So you can't name where these mythical unicorns of coaches that develop international talent here in the US are located at? It isn't at ANY of the US domestic pro leagues, amateur leagues and even pay-to-play clubs. So where are they and how can you vouch they are that good?
Again…my point wasn’t to be overly critical of MLS. It’s the fed still thinking they have to try to operate like a club team developing youth players. It’s a waste of money and resources. MLS..:timing issues aside…is doing anywhere from great (in places) to good (in places) to poor (in places)…just like every other country in the planet.
This is a completely different discussion. It appears you are unable to actually have a discussion though so I will pass. MLS may be the tallest midget, but that isn't what they sell nor what their cheerleaders are pushing on here.
I’d say 15. Toronto FC came onto the scene with a lot of fan passion. It showed what was possible. IIRC that was the same year Beckham signed with the league, 2007. How soon after that “proof of concept “ became apparent should they have started academies? I don’t think they wasted any time, maybe a year at the most, given the context.
In retrospect, the first Bradenton class being insanely productive (Landon, Onyewu, DMB, Convey, and I think Beckerman) misled the Fed into thinking they’d found a cheap way to develop players. Imagine us pumping out 6 players of that quality every two years.
Can some you MLS fans talk about which clubs embraced academies in 2007 and which ones dragged their heels?
Just say you were making shit up and have no clue where these mythical unicorns that develop international talent, as you said exist here in the US, are located at. Because we sure can't find them at any US pro league or even amateur leagues.
I will say for the last time, MLS, the media, and it's fans will tell you they are doing a great job with youth development, but the facts are they haven't developed a handful of players in 17 years that are at the level they claim the league wants to be at. As of right now, they are failing miserably.
I agree, MLS has bad developers. Zero international talent developed. But where are those mythical unicorns that develop international talent you claim exist are here in the US but aren't working with ANY of the pro leagues or amateur leagues? How do you even know they exist and what proof do you have of their work? Is that too difficult to answer?
Reyna, Weah, Adams and Scally all were in New York academies. That’s just one city, albeit the biggest one. Alphonse Davies was in an MLS academy. FC Dallas and the Union, between them, could come pretty close to a USMNT that would make the old hexagonal, albeit likely to come in last. Are you being ironic?
If passing through for few years is the criteria then these great MLS academies are still behind UVA and UCLA.
You still can't answer where those mythical developers reside? If we can't find them in MLS, USL, NISA, amateur, college, pay to play clubs where are they?
The same could be said about when Earnie Stewart was hired. He spent the majority of his life, playing and post playing career in the Netherlands prior to coming to the US to take the Sporting Director job at Philadelphia Union. The biggest red flag to fans should have been when he left immediately after the 2022 World Cup. Even bigger red flag was Stewart working on his exit prior to the 2022 World Cup. I do fully understand a big factor was the desire to be with his family, who were still in the Netherlands. US Soccer was seemingly unprepared and caught off guard by his departure. It's rather telling that all of the domestic candidates for the gig seemingly said thanks but no thanks before even interviewing for the job. The sporting/technical/CSO's in the domestic leagues work with and communicate with US Soccer. They also know Earnie Stewart from his time with Philadelphia and US Soccer. They all talk. Which leads me to believe that they all know that US Soccer as an organization is a minefield none of them want to step near let alone into. US Soccer has 114 organization members within it. That's a whole lot of stakeholders to appease/please, and get moving in the same general direction. I get the idea of what US Soccer is trying to accomplish with having a Technical/Sporting Director. IMO, the scope might be too large and frankly unrealistic at this point in time. When one looks at US Soccer's Strategic Vision, for an organization that has been run like a mom & pop business for much of its' existence their vision is overly ambitious in scope. Frankly two of their pillars are outside of their organizations scope as well. IMO, US Soccer needs to be all about Growing the game and developing winning teams before they can even begin to entertain the other 3 pillars. Bringing this all back to Crocker, what exactly does he do in his role as technical director? On the one hand I can understand the unhappiness with him not attending Copa America, and instead being in Europe/UK during this time. On the other hand, Onyewu was at Copa America. Without knowing the answer to the question of what Crocker's role is, it's difficult to really get all raging mad about it. Which brings this full circle to the start of my post. Is it possible Crocker is staying overseas because he's planning his exit? Is it plausible that after a year and change in the job he's looked around and decided that US Soccer as an organization is a mess he wants no part of? US Soccer, and the players wanted to bring Gregg back based upon all of the tea leaves and information that's been put out there. Crocker it seems from afar was keen on hiring Marsch. He ultimately went with his then new employers choice. Fast forward a year later and now the organization no longer wants Gregg because the USMNT got embarrassed this past month. Oh, and the guy Crocker wanted to hire leads Canada to the semifinals of Copa America. The World Cup is LESS THAN 2 years away now, and US Soccer needs to change coaches. Does Crocker have some culpability in the current situation? Yes, he was the public face who rehired Gregg. IMO, he shouldn't become the scapegoat for the continual failings of US Soccer as an organization. He hasn't been setup for success.
They aren't anywhere.There is no consistent American pipeline.That's why we had the lost generation of USMNT players. Players emerge through their own efforts/talent and family willingness /capability to support it.Rugged individualism!Murica!
In defense of Earnie and US Soccer, it seemed like there was a good chance that his wife's parent(s) needed help due to medical issues -- that's something that can come on pretty quick. It's very telling that when Earnie left, the one thing he basically said he failed at / the next person needed to fix, wasn't around anything to do with the national teams but rather trying to get youth soccer to play along. And he wasn't talking about MLS or USL (although USL insisting on their own youth league is counterproductive), he was talking about the typical youth leagues constantly turf fighting with each other -- namely USYS and AYSO. I would disagree with this -- the other work is part and parcel of growing the game and I'd argue is FAR more important (with growing the game) than the National Teams. The National Teams are a tool to grow the game; they've become a way outsized focus because they are the revenue stream. But honestly, for all the talk on here -- a $30M investment in Klopp to get us to a Quarterfinal, even if guaranteed, is a relatively shitty investment to grow the game in the grand scheme. Put that into coach training over the next five years and I bet you see a far bigger return. One thing you are very right about is that Crocker's responsibilities range far greater than hiring and firing the National Team coach. And if he's excelling there, then he's a success, regardless of people's constant harping on Berhalter. If his job was just to make two hires, then no, you don't need the damn position. But as you said, US Soccer was run as Gulati's little fiefdom; actually having professionals in their jobs is important to actually grow the game.
It’s also the case that the sporting director job is inherently less interesting for a CSO from a club team. You aren’t bringing in players, trying to shape a roster, etc. You’re basically just hiring a coach and dealing with the other USSF related stuff. And it’s also the case when Stewart was hired that he was paid more than MLS equivalents and that’s not really the case anymore. I was sort of surprised that they didn’t give any consideration to just promoting McBride. Given his comments it’s not clear how much it was his decision to actually leave. I think there’s no question that USSF is a much more political/bureaucratic organization then you’d see at the club level and that impacts the pace at which you can make changes. I feel like as long as Crocker is fulfilling the duties of the job it doesn’t matter where he is. I also think that it’s unclear what’s true and what’s not true in this regard. But this is the reason that Stewart instituted the Chicago requirement for the coach. He wanted someone who is invested into the program versus someone who just flies in and out.
If Crocker wanted someone else when he was first hired but USSF and players opposed then why even create a position of Sporting Director if they aren't going to make the decisions? Just a waste of money. Crocker should just quit but I will understand why he wouldn't. I too would keep a job where I'm getting paid but don't have to show up to work and don't have to make any decisions. That's a really nice gig.
Why do people act like the decision went down like this? That the players just blindsided in with a completely unknown and overrode Crocker. Crocker was tasked with choosing a coach. Both Marsch and Berhalter were finalists and clearly both impressed him in some ways. Perhaps Crocker favored Marsh at some stage, and then he talked to the players, and that input -- one of many -- pushed Berhalter past Marsch. People act like Crocker had no interest in re-hiring Berhalter and was dead set on Marsh and then the players came in and he cowered in a corner and was like "fine." Instead of, hey there's criteria and the players' opinion is a key data point that tipped the scales. Which is totally reasonable and still a sporting director making a decision.
Sirius FC was discussing the new Chelsea manager and it was speculated that the players may have been asked for input. One of the panelists, a former Director of Football,snarled,'Players shouldn't be asked." I mostly feel that way as well.
I'm not sure why people think so dichotomously, but being "asked for input" doesn't mean "I'll do whatever the players say." It's a strange assumption to me by people that all players are slackers who would always push for an easier time than winning, and it's a strange assumption that once a SD gets input, they must cave to the players' every whim. As if talking to them puts a spell on you. Asking players for input seems incredibly intelligent to me. They are the core of your team; understanding what they want, what will motivate them, what they feel is working and not, etc. is important information. Do players always know what they need? They do not. Are they self serving? Of course. Do you need to view their answers with a filter? Yes. But this isn't the old days anymore. Players win games, but now players have power. They are paid a ton. They can demand transfers. You can't just bury a malcontent with no consequences. And what do you know -- sometimes players are right. I'm not so certain why people are so certain that they -- or even a sporting director -- can know from the outside, with no inside input -- exactly what a team needs. But they do.
DC United didn't even get rid of pay for play for their academy until like 2 years ago (may be slightly longer, covid has destroyed my sense of time). Given Levien is our owner I have my doubts we aren't half assing it even now haha. Not that we haven't had a few players come out of it who've been somewhat relevant? (Kevin Paredes, Griffin Yow, Bill Hamid technically though he's more a local product who joined DC briefly). It could be way better than it is though given the area
Thanks for the honest response. I am not sure why that is so hard around here. Agreed! DMV at least used to one of the best in the country.
That's an interesting challenge: Freese Reynolds McKenzie Richards Acosta McKennie Tessman B. Aaronson Ferreira Pepi Zendejas Bench - Dos Santos, Rick, Cannon, Harriel, Trusty, Jonathan Gomez, Cerrillo, McGlynn, Pomykal, P. Aaronson, Johan Gomez, Q. Sullivan Alternates - Real, Craig, Che, Servania, Derrick Jones, Fontana, C. Sullivan Depth is a concern at GK and up top (although even the depth is surprisingly solid in the back line and midfield), but that's a pretty solid squad. Admittedly I have Acosta and Ferreira out of their primary positions but all of the first 11 are MLS starter caliber or better as are more than half of the bench players...that might even be more like a midtable Hex team as long as Freese and Pepi stay healthy.
Is Jesse Gonzalez playing or retired? He looked so promising, but had that DV incident and just disappeared.
Apparently he played 10 games with a club in Guatemala last year but doesn't seem to still be there. Other than that hasn't played since being released by FCD. Sad, obviously deserved if the allegations are true (which they seem to be given FCD released him and nobody else will touch him) but I thought he had a national team starter level ceiling.