Thoughts on an improving MLS

May 20th, 2009 | by: Marlon |

Recently there have been a lot of stories on how the MLS is an improving league. Great shows of enthusiasm from fans in Seattle and Toronto have given American soccer a much needed boost. The MLS clubs are slowly but surely developing youth programs to help young players morph into the stars of tomorrow. As the league grows and the sport grows so should the quality of the US National Team, right?

The discussion is a long one, but soccer may be poised to leap frog hockey as the number four sport in America. American football, basketball, and baseball don’t seem to be going anywhere, but while soccer is spreading the interest for hockey seems to only be prevalent in certain areas. This should mean that MLS teams will begin gaining more money, and with more money should come higher quality players. With higher quality should come more fans. With more fans should come even more money. Etc.

So how should the US national team capitalize on the growing American interest in soccer? There is hope that sometime soon the manager of the US team will be able to pick from the often touted young pool of American talent, and if the U17’s performance at the CONCACAF qualifiers was any indication then our chance maybe sooner rather then later.

Unfortunately, Bob Bradley can’t go around capping every promising seventeen year old who scores a hat trick. He barely has enough time to give players like Freddy Adu and Maurice Edu time on the pitch. There’s a logic behind Bob Bradley’s managerial moves, but they often seem makeshift. We the fans rarely feel any forward movement.

So when should this great shift take place? When will our young talented players finally be grafted into the national team lineup? 2014? 2018? Can we wait that long? After success in 2002 and dejection in 2006 American soccer fans don’t know what to expect from the 2010 World Cup. Can the growing MLS create an enthusiasm that forces Bob Bradley to make some changes?

For years they’ve told us about the future, but when does the future start to unfold? What does it look like? Will there be some cool goals?

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It’s called football

usa is super awesome at football.

It’s interesting that you guys and Australia call it soccer but the rest of the world calls it football, you silly but lovable talented young men and women
http://usa.worldcupblog.org Marlon

Why thank you sir! That’s rather kind.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Speaking of Australia, I’d be fascinated to see how A-League teas match up against MLS teams. And how the Socceroos match up vs the US national team too.
George

Daryl, MLS > A-league. The national teams are probably pretty close though.
Ramiro

The youth movement needs to be sooner rather than later. We can only hang on to some of the older players on this team for so long. By 2010, if we continue on the path we are on, we are going to be an old team playing in the WC. Considering the amount of young talent (not to say that it is world class, but is talent none the less), 2010 needs to be the beginning of a young era, not the end of an old one.
Nick

I guess New Zealand,Canada,South Africa,and Italy aren’t part of the rest of the world…
SP

italy = calcio
SP

oops nevermind, i had read that first guy’s comment wrong
Nicholas

“So when should this great shift take place? When will our young talented players finally be grafted into the national team lineup? 2014? 2018? Can we wait that long? After success in 2002 and dejection in 2006 American soccer fans don’t know what to expect from the 2010 World Cup. Can the growing MLS create an enthusiasm that forces Bob Bradley to make some changes? ”

You’ve gotta be kidding me. Criticize Bob Bradley on any number of fronts…fine. However to say he hasn’t infused the national team pool with young, talented players makes me think you haven’t been paying attention.

From today’s announced roster, the following guys are all under 25:

Adu (19)
Altidore (19)
Bornstein (24)
Bradley (21)
Davies (22)
Edu (23)
Feilhaber (24)
Guzan (24)
Kljestan (24)
Pearce (24)
Spector (23)
Torres (21)
Wynne (23)
—–
Lichaj (20)

None of these guys were on the map for WC 2006.

The 2010 veteran locks are Dempsey, Donovan, Howard, Onyewu, and Bocanegra. Should any of them be displaced?

Here’s the 2006 WC roster. Only Howard, Boca, Dolo, Onyewu, Donovan, Dempsey, Beasly, and Ching still have a shot at 2010. That’s quite a bit of turnover, IMO.

Name Pos. Club
Kasey Keller G Borussia Monchengladbach
Tim Howard G Manchester United
Marcus Hahnemann G Reading
Carlos Bocanegra D Fulham
Steve Cherundolo D Hannover 96
Jummy Conrad D Kansas City Wizards
Cory Gibbs D ADO Den Haag
Chris Albright D Los Angeles Galaxy
Eddie Lewis D Leeds United
Oguchi Onyewu D Standard Liege
Eddie Pope D Real Salt Lake
Landon Donovan M LA Galaxy
Clint Dempsey M New England Revolution
Claudio Reyna M Manchester City
John O’Brian M Chivas USA
Ben Olsen M DC United
DaMarcus Beasley M PSV Eindhoven
Pablo Mastroeni M Colorado Rapids
Bobby Convey M Reading
Brian McBride F Fulham
Eddie Johnson F Kansas City Wizards
Josh Wolfe F Kansas City Wizards
Brian Ching F Houston Dynamo

HT: Jon E on SBI.
http://usa.worldcupblog.org Marlon

Right now my biggest beef with Bob is that he doesn’t wear a suit. You say we should credit Bob Bradley for infusing the team with youth, but when push comes to shove how many of the players you listed do you think will actually play?
Nicholas

Plenty.

Adu (19) [sub.]
Altidore (19)
Bradley (21)
Edu (23) or Feilhaber (24) or Kljestan (24) or Torres (21) [pick two]
Pearce (24) [hopefully, not for long]
Spector (23) [he'll be our RB by summer's end.]

I would project we’re going to have the under 25 crowd playing at RB, 2 CM’s, and one forward spot (with the potential of seeing a young gun at LB or LM). In the other spots, I’d project Howard, Boca, Onyewu, Dempsey, Donovan, maybe Beasely, and probably Ching. Who among the vets would you replace and with whom?

Moreover is our bench going to be loaded with older guys? No. Maybe Heydude will make the bench, but the other spots are going to predominantly handed to the next generation.
Nicholas

Just based on their numbers alone, most of the will *have* to play.
http://usa.worldcupblog.org Marlon

We’ll see.