MLS-NASL Partnership Critical for Youth Development

MLS-USSF Partnership Critical for Youth Development: We haven't figured this out yet but we're already moving onto another partnership negotiation. Let's fix the easy things first.

Que?

I'm anxiously waiting to see what is gonna happen with this.

They're arguing about the form and not the function.

Who cares if a John Hackworth or a John Ellinger is coaching these kids in college, NASL or MLS.

If the coaching is no good, the kids won't be getting any better at any level.

It's the same problem that has plagued the US soccer for the last twenty years.

You've seen Mettalist Kharkiv play. So have I. Does any MLS team play like that? If not, why not?

And the only answer is coaching. Everything else is of little consequence.

He's not wrong..................................

You're sending your talented prospects down a level where the coaching is even worse than MLS, the facilities are worse than MLS, the training staff is worse than MLS, etc.

Hopefully over time the NASL will improve, and the US will have a real second division in this country. Might as well start now..................

Outside of Taison, Metalist transfers have been of moderate cost and its roster is roughly half-Ukrainian anyway.

And none of it has to do with how they play.

Anyhow, I've seen the Ukrainian and Belorussian clubs play in the various UEFA events. They may not always set the continent on fire but, at least, their players have the basic skills down.

It's not the case in MLS, NASL or NCAA.

There's always a single answer - improve coaching.

And that will have to start at the top of the pyramid because there are no funds or people to begin at the bottom.

Well, no.

It's the question of investing money into the likes of Henry and Beckham or into coaching ... or even into a bit of both.

It's just that coaching has come in last,

Here's a 20-min highlight reel from the recent Metallist-Dinamo Kiev match. Let's ask the public at large whether it reminds anyone of MLS, whose average roster is ~ 50% imported also.

Kiev is in white.

http://kinostok.tv/video/135343/dinamo--metallist

i dunno how exactly do you invest funding into better coaching?? are u saying invest in programs to help teach our coaches, or to use the money to hire better coaches?? not disputing your point just trying to clear up confusion for myself

Well, for starters, MLS can hire these Ukrainian coaches, can't it?

You figure a Ukrainian youth coach can be had for $50K/Y + a fridge full of vodka.

I'll point out - needlessly to some - that the entire Ukrainian team that tied England in Wembley recently was based in the Ukrainian league sans Anatoly Timoschuck from Bayern.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine_national_football_team#Current_squad

Can an all MLS team do that?

You are missing the point.

Whether Blokhin or his replacements are international quality coaches is not a question that should concern the rank&file of MLS. They need to worry whether their players can shoot, dribble and pass and not whether it's a good scheme to feature two inverted wingers in a 4-5-1.

BTW, speaking of these two twenty-two year old inverted wingers, each Yarmolenko and Konoplyanka probably costs in the $20M range.

I am sure you can name the last MLS player who was sold for that amount, right?

I think in general i am happy at least something is being done about getting young players playing time. Of course the coaching has to improve, but at least the skeleton of what our mls development path will hopefully become is starting to be put in place. I still think we are better off with young players getting playing time with crappy coaching, than young players not getting playing time at all. At the absolute bare minimum it will make our "youngsters in MLS" threads a bit more interesting.

I still think ultimately a minor league system is coming, somewhat similar to baseball. If we aren't doing pro-rel it definitely is the next option that makes sense and would help bridge players from academy and college to the MLS squad.

More glaringly, they lost at home to Montenegro.

As for Metalist Kharkiv, the lesson is clear. Apart from their 37-year-old goalkeeper, the players who've appeared in both of their UEFA League group games are 6 Brazilians (one naturalized), 5 Argentinians, and 1 Senegalese.

If we want to train players in this kind of tradition, the kind of coaching candidates MLS/NASL should be looking at are Barros Schelotto and David Ferreira.

All our young players need is playing time. If they do well in NASL, then they will get called back to their respective MLS clubs and get more time with the 1st team.

Last year MLS and NASL met and they were almost ready to import 18 teams into the NASL but they realized that would be crazy so they had to figure out another solution.

I am sure they are figuring out the logistics now.