Obviously Robb's exaggerating a little. Still, I think Besler and Zusi staying doesn't make much of a difference in this cycle. They aren't 20.
I remember hearing Besler (I think) in an interview yesterday saying he was excited about the plans KC had for the next 5-10 years. Any speculation as to what those would be?
When watching the two of them talking about the opportunities of staying where they are, I could not help think that it is a good move for Zusi, but not Besler. In my mind, if he really wants to improve his game and play at top level, he needs to go to Europe. I wonder want the owners of KC have planned, and if this was somehow a "package" deal.
This, plus the fact that they will improve the leagues image. Especially right after the World Cup buzz.
That's fair, but I think our younger players in the league will improve more in MLS when the big $$'s are spent on bringing in players for them to play against who are above MLS level, not at the top of it. We don't want another Zusi. We want a Robben or a Schurrle or a Ronaldo, etc.
My thought was that Besler and Zusi were promised front office jobs after their playing days were over. And, some kind of project was pitched that they could be involved with.
They're both 27. Getting paid whether here or overseas would seem to be what most players in that age group (wisely)do. They're both mature, developed players. From an NT perspective, there's nothing wrong with their playing in MLS. SKC have a pretty decent player development track record. Besler and Zusi made the US WC team. Oriol Rossell got the transfer to Sporting CP. Roger Espinosa went to Wigan. Kei Kamara got the move to Middlesborough. Brown and Ellis look to be examples of successful homegrown players with former the subject of a possible move to Juventus. Dom Dwyer was successfully shepherded to becoming one of the top strikers in the league. SKC along with RSL and Seattle are the probably the best teams of MLS '3.o' or whatever. Gotta do better in CCL however.
To me, his statements aren't far off from the reality of what is going to happen. SKC along with KC is creating a world class soccer infrastructure, development system, and culture. A few of the plans I've heard are actually quite remarkable. First, they are breaking ground this year on a multi-million dollar joint US soccer and SKC training facility. It will be top of the line from what I've seen. Second the plans are to increase capacity of the stadium by 10 thousand in the next few years, and in the next decade and a half possibly building an even larger stadium down in the Power and Light district in downtown KC. These are largely superficial, but the intent is there.
Unless he knows something specific about how the level of play will get better, I don't know if he's correct ON THE FIELD. As far as greatest in MLS, that's certainly debatable. Seattle might have something to say about that. Over the past 5 years or so, LA would have something to say too. NYCFC might soon too. SKC is a great organization, no doubt, but to presume that they can get better as players as much in SKC as they might at a good mid-table EPL team or somewhere like that just is false. There are plenty of great reasons to stay and I don't begrudge these guys one bit their decision. I do think Robb is a little over the top in his quotes though. As some have said above, the fact that these guys are 27 rather than 20 makes it less of a big deal for their national team careers. But to say SKC develops players as well as teams all over the world? I don't think so.
Besler needs to maintain his level at SKC, he has security to do that. What he doesn't control is what course JAB takes over the next few years. He could be passed.
I think JAB is the prime candidate for his buddy actually. He needs to have two central defenders do better than him. Hopefully guys like Farrell, Hedges, etc. step up and make it interesting, id be all for it.
And really, I don't think where Besler plays would have anything to do with whether he gets passed or not. Brooks is 6 years younger, taller, and faster. Obviously Besler is far ahead at the mental part of the game, but that's the part that develops in younger players.
“This is one of the best clubs in the world from a development perspective. The opportunity and the tools that are available here, including Peter and the way he trains these guys, is world-class."
It's pretty over the top, but if you grant an elastic definition of "development" it's not completely absurd. The list of teams with three players who got their professional start there on 2014 World Cup squads I imagine is quite short. Toss in Rosell and Kamara, their success with Dwyer, and the all-KC back 5, and he probably has a point, at least among MLS clubs (world? not so much). Anyway, I guess I like the ambition.
Neither Besler nor Zusi would make it in the EPL. Besler's not good enough with the ball at his feet. Zusi doesn't have the ability to go at EPL defenders 1 v 1 and make something positive happen consistently. I think his limitations were very succinctly demonstrated in the WC, especially the Belgium game.
Besler would have a shot at one of the bottom teams IMO. If not at least a starter is most championship level teams, he is better than Ream.
I agree that Besler could start for a lot of EPL teams, probably many of the 7th-20th placed teams. It might not happen immediately, but he could do it.
It is too late for that. We will never know. I don't think JK is going to be as tolerant as he was in the first cycle. He has been preaching for three years that they need to be playing over there, we get eliminated and that is the first thing he says again so I doubt if he is going to keep on being tolerant on this. Never say never, but if there are CBs in Europe playing at any of the top 6 leagues, I can almost bet he would start them over the homers.
I find it hard to get exercised one way or another on this. Did going to Europe make a huge difference for Tim Ream? Eddie Pope played his entire career against (on balance) a weaker MLS, and he was still better than any CB we'd ever had. When it comes to USMNT players past the age of 23-24, all I care about in their club careers is that they're stable, happy, and playing first-team games. If we're going to make significant process it's not going to be about individual players signing wherever, it'll be an overall increase in quality, infrastructure, etc. If Eddie Pope or Landon or Matt Besler is going to be a part of that, cool by me. If they want to chase a career in Europe like Agudelo or Cherundolo or Demerit, that's awesome too. But hitching our hopes to this or that guy playing for this or that team, I'm over that.