history suggests that Americans aren’t a good fit there. I asp think that our elite American players fit with Northern European style better as we lean more towards speed and athleticism over flair. I think the concept of a regista based system and a focus on building out of the back is folly for the USMNT and our pool though. i would never want our players going to Italy as the over-the-top racism allowed there boils my skin.
That's kind of my point, you can't force fit a choice if it doesn't really exist. For a long time, if you didn't have an Italian or Spanish passport, the clubs in those countries weren't interested. Nonetheless, Spanish clubs especially, have taken youth players, and a few younger Yanks, of whom Jozy Altidore is the most notable. Most fall into the category of more mature and experienced. Tab Ramos would count as a mid-20s Yank in Spain who was at least moderately successful. Alexi Lalas played about 1 1/2 seasons in his mid-20s for Padua between the 1994 World Cup and the start of MLS. But the fact that the track record is so thin speaks for itself. The Spanish and Italian clubs appear to be uninterested or unwilling to train a player deemed deficient in tactical or technical ability. Soto might do very well in Spain or Italy, but without at least some professional experience, say 25-50 games, I don't see a lot of hope in saying the grass is greener in either of those countries. Andrija Novakovich is currently the only Yank in Italy, and he would also fall into that mid-20s with some professional experience category. The history does not suggest it is likely to work out for Soto until he can break through from the youth ranks into the professional class.
It's a concept I'd support. We need to evolve beyond where we have currently plateaued. There is indeed over-the-top racism in Serie A but let's not pretend it's not in many other places as well. Obviously, we shouldn't condone this but it shouldn't prevent future US players from going there.
i understand this is all very broad strokes, i just think if youre weak in an area you work on that area to become stronger overall rather than focusing only on what youre already good at. i dont know how that scales down to however many players to whatever leagues, i just think dismissing those leagues/styles as less valuable than anything else only limits you.
We can agree to disagree. I’d be more open if they were buying a well established player than having our younger yet-to-prove-themselves talents go there.
shaq moore has a handful of starts in la liga, but point taken. and let me clarify overall- im not suggesting soto to italy/span, ive just been commenting on the idea that those leagues arent/shouldnt be viable for american players.
I’d prefer our best youth players take the low-hanging fruit when moving to elite programs. If BVB or one of the proven Dutch programs who develop, play and then sell youth players is interested, go there. I think that the desire to go the Spain/Italy is somewhat associated with a desire for an attractive style of play. I don’t care about attractiveness in soccer and luckily my wife does obviously doesn’t care about it in her spousal choice.
i agree ill just add one last thing- history also suggests our (field) players cant be successful on champions league level teams. that having a handful of teenagers as bund regulars is pie in the sky stuff, only our keepers have any shot at top four teams in top four leagues, the bayern munichs of the world arent looking for kids from america...
does that include the miazgas, palmer-browns that are in endless loan loops? and attractiveness has nothing to do with my appreciation for italian play. is that even a thing- whos our there calling italian football sexy?
Once one is an MLS regular, it’s harder to find a developmental focused team to buy them - the price that MLS wants for players that aren’t usually ready to step in immediately (excluding trend busters adams and Davies) usually means they’re going to a loan-army situation who are willing to pay more for players who need more skills. Palmer-brown was on a free and I think he made a poor decision. that being said, if everything had gone well for both Matt and Eric, where would they be playing? It doesn’t appear that they’re much better than the league they’re playing in TBF.
I wouldn’t characterize my perspective as dismissive but rather meaningfully a worse fit for our typical players. I am dismissive of Italian racists though.
Racism in football is merely a microcosm of society. Let's not lead a moral crusade to eliminate it from the beautiful game while ignoring it from every other facet in society. Demonize the Italians yet the xenophobia/racism of other leagues still endure yet it's not as "over the top" and easily centered on IMO.
where did I imply that it should only be removed from soccer? My point is that it is over-the-top in Italy and is only addressed systematically with lip-service by Italian football. So yeah, I would focus on plugging that hole in the boat first.
That is true. It's lip service but it seems hypocritical that folks jump on this bandwagon. I don't know but maybe I'm just a cynical dude.
My former business partner tells a story: a navy seal falls asleep on a transport flight. He awakens to find the plane engulfed with flames and immediately jumps out the open door. Luckily the plane was on the ground. however, he was asked why he jumped out of a plane with no parachute and not knowing if he was on the ground. His response: one problem at a time, sir. btw, cynicism is fine but it’s really problematic when it leads to broad inaction. Another quote from my buddy: imperfect action is better than perfect inaction
makes more sense Ajax move is dumb move, they got Traore, Hansen, Brobbey, Danilo all young strikers there. Have seen some of those guys play and they look promising. PSV has a lot less competition.
I'm surprised Utrecht hasn't signed any potential young Americans. They've got a Jong team for minutes and you'd think they'd be happy to play and sell just like the rest of the teams in the Dutch leagues.
Agudelo was loaned there while trying to get eligible for a Work Permit when he signed with Stoke. IIRC, Utrecht wanted to sign him permanently when his Work Permit was denied and the Stoke contract voided. But, Juan was hellbent on the EPL and then ended up sitting out almost 12 months.
I'd be happy for Soto to move to an Ered team with a Jong club in the Ereste. (if they stay there! lol.) I'd be sad to have to root for someone on PSV...