I've recently read that the move for young Johnathon Spector to the Man U program is for all intents and purposes a done deal. After that I read that MLS really wants to keep this top young prospect in MLS and upped the ante to keep him in the States. Interesting. So a thought occurred to me. I think it's great that Landon Donovan has decided to stay in MLS. I also think it would be great for Spector, and other defenders to ply their trade in Europe, ala Cherundolo and Gibbs. My reasons? People in the United States only look at stat sheets and final scores to see if a player had any impact: case in point - Claudio Reyna. The untrained soccer fan would say that Reyna hasn't really done a lot for the National Team because he's only scored 8 goals in his ten or so years on the squad. Obviously we here at BS know better. But it raises an interesting perspective on the subject, and a new ideology which I'm looking for pros and cons about before I completely adopt it. MLS and the American fans want our big name scorers, and they should have them. The Clints and Landons and McBrides should spend, or at least consider, a little more time in MLS to thrill the fans with great goals or insane passes. Let's face it - no one here outside of all us BS folk know who Brad Friedel is - and he was one of the best keepers at the WC. Who do they know? Mathis and Donovan and McBride, of course. Can any random American remember Sanneh's name? What about Mastroeni? For this reason, I think that it does MLS no real harm and the Nats a great service if we really concentrate on hardening up our defenders in Europe. There they will be trained against the top competition and people won't question why they're making top salaries and only score two goals a year. Boca - go to Feyenoord if you get the chance. Spector - sign with Man U (aka The Enemy) if you really get the chance. So, in summary, mids and forwards should definitely stay in MLS for at least a few years before considering a move to Europe, but defenders, for the sake of all our future WC victories, should try their best to go play where they'll be better appreciated - in Europe. Somehow I think I'll hear some opinions about this...
The one problem with this is if all our top defenders are in Europe our mids and forwards will not be used to playing against tough defenders when the time comes for international matches.
First off, our MLS guys scored all but one of our goals during the top world defenders in the World Cup, but that's besides the point. I don't think our best forwards and mids should spend their ENTIRE careers in MLS, but definitely our young talent upfront should spend a few years here building up the profile of the game. After a healthy stay, then they should see what looks best for them. For example, I think it's great that Landon is now going to stay in the USA. At the same time, I think it's time after this season for Mathis to go play in Europe and see what he can do.
I always thought the biggest US "surplus" lies with the goalkeepers. They are the ones who should be traded abroad on a regular basis (at least a couple of MLS keepers a year - just to put a number here) Since we produce so many of them, it would not affect the overall level of the league in any significant way where as in other positions it might ....
I think it's useful to remember that American players with great composure on the ball and vision are usually midfielders when playing domestically. When they go off to Europe, they may end up playing in the back. Reyna spent some time in the back at Rangers, O'Brien plays some back at Ajax, Sanneh played midfield here and back over there. So against a deeper pool of talent in Europe, US players may tend to move back anyways. There haven't been too many American backs that have made it in Europe, though there are a couple now trying. (Vanney, Gibbs... Yi? Berhalter hasn't had a stellar carreer in Europe, but God bless him for trying.) One other thing, roarksown1: it's not "obvious" at all that we here at BigSoccer appreciate Claudio more than other fans. In fact, over the last two years, few players have had so much bile and vitriol directed their way as Claudio, for just the reason you cite. Luckily, Bruce doesn't come to BigSoccer for advice.
If he did we'd be starting a line-up of Mathis, LD (on a day when BS is feeling nice), and project-40 kids, including Freddy Adu. On the subject of the original post Well you should ask yourself this question, are we trying to build a league to make money? or are we trying to build a league that plays a high standard of soccer. The two are not mutually exclusive but your suggestion makes it so.
Seperating them is not a good idea. I agree with whoever said it would make it harder for them to play against a solid defense.
I dunno - Brad Friedel is as much of a football folk-hero in Ohio as McBride. That might have something to do with the fact that he's from Ohio and has played for the Crew, but... Then again, maybe my sample population isn't the best. But it seems to me that local boys and guys who play for the local team are the ones who get the water-cooler talk, regardless of what position they play (at least when you are talking about the national team).
Crapping on Portugal is 20/20 hidsight. I don't remember you or anyone else crapping on them BEFORE the WC! What I DO remember is many, many pundits saying they had an outside chance to win it all.
I think this post is only a statement of the CURRENT situation with our nats. We can identify forwards and midfielders for 2006, but the backline stablity is a concern. This would not be the case if there was a 23-year old Eddie Pope in MLS. By the way, Pope has done a pretty damn good with the nats (when healthy) and didn't have to go abroad to do that. We have time to develop defenders locally and abroad. That's one reason why Eddie Robinson and others have gotten looks. And go back to Dec. 1998, after our embarrassing run at France. How many players did you successfully predict would be on the 2002 team? Did you know Pablo Mastroeni would be a factor? Or that Sanneh would be our right back instead of Cherundulo? Did you know that DMB and LD would be ready to contribute this year? Do you have any idea of how good they will be four years from now? What if Eddie Lewis becomes our left back in 2006? Or Reyna becomes our right back while JOB, DMB, LD and Pablo hold down the midfield? What if Petke steps forward? Or if Corey Gibbs, Gooch or someone else comes into his own? This could happen locally as well as abroad? Can we please give it up for MLS? Half of our last World Cup team was from the league and they contributed to a great run. We don't have to send everyone to Europe to develop anymore. If Landon Donvan wants to play for San Jose, fine. If Bocanegra wants to go abroad, fine. We don't need to export defenders abroad because our USA-made defense will get the job done. Buy American, mofo....
Let everyone develop their game here and if the price is right, sell them to Europe and use that money to invest domestically. Against Germany, and some world class defense, we were stonewalled. Maybe a few of our forwards could use some European seasoning also. Starting regularly in the big four first divisions prepares one adequately for international football.
Let me correct your post: Against Germany, we were UNLUCKY. Last time I checked, we earned the win everywhere but the scoreboard.
I agree but in the future we need to have two way defenders--guys who can contribute to the attack and distribute out of the back without making a mockery of themselve. Sure, they can come from MLS. But the majority of our best players at the World Cup were European based. MLS, and it's sheer existence has done a good job increasing the quality of the national team. However, it can still get better. Some of our players DO need to go abroad so that they can be pushed to reach their full potential. Here, they can take games off and still be a starter. Over there, they have to be more consistent.
Big wow, of course it can get better. If MLS makes the same improvement over the next four years as it has in the last four, we'll be in very good shape. We belong to the greatest country in the world. And we'll show everyone that....
I used to feel that way but after this WC I am not so sure. Guys who had never really been abroad seemed to play as well as those who have made careers in Europe. I think MLS is becoming strong enugh now that players are getting very, very good experience.
After watching Jorge Costa play for Charlton last year I said the US would have a chance to score if he was starting. Turned out I was right.
You should get all the props then, because you were right. Let us know next time you see our opponent's players, and give us an evaluation. We all appreciate it.
I agree that MLS has turned into a pretty good development league. Contraction actually helped out the quality. But I think it comes to a point to where a player hits a ceiling and can't get any better.
I agree with you there... I remember four years ago when we all wondered where the goals were going to come from. I'm confident that the back line question will be answered in the next three years..
SURPLUS?? Many of those goalkeepers came from the hand of a YUGOSLAV GUY ... I do not remember his name TIGA or something ?? could you have a better memory????