The American Player

[pfim]

U.S. soccer has reached its tipping point - Greg Lalas - SI.com

Thought this was a good read. The path a US soccer player takes is probably different than anywhere else in the world.

 

[davek]

"...from a purely soccer perspective, I see nothing but positives from the direction we are moving."

Not sure I'd agree with that. What about the quality of the MLS - will that suffer as a result of the exodus?

Years ago we had lots of Scotland's greatest players involved in the best teams in England. Great for English clubs, but was it good for another national league to be stripped of its talent?

Sure the national team benefits with more players playing on bigger stages week in, week out. But even there, what price the split in the national team between home based and foreign based? Using the Scots example again: there used to be a big rift between so called Anglo-Scots and players playing for Scottish League teams. Damaged cohesion could become a factor.


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[Robert Jarvis]

I remember back aways we had, Alex Scott, Alex Young, Alex Parker, Jimmy Gabriel all playing at the same time, four out of eleven.

 

[pfim]

I don't think that is such a big issue. I can see where you draw the parallel, but Scotland had a much better and more established domestic league. Scotland is just a very small country.

The MLS players negotiate union contracts that put constraints on training time and such. The constraints are even greater on college players. So they're either skipping college to go to the MLS, or to Europe to get that training time in.

Having successful players in Europe also gives incentive to younger players to stay with soccer instead of the multitude of other sports that generate more money and fame in the US. The MLS is never going to offer the same sort of salaries and fame as a top 3 league, if more kids see Europe as an option, less would be so quick to dismiss soccer.

 

[davek]

I don't think that is such a big issue. I can see where you draw the parallel, but Scotland had a much better and more established domestic league. Scotland is just a very small country.

The MLS players negotiate union contracts that put constraints on training time and such. The constraints are even greater on college players. So they're either skipping college to go to the MLS, or to Europe to get that training time in.

Having successful players in Europe also gives incentive to younger players to stay with soccer instead of the multitude of other sports that generate more money and fame in the US. The MLS is never going to offer the same sort of salaries and fame as a top 3 league, if more kids see Europe as an option, less would be so quick to dismiss soccer.

I suppose scrapping the salary cap would take care of that...maybe the "designated player" ruling you have is the thin end of the wedge in that respect? Then again, you'll quickly end up with the monopoly you get in most top European Leagues (or quadropoly in our Premier League case...or is it duopoly now?!) rather than the open competition for honours you get.

Swings and roundabouts, I suppose.

 

[pfim]

You could do that and MLS would probably end up like NASL. The salary cap is a necessary evil until the league is able to sustain larger revenues. It would probably remain even if revenues were closer to a league like the PL. American sports have ironically become very socialist.

 

[davek]

You could do that and MLS would probably end up like NASL.The salary cap is a necessary evil until the league is able to sustain larger revenues. It would probably remain even if revenues were closer to a league like the PL. American sports have ironically become very socialist.

Good grief, there'd be no room for Team America then....

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

was peter kay the trainer ?

dave, where on earth did you dig that from ? where did they dig 1/2 of them from ?

 

[davek]

was peter kay the trainer ?

dave, where on earth did you dig that from ? where did they dig 1/2 of them from ?

Google is your friend.

The bad comb-over trainer is probably a milkman from Oswaldtwistle who blagged the Team America owner he was Bobby Charlton. You know what they're like, they'll believe anything.

 

[Reidy's Bottle Of Grecian]

Google is your friend.

The bad comb-over trainer is probably a milkman from Oswaldtwistle who blagged the Team America owner he was Bobby Charlton. You know what they're like, they'll believe anything.

i'd take the Gwlady's st toilets with their '20 capstan in 10 secs' effect over walking into the hairspray mist in their dressing room any day.

 

[davek]

i'd take the Gwlady's st toilets with their '20 capstan in 10 secs' effect over walking into the hairspray mist in their dressing room any day.

They look like Village People FC. As me arl feller used to say: if you drop the soap in a place like that, kick it to the wall and then pick it up.

 

[fairweather fan]

What are your thoughts about some of our (American) players?
Onyewu, Dempsey, Spector, etc?
Your thoughts are very much appreciated

 

[Upper Sturry Sherbets]

Did anyone hear about Beasley the other night, I heard it or saw it somewhere, but didn't get all the details.

Beasley seems a bit flippant in light of this little setback, oh it's only an $80,000 vehicle, no harm done.

DaMarcus Beasley's car firebombed - latimes.com

 

[toffeestillidie]

as an mls fan, i would love it if players around the world saw MLS as a springboard sort of league, similar to the dutch league. this would draw in young talent from across the world eager to be discovered by big teams, and overall would improve the quality of MLS, and would probably increase viewership by drawing in fans eager to see the stars of tomorrow.

if mls works to cultivate the potential of younger players, i won't even mind the presence of older players who settle for mls so they can keep playing, as it will be interesting to see the past and future of the sport playing on the same pitch.

 

[thebes20]

The REAL problem for the US is that it uses the American football format as their guide line in order to progress soccer players into pro leagues. Read MLS.

This is their route: Youth club soccer=college scholarship=MLS.

It is the same route for football: High School football=college scholarship=pros). It works for them, it does not for soccer. Why? Because American football does not compete on a world stage.

Foreign soccer players are groomed from a young age and do not see college as a way to the professional leagues like American players do. Most do not come from a middle class or above background like some American players do. (That is changing quickly, but you will not see these players for a year or two). The US is Slooooowly waking up to the fact that their system for identifing players does not work. That having players go to college and then draft them from there, does not work. Those college players can not play on an international stage. They do not have the training, the tactics, the skills, the anything, but stamina, and maybe heart.


The US will get there, but might never be on top, or even in the top 6. There are too many distractions for their athletics. Meaning the big sports in the states. I hope that they do, BUT it would take a tidal wave, AND, the stars would have to align, AND, there would have to be peace in this world, AND then maybe.......