I am glad that the MLS is making the effort to keep Freddy home. But what is being done to keep our other top notched boys home? Whats being done to keep Danny Szelta from a club in Europe, or Robbie Rogers from leaving for Bayern Munich? I hope the MLS is putting in the effort to keep these boys in the US. Throw some $$$ at them or waive the flag. I don't care but I suspect there is no concerted plan in place to aggressively pursue these kids. If the MLS is serious is needs to get going. One catch doesn't mean at thing.
MLS could sign 15 Szetela's and they wouldn't match the publicity they will get over the next couple of years by having Adu in the league. He was the big fish in the pond, and while the MLS shouldn't neglect developmental talent, Adu is one of the best signings and stories the MLS has ever had. If he lives up to the hype, he may become the greatest American player ever. We can let a couple of kids play overseas, overall, I don't think it's going to have a hugely negative impact on the MLS. It would have been a lot tougher seeing a 15-year old Adu in a Chelsea uniform than Rogers, Szetela, or any of the other U-17 nats playing for a top European club.
To me, its a nobrainer that these kids should sign with MLS. Non-EU players can play in Europe before they are 18 anyway so if these guys want to play professionally in first team, they will stay in MLS. Adu, why also citing that he wanted to be home with his Mom a little longer, basically said that was a main reason for him signing with MLS. MLS shouldn't have to sell these kids very hard, that is, if they want to play.
Szetela isn't the best example you could use in your argument. He has a Polish passport and will be EU eligible next spring. joeyclams is right. If a player under 18 wants to play first team (not youth teams) ball and doesn't have a EU passport then he has to come to MLS. No matter what big European club names are bandied around, there is no way Adu could play in Europe until he's 18 or there is a change to the rules.