FC Dallas is considered the current benchmark in youth development. Fertile market, there, and they were shrewd in how they melded with the existing youth leagues. I think they've got a more extensive youth scouting network, plus a strong development program for youth coaches that has been able to pull tactics and advisors from Mexico.
One major issue is simply the size of the country. It's one thing to spot a kid in the suburbs of LA; it'd be another thing entirely to spot a talented kid in the middle of Montana, for instance. Who knows how much talent is lost because the kids are never discovered. I think there's also a problem with the "winning" culture around American sports as well. Even at 6 or 7 years old it's primarily about winning games, with everything else (like learning how to actually play) coming secondary. I've heard stories of parents refusing to let their kids bump up an age level to play against older kids, because their kid who was dominating the U10 level, now is just above average at U12. Doesn't matter if it's better for the kid's development. They're paying thousands of dollars for their kid to play for this club team. They want to see wins, and they want their kid to score goals.
I'd add Philly to that list as well. Every time they sell someone there seems to be another body from the academy ready to step up.
I think it's the MO of those clubs to promote a winning culture to those parents as it brings in the big money. https://www.kampongvoetbal.nl/223/wwwkampongvoetbalnl-contributie/ Compare the cost of a year membership with one of the biggest amateur clubs in the Netherlands. OVERZICHT CONTRIBUTIE Type lid Contributie 2022-2023 Senioren € 299 Zaalvoetbal € 218 Combinatie Veld- en Zaalvoetbal € 399 Studententarief € 219* O19 & O18 € 257 O17 O16 O15 & O14 € 252 O13 O12 O11 & O10 € 245 O9 & O8 € 213 Benjamins € 131 Benjamins Champions League € 164 Veteranen zaterdag (geen KNVB competitie) € 192 Only Fun / Vrijdagavond € 135 Trainingslid / Niet spelend lid € 99 Entreegeld (bij 1e contributie inning) € 26 Toeslag selectievoetbal € 55 per seizoen Toeslag extra training breedtevoetbal € 26 (met trainer van de club) Toeslag extra training breedtevoetbal € 16 (zonder trainer van de club)
I suppose the one spot where I have to give these US youth teams a break, is their ability (or inability) to make money off their players. This amateur club you've referenced, if a kid shows potential, is there a professional team that has an agreement with the club where the kid slots into their academy, and is that agreement financial? If not, and Ajax comes calling, do they have to pay a transfer fee to the amateur club? I've never heard of a MLS club having to pay a transfer fee to bring a kid into their academy. I suppose since the kid is paying to play for the club, and not the other way around, it would be hard to claim ownership to require the fee.
We havenot got youth team clubs. Our amateur clubs are non profit all age clubs, non profit foundations. So the aim never is to make a profit, but an affordable way for their members to play football. Amateur/pro clubs get compensation from transfers for the years spent at a club between the age of 12 till the age of 23. I remember a few cases in which Feyenoord had to pay a fee of several hundred thousands €€ for a kid, but that was iirc for kids who just signed a youth contract with that other club, pro not amateur. Anyway most amateur clubs have a partnership with a pro club in their region. https://www.lawinsport.com/topics/i...pensation-and-solidarity-payments-in-football
I've been so hyped by the hire I've basically been just chatting about this with other folks. Arguably the best option available on paper. I'm hoping it means Blank convinced him of the commitment to winning, because having full support and resources would have been absolutes in luring him away from an established organization like Seattle. My he be as successful here as he was in the Emerald City! Vamos Garth! Vamos Atlanta! This is the Lagerwey!
I'd wager there aren't many (any?) easy groups anymore, so I'm not gonna give El Tri that excuse. As more and more nations develop enough competent players to field quality national sides, these tournaments will finally see the type of balance most of us hope to see for something called The World's Game. At the least, more teams from Africa and Asia will be viewed as bona fide threats instead of guaranteed wins. Argentina hasn't played like a favorite and Poland has been sub-par, so if team Mexico can't rise to the occasion that's their own fault. Then again, Mexico has always had an issue evolving out of their Plan A brand of poor man's Tiki Taka. Their attacking strategy has remained static for a generation, even fumbling the talents of Chicharito and Vela, along the way. Until Mexico can evolve, they'll never prove more than a possible R16 candidate, at best. Says I, anyway. Meanwhile, Almada saw time in the pitch for Argentina. Plus Atlanta signed Derrick Etienne Jr. out of Columbus. Likely Moreno's replacement.
All that said, the champion will still come frome Europe or South America. I am glad to see teams from Africa and Asia do well. CONCACAF teams have not done so much. It is interesting that we came in third during qualifiers... and here we are, the 3rd best team, and the last CONCACAF team standing.
Sam Jones formerly of DSS has you covered: really don't think Etienne will work in Atlantawatch what he does here. he just runs past the defenders and towards the goal and that's been banned for years. illegal move, no goal. pic.twitter.com/vawUm2jAMO— J. Sam Jones (@J_SamJones) November 18, 2022
George Campbell is gone. $900K GAM, whatever that means. Is it possible that we can get talent again, and not worry about development? We've proven we can send players to Europe (Bello, Almiron), good for us. Can we prove we can do what clubs' fans want- win titles (again)? I don't know what it is Seattle did to reach the postseason all those years, but it failed this year, and so will their attempt at the Club World Cup.
A friend suggested we sign Luka Modric. His arguement is he's 37 but still awesome and he looks and plays like Johan Cruijff. I pointed out he is 37, would be too expensive, and the hispanic fans, which this team caters to, don't even know who Johan Cruijff is.
So, according to your expertise on Hispanics' world football knowledge, it prevents MLS from signing Modric. Please elaborate.
I am told we have a South American pipeline, so we don't need to home grow talent, yet we hired a Dutch coach, who could actually speak Spanish and was really good at grooming young talent. He was a dud, as were all the Spanish speakers that came after him. I'd love to see Modric in the red stripes, he is my favorite player, but I don't see how he connects with the hispanic community. Now can you, with your expertise on Hispanics explain how and why we sign him?
Sorry Bubba, I'm not the one claiming ignorance of world football among Hispanics in your fan base. Every soccer fan knows who Modric is, regardless of ethnicity. I was just curious what was your basis for what Hispanics know and don't know. If you are unsatisfied about dud signings made by your club, then you might want to look at who signs your club's checks. Sometimes club scouts and player agents work in tandem to get subpar players signed. If a fan base is easily fooled because the player was born in Argentina or Brazil, then get ready for some unpleasant episodes.
Any news on Josef? Nashville just got rid of Ake Loba maybe just maybe if Josef and the FO can come to an agreement and mutually terminate the contract so he can jump to Nashville that would be a win for the FO. They won't have to waste a one-time buy out on a player they don't want.