Originally posted by TristanAbbott7
Eh, I'm American so going "back" to Europe is hardly an option or a preference! It's true that overall our league doesn't have much quality in depth at the moment. It will still take another 5 years or more for the league to get to a decent level and a lot of admin and structure changes need to take place too. 8 pro teams isn't enough for a start to satisfy the overall demand in the US.
The players you mentioned are good but we need a lot more of them. Thankfully Freddy Adu is gonna put asses in seats and get some passion going and there are a lot of good kids coming through. I coach Select soccer and it's only been the last 2-3 years where kids have had the opportunity to get select coaching at an earlier age than the Select entry age of 10. Before that the rec coaches (many of which don't know their ass from their elbow) normally give them plenty of bad habits to pick up. Every year the kids are getting better and better. The '93s who entered Select this year are amazing compared to a few years ago.
I believe the MLS will be strong eventually but for our players to really develop at the moment and get much better they need to play in Europe. You can't tell me that Brian McBride is gonna get the same experience here in the States as he is playing against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Donavan needs to go to Europe too and not to some third rate German team but somebody in the EPL. I'm a stronger believer than most in US soccer because I work at the grass roots level with the kids from 10 until they go to college so I see how much we're improving but I have to be honest and say that the MLS is not a strong league at the moment. If you disagree with that then fine but you can't honestly tell me it compares to the English, Spanish and Italian league.
I don't suppose its on par with the top European leagues. However, you said it was no good, which is complete crap.
The fact that you said America has only 8 pro teams nearly completely destroys your credibility in US Soccer. Here's a lesson, pal. MLS features 10 first-division teams. The A-League has 15 professional second-division American teams. Then, the Pro Select League has 13 pro teams. And, if you count the PDL, that's at least 50 more. Not quite 8, but close.
No doubt McBride is facing some of the best competition in his career, but where did he develop the skills that got him to that plane and opportunities? MLS. Hell, his strike-rate is better in the Premiership than it was in his 8 years of MLS!
Look, MLS developed the talents of McBride, Tim Howard, Brad Friedel, Clint Mathis, Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan, Bobby Convey, DaMarcus Beasley - even Zach Thornton (off to Benfica, by the way).
Per standard, those players can compete with the best. Thus, if MLS is producing top-quality talent, which it is, it certainly is not no good.
Sure, it could be improved. However, knocking it isn't going to get soccer in this country anywhere. Supporting it, at least to the point where you know how many teams there are, on the other hand, is obviously positive for soccer Stateside.
You're right, there are good kids coming through. Great kids, even. And MLS, USSF and Project-40 are giving them the chance to compete in the professional environment ASAP and have been successful.
