Good. It’s a crap show to begin with. Thorns aren’t even able to compete with teams in their own state while losing money left and right to fill the pockets of US soccer company.
MLS will be gone in five years is my prediction. They will have lasted about twice as long of the original NASL league.
It is not that they (MLS or US Soccer DA) didn't invest in the youth academy systems it is because they didn't invest US soccer players as professionals. I read a stat that MLS is only 42% American players and the number drops even lower than that for players that can play in the National team.
The bigger issue is unlike the EPL, which is also comprised of a majority of foreign players (even larger than MLS) the EPL players are some of the best in the world, the who's who of soccer. MLS's foreign players who are in their prime are good but not the caliber of the EPL. The other type of MLS foreign player is the semi retired super star, the NASL was full of them. Rarely are these star studded names making MLS better and if they are you need to find out why your current roster can't beat out a guy the rest of the world has put out to pasture.
OK the reasons way:
The American TV viewer will lose interest quickly.
The American sports fan does not want to watch average players who they are not invested in play games. MLS is not to the standard of the big 5, does not have the money or tradition to get there in five years. When the World Cup roles around again and MLS takes its break to watch the rest of the world's league players dominate the stage while the foreign players we employee show poorly they will wonder why they should continue to tune into MLS. (Look at the NHL, American's will support a league of foreign players if it is the best in the world)
The next World Cup. I don't see a positive outcome either way. I think the US will qualify but will not show well and further expose to the public how far behind we are. It we don't quality that is the nail in the coffin. Who wants to watch an average league of foreign players in a sport we aren't even good at.
American interest will drop to nothing. Currently the supporter groups like the Timbers Army, keep fans entertained but other sports are taking notice. You are seeing small changes to the NFL to lure the super fan and shorten game interruptions like time outs.
There is a solution. The only thing American's like better than being number 1 is a plan to get there. We love a Cinderella story.
The acadmey system isn't the answer, we did better with out it. Sign American players to MLS. Change the dynamic.
The ROI is terrible for an academy in the US. MLS clubs are better off buying players than investing in an entire system where there are very few homegrown players who become stars. Many of those stars opt to play overseas anyways so what is the point other than the academy are mandated by the MLS because it makes everyone feel good.
Good. It’s a crap show to begin with. Thorns aren’t even able to compete with teams in their own state while losing money left and right to fill the pockets of US soccer company.
What the hell does this mean...
"... losing money left and right to fill the pockets of US soccer company... "
Also what teams in their own state are your referring to? The only other option of competitive soccer in Oregon is with ECNL.
The ROI is terrible for an academy in the US. MLS clubs are better off buying players than investing in an entire system where there are very few homegrown players who become stars. Many of those stars opt to play overseas anyways so what is the point other than the academy are mandated by the MLS because it makes everyone feel good.
The solution to the latter part of the problem is "training compensation and solidarity payments".
Of course, there's a chicken and egg problem here. Many MLS acadmies are lousy, and don't produce sufficient talent to justify their expense. OTOH, until more money is spent on the academies, they will remain lousy. Iceland has about half the population of Washington County but had a world cup team. They spend lots of money on training and coaching. The top club in Washington County (Westside) regularly has to hold fundraisers at Chipotle.
Plenty of rumors that Larry might be out at the end of last year.
Speculation that Thorns Academy is going to shake up coaching staff to avoid another mass exodus.
Gossip/rumors - no idea if either accurate. I also now know that fluoride is a communist plot - every day youth soccer teaches you something new.
There are only a handful of top girls coaches in the area. Unless they try to get them they are recycling the same people that no one is interested in.
Plenty of rumors that Larry might be out at the end of last year.
Speculation that Thorns Academy is going to shake up coaching staff to avoid another mass exodus.
Gossip/rumors - no idea if either accurate. I also now know that fluoride is a communist plot - every day youth soccer teaches you something new.
The good thorns gda team is the 00/01 team. Heard rumor that many of the ones who will be seniors next year will leave so they can play high school soccer. They got their commitments through gda so they don’t need the academy anymore. Time to have some fun.
Mass exodus from younger teams might be more to do with being weaker teams than oysa/ecnl teams so no reason to stay
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