Is North America now the biggest hotbed for football talent after Europe?

[AmericasToffee]

You're saying that a nation that has been actively disinterested in a global sport until a few years ago when they realised it can make people rich have now shown 5 minutes of interest and so are somehow suddenly the best?

Not even a texan would have the brass neck to claim that.

It's getting much better and the academies are more serious about youth development, partly because now they know there is money in it by selling young players to Europe.

But that's as far as I'll go.

 

[chrismpw]

It's getting much better and the academies are more serious about youth development, partly because now they know there is money in it by selling young players to Europe.

But that's as far as I'll go.

I'm sure it is - but there's a world of difference between getting better and being the world's best.

 

[longers]

lets be honest, if yanks wanted to be the best at football they could probably do it given the size of the population. It would take many years/decades to happen but they could do it if they had the desire to. Luckily they don’t have that desire to, plus it’s a middle class sport over there… No one in the hood out playing soccer.

 

[AmericasToffee]

I'm sure it is - but there's a world of difference between getting better and being the world's best.

Surely you know I'm in agreement with you. Chris Richards, Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, etc aren't setting any world records. Better than Tim Ream, though, which is where they were not even 10 years ago.

 

[AmericasToffee]

lets be honest, if yanks wanted to be the best at football they could probably do it given the size of the population. It would take many years/decades to happen but they could do it if they had the desire to. Luckily they don’t have that desire.

It's been the sport of the future for at least 20 years here.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Historically, South America has always been a hotbed for footballing talent. Even outside of Brazil and Argentina, the likes of Chile, Uruguay and Colombia have produced immense talent in the past. Currently, we are in 2021 and South American talent has dried up. Uruguay, Chile and Colombia don't really have any new players to replace their aging superstars. Brazil aren't exactly producing anybody special anymore. Argentina are probably the only South American that have decent prospects but even then, they are not that impressive. Now, let's look at Anglo American countries like USA and Canada. Alphonso Davies is probably the best LB in the world. Sergino Dest one of the best full-backs in the world at his age. Players like Pulisic are much better than Vinicius Jr. Jonathan David is better than any youth Brazilian prospect and he has won Lille the Ligue 1. Players like Reyna, McKennie, Adams are considered one of the best prospects in the world. America's youth talent is never-ending and they've got more stars in the pipeline coming through such as Aaronson and Dike.

Are we seeing a change in football now? Is North America the new South America when it comes to talent?

FCD has done very well developing players, but we're talking 1 out of 20 MLS clubs in a broken professional system built on top of a broken youth development system. Until every MLS club has 2-3 Clint Dempsey's trying to break into the first team sheet, then

 

[SerenityNigh]

It's been the sport of the future for at least 20 50 years here.

*since 1972

 

[d34noj]

I'm sure it is - but there's a world of difference between getting better and being the world's best.

Hey Jonathan Davies single handedly won the league for Lille, and Alphonso Davies is the best left back in the world, ever. (ignore the fact he's Canadian).

Therefore North America is indeed the greatest hotbed of footballing talent in the world, as God himself deemed it so.

Amen.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Hey Jonathan Davies single handedly won the league for Lille, and Alphonso Davies is the best left back in the world, ever. (ignore the fact he's Canadian).

Therefore North America is indeed the greatest hotbed of footballing talent in the world, as God himself deemed it so.

Amen.

Erm, I don't want to get pedantic but despite their most sincere desires, Canada is part of North America.

 

[d34noj]

Erm, I don't want to get pedantic but despite their most sincere desires, Canada is part of North America.

Still a different country. Wales is part of the UK but I don't see Gareth Bale as a player from my country - as he's not from my country. Hence a Canadian isn't an American.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Still a different country. Wales is part of the UK but I don't see Gareth Bale as a player from my country - as he's not from my country. Hence a Canadian isn't an American.

 

[chrismpw]

Surely you know I'm in agreement with you. Chris Richards, Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, etc aren't setting any world records. Better than Tim Ream, though, which is where they were not even 10 years ago.

I read your post as agreement chum. My point about the difference was aimed at the o.p.

 

[RAFUH]

lets be honest, if yanks wanted to be the best at football they could probably do it given the size of the population. It would take many years/decades to happen but they could do it if they had the desire to. Luckily they don’t have that desire to, plus it’s a middle class sport over there… No one in the hood out playing soccer.

Maybe not the hood, but all the barrios

 

[LEONARD]

I love the USA, but come on.

 

[canuckblue]

Still a different country. Wales is part of the UK but I don't see Gareth Bale as a player from my country - as he's not from my country. Hence a Canadian isn't an American.

Thank the stars for small miracles.