Comments on: College to Pros for MLS: a Fatally Flawed System?

By: Blue Devil Brad

Blue Devil Brad — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:03:11 +0000

Y’all know I’m the biggest advocate of the college game at this site. I love my Blue Devils… this year was a big disappointment for us, but I still went to every game.

But even I have to admit that it’s true on some level – you watch the NCAA Final between Wake Forest and Ohio State (or imagine a match between UMass and BC, who I thought were two of the best teams in the tourney)… you watch that and there’s noooo way you can get past the fact that most of these kids aren’t ready for top flight anywhere, even here.

The announcers were all raving about the Ohio State defense… and to me (a neutral observer who if anything was rooting against ACC Rival Wake) they looked like a mess, disorganized and not even close to sharp.

At Duke, we had a freshman this year by the name of Ibeagha – absolutely amazing central defender for a 17 year old, but lets see how/if he progresses over the next four years. In general the good stay good and the great get dragged down to the two-steps-above-U16 soccer that has become the cliche of the NCAA game.

Personally, I know the soccer players are working hard during the season, and training some in the offseason (but they have no competition, and they tend to have a more lax “substance” policy in the spring semester…), and playing some in the summer… I’d love to see the system work, because I do love goin out to college games, but as has been said, the NCAA Football system doesn’t work for this global game. I don’t think a Brazilian model would be best for our kids either… but we need the NCAA to lift the offseason training limits.

By: combat chuck

combat chuck — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 22:18:21 +0000

No other league that I know of is signing 22 year old amateurs who only play soccer four months out of the year. Every MLS club should be doing what the other clubs in the world do: recruit your talent young, pay their travel/lodging, etc. expenses to play in your youth system, and get them a high school education (a lot of big clubs have their own schools that the players attend when they’re not training). They can always go to college later if soccer doesn’t pan out. Set up a college scholarship fund for the kids that get spit out by the system.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 21:42:48 +0000

Here is the thing. When I was a kid I played ODP Soccer all year round, had a few go’s at some regional things and that, but it was too expensive for my family for me to keep it up. In these countries, if you are good, you make the team and it is their job to pay for things.

There aren’t enough quality youth systems to get rid of the college system. But think about this, where is getting a degree more valued in the world? Everyone is ‘forced’ to get a degree in the states to get any job. And what is the argument if you don’t get a degree? ”Well what if you break your leg? You won’t be able to get a job?” If there is a chance I’ll play in the MLS, but I’m not sure, I’m getting my degree, then worrying about soccer.

In Brazil, if you are a footballer, you are a footballer, end of story. If you want to go to university, you choose one or the other.