re: US Soccer's lack of stars

the problem isn't identifying talent, the problem is being able to find the talent. In all the big sports if you play high school ball you will get recognized by schools and get a scholly if you are that good. They screwed up the youth system, players have a hard time getting recognized playing for their high school team. You have to join a club team for to get recognized. I would be playing club soccer if the price wasn't $1500 w/o paying for travel and tournaments. That is the problem, the parents can't afford for their kids to play. So then they go play football, baseball, and basketball. BAM you are letting talent slip through the cracks right there. If they want to become a perennial soccer power it starts with fixing the way youth club teams do things, also need to send more scouts to high school games.