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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]So American universities are recruiting soccer players from Europe to play on their college teams?

And people wonder why the USA woefully underperforms in soccer — both in its subpar MLS league and on the international stage.

300M+ people in the USA and yet “our” universities are importing soccer players from other countries.

Sad. [/quote]

I think you're mixing cause and effect.  This is a symptom, not a cause, of underperformance.[/quote]

I think you're downplaying a serious problem with one of the primary "feeder" systems into the USMNT. As in every other sport, NCAA collegiate athletics is an important step in the development of professional-quality sportsmen. Sure, there is a path to professional soccer that does not run through college (as is the case for baseball and other sports) but NCAA athletics is still a major pathway.

Stuffing "American" universities full of European soccer players for short-term gains eliminates those advanced development opportunities for American 18 year-olds and reduces the chances of the USA strengthening its own talent. It's not a "symptom" of anything but shortsightedness and selfishness on behalf of these "American" universities. [/quote]
NCAA athletics has not been a major path to the USMNT for years and years. Now it’s not even a minor path. There are a few guys who will make it to MLS or similar level leagues from college each year, but virtually none of them will end up on the national team (though a few may end up on the national team of a country that’s not remotely competitive internationally).  I’m a fan of college athletics for a lot of reasons, but don’t see how anyone thinks it’s a viable path for developing high-level male pros anymore. [/quote]

Exactly.  Sure - kids get drafted from college - but very, very few ever "make it".  Most wash up within a couple of years.  There's really no way to develop in US college soccer.  Not nearly enough playing time, and most of the coaching and development is way below par.  Spend four years there, and your career is over before it ever started.[/quote]

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