Who would you vote for for USSF President

[Pitt79]

He would be. But the key is identifying a LeBron-type athlete, at age 8 or 9 and offering him free coaching and travel on some elite teams ip through 18

I disagree totally, it's possible, but not a given. The idea that the same people would be good at any sport is speculation. If LeBron had concentrated on football, MAYBE he would of made the NFL, MAYBE, maybe he'd be backup TE for the Browns for 2 years? Or maybe all pro, or maybe get a scholarship to tOSU and ride the bench and never get NFL consideration.

 

[DevilDog42]

Now football I know for a fact he would be an all pro wr if Terrell Pryor can be a pro bowler only playing the position for 2 years then james would have been unbelievable if you don't believe me go watch his high school football highlight

 

[Pitt79]

Now football I know for a fact he would be an all pro wr if Terrell Pryor can be a pro bowler only playing the position for 2 years then james would have been unbelievable if you don't believe me go watch his high school football highlight

No guarantee, sorry, you can find tons of impressive high school players who where busts at the next level. Maybe yes, maybe no.

 

[PeetWeet1]

Mexico just went through the final qualifying group of ten games a lost exactly one of them, the last one, when not only had the cliched a spot in the World Cup but they had also clinched the top spot in the qualifying group (which doesn't actually get you anything other than bragging rights). And for the record, players from the other CONCACAF countries have been playing in Mexico a hell of a lot longer than they have been playing in the US. So try again.

And yeah, Klinsman was more Eurocentric. If for no other reason that it would have been very, very difficult to be less Eurocentric. But Klinsman also had his favorites, guy who got called up no matter how or if they were playing, and he had other guys that he simply would not call in for any reason. Throw in the fact that he was never really all that good as a coach (he was, however, good at picking Joachim Low as his top assistant) and you've got the recipe for disaster.

But since you think that the US has all these guys on the national team that could and should be playing at a higher level, name them all. Name all the guys who have been regulars for the US who are playing in MLS that could be playing regularly in Europe for a team in a top league. As I said before, your list is going to be very, very short. The "big three" who came back from Europe all did so because for various reasons they couldn't play there any more.

Michael Bradley isn't playing in MLS because he was looking for a big payday at an easier level, he's playing in MLS because no one in any of the top leagues in Europe had any interest at all in signing him. He went to Italy and couldn't get any games there. He got loaned out to an English team and basically never got on the field there. His two choices were to come back to MLS for good money, or play in a lower European league for peanuts. That isn't a choice that's going to be hard for anyone to make, and it's not like the competition level is top notch in those second and third tier European Leagues.

Altidore came back because he was a multi-year failure in England. And that was at a bottom of the table team. There wasn't any top flight team in Europe that was going to sign him to play for free, let alone offer him a big contract. Clint Dempsey was simply too old to play at a high level in Europe any more. Who are all these other players who are good enough to be playing in the Premier League or Serie A or someplace like that who are turning those opportunities down to play in MLS? There must be a bunch of them for you and SMF to be correct, so start naming them all.

Seriously, do we really think that those guys would be better soccer players by any significant degree if they were playing at Aberdeen in Scotland or Vienna in the Austrain League or Grasshoppers in Switzerland?

You sure used a lot of words to counteract a "dumb" and widely held opinion, LOL.

Pulisic, Cameron, RJ, SMF and I all seem to agree that it is best for players to play at the highest level possible, which is usually in Europe. IMO, when viewed from a USMNT success frame of reference, nearly EVERY SINGLE MLS based USMNT member would have been better off playing at a higher level - which includes the championship and probably the league divisions as well.

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/geoff-cameron-what-must-change-in-u-s-soccer/

PS: Of course coaching decisions also played a role. Many things needed to go wrong to lose a must-tie game to a nation of 1.3M.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

2-0 losses an needing a late US goal to make the last World Cup suggest Mexico isn’t dominant. Perhaps letting players from the small CONCACAF nation’s play in the MLS has just Mexico as well?

Klinnsman has a (IMO correct) Eurocentric view. That also failed or Arena never would have been hired.

So long as some members of the USMNT are hurting their sharpness playing in a lower league for a ton of $$$, his other point stands. I am not claiming the MLS caused the US to miss the World Cup. I just agree with SMF and others that giving our players a soft option hurts our nation’s all-star team.

His point isn’t dumb

Mexico just went through the final qualifying group of ten games a lost exactly one of them, the last one, when not only had the cliched a spot in the World Cup but they had also clinched the top spot in the qualifying group (which doesn't actually get you anything other than bragging rights). And for the record, players from the other CONCACAF countries have been playing in Mexico a hell of a lot longer than they have been playing in the US. So try again.

And yeah, Klinsman was more Eurocentric. If for no other reason that it would have been very, very difficult to be less Eurocentric. But Klinsman also had his favorites, guy who got called up no matter how or if they were playing, and he had other guys that he simply would not call in for any reason. Throw in the fact that he was never really all that good as a coach (he was, however, good at picking Joachim Low as his top assistant) and you've got the recipe for disaster.

But since you think that the US has all these guys on the national team that could and should be playing at a higher level, name them all. Name all the guys who have been regulars for the US who are playing in MLS that could be playing regularly in Europe for a team in a top league. As I said before, your list is going to be very, very short. The "big three" who came back from Europe all did so because for various reasons they couldn't play there any more.

Michael Bradley isn't playing in MLS because he was looking for a big payday at an easier level, he's playing in MLS because no one in any of the top leagues in Europe had any interest at all in signing him. He went to Italy and couldn't get any games there. He got loaned out to an English team and basically never got on the field there. His two choices were to come back to MLS for good money, or play in a lower European league for peanuts. That isn't a choice that's going to be hard for anyone to make, and it's not like the competition level is top notch in those second and third tier European Leagues.

Altidore came back because he was a multi-year failure in England. And that was at a bottom of the table team. There wasn't any top flight team in Europe that was going to sign him to play for free, let alone offer him a big contract. Clint Dempsey was simply too old to play at a high level in Europe any more. Who are all these other players who are good enough to be playing in the Premier League or Serie A or someplace like that who are turning those opportunities down to play in MLS? There must be a bunch of them for you and SMF to be correct, so start naming them all.

Seriously, do we really think that those guys would be better soccer players by any significant degree if they were playing at Aberdeen in Scotland or Vienna in the Austrain League or Grasshoppers in Switzerland?

Yes, CONCACAF players play in Mexico but that's a much better league than MLS and its tougher for Central Americans to make those teams. MLS offers them a league more to their level.

The USMNT is better off having its players play at whatever appropriate level suits them in Europe. Marginal player, Alejandro Bedoya got a ton of PT at Nantes for a few years. Its better to play in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or the 2nd Divisions in Germany or England than MLS

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Pulisic, Cameron, RJ, SMF and I all seem to agree that it is best for players to play at the highest level possible, which is usually in Europe.

Of course it's best for players to play at the highest level possible. But it's as if you can't bring yourself to consider the fact, and it is a fact, that there is no team in any higher level European League that wants guys like Benny Feilhauber or Paul Arriola (to name two guys who played in the TnT game) on their team. What big European clubs are lining up to sign guys like Nick Rimando or DaMarcus Beasley (hell, those teams didn't have any interest in him back when he was a decent player, let alone now when he is awful) or Chris Wondolowski? None, that who.

And we can see this pretty clearly. I've asked you a couple of times now to give me the list of all the USMNT players who could be playing at a high level European club but who have instead decided to play in MLS, and so far you haven't come up with even one name. No surprise there, because as I said the list would be very, very short. Here are all the guys who were on the roster for the TnT game that used to play at a high level in Europe who now play in MLS:

Tim Howard
Brad Guzan
Michael Bradley
Clint Dempsey
Jozy Altidore
Alejandro Bedoya

Which one of those guys could still be playing at a high level in Europe? Certainly not either of the two goalies, and certainly not Bradley, Dempsey or Altidore. Bedoya? Maybe, but he never played in one of the very top leagues and he's now 30 years old. He's not the kind of guy that at his age any top level European team is going to pay to bring in. So who? Start rattling off all the names. It should be easy, what with how many of them there are. It's really shocking you haven't been able to do it yet.

 

[PeetWeet1]

Of course it's best for players to play at the highest level possible. But it's as if you can't bring yourself to consider the fact, and it is a fact, that there is no team in any higher level European League that wants guys like Benny Feilhauber or Paul Arriola (to name two guys who played in the TnT game) on their team. What big European clubs are lining up to sign guys like Nick Rimando or DaMarcus Beasley (hell, those teams didn't have any interest in him back when he was a decent player, let alone now when he is awful) or Chris Wondolowski? None, that who.

And we can see this pretty clearly. I've asked you a couple of times now to give me the list of all the USMNT players who could be playing at a high level European club but who have instead decided to play in MLS, and so far you haven't come up with even one name. No surprise there, because as I said the list would be very, very short. Here are all the guys who were on the roster for the TnT game that used to play at a high level in Europe who now play in MLS:

Tim Howard
Brad Guzan
Michael Bradley
Clint Dempsey
Jozy Altidore
Alejandro Bedoya

Which one of those guys could still be playing at a high level in Europe? Certainly not either of the two goalies, and certainly not Bradley, Dempsey or Altidore. Bedoya? Maybe, but he never played in one of the very top leagues and he's now 30 years old. He's not the kind of guy that at his age any top level European team is going to pay to bring in. So who? Start rattling off all the names. It should be easy, what with how many of them there are. It's really shocking you haven't been able to do it yet.

Get a grip. Klinnsman himself - more of an authority than you or I - wasn’t thrilled some on your list choose to return.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Of course it's best for players to play at the highest level possible. But it's as if you can't bring yourself to consider the fact, and it is a fact, that there is no team in any higher level European League that wants guys like Benny Feilhauber or Paul Arriola (to name two guys who played in the TnT game) on their team. What big European clubs are lining up to sign guys like Nick Rimando or DaMarcus Beasley (hell, those teams didn't have any interest in him back when he was a decent player, let alone now when he is awful) or Chris Wondolowski? None, that who.

And we can see this pretty clearly. I've asked you a couple of times now to give me the list of all the USMNT players who could be playing at a high level European club but who have instead decided to play in MLS, and so far you haven't come up with even one name. No surprise there, because as I said the list would be very, very short. Here are all the guys who were on the roster for the TnT game that used to play at a high level in Europe who now play in MLS:

Tim Howard
Brad Guzan
Michael Bradley
Clint Dempsey
Jozy Altidore
Alejandro Bedoya

Which one of those guys could still be playing at a high level in Europe? Certainly not either of the two goalies, and certainly not Bradley, Dempsey or Altidore. Bedoya? Maybe, but he never played in one of the very top leagues and he's now 30 years old. He's not the kind of guy that at his age any top level European team is going to pay to bring in. So who? Start rattling off all the names. It should be easy, what with how many of them there are. It's really shocking you haven't been able to do it yet.

Goalies have a greater lifespan at high level play. Many of those field players tried and failed for a variety of reasons. But of those playing in England and Germany aren’t doing too bad. Their play also stands out when suiting up for national team. The window of opportunity is small to get the opportunity at the highest level. Take advantage of it and get better. But many took the money in the US and now wonder why they can’t make the World Cup. The MLS doesn’t have global respect unless you are a 38 year old former great looking to bank on name alone so you come to the US.

It’s a fact that the best players in the world are not playing in the MLS. just like the best basketball players in the world aren’t playing in England, and the best football players in the world aren’t playing in Canada.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Get a grip. Klinnsman himself - more of an authority than you or I - wasn’t thrilled some on your list choose to return.

Of course he wasn't. But what choice did they have? What top European teams were trying to sign Altidore or Bradley when they came back? None. You can't just show up somewhere and force them to play you.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

It’s a fact that the best players in the world are not playing in the MLS.

It is also a fact that the best players in the world are not Americans. I'm not so sure why that's so hard for people to understand. When Michael Bradley couldn't find a team in Europe to sign him he couldn't just show up at someplace like Stoke or Wolfsburg and insist that they pay him and play him. When Altidore failed so spectacularly at Sunderland he couldn't just show up at Torino or Espanyol and insist that they pay him and play him. A team has to actually offer you a contract for you to play there.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

It is also a fact that the best players in the world are not Americans. I'm not so sure why that's so hard for people to understand. When Michael Bradley couldn't find a team in Europe to sign him he couldn't just show up at someplace like Stoke or Wolfsburg and insist that they pay him and play him. When Altidore failed so spectacularly at Sunderland he couldn't just show up at Torino or Espanyol and insist that they pay him and play him. A team has to actually offer you a contract for you to play there.

Those players are just not good enough when you look at the big picture. Altidore is more hope than production. Everyone hopes the light goes on for him, but it just didn't translate to a dominate goal scorer.
Bradley had a decent window, but boy did he have a bad World Cup in 2014. Probably because he was not in his best position. But he isn't a dominant center midfielder. You must control the midfield at the highest level, and when you need goals you get them from a goal scorer.

Donovan was a better goal scorer than altidore and he really had a chance in England, but it was more in his head than talent. Dempsey had a solid time in England and it showed at the national level. Same with our goalies, but boy did we seem to have a ton of fillers out there. Pulsic (sp) is the real deal. He is very solid. Yedlin (sp) is holding his own. But there are too many missing pieces to be dominant. Holy hell is our defense terrible. Our best window of opportunity was last World Cup and previous. Going forward will be tough.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Those players are just not good enough when you look at the big picture. Altidore is more hope than production. Everyone hopes the light goes on for him, but it just didn't translate to a dominate goal scorer.
Bradley had a decent window, but boy did he have a bad World Cup in 2014. Probably because he was not in his best position. But he isn't a dominant center midfielder. You must control the midfield at the highest level, and when you need goals you get them from a goal scorer.

Donovan was a better goal scorer than altidore and he really had a chance in England, but it was more in his head than talent. Dempsey had a solid time in England and it showed at the national level. Same with our goalies, but boy did we seem to have a ton of fillers out there. Pulsic (sp) is the real deal. He is very solid. Yedlin (sp) is holding his own. But there are too many missing pieces to be dominant. Holy hell is our defense terrible. Our best window of opportunity was last World Cup and previous. Going forward will be tough.

Actually I think going forward is going to get a little easier. Of course you never know how young players are going to pan out, but the US actually has some good young players that teams in top leagues actually have interest in. Pulisic of course, but also guys like Weston McKennie, Josh Sargent, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Gedion Zelalam and some others. It would have been nice to keep Jonathan Gonzalez in the fold. That's potentially a big miss for US soccer.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Get a grip. Klinnsman himself - more of an authority than you or I - wasn’t thrilled some on your list choose to return.

Of course he wasn't. But what choice did they have? What top European teams were trying to sign Altidore or Bradley when they came back? None. You can't just show up somewhere and force them to play you.

Joe, you are missing the point. Sure, it would be great if Altidore, Bradley, etc played for "top" European teams but they obviously are not at that level. But it is better for the USMNT if they played in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or 2nd divisions in Germany or England than to play in MLS. Now, I dont fault these players for taking millions more to play in MLS. I would have done the same thing. But in cases like this, the unintended consequences of a profitable MLS hurt the USMNT.

MLS is hurting players' development. Look at a guy like Tyler Adams at RBNY. He should be over in Europe now. Instead, RBNY can probably afford to keep him and maybe he never goes over. Maybe he will but just an example. A guy like Matt Besler never went over which hurt him.

 

[Pitt79]

But many took the money in the US and now wonder why they can’t make the World Cup.

Can you blame them? Play in your own country and make significantly more money in some cases? Is your whole life just to work to get a chance to finish 12th at the World Cup? Really? Think about it? say a guy from Jersey, just hypothetically, play for a mediocre EPL team, maybe not even be a regular, maybe make $200K, or be a starter for NYCFC, making $2 million, and all your family & friends can come watch? All to make a tournament once or twice, where your team is not likely to finish top 10.

 

[Pitt79]

Altidore is more hope than production.

Isn't he like #3 all time USMNT goal scorer?

 

[Pitt79]

Joe, you are missing the point. Sure, it would be great if Altidore, Bradley, etc played for "top" European teams but they obviously are not at that level. But it is better for the USMNT if they played in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or 2nd divisions in Germany or England than to play in MLS. Now, I dont fault these players for taking millions more to play in MLS. I would have done the same thing. But in cases like this, the unintended consequences of a profitable MLS hurt the USMNT.

MLS is hurting players' development. Look at a guy like Tyler Adams at RBNY. He should be over in Europe now. Instead, RBNY can probably afford to keep him and maybe he never goes over. Maybe he will but just an example. A guy like Matt Besler never went over which hurt him.

So how can you expect guys to accept playing 2nd Division in Europe for 2nd Division pay, if they can play in their own country, be stars and make million$, all for a once every 4 years tournament.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Isn't he like #3 all time USMNT goal scorer?

But is he a goal scorer you need when it counts most, no.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

Can you blame them? Play in your own country and make significantly more money in some cases? Is your whole life just to work to get a chance to finish 12th at the World Cup? Really? Think about it? say a guy from Jersey, just hypothetically, play for a mediocre EPL team, maybe not even be a regular, maybe make $200K, or be a starter for NYCFC, making $2 million, and all your family & friends can come watch? All to make a tournament once or twice, where your team is not likely to finish top 10.

Every soccer player from here to New Zealand dreams of playing in the World Cup, just like every figure skater dreams of getting gold in the olympics. The World Cup is the ultimate dream for all players. Men and women.

 

[Pitt79]

Every soccer player from here to New Zealand dreams of playing in the World Cup, just like every figure skater dreams of getting gold in the olympics. The World Cup is the ultimate dream for all players. Men and women.

But, would you agree to earn $800K over 5 years or $10 million over the same time, just to play in a one month tournament. I certainly wouldn't.

 

[Pitt79]

But is he a goal scorer you need when it counts most, no.

He's scored multiple times in WC Qualification, he scored in the Gold Cup title game. Not saying he's great, but for USA he's above average.

 

[Pitt79]

Here's your man...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...goldman-sachs-partner/?utm_term=.1b7e1eb5998f

He wants to make soccer "more affordable" for underserved communities.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Joe, you are missing the point. Sure, it would be great if Altidore, Bradley, etc played for "top" European teams but they obviously are not at that level. But it is better for the USMNT if they played in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or 2nd divisions in Germany or England than to play in MLS. Now, I dont fault these players for taking millions more to play in MLS. I would have done the same thing. But in cases like this, the unintended consequences of a profitable MLS hurt the USMNT.

MLS is hurting players' development. Look at a guy like Tyler Adams at RBNY. He should be over in Europe now. Instead, RBNY can probably afford to keep him and maybe he never goes over. Maybe he will but just an example. A guy like Matt Besler never went over which hurt him.

So how can you expect guys to accept playing 2nd Division in Europe for 2nd Division pay, if they can play in their own country, be stars and make million$, all for a once every 4 years tournament.

I don't expect them to. Im just saying the financial viability of MLS has ended up hurting the national team. The next step is that you will see good young kids like Tyler Adams or Jordan Morris play their entire careers in MLS instead of taking a shot overseas. Jermaine Jones had a legendary, epic rant about this. Google it. He rips Jordan Morris for not going to Werder Bremen because his mom just got a new dog. Things are very comfortable in the US for these kids. If you are 18 or 22, you can stay in MLS and make good money and have your position handed to you instead of fighting every day in the German 2nd division, for example. There is no pressure in MLS. There's no accountability. As Klinsmann said, if you lose or are playing bad in Europe, you cant go to the grocery store. They talk about you on the radio, etc. These young guys can now stay in MLS and make $$$. Its the unintended consequences.

Now, there are a few good players playing overseas and congratulations to Josh Sargent for going but its easier to stay now

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Here's your man...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...goldman-sachs-partner/?utm_term=.1b7e1eb5998f

He wants to make soccer "more affordable" for underserved communities.

My plan would be to have national tryouts. Basically 1 youth program for every 3 million people (so 100 total).

But the key is to find the funds to make it free and start at U8. So, a kid from Monroeville lets say, he gets nominated to tryout for the Monroeville/Gateway/FR/PR/PH/WH region lets say. The top 5 kids there get invited to the Allegheny Co. combine. The top 5 kids there get invited to the Western PA combine where a U8 team is picked to represent Pittsburgh.

The team trains twice a week and free bus travel and hotels are provided for weekend road games in Cle, Col, Cin, Phi, Bal, DC, etc.

This would cost ab absolute ton of money but keep in mind MLS does this but starts too late at U12 and its limited to only those cities.

 

[Pitt79]

I don't expect them to. Im just saying the financial viability of MLS has ended up hurting the national team. The next step is that you will see good young kids like Tyler Adams or Jordan Morris play their entire careers in MLS instead of taking a shot overseas. Jermaine Jones had a legendary, epic rant about this. Google it. He rips Jordan Morris for not going to Werder Bremen because his mom just got a new dog. Things are very comfortable in the US for these kids. If you are 18 or 22, you can stay in MLS and make good money and have your position handed to you instead of fighting every day in the German 2nd division, for example. There is no pressure in MLS. There's no accountability. As Klinsmann said, if you lose or are playing bad in Europe, you cant go to the grocery store. They talk about you on the radio, etc. These young guys can now stay in MLS and make $$$. Its the unintended consequences.

Now, there are a few good players playing overseas and congratulations to Josh Sargent for going but its easier to stay now

I have to say, that I am happy the USA has a viable professional soccer league, I actually follow it, and yes, I don't care about the lesser quality of it, I like a domestic league, that plays in my time zone, and where it's close enough to actually attend a game sometimes, to follow. And yes, I don't care about the fact that they aren't the best. Would you prefer that the MLS flops and we have no domestic league basically to have stronger players for a tournament that is one month every 4 years? Soccer like everything else, like NFL, NBA whatever is primarily entertainment, it's not only about being at the highest level possible.

 

[Pitt79]

My plan would be to have national tryouts. Basically 1 youth program for every 3 million people (so 100 total).

But the key is to find the funds to make it free and start at U8. So, a kid from Monroeville lets say, he gets nominated to tryout for the Monroeville/Gateway/FR/PR/PH/WH region lets say. The top 5 kids there get invited to the Allegheny Co. combine. The top 5 kids there get invited to the Western PA combine where a U8 team is picked to represent Pittsburgh.

The team trains twice a week and free bus travel and hotels are provided for weekend road games in Cle, Col, Cin, Phi, Bal, DC, etc.

This would cost ab absolute ton of money but keep in mind MLS does this but starts too late at U12 and its limited to only those cities.

If you have some really poor kids and their parents can't even go 10 miles to get to practice, are you going to go pick them up?

Right now youth soccer is a free for all and quality of clubs varies, and the reason kids join one over the other varies. Like for me, IT MATTERS if the practices are near my house or if it costs too much, for some it doesn't-some drive 2 hours one way for a practice- NO WAY. It's out of whack. I remember my daughter was trying out for high school JV and this other girl's mother was bragging about her daughter, who had played on a top notch travel team supposedly, very expensive too, she talking about making professionally made videos to send to college coaches, then my daughter had been in rec and select, really considered low level here, yet she made the team, that girl didn't. Seems like no rhyme or reason. they where planning for college recruitment for a girl that couldn't make 9th grade JV!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

This has to be the guy Father Guido Sarducci.

He's looking for work!

"it's five o'clock somewhere"
Signed: Mr Buffett
Go PITT & CSU Rams!

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Joe, you are missing the point. Sure, it would be great if Altidore, Bradley, etc played for "top" European teams but they obviously are not at that level. But it is better for the USMNT if they played in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or 2nd divisions in Germany or England than to play in MLS. Now, I dont fault these players for taking millions more to play in MLS. I would have done the same thing. But in cases like this, the unintended consequences of a profitable MLS hurt the USMNT.

You do understand that the lower level teams in places like Germany and England and the top leagues in most other places have strict rules about the number of foreign players on their rosters, right? Which, once again, means that a guy like Bradley simply can't show up somewhere and tell them he's going to play for them. Many of the teams in those leagues pretty much only want Europeans on the squad, and they want all the non-Europeans to be young guys that they will be able to sell off if they make it big. You can't do that with a 30 year old American, so most of those teams have absolutely no interest at all in any 30 year old American, no matter who he is.

 

[PeetWeet1]

You do understand that the lower level teams in places like Germany and England and the top leagues in most other places have strict rules about the number of foreign players on their rosters, right? Which, once again, means that a guy like Bradley simply can't show up somewhere and tell them he's going to play for them. Many of the teams in those leagues pretty much only want Europeans on the squad, and they want all the non-Europeans to be young guys that they will be able to sell off if they make it big. You can't do that with a 30 year old American, so most of those teams have absolutely no interest at all in any 30 year old American, no matter who he is.

Yes Joe, we know pro leagues don’t have a no-cut policy. However, when Bradley choose to return he was less than 30 and had at least one offer in hand. Hence the reason for Klinnsman’s disappointment.

 

[Pitt79]

Yes Joe, we know pro leagues don’t have a no-cut policy. However, when Bradley choose to return he was less than 30 and had at least one offer in hand. Hence the reason for Klinnsman’s disappointment.

This is a funny argument, I mean do you honestly blame the guy, if he can MAKE MORE MONEY and it's CLOSER TO HOME in a culture that you understand much better?

I don't know the details of Bradley's offers or anyone's for that matter, but if MLS is paying more than Whatever Euro League offering you, plus it's AT HOME, it's a no brainer for most people.

 

[PeetWeet1]

This is a funny argument, I mean do you honestly blame the guy, if he can MAKE MORE MONEY and it's CLOSER TO HOME in a culture that you understand much better?

I don't know the details of Bradley's offers or anyone's for that matter, but if MLS is paying more than Whatever Euro League offering you, plus it's AT HOME, it's a no brainer for most people.

No. I blame the DP rule that encourages each team to overpay a few players.

 

[Pitt79]

No. I blame the DP rule that encourages each team to overpay a few players.

But the league, as a business wants to have players who have recognizable names to draw interest. Like it or not, in the USA, USMNT players are just that to American soccer fans. The goal of the MLS is primarily to make money for their own league and teams, not give up money to win a few more games at the WC.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

What is more interesting, the US women are far and away more successful, and have far more star power on a global scale, and the US women's club league can barely keep any teams financially. The popularity of women's soccer skyrocketed years ago, and yet no sustainable pro league. I guess less people want to watch some pretty hot women kick a ball around, unlike me, I can watch some of our top female pros all day, dreaming of them passing a ball with me in the back yard, or hanging out by my pool in a bikini.

 

[PeetWeet1]

But the league, as a business wants to have players who have recognizable names to draw interest. Like it or not, in the USA, USMNT players are just that to American soccer fans. The goal of the MLS is primarily to make money for their own league and teams, not give up money to win a few more games at the WC.

For sure. From a business standpoint, the MLS can’t be criticized. Heck, I suspect some of their socialist leanings may spread to Europe.

However, IMO the MLS is way beyond needing ‘stars’ to prop up the league. In terms of attendance, MLS is on par with all but the English, German and Spanish leagues. Atlanta was about 20th best in the world. They had the benefit? of being an expansion team, but they didn’t use their DP slots on famous names.

Getting rid of the DP would allow teams to better allocate their funds to make them better. This would improve the quality of play for the Americans in the league and would not offer an artificially high paycheck to our best players.

One other change that would make a real difference - use the FIFA calendar. It would make coordination between MLS and European based players easier.

 

[Pitt79]

One other change that would make a real difference - use the FIFA calendar. It would make coordination between MLS and European based players easier.

I think that's suicide really. I watch a lot of late Sunday afternoon MLS games in the summer, because there's no Steelers game that day. I like it being March to September for regular season, because once NHL and NBA ends there are NO SPORTS worth watching. Yes I now baseball exists, but to me that's not worth watching. LOL.

 

[Pitt79]

What is more interesting, the US women are far and away more successful, and have far more star power on a global scale, and the US women's club league can barely keep any teams financially. The popularity of women's soccer skyrocketed years ago, and yet no sustainable pro league. I guess less people want to watch some pretty hot women kick a ball around, unlike me, I can watch some of our top female pros all day, dreaming of them passing a ball with me in the back yard, or hanging out by my pool in a bikini.

I went to a Washington Spirit game with my daughter's club team 2 years ago, was pretty good. They play in a 5000 season stadium in Germantown MD. To be fair, USA is so dominant in women's soccer and hockey because most of those other countries aren't trying to instill the big changes in gender roles like the USA, a lot of European countries barely have girls teams because they are still in the mindset that sports aren't for girls. My niece lives in Athens, Greece, they came and visited us and she came and watched my daughter play for a club team and she was so jealous, she wished she could play, but they knew of no teams for girls where they lived, in the biggest city in Greece!

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

Joe, you are missing the point. Sure, it would be great if Altidore, Bradley, etc played for "top" European teams but they obviously are not at that level. But it is better for the USMNT if they played in France, Belgium, Netherlands, or 2nd divisions in Germany or England than to play in MLS. Now, I dont fault these players for taking millions more to play in MLS. I would have done the same thing. But in cases like this, the unintended consequences of a profitable MLS hurt the USMNT.

You do understand that the lower level teams in places like Germany and England and the top leagues in most other places have strict rules about the number of foreign players on their rosters, right? Which, once again, means that a guy like Bradley simply can't show up somewhere and tell them he's going to play for them. Many of the teams in those leagues pretty much only want Europeans on the squad, and they want all the non-Europeans to be young guys that they will be able to sell off if they make it big. You can't do that with a 30 year old American, so most of those teams have absolutely no interest at all in any 30 year old American, no matter who he is.

Are you saying a French, Belgian, or Dutch team would have had no interest in him? Heck, Bradley scored a ton of goals at Henerveen before the move to Monchegladbaach. Surely, some middle tier league team would have wanted him hut obviously not for $6 million per

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

No. I blame the DP rule that encourages each team to overpay a few players.

But the league, as a business wants to have players who have recognizable names to draw interest. Like it or not, in the USA, USMNT players are just that to American soccer fans. The goal of the MLS is primarily to make money for their own league and teams, not give up money to win a few more games at the WC.

Yes. Good for Bradley. Good for MLS. Good for Toronto. Good for MLS fans. Bad for USMNT. Bad for USMNT fans. That's the rub.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

What is more interesting, the US women are far and away more successful, and have far more star power on a global scale, and the US women's club league can barely keep any teams financially. The popularity of women's soccer skyrocketed years ago, and yet no sustainable pro league. I guess less people want to watch some pretty hot women kick a ball around, unlike me, I can watch some of our top female pros all day, dreaming of them passing a ball with me in the back yard, or hanging out by my pool in a bikini.

Girls dont play soccer competitively in like every country on earth but 5. So, its hard to make that argument.

 

[Pitt79]

Are you saying a French, Belgian, or Dutch team would have no interest in him?

Here's a question for you too, where would MLS rank in Europe? Are you having better competition on a Swedish, Czech, Greek or Turkish team than MLS? In what places is Europe better? Or you think anywhere in Europe is better? Of course you do get a chance to play UEFA Champions League possibly. Bill Hamid, 28 years old, sometimes USMNT player, DC United GK for years, just went to a Danish team this season, is that a step up?

 

[Pitt79]

Yes. Good for Bradley. Good for MLS. Good for Toronto. Good for MLS fans. Bad for USMNT. Bad for USMNT fans. That's the rub.

Yeah, but are you saying all these clubs and all their fans and the financial success of the entire domestic league should be subordinate to USMNT in order to do better in a tournament that lasts one month every 4 years.