Richard “Richie” Ledezma at PSV Eindhoven

Would be a bummer for RSL, since they actually mean business when it comes to youth development. Should PSV make an offer to Richie....you have to take it if you’re him.

 

He doesn't have an easily defined position -- can play the 6, 8, 10, and wing. Very versatile player who is established with the US U20s.

 

Ledezma met nummer 8. Taoualy ies meer offensief op het middenveld, met nummer 10. Allebei technisch vaardige spelers en in de beginfase goed aanspeelbaar. Zal moeten blijken of ze van meerwaarde kunnen zijn. pic.twitter.com/go8BwwYltV

— Rik Elfrink (@RikElfrink) July 7, 2018

 

If he signs there, I hope they develop him as a 6/8. I don’t think he’s a natural winger or a 10.

 

At this time, I would like to tell everyone that I officially thought one player was good before you all did.

Sign me up @MLS, it's not like it can possibly get any worse.

 

I think should probably leave it to the guys who see him every day and are well..professionals to decide his best position.

 

Yes cuz they always get it right and no prospects are ever wasted

 

Unless Dutch rules are different, or rules have changed, Richie should be able to join them right away (he turns 18 just after the summer transfer window closes) since he’s played games as a professional in USL a la Taitague and Wright, correct?

 

no its because they are professionals and know more then you do..if you did you would be getting paid to make that decision.

either that or you should tell this kid on twitter to join ur club so you can properly develop him.

oh and just so you know going forward all those 'prospects' that you think were wasted by clubs...they just weren't that good.

 

And shoutout to our West Conference Players of the Year: @LAGalaxyAcademy's @uly_soccer7 & @RSLAcademy's @RichardLedzema! 👏 pic.twitter.com/juC9ZqvRbH

— Development Academy (@ussoccer_da) July 8, 2018

 

As far as I know he has not been on a pro contract. Isn't Ledezma the one with the full ride for life if you come to Cal for one semester offer? If so, sign pre-contract with PSV. Go to Cal this Fall. Then join PSV in Jan. Be an awful nice way to do it if he can. Takes care of his college future and pro future without interfering with each other and keeps him busying playing games/training at the same time.

 

Okay, you're now enlisted as the voluntary US Feyenoord scout

 

Mwah, wasted is too much, but overlooked as not good enough happens. Feyenoord had some Brasilian kids in the academy and thought...nah, not good enough for the first team...later these guys sold for 30- 40 million and that was before the Neymar started bubble...Fred, Bastos etc...are names that still give me a certain feeling in my stomach. They bloody made it into the selecao then
So we developed them pretty good, but the process after that ....

 

That's Sebastian Soto.

 

Well darn. In that case another scenario arises. Let's say Ledezma is dead set on PSV but doesn't want to screw over RSL or PSV. So he signs a professional contract with the Real Monarchs. They'll sell him to PSV for no up front fee as long as a sell on fee is attached and RM/RSL gets those solidarity payments if he's sold again. (Just like Seattle got paid again when Yedlin was sold from Tottenham to Newcastle.)

While RSL doesn't get any money now they'd secure themselves a possible future payment, keeps Ledezma happy, PSV happy, future players see that RSL won't stand in the way of furthering their career, and it prevents MLS from possibly putting the kibosh on the sale because they made no money, because RM is RSL's property not MLS'.

It's basically a work around so RSL gets something but not anything that would deter PSV from signing him. Could that work?

 

With all due respect I don't think all this should be on his priorities list. The last thing he needs would be jeopardizing his chances to move to PSV. Which is also coming with something like $250K salary.

 

I like when top American talent moves to good situations in Europe (not just any situation in Europe). I like it when MLS produces the talent that moves abroad because it's a sign that things are working better over here.

I don't like it when good development in MLS goes uncompensated. When good development goes uncompensated, you get less good development.

RSL is about to loose Booth, Soto, and Ledezma for nothing. And you can't say RSL doesn't play its young players either.

I certainly would be questioning investing heavily in youth development if I'm RSL. A model where you only get to keep your B+ talent and lose your A level talent for free is not going to work in the long run

 

100% agreed. What’s a solution to this?

 

I would like to see a tit for tat approach. Clubs in mls pay solidarity contributions/training compensation for Dutch clubs developed players and we do the same in return.

 

I just realized that 'tit for tat' can have an entirely different meaning now, than it did 50 years ago.