Just to be clear, I hate the impact MLS has on the game in this country and MLS players on the USMNT. Those are two different things, but neither has anything to do with foreigners in MLS. I think the structure of the sport in this country is at the heart of the majority of our biggest problems and the only reason we keep the structure is to support MLS. The issues come down to MLS not doing a good job (youth development), MLS not thinking it is their responsibility or just not doing it (youth development 10 years ago), or the structure disincentivizes others.
Umm every mls team has academies and seem to be the only entity that is putting millions into doing it .
Ok I have had it... People like you are driving people off this site. 1. You called me drunk morning posting when you didn't like the post I put on this board. 2. You called the thread title stupid. 3. You called the sources not worthy of paying attention too. One of the sources you called childish for making fun of a name. When you yourself were childish see #1. 4. You state that you are just here to talk soccer and accuse me of only wanting to win an argument. Which is what you've done by shooting the messager repeatedly. 5. I gave you the better option is to quit posting on this thread but you have zero impulse control.
I dont know for sure, but I think he is getting annoyed by typical behavior of MLS fans. I've been there before. I will leave it at that.
And many of them are wasting their money. Do you really think MLS is doing a good job with youth development? I'd be curious why and putting millions into it isnt a good answer.
For a league many claim isn't doing a good job at youth development it sure is supplying other NT with youth players. We have had Portugal, England, Argentina, Mexico, Colombia come in, scout and call up some of the MLS developed youth players. MLS is barely 30 years old with academies around 17 years old. More than half aren't even 10 years old yet.
That is vague argument. You got any hard numbers? Also, we are talking about producing international soccer players, not prospects (count those once they come good... not common with MLS). The age of MLS and how long they have had academies is irrelevant to how well they are doing at developing players.
You got any arguments that anyone else would be developing international soccer players without the need of investing millions and if MLS wasn't here? Cause not even USL is developing those international soccer players you want. So where are those great talent developers we have here in the US but aren't working with any of the US domestic leagues?
Don't complicate this. You questioned my statement that MLS isn't doing a good job developing players yet can't seem to even put together an argument.
I have no idea how a discussion of crocker devolved into a discussion of MLS…and I have zero intention of showing ignored content and finding out. all I can say about crocker is this: I was troubled going into this tournament that…as it got closer…the tone of far too many on the team saw this as some sort of building exercise towards the World Cup rather than a unique objective in and of itself. The Copa America is the second or third most important tournament in the world…depending on whether or not you’re South American. It was a massive test…and should have been treated accordingly. Out objective should have been trying to win the thing….realistic or not. It’s one knockout to the semis…2 to the final. And if Crocker was part of that mindset…well he’s part of the wrong federation. I can honestly say I’m not sure I understand the point of having a “technical director” at the federation level. I was critical back in the day of project 2010 and Bradenton. Rather than wasting time and effort trying to develop players through the U whatever teams…I thought those resources…and the influence of the fed…should have been focused on forcing MLS teams to take youth development seriously. We waisted 15 to 20 years of the league. And we’re just now starting to see the affects of a few clubs beginning to take it seriously 15 years ago. The idea that you’re going to use U national teams to change anything in US soccer is silly. It’s hard enough and 15-17 to predict players that will still be drawing a paycheck to play the game at 25-27..:never mind thinking you’re gonna be able to identify players that will have an impact on the national team. It’s pure luck at that point. Make an impact at the club level…the national team will always find you. It’s with that mindset that I don’t understand the value of a technical director setting long term objectives. Our objectives should be short term. No more than 4 years. And if we can turn Copa America into an every 4 year endeavor…it should be a 2 year objective. And finally…if the rumors are true that he was in Europe and didn’t even bother staying around for it…well…for that alone he can ******** off back to his island.
If it's so easy to explain then where are all those mythical great talent developers that we have here in the US but aren't working with MLS, USL-C, USL-1, USL-2, NISA, UPSL, NPSL and all those pay-to-play clubs? How do you know they even exist if they aren't working with ANY of our domestic leagues? And how do you know those developers would be developing international talent?
When he was first announced every USMNT X fan (probably here too) were celebrating cause he was an outsider and was/is part of an EPL club. They thought he was the outsider that will change us and make us more like what they wish; England. Now those same people are saying he is a puppet, put in by MLS, was hired to do nothing, etc. What I got from all this is that an outsider won't care about our program and NT but fans are thirsty for outsiders to lead us to the promise land. They think anyone domestically is a step in the wrong direction, old boys club, and or nepotism (which in some cases this is true; see Berhalter).
You the one saying we have great developers here but it's MLS fault that's holding them back. So where are they cause they sure aren't working with the rest of the US domestic leagues at any level. How do you know they even exist if we aren't seeing them at ANY level. Not even at the amateur level.
Who puts your pants on. MLS has sold to a bunch of naive fans that they are developing players. Some of those fans are in here touting how great MLS is at developing players. This is false. Sorry that is so hard for you to understand.
I have no idea how anyone who's been watching the Euros or Copa would think international soccer is anything but a freaking grind. 8 goals scored in 450 minutes of playing time in the Euro quarters and besides the Colombia blowout, 4 goals scored in the other 3 Copa quarters. Serious international soccer is incredibly low scoring.
@diablodelsol It’s incredibly unfair to say MLS wasted 10-15 years. The league barely survived. It couldn’t afford another million dollars a year for crappy academies, let alone the greater amounts needed for a good one.
Fair point. Ten years? Perhaps 5? Regardless…I think they were late. The general point was the over investment by the fed in our youth teams was and continues to be lighting $100 bills on fire. Moreso now…with the number of academies doing really good work…reserve teams providing critical pro experience at 17-20 years old. Not perfect…but miles better.
Crocker led the youth development program for England, developing their style of play guidelines and integrating the teams with each other and the senior team. Then they promptly won two youth World Cups. Of course, they also had a wave of talent, but I assume Crocker was also working somewhat with some of the pro clubs in some aspect. Perhaps everything the English FA did was window dressing, but if it contributed, it doesn't seem to be a bad idea to see if Crocker can bring those ideas to the US.
MLS was close to ending in like 2002. The DA and academies kicked off in 2007. I don't know that there was really a lot of wasted time; academies are expensive and the league needed to get to a place where they could invest in something like a 20 year ROI. At least in terms of timing, there really doesn't seem to be too much of a practical delay. In terms of effectiveness, I have no idea if the Fed could have done something to accelerate the learning.