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SBI’s Recommended Reading

Osvaldo Alonso (ISIphotos.com)  

                                                       Photo by ISIphotos.com

 

By SEAN RUBIO

With the European leagues winding down, the majority of today's stories deal with the domestic game, from the message behind wearing your favorite team's jersey in public, to how to US soccer scene will look in 10 years time:

A look at the "soccer jersey" culture in the US [Offside]

Fun With Statistics [Inside MN Soccer]

American Soccer in 2019:  A Roundtable Discussion [Match Fit USA]

How To Watch Soccer Online [Advantage Played]

Interview with Leeds and South African great Lucas Radebe [USA Today]

Roman (Riquelme's) Empire [The Run Of Play]

Feature story on Seattle's Osvaldo Alonso [Seattle Times]

What do you think the American soccer landscape will look like in 10 years?  Do you think that MLS could benefit from more statistical analysis?  Are you one to give a thumbs-up whenever you see another soccer jersey around town?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. I think its good to get a fresh perspective on the US game, but MLS already borrows too much from the run and pressure EPL. We should keep establishing roots in South America and look to Spain and the continent for a horizontal approach.

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  2. Zach is clearly the most realistic. Not trying to rip on the other guys (and there could be answers they will be right about), but does anyone really think there will be 5 American managers in English soccer or that the MLS will be as good as the Bundesliga in 10 years?? That’s crazy talk, think about how much American soccer has grown from 1999 to 2009…not nearly that much, and it might grow more rapidly but not on that scale

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  3. Danny, I didn’t realize SBI had a resident bouncer. The discussion here has revolved around Ginge and his answers to questions posed at my blog, hence my responses. No one else seems to have a problem with me explaining things a little, and at no point did I hard sell my blog. Get over yourself.

    If I step out of line (or “pander” as you call it), I’m sure Ives or one of his contributors will come along and delete my comments, which is obviously their prerogative.

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  4. Zach- IMO you were more than a little pessimistic about the future of US soccer, but it doesn’t mean that you don’t reasons for being so. I think a little more justification(or clarification) as to why you feel how you do might prevent you from getting called a Eurosnob etc. I know you weren’t required to expound on your opinions but I know I’d like to hear the logic behind your thinking.

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  5. Jason,

    I don’t think anyone is taking him to task because they are still shocked that an Englishman would say something so positive about American football.

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  6. i wouldn’t say he’s an idiot, it’s his opinion. i would say it’s a bit of a bleak outlook. in some respects it has basis, i agree that i think zero american managers will be in england’s top division. though i do think that a higher transfer record will be made.

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  7. Dan, you’re a genius. I’m preparing to write a commentary on that exact subject very shortly (maybe some of you will come back to my site).

    Maybe I should just have you write it. Ha. Contact me if you’d like to.

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  8. I’ve been saying this since the inception of MLS. “Pros should develop Pros”.

    That means the individual MLS clubs should run their own youth programs.

    The largest item holding US soccer back is the emphasis on college ball. That’s right the collegiate program is what the elite clubs, the ODP structure, etc are all about. The pro numbers produced are too small and not of high enough quality compared to South America and Europe.

    The MSL clubs need to realize there are a substantial number of kids that don’t want to go to college. Recruit them.

    Also there are great programs via the internet like the University of Phoenix that permit kids that want to play still get an education. I’ve advocated in the past that MLS contract with a pro educational program to provide different programs for it’s players.

    And don’t overlook the apprenticeship laws. They can provide a legal foundation for contracts (OK it’s been awhile since I studied that aspect)

    I’ve been hearing for years that MLS can’t afford a youth system. BS. The payments they make for aged overseas players exceed what the clubs would pay for a decent youth system.

    You don’t have to go down to 8 years old.

    Some 2-3 teams under 14 feeding under 16, and a subsequent local PDL team (with a full season, not a shorty for college players) would do wonders, not to mention providing player numbers for all the games MLS wants to play against Mexican league, etc.

    In summary there is no reason the US can’t develop it’s own world class players in SUBSTANTIAL numbers. But it won’t happen under the current structure.

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  9. A bit of background on the way the questions were posed to the panelists: I did not require them to expound, though I gave them the option. Ginge’s answers look MUCH more negative in comparison to the others because he chose to only answer the question in most cases.

    I’m still shocked that no one here (particularly someone who isn’t a USMNT fan) has taken the Englishman to task for his 2018 semi-finals prediction.

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  10. The man does have a right to his opinion, but it’s fair to say he’s way off base on at least the Americans starting for champions league clubs. There should be 2 Americans NEXT year in the CL (Onyewu and Edu) and several others on the fringe. No reason to believe that number should be smaller in ten year’s time.

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  11. Its just a sad reminder about how negative Americans are about their own soccer. Americans respect their own league and national team Less than other countries. We all get upset when we hear someone from England calling MLS a “mickey mouse league,” but most soccer fans in America would probably agree. Its ridiculous.

    MLS and the US national teams have obstacles to overcome that no other place in the world has to deal with.

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  12. I only see one person that called you an idiot.

    As I said, I thought you were overly pessimistic with your analysis, especially in regards to the National Team. I think you were closer to the mark on MLS and on the managers in Europe question, in comparison to the overly optimistic Andrew.

    I’d be interested to hear your arguments for why the USMNT will make zero progress (and by my reading, even regression) in the next ten years, as you provided little justificiation in your answers.

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  13. The truth hurts, but Zach was the most realistic in my book. I couldn’t take the other 2 seriously after questions 3 and 4

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  14. Rip me all all you want people, I really don’t mind. Call me an idiot, I’ve been called much worse.

    Sorry to seem so pessimistic but I have a very jaded and sarcastic view of American Soccer. I genuinely hope I’m proven wrong for the better on all my opinions and ten years from now I hope I’m still writing and blogging so everyone can laugh at me and say wow were you wrong! I don’t wan’t American soccer to fail, I’m just not convinced it’s going to be much farther along in ten years time.

    Sorry if I don’t see MLS breaking the bank for an incoming transfer.

    Sorry if I feel the USMNT isn’t built to succeed in the World Cup.

    The point of this was to offer opinions and I did. Funny how in typical internet fashion, people rush to call me an idiot rather than actually try to provide thoughts and evidence for what my predictions are so impossibly wrong. If I’m as big an idiot as everyone seems to think I am, I’ll be the first to stand up and admit it when I’m proven wrong.

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  15. In Zach’s defense, I believe that some of that was just a touch tongue-in-cheek. Still, whenever an American is TOO positive about U.S. soccer, someone inevitably jumps on them. Zach’s attitude is no different than millions of sports fans out there who keep their expectations low so as not to be disappointed.

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  16. The soccer jersey culture article is a great read. I highly suggest it. It summed up many of my own experiences while wearing my Liverpool shirt.

    On the future of US soccer:

    Andrew = a bit too optimistic (especially on MLS attracting Germans, I can see Brazilians, but why are the Germans ripe for picking? I’d look at the French before Germans)

    Zack = way too pessimistic on the Nats (especially the crap about us only making the knockout stages once in three tries), a little too pessimistic on MLS

    The Chris guy, for having the least exposure to the MLS, seemed to have a decent grasp of wear US Soccer is and where it can go in ten years.

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  17. That guy Zach is beyond pessimistic. He’s just being an idiot. I too am on the more conservative side as far as US Soccer’s progress over 10 years but come on. This guy’s predictions are either a sad joke on his own country or he hasn’t looked back on the las 10 years and seen where we’ve come both in the MLS and the national team. What a n idiot.

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