You sacked up and became the player I wanted you to be. Now go to Europe. You will get a lot of offers now.
Yes please. Until our players are playing in a real professional league, not an ameteur league, we will never be able to beat world powers like Ghana.
Yes, Donovan. Look what MLS has done to you. You couldn't even score a single goal in this world cup. And, look at Altidore with all his European experience and hat tricks after hat tricks propelling the US to ....
Donovan is the exception not the rule. But you can argue that their is an age for when they should go abroad.
you mean like 17 of them are now? and how we finished ahead of England, Italy, and France all with real professional leagues? Without MLS, the national team would have a hard time qualifying.
It would be a shame if Donovan didn't make the tournament All Star team. Obviously, there's a lot of football to be played but had we won he'd probably be a lock. I think with the year he's had it will be very hard for MLS to keep their hands on him. He's done all he can for that league. But it's now or never as far as his career is concerned. I would love to see him get signed with a big club and further USA's soccer credibility abroad.
Because England, Italy, and France don't have national teams. They are individuals who only go for their own glory. How would no MLS make it a hard time qualifying? The only MLS player on this team who contributes is Donovan, and I guess Bornstein maybe. Findley was awful, and Buddle never got a fair chance. The rest of the MLS players in the USMNT player pool are pretty much completely useless.
Superb from Donovan this tournament. Can't help but think he, Dempsey and Bradley were completely gassed by the end of this game. They left it all on the field during group play, and I think it showed today.
How many of the players would be where they are without MLS? Think Tim would play professionally at 18 without it? Where would Donovan have matured? Think dempsey would have went straight to Division 1 soccer out of college? Think Michael Bradley would have moved to Holland at 18? Think Bornstein (who played well this tournament) would have been able to play like he did last 2 games? Think Edu would be where he is? Without the professional league, it's 1950-1990 all over again. We qualified in 90 only because Mexico was ineligible and we hosted 94. 4 straight since. Besides, if you and the other arrogant snobs in here who think MLS is beneath you sucked it up and supported the league, it would grow, improve, mature, develop better players and sign better players. Not supporting MLS because it's only 15 years old and not as good as the 100 year old big European league is shortsighted at best and arrogantly self-indugent at worst.
Well the unfortunate thing is MLS isn't as good as those other leagues (FACT). Sure those players need a place to start (think Erevedise)! Donovan needs to decide whether he wants to be a big fish in a little pond, or, a little fish in a big pond!
Donovan made me sick in this tournament. There was not a single game where he was the best player. He shouldn't go to Europe... he might need a stint in the PDL.
Absolutely agree. Other than JOB, who went straight from HS or college soccer directly to the mecca of development (20 years ago)? I'll wait for your answer. if you're blaming Donovan for our exit or blaming MLS for Donovan for our exit, then there's not a whole lot I can write here that will make sense to you.
This is how I know we are small time. Landon isn't even a top 25 player in the world. If he is the best player on our team, then we'll have issues.
How long have you watched US soccer? They had 90,000+ people at cup games. Qualified automatically for the cup, and only qualified for the 2nd round as the 3rd team in the group. Very few of them played professionally, so they were in training camp for about 8 months leading up to the cup. If the 2010 played the 1994 team it wouldn't even be close.
Please- how is Ghanas domestic league? how is Uruguays domestic league? how is South Koreas domestic league? how is Chiles domestic league?
All those countries have domestic leagues. That's the point. We didn't until '96. Where are Ghanaian, Uruguayan, Korean, or Chilean players discovered by european teams do you think? Do they have scouts going door to door? No they go to smaller domestic leagues to scout talent. Without MLS, most of our nats that are in europe would never have made it to europe. Are you seriously advocating that we would be better off without a domestic league?
What's your point? if anything that contradicts yourself. You blame MLS for us not doing well, then bring up a league we're better than (Ghana) and 3 that are maybe slightly better. The difference is the soccer culture and the constant scouting that's been going on in thsoe countries for 100 years. And before you brag on SK, let's see them get past the 16 not on their home soil. Uruguay's first time to the quarters since 1970. Chile has been underachievers before this year.