The disturbing aspect of the story is 14 players.......13 appearances total. With 12 of them Gerson Mayen. So these young players aren't getting playing time, and that doesn't look to change any time soon. We're increasing the salary cap, increasing the number of DP's, etc..............adding more quality veteran talent to the league. And that will lead to a continued decline in PT for all but the elite youth talents. Dallas is having a hard time getting PT for young drafted 20-somethings like Eric Avila, Brek Shea, Peri Marosevic, Anthony Wallace, Josh Lambo, etc.........so Bryan Leyva is waaaaaaaay down on the end of the bench. They were able to loan out Lambo to the Rowdies, but the others are just sitting around. I can't see Leyva making anything other than a 2 minute sub appearance any time soon. So I'm seriously concerned about the development of these players. One must ask whether they'd actually be better off going to play college ball for two years at one of the elite soccer schools.
Hang on a second here. Ruben Luna is on that list. Either they messed up or they spilled the beans on something here.
Last time Buzz reported on that............things were "in the works." But he said there was some sort of citizenship/eligibility stuff that needed to get sorted out.
The problem is the lack of a reserve league. Hopefully it returns next year with this "committee" we heard of after the CBA. It is essential to developing young tallent and growing our league and National team.
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! Re instate the reserve division. Pro attitude, Pro environment, Practicing vs adults, Playing at speed, Playing with our counties best (even if in practice) is still better than learning how not to play a professional brand of soccer in college. It'll then take them 2 yrs to un learn all that they incorrectly learned about the game in college.
In my view two years of college ball at a top program..........is better than being the last man on an MLS roster. Leyva is never going to get any playing time. So what's the point? If we had a reserve division, then I'd agree with you 100%.
There's something very strange about the Luna situation. He's clearly good enough. There's much speculation that there's a nationality/eligibility problem............ I don't know what's keeping a Mexican club from grabbing him. There's nothing at all. The kid clearly has talent, as his wonder-goal against Chelsea at the Dallas Cup demostrated. There must have been Mexican scouts all over that tourney, and the kid stood out like a sore thumb.
I just watched Top Drawer Soccers Internet Cast of the MD vs VA game, two top college programs and at one time I thought I may agree with you....... No more. In no way shape or form is the college game teaching players the basic concepts of soccer that 18 yr old players should know and show. Constant bad touches, ignoring simple concepts of ball possession, No overlapping runs, Bad decision after Bad decision, Goalies who ignore his defense, Basic kickball, bad positioning, standing there etc etc. It's just no way for any youth to play a game if your goal is to improve to a point where professional soccer is your goal. I know your point but the advantage to Leyva not getting playing time professionally is that he's in a professional environment practicing the way professionals should act and play. Not to mention he's not learning to play college soccer. I think it's a false decision. College or Pro. Let's fix the pro development rather than recommend college soccer. It's not a question of college or Pro, I'm sorry to say I've had it and my decision is just not college soccer. Plain and simple.
Did you see him? Can you explain skill set and what you liked about him and what he needs to improve upon. Maybe it's similar to the Agueldo situation where the Mexican teams have made contact and making offer that Dallas now has to respond to.
