By IVES GALARCEP
Week 30 of the MLS season saw some title contenders and playoff hopefuls make major statements in a weekend loaded with head-turning results.
Episode 168 of The SBI Show looks back at the big MLS matches of the weekend, such as New England’s win at Sporting Kansas City, the Los Angeles Galaxy’s romp over the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC’s stunning comeback win against the Portland Timbers, and more.
Co-host Garrett Cleverly and I also discuss the MLS Homegrown Player myth, we look at John Brooks’ situation at Hertha Berlin, and we answer some questions from listeners in the latest installment of The SBI Show Q&A.
Give Episode 168 of The SBI Show a listen after the jump:
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What did you think of the show?
Share your thoughts below.
Thanks for including my question on your podcast! Yes, it’s times like these where coaches and teams show their mettle. Hopefully PTFC can pull off a miracle.
Great episode, guys…
Q&A for next show:
Ives – best 90s East Coast Hip Hop Album? Nas – Illmatic, Biggie – Ready to Die, Wu-Tang – 36 Chambers, or Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt?
Great show … Order two weeks out so you get next year’s jersey on time big boy!
With Garrett’s crack ‘problem,’ him choosing to be Michael Irvin is perfect.
Completely agree with the segment about home grown players. It is a problem. There are clubs/academies that have decades of experience and very good track records for producing pro players and the average soccer fan doesn’t know about them and the players they produced. Young athletes are being attracted to MLS youth academies just because of the professional connection and not because of any demonstrated ability to develop players. There is a difference between youth player development and coaching a team of professionals to win. Young players also go to MLS academies because they are fully funded, something that is difficult for other Development Academies to do. The amount of fundraising required to completely cover expenses and travel for 36+ players is prohibitive. It is not just MLS that is not doing enough but I would say US Soccer is more of the problem. They are not doing enough to help and promote the academies other than choosing them as a US Development Academy. After that they are on their own in terms of resources and marketing. There is so much US Soccer could do to help with fundraising, marketing these clubs, attaining corporate sponsorship, etc. but they don’t for various reasons. The players at Development Academies make a serious commitment (time, travel, foregoing high school soccer) as do the Development Academy clubs in meeting the stringent standards imposed by US Soccer and then US Soccer pretty much hangs them out to dry. I can give you specific examples Ives if you email me. There is a whole other story there. If the plan is for the MLS Academies to be the top level in youth development then US Soccer and MLS should facilitate that by getting those proven in youth development to the MLS academies instead of misleading another generation of soccer players and their parents. I am convinced the main purpose for creating the Development Academy was just to make scouting US talent easier for US Soccer scouts rather improving player development. If it was about improving US player development then US Soccer would be encouraging the best players to play DA soccer and very little is done in that regard.