That's the Men National Team could potential fill out a line-up of all players that all are/have been active this season in one of the 4 top European leagues (Either England Premiership, France, Germany or Italy) or a top European club... Friedel (Keller) Regis/Vanney/Berthalter/Cherundolo O'Brien/Reyna/Sanneh Casey/McBride/Kirovski OK...Casey is a cup of coffee......still, I think this is pretty impressive....Last year, I think we were close, but couldn't quite fill out lineup (unless one wants to count Lewis?)
No, Troyes are in the first division, but they are almost certainly going down. Couldn't you put Stewart in there though? He may not have been at a top club or a top league, but NAC are easily as good as some of the clubs of others on this list. Also, I realize that no Yanks play in Spain's top flight, but how can you have a list of "the 4 top European leagues" and leave off La Liga? Especially if you are including La Championat? Finally, where's Michael Ricketts?
Yes, it should have been top 5 w/La Liga.. i don't find this a totally useless exercise, in fact, in a way, its a measure of US Nat/YA advancement...I fully expect by 2008-2010 we'll be able to produce same list, except every single position will be filled by a YA starting at a powerhouse club...similar to Dutch or French or German national squads....(and, of course, this doesn't include MLS) Just another measure of progress.. I wouldn't include Earnie, simply because the Honor Division Holland is a 2nd tier league, and Ajax's O'Brien only gets in because they are usually cut above (could play in a top 5 league) etc....if we reach into 2nd tier leagues (including BL2) then, yeah, you coulda also fielded a total YA team going back a year/two ago...but the entire point is to show how much YAs have progressed..its no longer about 1-2 guys who've made it, although we are still not in the Holland/France category....we got the numbers (and Freddie/Fro) on our side....yeehaw...