I don't post on here often, but I just want to dispell this myth that Landon staying in MLS is bad for his development right now. I talked with Bruce Arena and Dr. Contiguglia when they made a visit to Foxboro in the lead-up to the World Cup. I used to work with Dr. Contiguglia's daughter, Francesca, at the Taunton Gazette...where I still work part-time as an assistant sports editor....so that's how I was able to get the brief (15 minutes or so) interview with them both. Anyway, Arena gave me a whole different outlook on why he thought LD - and other American stars - should stay in MLS. He said that the one thing most Americans lack is creativity. They can run just as fast, shoot just as hard, etc., etc. But many just don't have the instincts for the game. Here's how he sees MLS helping: In game situations, people like LD and Mathis can try whatever they want with almost no recourse. They can try new moves they've worked on in practice. They can try to slip that great though-ball into a tiny space in the defense if the opportunity is there. They can also just flat out try to take people one-on-one. Overseas, Arena said, if they tried doing this in a game - or even practice - they would be likely punished for their behavior. Rather, just to stay on their coach's good side, they would take the sure pass 99% of the time. My retort: Wouldn't these unneccessary chances likely carry over into big games (meaning, national team)? Arena emphatically laughed that off, asking would you rather have a guy try to put a ball between two defenders three yards apart that has done it every day for a couple of years or someone who has only been trying it once a week in that same time? He then added, and I quote "Those 'special' plays, where a player makes an incredible pass or an incredible run past another player can only happen for us (the U.S.) if it's something they've done in the past and worked on regularly. We have a lot of young players who are starting to understand the game better and we can't always win a game just by outhustling the other team. We need players, and I think we have some, that aren't afraid of the other team just because they play in England or wherever." My last question: "So if you think it's better that young players stay here, aren't you afraid they won't try once they reach a certain level?" His answer: "First, I never said I think it's better to stay here for EVERYONE. Both sides have their good and bad, but here is not as bad as some people - and I think you might be one of them - think. And as for trying hard, I'm not sure what to say except I won't have a player on my team if he is not trying hard. I'm not shut out from what goes on in an MLS practice or MLS games. I watch enough, and know enough people, to know if someone isn't putting the effort they need to. Players are what they are. I don't think someone who is going to take it easy here is going to suddenly train hard over there, and the same goes the other way." My observations when I look back: 1) I never really was against players staying in MLS, although that's how I obviously came off to him. 2) I had Mathis on my mind when asking these questions, but left it as broad as possible. LD is obviously in the mold of a young, talented American. 3) Although I doubted his wisdom at the time, I can only say that Arena was spot on. I was amazed at how players like Donovan, Beasley, Mastroeni and even Mathis performed at the World Cup. I wonder if they would have had the same "instincts" or same confidence had they been practicing, but not playing in games, for bigger European clubs.
Don't apoligize. Great post. Your point about trying in practice is a good one. There's probably that percentage, 10%, 20%, some small number like that, who will slack off in MLS but would work hard overseas. But anyone's observation of basic human nature, in or out of sports, will tell you that they'll be a minority.
Dude, don't you know that actual knowledge and factsabout things like this mean jack and broad generalizations based on never meeting anyone involved mean everything? Great stuff.
What does Arena know anyway. If we had a decent coach we would have been in the WC Final against Brazil.
This is a very interesting thread. Do MLS or EPL/Bundesliga/etc. coaches have a greater incentive to be truthful with Arena about who's playing better in practices, games, isn't hurt, etc.? I'd have to believe MLS coaches are more likely to be truthful (as well as more likely to release players).
You know, if I were more of a reporter than a fan I probably would have asked about older players. I guess I got caught up in Mathis-mania and that's all I could think about. Like I said, it is more of a job than a career for me. I stay for the perks (free games, meet stars occasionally, FREE GOLF), CERTANILY not for the money or to become a full-time writer. Besides, I couldn't imagine living off what most writers make. And my wife probably wouldn't like it if I left my real job either
I had never once thought about developing instincts as a separate part of the game. I had always considered it part of the mental facet of playing. However, when reading this, it seems to make sense that these can be considered two different entities. For example, when you have a player making a diagonal run, you can mentally plot when to release the pass, when the runner should hit a certain point, how the defense will react, etc. However, when you reach the international level, the time to mentally calculate this decision decreases dramatically. What I think Arena is arguing is that after executing this type of pass many times over the season, it becomes second nature to make the read and execute this pass.
what? you expect me to think he's wrong? he's not, that was some great stuff i never said that players shouldn't play here, i said players should and that we should try and get more of our own here it's in how it's done and what provides the greatest good for the whole that i question
It's nice to know you agree with Arena on how MLS benefits the development of young American players, but doesn't that contradict some of what you said in other threads? and so on.
how? he already has shown to be able to play at a very high level with very high creativity he doesn't need the reinforcing of mls to allow him to try... he can do it in many ways that's the greatest thing about mls, it gives our players the confidence early on in their careers to try the seemingly impossible, lets them fail but when it's seen they can do it, shouldn't they be trying to do that at the next level?
One other ancillary positive about staying in MLS is entirely mental--Confidence. Not only does a player get the "practice" to develop those slicing passes or taking a man on, he could also gain and maintain a huge level of confidence if he is one of the best in the league he is in, rather than merely mediocre in a different league. I think it could make a huge difference. I get the feeling that the MLS guys like Beasley, Wolff, Mathis played so well during the world cup because they didn't know that Americans aren't supposed to know how to play the game. If they played overseas, they would get this beaten into them all the time. Here, they can be big fishes in a little pond and have the attitude to match.
keep thinking that and then go talk to mexico fans i think their incestual league and resulting level of their national team would tell you that staying at home is a bad idea (to stay completely at home)
But Jim, Mexico made the final 16 of the WC and think of the teams that did not. They must have done something right.
sure they did, but they aren't increasing in level all their players are staying home they are doing enough right to always make the cup and be a team that can make the second round... but they aren't a team that can make a run for the title
Jim There's a lot of teams that wish they were in the Final 16. Really, besides Brazil, who has made themselves better by sending players off to another country to play?
I guess if you do screw up in MLS, you may prevent your team from making the almost all-inclusive playoff system. I guess in other leagues around the world, you could literally be the player that makes the mistake that sends your team to relegation. I guess the rewards are just as great too.
This is untrue, of course. Rafa Marquez and Torrado have really blossomed in Europe. Torrado felt he was being stifled in Mexico, probably correctly. Being in Spain didn't seem to help Blanco or Palencia, though. And Borgetti clearly did fine by staying in Mexico. Perhaps the moral is to send defensive players to Europe, while keeping our attackers here.
What has Holland won that Mexico hasn't? I know my world soccer knowledge is limited, but have they done anything special? Argentina obviously is one, but for every Argentina there is and England. I just don't think you make the connection of: send your players to Europe = become World Cup champs.
I guess where we disagree, Jim, is at what level Donovan is in his development. While Landon has certainly done well in MLS, he isn't tearing up the league by a long shot. He's shown flashes of brilliance, but he also makes his fair share of miscues as well, and I think he'd benefit by a few more years in the U.S. Now Carlos Ruiz -- there's a player who'd benefit by playing in Europe at a higher competitive level. But Donovan? Maybe in a few more years, but if he went to Leverkusen right now he'd just be an average player who'd be in danger of getting bumped down to the reserves if he went into a slump.