Kolek planning to go pro
As I just posted, I'll backtrack a bit on that. There are plenty of US players internationally on foreign teams. In fact, according to people that follow these things, most of the top young players are outside of MLS.Also, I firmly agree that the MLS lack of free agency, and lack of transparency on player allocation in particular, will hold back the league. No argument there. MLS has to become a more desirable location to play, which is partially starting to happen.However, a lot of talent being funneled into the U17/U20 teams is a product of MLS academies. USLPro and those affiliations are starting development of players sooner. Needing MLS to improve the USMNT is simply a numbers game. There are maybe 6-7 quality players internationally. Are we going to pin all our hopes on those players? Or do we improve the talent base with hundreds of potential young players through MLS, USL Pro, and the MLS academies? As that system improves, the USMNT will be much stronger.
Well, right now what's happening is that the best US players ARE playing in MLS. As I'm sure you are aware, MLS keeps improving, as my beloved #cf97 struggle to keep up (#HauptmanOut).My view of the fundamental problem is that US players aren't good enough for the big transfer windows. Let's say we use big transfer values/salaries as the rough proxy for talent. It's never happened for a US player. So what's the path to a big money transfer?International Youth Academy program makes first team and transfers. This is your Julian Green, Hyndman, Rubio Rubin, etc approach. I hope it works out, and there are a lot more young (U20) players in foreign academies these days. This is very promising and a path of growing the USMNT that does not require MLS.Rising US player signs contract with international club. This is the traditional route, most recently by Yedlin, but before that by Dempsey, Bradley, Altidore. Except that these guys initially transferred for small dollars and are coming home to make real money.My point is that the growth of MLS will increase the number of US players having big money transfers because there is more money to be made at home.
Until we create an academy system where players can train and get an education (think Southhampton) the US isn't going to produce enough talent internally to meet the numbers needed for USMNT.MLS is working on academies, but as far as I can tell they are only half serious, and even then there is such a cap on salaries going into the MLS it's hard to justify making that choice.
Agreed. And I think you are starting to see the MLS become more attractive. The league is expanding and attracting some great talent overseas. Now I know that Kaka, David Villa, Lampard, and Gerrard are a little past their prime, but bringing them into the MLS, especially all at the same time while roping back all of the major USMNT players is generating more interest in the league domestically.Short-term for the USMNT I think it would be beneficial for the top players to play overseas against better competition. Long-term I think its better that those guys are coming back and playing in the MLS, building the league into ultimately a more competitive league that will be able to generate higher quality players down the road.I bought season tickets for the brand new NYCFC team this year, I'm excited. One of the greatest environments I have been to at a sporting event was a Seattle Sounders home game two years ago. That stadium was rocking for the full 90 minutes.
Admittedly this is a bit of a bitter pill for me, but as JWags pointed out, until we break down the current system it won't work. We have to get soccer out of college and likely high school to be competitive. When I was a freshmen at MU I had a try out with the Chicago Fire and they extended me an offer, but because the contract was so poor and it would have required me to skip college, I turned it down. Oh what could have been.Until we create an academy system where players can train and get an education (think Southhampton) the US isn't going to produce enough talent internally to meet the numbers needed for USMNT.MLS is working on academies, but as far as I can tell they are only half serious, and even then there is such a cap on salaries going into the MLS it's hard to justify making that choice.
Not a rhetorical question .... but in this instance, what makes soccer different from/unique compared to a sport like hockey, which similarly faces competition with international teams/players and yet has a thriving college (and in some places, high school) development system?There is a national academy in Ann Arbor (US Hockey's National Team Development Program) that produces a lot of the top talent, but there's no academy system compared to what exists in European soccer. And there have been many good American players who've come out of the high school/college ranks without being in the national program.
I'd like to see Peter Wilt run for USSF President. I think he'd do much better than Gulati.
Agreed. But I don't think he would unless Gulati stepped down. FWIW, if that did happen I think it would be the end of the Klinsmann era, or at least shorten the leash significantly.
I can say without question Peter was not a fan of the Bradley dismissal. That may stem from their time together with the Fire but I'm confident had it been Peter's decision Bradley would have at least taken us through 2014.Personally I think JK was a solid long term hire though I feel Bradley may have yielded better short term results. I can definitely say things would be dIfferent with Peter sitting in Gulati's chair.
I hate Brazilian internationals. Silva and Luiz knocked out my Blues and poor showings from Willian and Ramires didn't help. I hate how Jose plays when he's tied or ahead in aggregate, especially since PSG was down a man for 85 minutes. Time to put Cuadrado on the right side instead of Willian. Getting real, tired of him.
Great cartoon from one of the French papers-
Sucks for you as a fan, great for every other person in the known world.
1000% That game ended with excitement but was a joke for most of the match. Ibra's red card was HORRIBLE. I've yet to see a single commentator of note defend that decision. And beyond that, Chelsea played incredibly cynically and in the most unimaginative style. Which is especially lame when you have that amount of talent, especially in attack.Glad PSG is through. Love their style of soccer when they are clicking, and Ibra has been one of my favorite players for a long time, and we don't get much more of him.
2018 World Cup qualifying began today! Initial rounds in Asia, including the first leg between East Timor and Mongolia!
Should be one for the ages.
But not necessarily better by any tangible measurement.