re: Are American players good enough?

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However, the point still stands that Toronto gave him a salary that any European club would be crazy match given the availability of similarly talented players.

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that sums it up pretty good

Good enough to make the World Cup qualifying through CONCACAF. Have a way to go before American players are widely respected on a world stage.

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He's struggled for a while, but he's scored 10 plus league goals the last three seasons playing for a top 5 club in the world. He's a limited player, but he's still better than anything we've ever produced.

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I'm not sure that I agree with either of these facts.

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IS going to college for soccer still seen as the normal path?

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Getting the almighty athletic scholarship still rules the day.

I've always thought thats the main thing that holds US Soccer back.

The collegiate system is great for football where players need those extra 3 years to grow and be ready physically for the game, but for soccer you don't need them you are ready to play at 18 and those 3-4 years stunt players growth and you don't get that time back in terms of development. There is not one top player that I can think of that wasn't playing at a high professional level when they are 21.

Good to see if some are realising academies are the way to go though.

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College soccer has never held players back. It can only help the game and the players. Yes, academies are better for the truly elite, but college soccer has a place.

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Yes it does, but like college soccer in the UK you aren't going from there to the pros and tearing it up.
The level just isnt the same as pros.

(unless your name is Joe Lolley)

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You totally missed the point. I would never want one of our players in a situation like Chicharito.

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Chicharito isn't wasting away though. He's behind literally two of the best strikers in the world today, and he's younger than each. He's also produced every season he's been at Man U, despite the fact he's usually the third option at striker. I would love for one of our top players to be a 3rd option at striker, depending on the system, on a team the caliber of Man U.

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I'm not sure that I agree with either of these facts.

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We've simply never had a player producing for that caliber of a team in that caliber of a competition.

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College soccer has never held players back. It can only help the game and the players. Yes, academies are better for the truly elite, but college soccer has a place.

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The 20 hour a week plus 4 hour a day restrictions between coaches and players puts a real hamper on this sort of reasoning. I honestly don't see how it can help the game. Players of that age bracket in Europe are either training with the first team, and playing weekly games with the reserves, or out on loan gaining valuable experience. So the best American players make their professional debut in the top tier American league at 21 or 22, when most players in Europe make their debut much younger, some of whom become regulars in leagues far better than what the U.S. can offer.

For example, a player like Chuks Aneke of Arsenal already has 78 professional games to his name, and he's only 20. Even a bit part fringe first team player like Ignasi Miquel has 25 first team appearances.

College soccer will continue to exist, but I'm unconvinced that it is the best option for the growth of U.S. talent. I'd rather it not be apart of the system, as it's a drain on the time of both players and coaches, all of whom would be better served in an academy environment.