We ought to take a look at Houston's LB. The lad looks useful going forward. GOAL! BEASLEY YOU LEGEND!!!! what. a. hit. #LegenDMB 1-1 | #HOUvCA https://t.co/Fy6HI2sN1k— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) July 25, 2019
I've said it a million times but it's absolutely criminal that he, Dempsey, and Howard are going to have to live the rest of their lives remembering Couva as the last time they ever represented their country while Bradley, who was 10000x more responsible for what happened than the 3 of them combined, was gifted a spot back on the team.
Look I am as big a Howard fan as there is. But you are being disingenuous if you think MB was way more responsible for the Couva fiasco than Timmy. That's just wrong.
So there was a crime and Bradley was the criminal while the three you mention are the victims? The goal of US Soccer coming out of that result was to comfort some players so they feel better about it while punishing others for it? Dumb take, sorry. I hope you don't have any leadership responsibilities in real life cause this kind of thinking would create a toxic environment in any organization. Back to the topic of the post you quoted in order to shoehorn in this terrible take... Seeing Beasley do good things on a soccer field makes me happy. I freakin' love the guy. I'm glad he's still creating some special moments in his last games.
US-Eligible WS Team of the Week 22(7/17-7/23) Player(score)rank within his team, for the game * = U23-eligible --------------------------------------Vazquez(7.8)6th*------ --------Argudo(7.8)MOTM------Ferreira(7.9)MOTM*-----Arriola(8.0)3rd ------------------------Agudelo(8.0)3rd-------Larentowicz(7.9)5th---- ---Hollingshead(7.7)2nd-----------------------------------------------------Bye(7.7)7th----- ----------------------Pines(7.5)6th*------------------Robinson(7.3)4th* -----------------------------------------Turner(8.4)2nd------------ Player of the Week: Turner Argudo Agudelo U23-Eligible Player of the Week: Ferreira Vazquez Parks Pines Honorable Mention: bolded = 23-eligible GK: Guzan(7.7)1st Robles(7.6)4th Irwin(7.3)1st Clark(7.3)4th Richey(7.2) Guzan(7.0)10th LB: Toia(7.5)3rd Castillo(7.4)5th Jones(7.0)10th Villifana(7.0) CB: Farrell(7.3)6th Parkhurst(7.3)9th Glad(7.2)4th JWilliams(7.2)5th Hedges(7.1)7th Trusty(7.1)8th Sands(7.0)7th Long(7.0)8th Gonzalez(7.0)8th Parker(7.0)9th Robinson(7.0)12th RB: Bye(7.6)4th Thompson(7.1)5th LAM: Rodriguez(7.6)3rd CM: Trapp(7.8)MOTM Roldan(7.8)3rd Nagbe(7.8)7th Delgado(7.7)Davis(7.6)3rd Parks(7.5)2nd Nagbe(7.5)8th Clark(7.3)2nd Mihailovic(7.2)3rd Corona(7.1)4th Bedoya(7.1)7th Kljestan(7.0)4th RAM: Bunbury(7.7)5th Argudo(7.3)4th Morris(7.2)3rd Araujo(7.0)5th AM: McNamara(7.7)2nd Amaya(7.2)2nd Fontana(7.2)6th FW: Sapong(7.7)1st Altidore(7.6)4th Wondo(7.5)4th White(7.3)6th Picault(7.2)5th Ebobisse(7.2)4th Zardes(7.1)4th Bunbury(7.1)8th Altidore(7.0)1st
Juan Agudelo seems to be having a career renaissance as a CM. It would be a great story of he becomes a regular for the USMNT.
The physical tools and ball skills are certainly intriguing. And he has really transformed his professionalism and work ethos.
You don't seem to have a lot of facts about this situation, which makes me wonder why you have take up an anti-MLS stance as a kneejerk. MLS clubs haven't really fought very hard to keep quality young talent in MLS historically, which is what makes comments about MLS hording youth silly to anyone that actually pays attention. The Galaxy didn't try very hard to keep players like Wright and Arriola, which annoyed a lot of fans; I guess someone else can judge if they made the right choice there. Teams are being more aggressive about keeping young prospects now than they have in the past and that's why policies have changed; owners have invested a lot of money in youth development at this point and, well, prospects are actually worth keeping. I get it; when you're losing a debate you resort to calling other people "fans" as if it has some relevance on you being wrong. No one argued that MLS is perfect, but the statement that MLS has a "long history" of blocking moves to Europe is not accurate.
And you sound like someone that has no idea how transfers work. Araujo and Alvarez are in in the exact same position as the kids in Germany; in a couple years (or before) they'll be in a position to sign more lucrative contracts either with LA or a big foreign club. The difference is Araujo is getting pro minutes and playing in front of Man U scouts and will have made a lot more money in the mean time.
Of course, I never said that MLS blocked moves to Europe. You’re confusing me with someone else. What facts am I missing btw? Also, why do you think MLS chose to accept T/SC but not accept other FIFA rules wrt youth contract length? Only on BS is someone who says that MLS is roughly equivalent to B2/Championship “anti-MLS” or a hater. SMH.
US-Eligible Week 22 Stats(7/17-7/23) Bolded = U23-eligible Goals: Altidore(2) Anderson Araujo Arriola Barlow Bunbury Ferreira Fontana McNamara Mihailovic Nagbe Sapong Vazquez JWilliams White Wondo Zardes Assists: Argudo Arriola Hyndman Lewis McNamara Nagbe Rodriguez Toye Trapp Wondo Dribbles: Argudo(4) Roldan(4) Toia(4) Argudo(4) Manneh(4) Delgado(3) Hollingshead(3) Fouled: Roldan(4) Arriola(4) Bronico(3) Key Passes: Ferreira(4) Nagbe(4) Bunbury(4) Blackmon(3) DeLeon(3) Busio(3) Agudelo(3) Amaya(3) Arriola(3) Lima(3) Thompson(3) White(3) Wondo(3) Yueil(3) Tackles: Agudelo(7) Delgado(7) Davis(7) Corona(5) Hollingshead(5) Gasper(5) Castillo(5) Thompson(4) Amaya(4 Bronico(4) Clark(4) Canouse(4) Vines(4) Busio(4) Pines(4) Int: Canouse(5) Clark(5) Zusi(5) Clearances: Glad(11) Pines(10) KSmith(9) Gonzalez(8) Birnbaum(7) Rosenberry(7) Nerwinski(7) Blocked Shots: Jimenez(3) Opara(2) Nerwinski(2) Bradley(2)
I actually do understand how transfers work and not sure why you would say that based on my previous post. Mendez and and Llanez are on youth contracts and can be signed to a professional one at any time that would pay them multiples of what they would have made in MLS (see Pulisic and McKennie). After signing an initial contract, if their play exceeds initial expectations, the clubs often offer a much improved contract with an extension (see Pulisic and mckennie). They are constantly seen by scouts from bigger clubs all over Europe and when interest comes in, they usually get sold (see Pulisic). In MLS, the league has significant leverage in the negotiations and generally uses every bit of it. Contracts historically have been 3 to 4 years with a couple option years. Those contracts are for as little money as they can get the player signed ( aroujo and Alvarez are getting paid around the league minimum). I have been under the impression that they have started signing shorter contracts, but will leave it you to confirm. As others have mentioned, unlike the rest of the world where salaries and length of contracts have some bearing on transfer value, there seems to be no connection to what MLS values its players. Araujo has gotten 649 minutes out of a total of 1890 minutes or roughly one third in a league that has continued to improve but historically has not done a great job preparing players for top leagues. Yedlin needed extensive work on his defending and Miazga needed to be better on the ball to just get on the field in the Eridivisie. Adam's is obviously the outlier and probably why many were do surprised he did so well off the bat. Back to transfer... leagues/teams have different budgets and look for different things from transfer targets. Those with lower budgets are often focused on finding younger players with potential that they can develop. The top leagues/teams with big budgets want finished products that can help teams win from day one. MLS overvaluing their players, at least relative to the markets view and with a limited track record, eliminates many clubs. Of the top of my head, I cant think of an MLS player going to anywhere other than top 5 leagues or top teams in other leagues. People on here are overly excited about playing against men and assume that is so much better than playing with u19s or second sides with bigger clubs. I am not convinced playing vs men in MLS is best for an 18 yo long term development. The kids from Dallas talked about how much more intense the u19 training was at Bayern Bayern Munich. Mendez spent a half season with Freiburg u19s with them focusing on his defending. He is with their second team this year and if they think he is up to it, will likely train some with the first team. I'd bet that there is much more emphasis on improving his game so he can get to be Bundesliga player than Aruajo is seeing while getting ready for the next game.
Roldan put up strong numbers in a losing effort against Chara and Timbers central midfield. Long played leftback Brian White with 7 goals and 2 assists in 1031 minutes. Lil Frankie Amaya got another start at a-mid. Almaida has SJ caring and sharing, as the team loaded up on key passes. Sands and Parks had game high touches of 111 and 106 in NYC match against Colorado Ferreira played a-mid and racked up 4 key passes. MLS could be the league for undersized, but nicely skilled, ballers. If only the refs were directed to protect these guys more. Monster Week for Bye and Argudo.
As I keep saying, this is not a pro- or anti-MLS thing. I'm not against American players going abroad; I'm against the mentality of whoring our players out to the first opportunity a club comes sniffing around because we're so desperate to get players in Europe. And these are not even impressive clubs. Do I think playing in big meaningful games is better than tearing up the Oberliga and Regionaliga with the U-19s of a club clinging to the BuLi gutter by the fingernails? While on a ridiculous salary? Frankly, yes. What did that experience do for Haji Wright, Terrence Boyd and so on? One of the reasons Americans are so attractive in Germany right now is the 50+1 "no-debt" model has hamstrung bottom-half BuLi clubs, which is a mire of inconsistency / mediocrity that can't seem to compete with Bayern or in European competition. These clubs are looking for bargains, so of course they salivate at the idea of kids coming over for almost nothing "just for the experience". These are relegation-embattled clubs looking for any cheap resources they can get. If a club like Frieburg values the talent and expect to resell for profit, they should offer a good contract like the Galaxy was willing to do and show these kids the money. Re: Kleiban; it's inconvenient to your narrative but nobody "hated" him. Both Galaxy fans and the FO were very pleased with Kleiban's work and felt lucky to have him in the org. No one would've wanted him to depart the club, especially under such circumstances. I get there's a segment here that believe so zealously in the cause of exporting players to Europe, they will countenance any BS anyone does as long as they are pursuing this goal, but anyone who understands soccer, sports, and just basic business should understand why Kleiban had to be fired. He's a talented man who removed himself from the sphere of influence due to his own inability to remain professional. That's his fault and his short-sightedness. Hopefully his kids don't pay for it.
Lots of interesting bits in here. * sure, Gary comes off strong at times, but he is dealing with a lot of idiocy and believes strongly in his views. I agree with many of his arguments and wish he would tone it down a bit, but get why his delivery is the way it is. Garber and MLS owners come off like aholes on Twitter as well. Zealous MLS fans are pretty unbearable. * I will get to this one later. * they are 18 and both clubs have good academies and track record progressing players to the full team. Why the rush for the money? 80k is chump change. * in most cases, agents comp is tied to what the player makes so not sure how a lower salary gets him more money. What you wrote about Claudio is what gets me. How come Claudio is looking out for Gios best interest but Gary isn't doing the same? Gary has known these kids since they were 9-11 to (???). Why cant he be a mentor who is looking out for them. If a kids coach and mentor cant look out for them and are forced to push them towards MLS, then is only a small group of kids who have parents like Claudio that get looked out for in the US? Why cant it be that Gary doesnt like the structure of the league and soccer in the US and realizes the lack of control a player has over his career once they sign with the league? LAG had 22 years to prove they knew what to do with talented 18 yo and failed. How they deal with Araujo and Alvarez and how they progress is what will convince players in the future. LAG should be able develop 20 players every year worth signing. They need to figure out how to do that and then develop them into full professionals that can play at the highest level (that is just to meet Garbers goal of being a top league). If they do that and start getting training comp, then they will be fine.
Your math is way out of whack. No matter who the coach is, they will lose talented players to Europe. Secondly, if they didnt fire Brian, the succes of Uly and Alex would reflect well on the club and help with recruiting players, which is important since they have rival with same homegrown territory. Hey, maybe te Klose can work wonders, but they just for rid of something that was working quite well.
It still comes down to the basic calculus of whether you think you can hire coaches that don't have a brother directing half your talent away from the franchise. That's a big anchor to overcome.
If it was clear and evident to everyone that Gary presented all offers and rational pro/con to the players, I doubt people would feel the way they do on the whole. But the part you said you'd address later is key -- nothing in his history and nothing out there seems to say he ever truly presented a fair balance of the options. Perhaps people are wrong, but you asked why people treat GK and Reyna differently; that's a big part of it.
Can we push some of these side discussions elsewhere and focus on current performances of US eligible MLS players please.