IMG (Bradenton at the time) Class of 1999-2000 (Technically, the class graduated in 1999).

PART 1: Those That Didn???t ???Make It???

We all know about Landon Donovan???s rough times with Bayer Leverkusen when he was a youngster. But LD wasn???t alone in his struggles in Europe for the class of 1999-00. Five other players went to Europe or abroad, failed to find success, or were injured and are currently not actively playing any longer.

Filippo Chillemi on the other hand, (still only 27 years old) went to Empoli in Italy after playing for the U17s, but came home empty handed with a career ending ankle injury.

DJ Countess ended all the way up in Argentina???s 1st Division playing GK for Tigres after playing in Sweden and the Chilean 2nd Division. He suffered a broken wrist in 2008 and hasn???t been heard from since.

Alex Yi was very highly touted coming out of college and Bradenton, but failed to earn a position with Royal Antwerp in Belgium, failed to win a consistent role in the MLS when he came home, and finally retired at the ripe old age of 26. He???s now an assistant coach with the Dayton Flyers.

Adolfo Gregorio also had high expectations after IMG and the U17s???so much so that he went to England right away and signed with League 2 side Darlington, only to leave a year later without much success. He attempted to play for Real Salt Lake but was released. Adolfo quit the game at age 24???

Bobby Convey???s first two years with Reading can certainly be described as a success (as was his time with the USMNT)--it???s been all downhill since his first injury in 2006. No more goals, no playing time, and then an underwhelming return to the MLS in 2009.

Other failures of the Class of 1999 include 13 players who at the age of 27 do not play for any professional club at all--even more sad when you find out why:

Justin Detter quit because he called the level of pay for MLS players ???atrocious.???

Jordan Cila must have had the same idea, because he quit the MLS and became and investment analyst for Goldman Sachs.

U17 star, Danny Bolin joined the United State Air Force. And depend on your expectations for the Academy itself, and mine tend to be high, 3 players ended up in the USL.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:07 AM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

IMG (Bradenton at the time) Class of 1999-2000 (Technically, the class graduated in 1999). PART 1: Those That Didn???t ???Make It??? We all know about Landon Donovan???s rough times with Bayer Leverkusen when he was a youngster. But LD wasn???t alone in his struggles in Europe for the class of 1999-00. Five other players went to Europe or abroad, failed to find success, or were injured and are currently not actively playing any longer. Filippo Chillemi on the other hand, (still only 27 years old) went to Empoli in Italy after playing for the U17s, but came home empty handed with a career ending ankle injury. DJ Countess ended all the way up in Argentina???s 1st Division playing GK for Tigres after playing in Sweden and the Chilean 2nd Division. He suffered a broken wrist in 2008 and hasn???t been heard from since. Alex Yi was very highly touted coming out of college and Bradenton, but failed to earn a position with Royal Antwerp in Belgium, failed to win a consistent role in the MLS when he came home, and finally retired at the ripe old age of 26. He???s now an assistant coach with the Dayton Flyers. Adolfo Gregorio also had high expectations after IMG and the U17s???so much so that he went to England right away and signed with League 2 side Darlington, only to leave a year later without much success. He attempted to play for Real Salt Lake but was released. Adolfo quit the game at age 24??? Bobby Convey???s first two years with Reading can certainly be described as a success (as was his time with the USMNT)--it???s been all downhill since his first injury in 2006. No more goals, no playing time, and then an underwhelming return to the MLS in 2009. Other failures of the Class of 1999 include 13 players who at the age of 27 do not play for any professional club at all--even more sad when you find out why: Justin Detter quit because he called the level of pay for MLS players ???atrocious.??? Jordan Cila must have had the same idea, because he quit the MLS and became and investment analyst for Goldman Sachs. U17 star, Danny Bolin joined the United State Air Force. And depend on your expectations for the Academy itself, and mine tend to be high, 3 players ended up in the USL.

it's Friday...don't get me depressed!

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 10:55 AM ET  11.20 by kennybabs

it's Friday...don't get me depressed!

oh, 1503!

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 11:03 AM ET  11.20 by kennybabs

oh, 1503!

The truth must be known! Sorry, Kenny....

Whatever happened to the 1999 U17 Team that came in 4th at the U17 World Cup? Suppose to be the "great" generation of American Soccer, here is where they are now (almost of them are currently 27 and should be hitting their prime).

1 GK
D.J. Countess
Out of game.

2 DF
Kellen Kalso
Out of game

3 MF
DaMarcus Beasley
Rangers, Scotland

4 MF
Nelson Akwari
Charleston Battery, USL

5 DF
Alex Yi
Out of game

6 DF
Gregory Martin
Out of game

7 MF
Kenneth Cutler
Richmond Kickers, USL2

8 MF
Bryan Jackson
Out of game

9 MF
Adolfo Gregorio
Out of game

10 FW
Landon Donovan
LA Galaxy, MLS

11 FW
Bobby Convey
San Jose, MLS

12 MF
Ra??l Palomares
President/Technical Director, Autobahn Soccer Academy, CA

13 FW
Abe Thompson
Houston Dynamo, MLS

14 DF
Oguchi Onyewu
AC Milan, Italy

15 MF
Kyle Beckerman
Real Salt Lake, MLS

16 FW
Jordan Cila
Out of game

17 DF
Seth Trembly
Free Agent

18 GK
Steve Cronin
Portland Timbers, USL

Remember, this was the team that beat up on Argentina!

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 11:05 AM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

The truth must be known! Sorry, Kenny....

i find your 'theory' on the IMG Academy intriguing...but to understand the profoundness of your claims you should research other national academies and their success rate. your position should grant you access to the necessary resources. keep up the good work.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 11:08 AM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

Remember, this was the team that beat up on my mom!

Really sorry to hear that, son. Looks like use should protect on her a little bit better!

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 11:55 AM ET  11.20 by Penn State Playa

Really sorry to hear that, son. Looks like they should use and abuse my mom instead--cos' she likes it rough.

Oter should give her a call for his next flick... ;)

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 12:01 PM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

Oter should give her a call for his next flick... ;)

You are a funny man mister. Course youre not the best speller, seeing how its spelt otter. Duh! I'm out, son!

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 11:10 AM ET  11.20 by kennybabs

i find your 'theory' on the IMG Academy intriguing...but to understand the profoundness of your claims you should research other national academies and their success rate. your position should grant you access to the necessary resources. keep up the good work.

The reason the IMG academy is the subject is because it is THE official youth academy for US Soccer. No other academies have this position--so comparing them would be like comparing big red apples to little sour green apples.

I think it sucks that you can change someones quote.... I think Joe and I are in for a ride....

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 12:04 PM ET  11.20 by Penn State Playa

You are a funny man mister. Course youre not the best speller, seeing how its spelt otter. Duh! I'm out, son!

Oter--short for Otergod.... He's a porn movie producer, director, actor and historical chronicler.

See ya again soon Joe!

QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 12:04 PM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

The reason the IMG academy is the subject is because it is THE official youth academy for US Soccer. No other academies have this position--so comparing them would be like comparing big red apples to little sour green apples. I think it sucks that you can change someones quote.... I think Joe and I are in for a ride....

other countrys' academies...i'm sure they have some form of youth development you could compare

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:15 PM ET  11.20 by 718

By decent I meant Landon and Onyewu. Beasley and Convey as a secondary decent.

didn't LD win award for best player in the tourney? and at one time DMB was one of our best players and SHOULD be at his prime right now. add Onyewu and Convey before his freefall and that was a pretty good class. imagine if we had a class like that every year!!! hell, just one LD every year would suffice

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 12:25 PM ET  11.20 by kennybabs

other countrys' academies...i'm sure they have some form of youth development you could compare

We need to turn Bradenton into what it should have been all along - a coaching academy. Donovan hit on this in his interview on Bill Simmons' podcast, but coaching in this country for young players is simply too up and down and inconsistent all across the board.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:15 PM ET  11.20 by 718

By decent I meant Landon and Onyewu. Beasley and Convey as a secondary decent.

but that is a pretty accurate

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 12:29 PM ET  11.20 by j11forbes: LCMD Playa

We need to turn Bradenton into what it should have been all along - a coaching academy. Donovan hit on this in his interview on Bill Simmons' podcast, but coaching in this country for young players is simply too up and down and inconsistent all across the board.

a neighbor of mine let me borrow a coaching book he had, which was offiliated with the US Soccer Federation. included training incerpts from Sigi and other US notables. was by far the most elementary and embaressing book i've ever looked at on the subject of soccer.

QUOTE(#5):

Originally posted 11:08 AM ET  11.20 by D-Wreck

Whatever happened to the 1999 U17 Team that came in 4th at the U17 World Cup? Suppose to be the "great" generation of American Soccer, here is where they are now (almost of them are currently 27 and should be hitting their prime).

Unfortunately, this happens consistently in all sports, we just aren't deep enough in the national talent pool to not notice the failures. Not many of the Miracle On Ice Olympic team went on to stellar careers, that was their shining beacon. Since they are under-17, maybe they've peaked in their skills overall, which put them a step ahead of other 17 year olds... but other 17 year olds may still have had that room left to grow. That and again, we need managers here. While it isn't as attractive a prospect, there should be an academy for young minds to go to learn the tactics of the game at the managerial level, and a coaching level. Coaching staffs aren't the size of football staffs where a kid can catch on while they're still in college and end up being Jon Gruden or Josh McDaniels....