Ricardo Clark

MLS needs to sweeten the pot if necessary for Ricardo. It'd be cool if Klaas and Cochrane got picked up also, but perhaps I'm dreaming.

 

Dream away. That's what it's all about anyway...

I've heard a lot about Clark. Anxious to see him play...

 

Cochrane is rumored to be a very, very good defensive prospect also, and I believe that he's still just 18.

 

good article

some changing things going on here. Apparently some people connected with the U20 program checked with actual MLS coaches on this idea that none of the players were wanted by MLS (as told to players by MLS personnel) and the proverbial cat is out of the bag (I want to say they were caught red-handed when they read my article on 365 quoting coaches saying nice things about the players they supposedly didn't want, but it would be presumptious of me to say it was ever read). Coaches confirmed that they are interested in a number of teh U20 players.

here is the article if you missed it. A while later, a player told me MLS had said they weren't interested, but now others have gotten involved.

http://www.soccer365.com/_365_Features/page_121_42190.shtml

 

I saw him recently, but I've gotta say, he didn't look ready for prime time.

I've been more impressed by UCLA's d-mid Aaron Lopez, an 83 who was born in Mexico but played ODP. If he was in ODP, shouldn't he have US citizenship by now?

(BTW, thanks for the info, GersMan. After Marshall's NCAA tournament performances, MLS has got to be interested. In a single college season, he's developed incredibly fast.)

 

Hey guys...here's some food for thought. Has Marshall actually improved as a player? If so, does that mean that some players can actually get better in a college soccer environment? How much of this is Bret Simon's coaching, and how much is it the kid's ability, etc.?

 

Lopez is a real good player. I think he needs one or two more years of NCAA (or USL) ball before he getting on a MLS roster.

With Thompson and Griffin both gone in 2003, he will probably anchor the backline.

IMHO, he's a Marcel Desailly type player; in terms of style of play.

 

The big-time NCAA schools are not a bad place to play for one or two years - maybe three.

After that, you need to get the players into an environment where they can receive consistant training 10 months in a row. The top 30-50 players in college get close to this with USNT camps if they also play PDL ball. Other NCAA players in the PDL get around 8 months, but there are long breaks in between for both groups.

IMO, I think the top NCAA schools are a legit Divsion 3 in the United States. I think you could place the top 16-24 schools into the USL D3, or substitute them entirely, and they would do just fine in relation to MLS (being D1) and the A-League (being D2).

It's the lack of "year" round training that happers, retards, or stagnates the players at NCAA schools.

 

Yes, this is THE major "problem" with college soccer.

To play at a high competitive level you need:

--30-45 games a year

--100 to 150 practice sessions a year

--additional fitness, weight, and plyometric training.

Players at elite youth clubs get more training than most college players...unless, of course, you can cobble together such a regime through PDL, etc.

 

Then they should go after Lopez too. They should be more aggressive in their approach, and perhaps more people would take them seriously when they say that they want MLS to turn into one of the best leagues in the world. The lack of a reserve system is definitely hurting.

I've never seen Clark play, so I can't really say definitively how good he is or not. But if he's raw and has good touch, then to me it doesn't matter. He'll end up a better player just through seasoning and development. When I saw Viera earlier in his career to me he looked totally like a 5th defender for Arsenal, almost a roving center back(libero?) type. He rarely passed forward and when he did they were intercepted a TON. Now, his passing is much, much better and he's getting into the attacks better and actually contributing more to the build up without losing the ball. That's the vibe I'm getting on Clark. Lopez looks a lot like that type of player also.

 

PNE - check your private messages please.