren_1066 @FullTimeTripp Most of the goals are locked up when a team hasn't rented the fields. This is situation that has grown exponentially over the past 10-15 years. There are some, however, kids routinely get run off of them by security/police. It's a grassroots problem

[J Wells @JW49067]

@CoachDoria_ @FullTimeTripp That is a completely different topic. Yes, you can go to a field, play and have a great time. He is addressing the pathways to become a high-level player. Going to a random field on Tuesday night isn't going to provide the development needed, it can help but you need other things

[J Wells @JW49067]

@nickweinstein27 @Steve702808 @PaulSpacey Agreed. My thought is soccer in the US loses top athletes in the 8-12 year old range because it's only looking in 1 place for them. That place is academy programs at pay-to-play clubs via tournaments and showcases. 2% of club players from households making under $50k (1/3 of HH)

[J Wells @JW49067]

@nickweinstein27 @Steve702808 @PaulSpacey Spanish players are 9 times more likely to play in La Liga than American players are to play in the NBA (0.00099% to 0.00011%). To be a professional athlete is incredibly unlikely anywhere. Put up additional barriers (financial) and it becomes even more unlikely

[J Wells @JW49067]

@Travistown @AliceClarr @LangmanVince The FIVB Volleyball World Championships had 1.1 billion views in China alone

Super Bowl LX in 2026 averaged 125.6 million viewers, making it the second-most watched Super Bowl in history.

It's population dynamics

[J Wells @JW49067]

@PaulSpacey @ShaeffinSA Dude, it was a joke. None of these guys grew up playing soccer and that's the point.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@pkpled @PaulSpacey @Steve702808 Hey, Cooper Dejean and Riley Moss started all season for the Eagles and Broncos last year. lol, your point still stands though 😂

[J Wells @JW49067]

@ShaeffinSA @PaulSpacey I would love to see a team with these guys, lol. Fastest team ever. Grew up close to Iverson, saw him play in HS, it was unreal. He was also the best HS QB on the Peninsula in the 90s, over Michael Vick, Ronald Curry and Aaron Brooks. Best overall athlete I've ever seen in person

[J Wells @JW49067]

@Travistown @AliceClarr @LangmanVince Table tennis is the national sport of China. China has 1.4 billion people. US has 350 million population. That's why

[J Wells @JW49067]

@HbarSpammer @Tylercatoo @HeidiBriones @EtanBoss Ronaldo started playing at Andorinha (local club) at 7-8 because his Dad was the kit man for the senior club. At 10, he moved to C.D. Nacional (currently in Primeira Liga). At 12, he moved to Sporting CP.

He did not buy a soccer, go play in a field & get scouted from that field

[J Wells @JW49067]

@__Celtics______ @SprtBookReviews I have found 3, 11 and 29 as the answer, lol

The problem is that we lose great players early in the cycle or before they get into the cycle. For athletically talented kids in the US, soccer is one of many options. In Europe and S.A., it's the 1st option. Add cost on top of that

[J Wells @JW49067]

@__Celtics______ @SprtBookReviews There are 11 of these MLS NEXT academies. Most start at U13 or U14.

How much does it cost to play and be seen by the right person to get picked up?

The reality is the best players, who can afford the costs before being picked up, are filtered into a small number of academies.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@Sodopeofficiql @Jimmyfris @RBPundit That said, some deserved cards and other punishment. They are just not the same.

[J Wells @JW49067]

@Sodopeofficiql @Jimmyfris @RBPundit None of those are the same as Balogun's. All of those glanced off of the leg and didn't have the follow through creating the danger to the player and triggering the serious foul play red card