Major League Soccer Talk - Latest Comments in US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

bocia — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:12:06 -0000

i think more to blame are obvious holes in us youth development. here (in us) everybody plays, but at a lesser level than overseas. we have talent, but more "late bloomers" because they don't get scooped up at age 12 by major clubs like overseas. it'll take time, but our huge numbers will compensate as youth development itself gets developed... eventually.

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Ned — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 20:20:59 -0000

The MLS may have stunk up a few careers, but going abroad has been a disaster for some young players. Kamani Hill? Lee Nguyen? Robbie Rogers - who only found his feet when he came back home (even if he still had a poor showing at the Olympics)? Eddie Johnson looks doomed for that road too (though he may never have been good enough). There's a lot more reward in going abroad, but a whole lot of risk as well.

I think that the case of Benny Feilhaber sums up the issue of playing abroad for US players. He rose well at Hamburg, getting some Champions League appearances and settling into the US lineup; his high point came with a beautiful volley at the 2007 Gold Cup. So, in that case, playing abroad worked well for him. But then he made a disastrous career move in going to Derby County. Now, he's even considering moving to Maccabi Tel Aviv to get first team football, and, meanwhile, he's lost his place in the US team. In that case, playing abroad hurt.

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

evegoe — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:45:18 -0000

Player development is like a flop of texas hold 'em... it's easy to look at the flop see what could happen and maybe you can even compute the odds, but you can't be certain how it'll end up at the end.

I think you might be onto something about how the MLS lacks the emphasis on possession and individual ball skills, but to make an argument that the MLS is treading on the success of Sam's Army is a stretch. The opportunity to play professionally has expanded the number of players who have the opportunity to develop. Even Portugal's golden generation of stars couldn't deliver in the big tournaments--they had to wait for the second generation.

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Joe L — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 12:16:19 -0000

Let's add Michael Orozco to the list of NON-MLS players committing infantile mistakes that cost the US the tournament. Nice try on the article though. Really.

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Max — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:47:11 -0000

Until we send our U-20 kids over the South America or Europe for a year to emerse themselves in a footballing culture this will keep happening. Ever hear of no end in sight?

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Joe L — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:37:07 -0000

Talk about one side of the coin. Adu and Bradley, having been in Europe for quite some time, made two of the most naive, egregious, and costly mistakes in that match. Take a step off of your soapbox, dude.

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

J Harris — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:40:38 -0000

A good read for sure. Some valid points here

Re: US Collapses: Is MLS to Blame?

Mark — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:46:20 -0000

Good read, thanks.