The SNH Football thread

[garethom]

they only go to LA and NY because european stars want to live there.

I know, but one of the things I really admire about US sports is parity, and having the league pay a load of money for the same 2 or 3 teams to get aging stars is a bit shit, just imo. I agree, the comparisons are pointless, but I see no reason why it can't reach that level sooner rather than later, but MLS has jumped on the foreign star wagon too soon. Pump that money into homegrown player development first. One obvious thing that would see MLS take off is if you did well in a world cup (which I always think USA is capable of) with an almost entirely home grown team of MLS players. This is just an outsider speaking, but Landon Donovan shows that Americans would rather be backing an American then some 35 year old English or French player who's come over for one last payday.

Shortened version: Relying on "past it" players will mean MLS is not taken seriously, and it's a risky thing to base publicity of your product on. Or go all out, throw a shit tonne of money at it and get players just as good as the rest of the world's leagues.

[ehbes]

Unfortunately, the MLS will not take off like most hope to unless the USMNT makes a big push in 2018. But that wont happen since the current team is quite young and Jurgen is trying to push them all into Europe.

[garethom]

Ehbes, is this Jordan Morris any good? Didn't know college players get called up that high! Does it happen often?

Looking at the list of your current squad and recent call ups on wiki now, USA can't be far off fielding an entirely MLS based team can they? None of the players that play outside of MLS are THAT much better than their MLS counterparts.

[ehbes]

Yeah Morris is the real deal, he plays at Stanford who is one of the top schools in the country. Usually you see one or two college or NASL players get called up for friendlies now and then. They absolutely can field a very competent all MLS team, but Jurgen is always going to favor players who are in Europe even if they aren't as good as their MLS counterpart. Its kind of sad how Klinnsman thinks he can only bolster the USMNT by essentially gutting the MLS from its young stars (see Yedlin's move to Spurs)

[garethom]

Yeah Morris is the real deal, he plays at Stanford who is one of the top schools in the country. Usually you see one or two college or NASL players get called up for friendlies now and then. They absolutely can field a very competent all MLS team, but Jurgen is always going to favor players who are in Europe even if they aren't as good as their MLS counterpart. Its kind of sad how Klinnsman thinks he can only bolster the USMNT by essentially gutting the MLS from its young stars (see Yedlin's move to Spurs)

Cool man, obvs knew Stanford was good at other sports, don't know which schools are sick at soccer though. I guess it is sad about Klinnsman, but then again, I guess his responsibility is to win games for the national team, not grow or develop MLS, and in the short term, it might be best from his side to get those capable playing in the best leagues in the world.

[mIrReN]

I don't follow MLS at all so I can't say much for their league but iirc Klinnsman called up lot of MLS players for WC no? I could be mistaken but still you would want your strongest players out there no... They really surprised me and played very well

+Players who play abroad are an advantage imho

[DJoe]

surely potentially good plays wont develop to realise their potential in the MLS though. to fully develop they need to be playing in a far more competitive league against and with players better than them. I guess thought that just means the MLS remains shit. happens in brazil and argentina too i suppose as well

[garethom]

I don't follow MLS at all so I can't say much for their league but iirc Klinnsman called up lot of MLS players for WC no? I could be mistaken but still you would want your strongest players out there no... They really surprised me and played very well

+Players who play abroad are an advantage imho

I had a look at their 2010 world cup squad, only 4 MLS players (Donovan, Bornstein, Buddle, Findley).

surely potentially good plays wont develop to realise their potential in the MLS though. to fully develop they need to be playing in a far more competitive league against and with players better than them. I guess thought that just means the MLS remains shit. happens in brazil and argentina too i suppose as well

Yeah, short term better for national team, but shit for the league's development. Massive potential market, massive population (I read a few years back soccer was the most popular participation sport, probs still true), potential for massive money, all the things they need are there, just gotta make the right decisions. Those factors, plus the physical and mental sides of sport in america make me believe that they could have a world class homegrown league eventually, if there's enough interest.

[ehbes]

Soccer DOMINATES pre high school sports, the problem has always been getting young players to stick with it.

@DJoe Yes, I do think for the upper echelon of MLS talent, they should go abroad to see if they can make the jump to world class. But theres no reason for average to slightly above average US players to go abroad and play on some crap team in Belgium or the lower leagues of England and Italy, just because the national team favors those players. Im looking at you, Sacha Kljestan.

[mIrReN]

hrm did you forget the world cup was last year or just referencing? It seemed fairly mixed up last year about half/half
but hey look at our Belgian squad and how many play Belgian clubs (granted we don't have massive potential/population/money) but imho a league has to carry it's own ass to the top.

+ Anderlecht is the only decent club in Belgium (maybe Bruges too but ...) don't crap on them also do you really think Klinnsman choses players just because they play abroad ?

[garethom]

hrm did you forget the world cup was last year or just referencing?

Doh! I completely did, getting my years mixed up Yeah, looks a bit more balanced.

Anderlecht is the only decent club in Belgium (maybe Bruges too but ...)

[ehbes]

don't crap on them

yeah fair, Im just pissed because he really should be playing in the MLS tbf.

also do you really think Klinnsman choses players just because they play abroad ?

He absolutely is. Why do you think he picked an 18 year old playing for Bayern's B team over Landon Donovan. Also this

At issue, according to sources, is an approach whereby Klinsmann and his surrogates are advising those players to sign with European clubs and bypass MLS. To this end, the U.S. Soccer Federation has been organizing training stints and trials for various youth national team players, the better to showcase those players for overseas clubs.

[mIrReN]

np I was thinking it was 2012 first hahahahaha
keep posting them Bruges failures tho

"He absolutely is. Why do you think he picked an 18 year old playing for Bayern's B team over Landon Donovan. Also this"
isn't Donovan like old old? But still yeah would pick him over the other, although Klinnsman is from Germany, maybe they've scouted him excessively


hrm I do understand why he does it; as you said before "I do think for the upper echelon of MLS talent, they should go abroad to see if they can make the jump to world class."

[hubb]

To take someone like that out of the team is without a doubt a special situation and usually it's about influence on the team and not just some rule of thumb

bad argument there

[ehbes]

hrm I do understand why he does it; as you said before "I do think for the upper echelon of MLS talent, they should go abroad to see if they can make the jump to world class."

Sacha hasn't really been part of the national team picture in years, so I don't really count him. Im looking more at players like Yedlin, Mullins, and Zusi.

[mIrReN]

oh I wasn't talking about Sacha, if he added him to his team I would have a good laugh,, more in general.

[ehbes]

Yeah fair, in general I think Klinsmann is only gonna help the MLS if he makes a serious run in 2018. If another 2010 or 2014 happens again then he will have gutted the league for nothing

[xtcvsmistycold]

inter sign shaqiri on loan with an option to buy apparently

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/

[Forum]

Sounds like Liverpool cant buy anyone without selling first or they'll break FFP

[ehbes]

I think the focus is more on signing a keeper than signing yet another AM