I already stated that there will be a number from academies. It is just a fact that the top kids in largest cities will likely end up in an MLS academy. I also think that link is very different than playing in MLS. I dont believe there should be many players from MLS on the USMNT. We had a long year to see what they can do and most arent up to it. The only three I'd probably have in the team are Altidore, Morris and Cannon. I could see them being pushed out in the near future.
The metric I would use would be salary. Is the player able to improve his salary? In MLS, w/re to the National Team, I would especially be interested in the number of players who matriculate to TAM or DP deals. Improvements in transfer market value could also be another metric. Consistency is the important aspect. Also, players who are simply athletic freaks. don't become lock starters for Bayern Munich.
Good call. I liked Wondolowski. Not the same all round player or got to a high level, but definitely a guy who worked hard and improved a lot. How about guys like Howard, Bocanegra, Demerit, Bradley, Altidore, Cameron, etc? The list of disappointing MLS players that plateaued would include Hamid, Johnson, Duka, Kitchen, Powers, Okugo, Trapp, Gil, Acosta
Why would MLS Academy be different to MLS? As Sargent and Pulisic have shown, you don't have to go to an MLS academy. The most talented kids can develop outside of the league's infrastructure. If they so choose.
My top-23 would be: Morris, Zardes, Sapong, Holmes, Reyna, Pulisic, Adams, Morales,McKennie, Parks, Arriola, Yedlin, ARobinson, Hollingshead, Brooks, Opara, Zimmerman, Ream, Cannon, Dest, Steffen, Horvath, Hamid 10 active MLS 5 former MLS 2 MLS Academy
MLS salaries would be even worse than transfermarkt values... which started a debate that has gone of the rails in other threads. MLS salaries make no sense. They over pay and over value the top american players. The highest salaries of MLS players who havent gone abroad is $800K for Wondo and Long.... strike that, zardes on $1.4M. The rest of the bunch is mostly in the $500k to $700k range. Wondo is done and think Long is way over rated. He just has too many weaknesses in his game. I have no interest in the like of Roldan, Trapp, Zimmerman, etc. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianqui...dont-earn-league-average-salary/#7646674037cc MLS doesnt require consistancy. I didnt say they didnt have other aspects to their game. I also dont think Bayern would have been interested and given him a shot if he wasnt an athletic freak which is his greatest attribute.
You dont see Chris Richard's being different than Pomykal or Zimmerman? This is one of the reasons why I dont include MLS academies.
It is time to move on from these sub par players. F - Altidore, Sargent W/10 - Pulisic, Morris, Weah, Reyna, Holmes, Llainez 6/8 - Adam's, Mckennie, Morales CB - Brooks, Alvarado, Miazga, CCV OB - Dest, Robinson, Yedlin, Cannon GK - Steffen, Horvath, I'm short 2 players. I'd rotate the top young GKs and the top young players... Balogun, Ledezma, Pomykal, Soto, Mendez, Vasilev, Miljevic, Otosowie, Richards, etc. 3 active MLS players Who cares how many MLS academies?
I'd disagree on Long, Zimmerman, Parker, Villafana, Roldan, Trapp, Nagbe, Acosta. That $500k to $800k range definitely doesnt signify international quality.
who cares what league he plays in now. they are three players that took different paths. Richard's is the only one who didnt play for FCD. He was also barely in the FCD academy. They play different positions but I would rate Richard's over pomykal and think he has a higher ceiling.
Does anyone compare players who were in la masia to Barcelona players? It doesnt make any sense to me.
If you're comparing the players then that kind of matters. We'll know more once Richards is no longer in the German 3rd div.
It only seems to matter if the league is deemed worse than MLS. It also seems that it is specifically ignored if the league is better than MLS. How level of a player is not defined by the club or league. I'd venture to guess that the German 3rd div develops more players for top five leagues than MLS.... more specifically, Bayern Ii develops more than FC Dallas. Sure. We also saw both if them play in u20 WC. It is also possible to watch a player at a lower level and figure out what strengths and weaknesses will translate or not at a higher level. Pomykal is still unproven and think people have gotten way ahead themselves on hyping him.
I'm dont thunk any of them would have made a past WC squad, Definitely dont belong on a current one with the talent we have now and coming up.
MLS isn't part of a UEFA country. Core point for me is player dev. Core metric of a given league's ability to develop a player is the ability of the player to climb the salary pyramid.
This is pretty much correct. Probably dump CCV/Miazga for Long and/or another MLS cb, but I'm pretty ambivalent there. Mostly just bc everyone seems to rate Long, even though I've never been that impressed. Other than that, just about spot on.
Altidore is the king of sub-par players. His international record, when taking a closer look, is deeply mediocre. Sargent is going through growing pains. Weah hasn't established himself anywhere, and is beyond the point of being hot prospect. And he's been out 5 months, with a major hamstring injury. Llainez looks promising. Should feature in the Olympics team if he is released. Maybe even in the Qualifying team. Miazga and CCV took major steps back this year. Given the weakness at fullback, Alvarado should get some caps.