Is Pulisic a one-off or is US soccer on the rise?

[Unregistered]

Unfortunately, MLS and NWSL were structured to benefit the owners by limiting players control over their careers and compensation. A few pro soccer leagues went out of business so this was done to make these leagues economically viable and attractive for owners to take a risk. They have collective bargaining, but the players have no real leverage. Especially, the USWNT members in NWSL because their USWNT participation covers their NWSL salaries.

Staying on topic with MLS, aside from 3 designated players who can earn millions $, the team salary cap for players #1-20 is something like $5 million with no single player earning more than $550k. They can go up to 30 players, but I think the per player salary for players #21-30 is less than $100k. I know league allocation $ factors in their somewhere, but it’s not that much; maybe adds another $200k on to what they can give an individual player. Ibrahimovich was making about $7million as a designated player, but that was almost more than the entire team combined. In the end, the $ in MLS is peanuts compared to what a player could make in the top European leagues.

The MLS player, other than a rarity (Almiron), is worth peanuts.

[Unregistered]

The MLS player, other than a rarity (Almiron), is worth peanuts.

It’s a chicken and egg question. You largely get what you pay for and most MLS clubs would trade the few that show promise to some European team to make a quick buck. All the top paid designated players are over 30 internationals at the tail end of their careers.

[Unregistered]

It’s a chicken and egg question. You largely get what you pay for and most MLS clubs would trade the few that show promise to some European team to make a quick buck. All the top paid designated players are over 30 internationals at the tail end of their careers.

Just like NWSL. Only difference is the lack of WoSo elsewhere means the media and USSF can still sell the narrative that they are still great. Notice how the media turned on City when it became clear that Lavelle was not better than players they already had who are younger and far less heralded.

[Unregistered]

Just like NWSL. Only difference is the lack of WoSo elsewhere means the media and USSF can still sell the narrative that they are still great. Notice how the media turned on City when it became clear that Lavelle was not better than players they already had who are younger and far less heralded.

We were talking about men’s soccer, but since you only think you know women’s let’s go there. You manage to pick on one of the few cases where an NWSL didn’t do as well in WSL. You didn’t pick on Mewis or Dahlkempe who were doing quite well at City, just Lavelle. Frankly, I don’t think City knew what to do with a creative player like Lavelle. Stuck her in midfield where she had limited opportunity and then didn’t play her. City’s fault, not Lavelle’s imo.

[Unregistered]

pulisic will be at another club next season (or perhaps the season after). not a long-term solution for a club like chelsea.

His body won't let him play Messi minutes. That means he is better suited for a lighter league (Bundesliga or MLS).

[Unregistered]

Have you ever negotiated a media rights contract for a major network? Didn't think so.

Champions League, the closest thing there is to the SL concept, is pretty much now a streaming only offer and has been passed around for years (in Messi and ROnaldo's prime years) because it offers such little value to US media companies. But you think adding Sergino Dest would make a difference. He must not matter much because Barca isnt looking to keep him and La Liga dont care even though the US rights to that league are moving to ESPN. Probably because at ESPN they will also barely feature on TV and mostly just be streaming only for most games.

[Unregistered]

Do you not consider the U15 and U17 USA teams that Pulisic played on to be youth national teams? His Instagram is full of photos of him playing for the youth national team.

And you think the couple weeks he spent with national team is responsible for his development?

[Unregistered]

And you think the couple weeks he spent with national team is responsible for his development?

👏 he's anything but a true US product, same with many of the US players playing abroad. Most had pro or coach parents and/or dual citizenship which afforded them training opportunities and exposure a typical US player won't have.

[Unregistered]

And you think the couple weeks he spent with national team is responsible for his development?

um, no. some joker (you?) stated that Pulisic did not play on the youth national team. I was merely pointing out that that statement was false as he did in fact play on the youth national team.

[Unregistered]

A lot of what CP did as a youth is available to anyone with $$. He played PA Classics and did many summer trainings with european teams but that doesnt require a passport, just the money to go and a parent free to take the player.

At 16 he used a croatian passport to go fulltime to europe but the passport isnt what got him there in the first place, it just allowed it a year or so early.

[Unregistered]

👏 he's anything but a true US product, same with many of the US players playing abroad. Most had pro or coach parents and/or dual citizenship which afforded them training opportunities and exposure a typical US player won't have.

Another factor about having pro or coach parents is they actually went into soccer. Had they been typical American kids with that level of ability, would have very likely played another sport. Elite athletes in the US don’t pick soccer, it’s the 5th sport in popularity and salary in the US.

[Unregistered]

The USA is always one of the most athketic teams with high work rate. Our issue is not athleticism. Our issue is we have players who don’t use their brains and an entire system that doesnt know what it doesnt know.

Look at Germany- do Kroos, Kimmich and Mueller look like they outrun or jump their opponents?

Were Xavi and Iniesta dominating for Spain and Barca through foot speed?

[Unregistered]

Another factor about having pro or coach parents is they actually went into soccer. Had they been typical American kids with that level of ability, would have very likely played another sport. Elite athletes in the US don’t pick soccer, it’s the 5th sport in popularity and salary in the US.

That is not necessarily true and we have plenty of athletes. We do a crap job of identifying, developing and nurturing them. If the only way you can develop into an international level talent is to be blessed with good soccer genes, have a dad coach and have a foreign passport then there's little hope

[Unregistered]

The USA is always one of the most athketic teams with high work rate. Our issue is not athleticism. Our issue is we have players who don’t use their brains and an entire system that doesnt know what it doesnt know.

Look at Germany- do Kroos, Kimmich and Mueller look like they outrun or jump their opponents?

Were Xavi and Iniesta dominating for Spain and Barca through foot speed?

Exactly - as I said we have plenty of athletes. We do a crap job turning them into soccer players.

[Unregistered]

Exactly - as I said we have plenty of athletes. We do a crap job turning them into soccer players.

Because too many coaches are looking to win matches, not develop soccer players. Add in that the vast majority of coaches don't have understand what it means to have a style of soccer, teach it and be faithful to it and focus too much on tactics and formation. They change as soon as things go badly because "Win" > "Development"

Case 1: Big fast kid who can finish joins team. What's the first thing most coaches do? Put him at the 9 and tell everyone else to get the ball to him. How? Long balls over the top and through balls splitting defenders, and every one a chase relying on speed.

That is one part of the game, but it is single dimensional and lacks creativity. It also won't work if the opponent uses a low block defense or the CB's are just as fast. How do you address it? Teach the kids to be patient and keep the ball on the deck, playing to feet, using width as much as depth to work the ball until you can get in the attacking third and create chances not based on pure speed. That big #9 needs to develop the tools to solve problems without relying on just speed.

Case 2: Opponent sets up a high press all match. What does coach do? Tell GK and backs to forget building out in the defensive third and just bang it long. Why? Too much pressure. Instead of letting players solve it for themselves, by playing long then short or by using width and overloads, keeping more players in the defensive and mid third. Of course it's risky, but the whole point is to keep the ball and if you can't keep it under pressure, what's the point?

Worst thing is coaches who practice one thing and then completely forget what they practiced as soon as it's game time. Anyway, I've seen it at every level of youth soccer that I've been involved with and we're the base of the pyramid. If we can't get it right and build the correct foundation, those further up don't stand a chance.