" While the linked article below is not specific to Yanks Abroad (young or older), it arguably points out another reason some young Yanks may be better off going to the Continent (or Latin America) rather than to England or the UK in general. http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,,2121414,00.html
The reason there are so many foreign players in England is very simple - money. And demographics. England, a country of 50 million, simply can not be expected to produce as much talent as its top league can afford to buy since it recruits talent from about 6.5 billion people that weren't born in the Isles. As to the English not winning anything, I am sure Liverpool, with its five Euro champion titles, would disagree.
The main point was "the English don't produce enough good players". Which is really incorrect because they do. But so do other nations and the English simply can't produce as many Arjen Robbens and Alexander Hlebs as the rest of the world combined. Of course, if one compares purely technical skills, then the Italians, the Argentines and the Brazilians may be more efficient in their training than the English. At the same time, there've been very few Brazilians, Italians and Argentines who have been able to hack it in the Premiership because of the style of play. So, while the English academies may not produce players suitable for Fluminense or Boca Juniors, it produces players suitable for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. And that's who pays their bills.
Yanks, young or otherwise, looking to go abroad need to go where they have offers. If those are in England because English teams seem more willing to sign US players, that's where the Yanks are gonna go. In a perfect world, it would be nice to more of our players in Holland, Spain, Italy and France but right now, teams from those leagues aren't banging down the door to get our players. Here's hoping what's happening in Canada right now will change that.
I think its rather odd that with all the money and people in the US you just dont turn out very good players. Except Hahnemann obviously Each country always has a reputation for being good at something.. take Brazil for example. Footy is just in their blood. The lads are born with a ball at their feet. Beckham is a bit like that... he could hit a dime any where on the pitch.. from anywhere on the pitch. You lot got some serious quality coming to the MLS... and you're gonna love it!!! BECKHAM!!
ah, we turn out the best. just not in soccer. in spite of what might be happening in canada, soccer is still #5 on our list of important things to do.
Well it should be number 1 .... Beckham is defo going to make a difference to the profile of football in the US and worldwide... just because of who he is. I was at the England v Brazil game at Wembley. He just did not stop running. Bloke was everywhere. The quality of the delivery of that free kick onto Terry's head was just top draw. I think once you guys stop calling it soccer... we may start taking you seriously
In the US, if you are a great athelete, the fact is there is simply much, much more money in other sports. Also, in the past, very few (relative to the pool) US soccer players have developed professionally to the point where they are making very good money, ie overseas. The tide started changing in the past decade. In addition, it does not help that in order to make money, you have to leave the continent. Sure, the South Americans do it, but many return home as well. Soccer does not get the exposure that is should get, but that will change as the generations pass. I'm guessing that in 15 years, if the US beats Brazil in a major tournament (U20 too), it will be the lead story and not buried. I thought the US win against Argentina was a big deal last time around, but I think the media barely covered it. As soccer gets more exposure, as MLS grows and salaries increase, etc, the US will turn out better soccer players. Kids today can see top level (La Lige, EPL, etc.) professional soccer on the TV and learn, something they could not do 10 years ago. Also, MLS, while not La Liga, is not a terrible league. My guess is that MLS is a notch below Holland's league, perhaps at the CCC level. The talent the US is producing now is light years ahead of what was available 15 years ago. Our U20 team has a legitimate shot at winning the WC. We are now much, much deeper throughout the field. (Let's avoid talking about strikers right now - in a few years we'll be OK) Looking at the talent in the 15-20 age range, it would not surprise me one bit for the US to make it out of the group stage in the WC about 75% of the time going forward. Also, a final 4 for the US in 2010 or 2014 is not a crazy idea - though it probably was 10 years ago. I'm not saying it is going to happen, but you could make an argument that it might. The development programs around today don't even compare with what was available 10-15 years ago. It's just a matter of time, especially with 300 million people, good organizational skills, and the money.
Well hopefully the arrival of Beckham will give the MLS the kick up the arse in needs and push it more into mainstream limelight in the US. I mean in England we get footy programes from all over the world but i really do not remember ever seeing a US MLS game on TV. That will defo change now... and that can only be a good thing. I think its the salary cap thats wrong tho. I mean the average weekly wage for the premiership is over 100k dollars a week. So until the MLS start paying that to all its players there is no attraction. Players are not going to want to play for the kansas city wizzards for 20k a week are they. The deal Galaxy did with Beckham was a bit OTT mind.. a million a week is just silly
What's funny is that with a lot of evidence against overcoaching kids right in front of their noses, English Coaches have decided that the first step is to get kids in highly standardized coaching from 5-11, and maybe even from infants to 5. Just make sure those kids have fun. Brilliant! Perhaps English coaches should talk to Jean-Marc Guillou to understand how his ASEC Mimosas academy keeps on developing such great young players for Wenger and Arsenal. Hell, maybe we could get some of his time, too. One thing that's interesting - players from ASEC don't go directly to the big leagues. Instead, the best go to Beveren (Where Guillou is now), and from there can be scouted by the big fish.
i think its safe to say that if Beckham does well the flood gates could open and more and more big name players may turn to MLS. But the pay will have to be there. Not saying they should all get a million a week mind.. thats just mad There are so many top quality players in europe and not all of them will get the break they want an sign for Man U, Barca, Madrid, Liverpool...etc But if an MLS team turns round and offers the same sort of money as the big clubs in Europe then who knows... the MLS may start nicking all the best players. That may mean some of the American players will end up on the bench tho... so its swings and round abouts really.
I'm old. I coached soccer, kids, not having ever played. I loved the game immediately. Now my son, who played at the highest level until 18, is old enough to have kids. Other fathers that played at the highest levels have had kids. That is a link we did not have at the rate we have it now. Being able to watch EPL, Bundisleague, Italian and Spanish games anytime is huge. When I saw Walt Frazier do his thing I was out at the park doing it the next day. I still love the game and my son has started playing again. The developement of our guys in the last ten years is unreal. We went from trying not to get embarresed to the quarters of the WWC. One Harkes and one Wynalda has grown by leaps and bounds. Give it time. I have seen more balls, soccer balls on the beach than ever before.
I think the bigger question for young Americans right now is "to MLS or not to MLS." Some kids have skipped MLS altogether and gone straight to Europe. I'm talking about Feilhaber, Nguyen, Charlie Davies, Kamani Hill, Ferrari, Oguchi Onyewu, etc. etc. Then you've got the kids who went to MLS first like Bobby Convey, Clint Dempsey, DaMarcus Beasley, etc. I don't think enough results are in to show which route leads to a better chance of success. Certainly Altidore, Adu, and Szetala have gotten experience playing for the first team in a professional environment at a young age. It sounds like all 3 are going to be transferring to top, top clubs. For the most part players like Felhaber and Nguyen have played in reserve teams. Of course, these players could essentially CHOOSE which European team to aim for. They didn't have to worry about MLS rejecting transfer requests, like the rejection of Benfica's offer for Eddie Johnson. MLS' main job is to become a profitable, high profile league. Their job as far as I can tell isn't to develop young players to the point where they can leave. They want to hold onto their best talent. Clint Dempsey was clearly frustrated that he wasn't sold sooner, because MLS was waiting for the right amount of money. Anyway, something I'll be watching carefully. My guess is that in the near future more and more young talent will be moving directly to Europe.
EPL is the best paid and least skilled of the top leagues in Europe. So it depends what you are looking for. For the sake of the USMNT, I would like to see our best players go almost anywhere but the EPL.
Speaking of which, just came back from Disney, you can't imagine how many Soccer jerseys of teams from all over the world I saw there. Granted most of them were tourists from all over the world, but still felt good.