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Started By
Message
Are American players good enough?
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:04 am
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:04 am
So with the news that two of America's best players have returned to the MLS to ply their trade, I think we should ask this question seriously. My inclination is to say that our best players are only good enough for mid-tier European sides at this point, and more often than not, they are barely good enough for those teams.
But my question at that point is why do Japan, Australia and South Korea, nations who started taking football seriously around the same time as the U.S. did, all have or had players who played for big sides in Europe. Korea had Ji-Sung Park, Japan has had Nakamura, Honda and Kagawa, Australia had Viduka and Kewell when Leeds were at their peak.
America hasn't really had any analogous situation. We've had Cherundolo who has put in a decade worth of solid work at Hanover, we had Reyna who was solid for many European teams, we had Bocanegra who was decent for a time, we had Dempsey at Fulham (the equivalent of Tim Cahill at Everton for me), among many others. I know I've missed some but the point is that our best players have never played for a top side in Europe.
Is the bias against American players so strong that our best players can't even get looks at top sides? I don't think it is, but I think we have the wrong mentality to succeed in Europe. European managers don't have the time or patience to let a player adjust to a new environment. Players are bought, put in the starting line-up and expected to perform. If they don't perform, they are dropped, and it's unlikely they can ever get back in the side.
Do we have to admit that American players right now are not good enough? I think we all feel this at times, but we desperately want to be proven wrong.
But my question at that point is why do Japan, Australia and South Korea, nations who started taking football seriously around the same time as the U.S. did, all have or had players who played for big sides in Europe. Korea had Ji-Sung Park, Japan has had Nakamura, Honda and Kagawa, Australia had Viduka and Kewell when Leeds were at their peak.
America hasn't really had any analogous situation. We've had Cherundolo who has put in a decade worth of solid work at Hanover, we had Reyna who was solid for many European teams, we had Bocanegra who was decent for a time, we had Dempsey at Fulham (the equivalent of Tim Cahill at Everton for me), among many others. I know I've missed some but the point is that our best players have never played for a top side in Europe.
Is the bias against American players so strong that our best players can't even get looks at top sides? I don't think it is, but I think we have the wrong mentality to succeed in Europe. European managers don't have the time or patience to let a player adjust to a new environment. Players are bought, put in the starting line-up and expected to perform. If they don't perform, they are dropped, and it's unlikely they can ever get back in the side.
Do we have to admit that American players right now are not good enough? I think we all feel this at times, but we desperately want to be proven wrong.
8
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:06 am to crazy4lsu
No, they aren't and it's amazing that people still can't see/believe it.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:08 am to RandySavage
quote:
No, they aren't and it's amazing that people still can't see/believe it.
It's more they don't want to believe it.
This doesn't mean we can't have a good team internationally. We have a very good team internationally. But we lack the upper-level technical quality, and it's apparent every time we play.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:11 am to crazy4lsu
There was a piece on ESPNFC.com a couple of days ago where Klinsmann said that there is absolutely no demand for American players in Europe.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:14 am to Broski
I don't think there is a particular demand for Japanese players, or Korean players, or any players of a specific nationality.
There is always a demand for good players though.
There is always a demand for good players though.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:19 am to crazy4lsu
Is this strictly field players?
Americans have done pretty well at the GK spot compared to other positions.
I also assume your questions is geared to players born and raised in America and not all USMNT players.
Americans have done pretty well at the GK spot compared to other positions.
I also assume your questions is geared to players born and raised in America and not all USMNT players.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:20 am to crazy4lsu
quote:
Australia had Viduka and Kewell when Leeds were at their peak
no love for danny milosevic and jamie mcmaster?
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:28 am to crazy4lsu
i think it just shows how integral proper training at a young age is. and how time limitations for middle school/high school/college training sessions negatively impact development.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:43 am to Friend of OBUDan
Well this thread is depressing as hell.
My main concern really is Japan. Clearly their development is way ahead of ours as we have failed to produce players like Honda, Kagawer, etc who can succeed at top European sides.
I honestly think Bradley could have succeeded at a better than mid table club. The situation at Roma was really, really tough. Bradley isn't the most technical player, but he definitely has his role. When I visited Chievo and saw him play there, he was by far the best player on the pitch. The fans were raving about him too. They admitted he was very, very good. I'm disappointed to see him come back, but he was being paid so little at Roma and TFC offered him such a sweet deal that I can't blame him for going for it.
My main concern really is Japan. Clearly their development is way ahead of ours as we have failed to produce players like Honda, Kagawer, etc who can succeed at top European sides.
I honestly think Bradley could have succeeded at a better than mid table club. The situation at Roma was really, really tough. Bradley isn't the most technical player, but he definitely has his role. When I visited Chievo and saw him play there, he was by far the best player on the pitch. The fans were raving about him too. They admitted he was very, very good. I'm disappointed to see him come back, but he was being paid so little at Roma and TFC offered him such a sweet deal that I can't blame him for going for it.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:56 am to cwil177
quote:
I honestly think Bradley could have succeeded at a better than mid table club.
Probably. Bradley is a poor man's De Rossi. He's the best player America has ever produced. He's an athletic marvel. In a 4-4-2 system, he is the perfect box to box player. It's too bad that teams stopped playing the 4-4-2 nearly a decade ago.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 11:57 am to Wait For It...
quote:
Is this strictly field players?
Yep.
quote:
I also assume your questions is geared to players born and raised in America and not all USMNT players.
Or trained in America, at the very minimum. Players from abroad who grew up here are often not good enough to go back to Europe.
This post was edited on 1/13/14 at 11:58 am
Posted on 1/13/14 at 12:04 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:
Is the bias against American players so strong that our best players can't even get looks at top sides?
From the little that I've seen of Michael Bradley this year, it's certainly not a bias against American players.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 12:06 pm to joey barton
quote:
From the little that I've seen of Michael Bradley this year, it's certainly not a bias against American players.
The bias exists only in the minds of fans. Teams cannot afford to have biases of that magnitude.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 12:12 pm to crazy4lsu
At what age did Rossi move to Europe?
Posted on 1/13/14 at 12:13 pm to crazy4lsu
Most are not. Of the few that are, a large portion have actively chosen the MLS over staying or moving to Europe.
Gonazlez, Besler, Donovan, Bradley, Dempsey
Gonazlez, Besler, Donovan, Bradley, Dempsey
Posted on 1/13/14 at 12:34 pm to Tennessee Jed
Part of the problem is where the players are going. In England managers aren't given time to bring along new players slowly so if you initially fail, you're done. More should go to Holland, Germany and Italy, maybe Spain as well. Before Bradley moved to Roma, he was getting a ton of run at Chievo. Just need to be smarter about where they play and not jumping ship too soon.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 1:02 pm to hendersonshands
quote:
Part of the problem is where the players are going. In England managers aren't given time to bring along new players slowly so if you initially fail, you're done. More should go to Holland, Germany and Italy, maybe Spain as well. Before Bradley moved to Roma, he was getting a ton of run at Chievo. Just need to be smarter about where they play and not jumping ship too soon.
Absolutely.
Posted on 1/13/14 at 1:06 pm to RandySavage
quote:
No, they aren't and it's amazing that people still can't see/believe it.
Randy hit the nail on the head. Deuce should have never left Spurs he was wrecking shop and was a shining light for Americans abroad. Really wish both him and Bradley would have made a move to Germany.
On a technical level we are so far behind and so is the MLS. Our young players will not develop this at home they need to be in youth systems in Europe.
This post was edited on 1/13/14 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 1/13/14 at 1:10 pm to StraightCashHomey21
quote:
Deuce should have never left Spurs
I dont think he would smell the field with the midfield they have now
Posted on 1/13/14 at 1:12 pm to etm512
quote:
I dont think he would smell the field with the midfield they have now
who knows but the guys at Spurs now have not been great. He could have stayed in the EPL for sure and his skill set is taylormaid for the Bundesliga
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