LUFC1919 wrote:
Until the MLS invests in a proper coaching and youth development systems it will continue to be a third rate competition with little or no interest from anywhere outside the US.
Bingo, this is the massive whole in the US's system. Youth development sucks. I know, because I went through it growing up, and there's not much to brag about. It's almost like here in the US, to play for the leading youth leagues, or ODP is more a symbol of status than actual development. It's so you can say "Hey I play ODP so I'm sweet, I don't need to learn anymore." Whereas when I go to visit my family in mexico, they have soccer school, dedicated to finding talent in 9-12 year olds and then molding them to step up into the proffesional team's youth systems. Down there they don't care that you play for the "elite team" in your state, so you're automatically in, they just look for talent and potential.
Then the second pitfall that the US has is the high school and college system. I grew up playing with a great team, good coaches, we all worked together learned together, I grew as a player. Then came high school soccer, which for some reason takes priority over club soccer, and everything went downhill. generally you go to a high school in your area, if they suck, tough luck, that's your durisdiction. You can move, transfer etc. but only a few kids are gonna be willing to do that by then. Universities look mainly at high schools for players, and from there the MLS teams DRAFt(which is ridiculous).
The sysyem doesn't work, it's extremely casual as opposed to other countries, especially in england, argentina, holland, brazil etc. where they take it SERIOUS, really serious.
Until the US stops wasting millions in bringing in ex-superstar players, and instead, start investing those millions in building a great youth system, the US won't cut it. Every once in a while we'll get a good team, because the players really care enough to go beyond the training the US offers, but that's really what seperates us from the international powerhouses.
~Valente11