I think the MLS has some really great players even at this time. Howard the latest has proved to ppl that we can present quality players. McBride could go back to the premiership now if he wanted to- but who else has the skill to? I think personally that twellman would do nicely, so would donovan as well. Mathis and perhaps Damani Ralph with another season or two under his belt.
Trying to predict what players would be able to succeed in a different league is a tricky business. Based on his MLS play you'd be hard pressed to figure out why Tottenham were interested in Bobby Convey, but then you watch the U-20 World Cup and it's impossible to miss. Who knows whether he'd play like the MLS Convey or the U-20 WC Convey?
Depends on where you mean as outside of MLS. Daniel Hernandez is doing fine (starting maybe? I'm not keeping track) in Mexico. Twellman would do well anywhere if he had people around him to set him up.
I couldnt agree anymore. Being a DC fan I was disappointed with the team as a whole. But, Convey could have and should have stepped up. He was phenomenal as far as I have read and seen from the U-20 WC. But, before we send our youngsters to the mens leagues populating Europe, they still need development here in MLS.
Boys always look good play against other boys but MLS is a men's league and that should explain Bobby's struggles to date.
I don't think it's that tricky. You take players that have the skills, physical abilities and mental toughness to adjust to other leagues. So, it does depend what the target league is, but generally you can guess. So, for example, I think you could take several players here and plop them into the lineups of the top Mexican clubs - players like Kyle Martino, Mathis, Convey, Joe-Max Moore, Mastroeni. Guys with good foot skills and enough pace to work open for passes. For guys that translate to Europe, you look for size, pace and field awareness along with decent footskills. So I'd say Bocanegra, McBride, Buddle, Ralph, Ante Razov, Eddie Pope, Danny Califf all could do well in European Leagues. I wouldn't slot any of them into Champions League clubs at this point, but top flight for sure. Then, of course, there are the goalkeepers. We seem to consistently produce keepers that can do well in England and Europe. Among our current group, I could easily see Kevin Hartman and Zach Thornton finding top flight jobs. Based on this season, perhaps Pat Onstad, too. Talented smaller guys like Rimando and Countess could fit in well in Mexico, if the teams down there wanted them.
I am surprised Pablo Mastroeni hasn't attracted more interest from overseas. (Is he recovering from injury?) I think he could do well in a D-Mid slot in the EPL or elsewhere.