The MLS academies are getting better, albeit slowly and most likely not universally. But I'm pretty sure RBNY now have cost-free academy operations down to the U13 level and maybe even lower, and they are aggressively working towards a residential academy at their excellent training facility.RobVarak wrote:There is definitely a need for a superstar to ignite the imagination.
The problem though isn't with player switching to other sports, it's the continued domination of the development process by travel clubs and the NCAA. It's just a function of money. Soccer desperately needs an AAU equivalent. Somewhere the most promising kids can play against high-level competition without a huge financial outlay by their family. And like AAU (which is certainly not without its flaws), it needs to be financed by third-parties, like the shoe companies.
We're the only nation in the world that depends on parents to subsidize their best football prospects. These parents are all focused on the wrong things. They want a club that wins (inherently placing this ahead of player development) so that their player gets more attention from college scouts.
A lot was invested in the MLS academies, but they simply can't compete with the NCAA suckhole. Moreover, they aren't doing anything to help shift the financial burden. For example, my middle daughter is good enough to start considering playing travel (something I really do despise, but accept as the only way for her to get better instruction). I looked into several local clubs and there is a Chicago Fire Junior travel team that is affiliated with the Fire Academy. It costs every bit as much, if not more, than unaffiliated private clubs in the area! The MLS teams should be subsidizing the hell out of these to expand the net for prospects. Instead, just like the private clubs, they can't see past the short-term revenue.
Also the rule instituted in the last couple of years that requires very MLS team to either field their own USL squad or be affiliated with an independent one has added a very important layer below the senior teams for MLS clubs to hold onto and develop young players.
However, I see two major problems with the MLS in terms of player development, and they both stem from the basic setup of the league. First, the team's can only recruit for their academies from very sharply defined and small regional territories. Secodly, the roster and player salary restrictions are obscenely complex and restrictive. Both of these problems are due to the fact that the league has been set up to protect the owners in the best way possible, and not to produce the best teams, players or league competition. All of the major decisions and all of the complicated, confusing, incomprehensible squad rules exist to protect the club owners. I don't see how this will ever change, and in many ways it functions in direct opposition to the development of young players.
yeh that was a bit inflated but it didnt seem too far out of reach back then.
Pincha tu madre...