Should we be looking at the MLS for young talent?

[PulverWolf]

With Chelsea signing the very capable Pulisic from the MLS and there being a lot of good Mexican players in that league should we have a look over there ?

 

[Sheriff Woody]

With Chelsea signing the very capable Pulisic from the MLS and there being a lot of good Mexican players in that league should we have a look over there ?

Did he not come through Borussia Dortmund's youth team?

 

[Bill S Preston Esq.]

With Chelsea signing the very capable Pulisic from the MLS and there being a lot of good Mexican players in that league should we have a look over there ?

We should be looking everywhere. Which I'm sure we are.

 

[PulverWolf]

Did he not come through Borussia Dortmund's youth team?

Bugger - yes he did , but there a few decent players in the MLS many of which played in the Gold cup which I watched - plenty of potential

 

[Timberwolf]

I'm sure in the next 5-10 years, there has to be some capable top level players come from the MLS. At the moment though, any league where Rooney looks like he's Pele, is really not a hotbed of undiscovered talent.

 

[Ponty]

Seems to me the key stage if development is well before 16 and certain countries are set up to maximise young pnayers’ potential. France excels at it, Holland is good, as is Portugal. Sadly in England we haven’t got it right despite some academies that seem very impressive. Obviously good players can come from anywhere and you need a network of scouts but I’d concentrate our efforts where the likelihood of finding a jewel is greatest.

 

[Ironfistedmonk]

I've been watching a load of MLS games recently, I'd say no, we shouldn't be looking there

 

[The Professional]

They will be. The club are looking Worldwide for future talent. An oddly specific post. Why aren’t Wolves looking at players in the North Lincolnshire area?

 

[NorthWolf]

I'm sure in the next 5-10 years, there has to be some capable top level players come from the MLS.

Alas I fear people have been saying this since '94. For whatever reason they just don't seem to tap into the massive potential (numbers and averages wise) that they could have, particularly with the large Hispanic and Italian population.

 

[WolfLing]

I like the look of Almiron at Newcastle. Still very raw, but I think he will be a very good player in the next few years.

Joelinton up top with Almiron in behind might just be enough to keep them up.

 

[Houston Lobo]

There's a few exceptions, but the standard is League One to mid-level Championship at best, so a huge gulf in class.

There's still work permit issues to contend with also - like what West Ham are up against I think. And this is exacerbated further if it's a MLS player representing a country further down the international standings.

And even Almiron cost a pretty penny, so you could definitely say there's better value from the leagues we're primarily focusing on.

 

[TooMutchBull]

Freddy Adu!!!

 

[northnorfolkwolf]

Swansea brought that American manager in and that did not go too well???!!!

 

[VancouverWolf]

Bayern bought Alphonso Davies for $20m from Vancouver Whitecaps 2 years ago..

 

[USA Wolf]

No. We don’t even know what “first touch” means.

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

Watch a bit of MLS, seen a forward called Martinez looks quite good

 

[Ironfistedmonk]

Watch a bit of MLS, seen a forward called Martinez looks quite good

The one at Atlanta? Seems a bit of a billy big ******, did you see the penalty he tried the other day!

 

[Deleted member 5276]

I watch MLS week in, week out and have to say the quality of player that Wolves would want really isn't here. Occasionally a player turns up who could do well in England but I really don't see any who would make the top 10 teams in the Prem.

Martinez is a decent enough player but he's suffered since Almiron moved on and Newcastle paid far too much for him. It is MLS All-Star week in Orlando this week and on Tuesday the "Home-Grown" game takes place at ESPN Wide World of Sports. There really won't be that much talent on show who would make it in England's top two divisions.

The best of the talent is Pulisic and I doubt he'll be pulling up any trees at Chelsea. He'll have the odd game where he makes an impact but he won't do it week in, week out. Sad to say that America has gone backwards over the last four years and there is a huge problem with how young players are being coached and brought through. So much of the modern game takes out the individual skills and qualities of these players as coaches look to keep games tight.

 

[WW1963]

No. We move on.

 

[Golden Arrow]

Don't mind doing a bit in the Potteries and District Sunday League if Fosun don't mind slipping me some Peoples Currency.

 

[Ewok vs Wolf]

The one at Atlanta? Seems a bit of a billy big ******, did you see the penalty he tried the other day!

Yeah seems bit of a **** but think he came on late and changed the game and got a goal in the end.

 

[Gavlar]

No

 

[Deleted member 4184]

No, they're ****.

 

[Tufts back]

Young doesn’t exist in MLS does it ?

 

[306NOTOUT]

We have a North American academy don’t we?

 

[Redrockwanderer]

With Chelsea signing the very capable Pulisic from the MLS and there being a lot of good Mexican players in that league should we have a look over there ?

He’s American, but has never played in the MLS. I’ve watched and followed the Union for sometime. The state of play is getting better each year. It’s a fitness/physical league, however is slowly getting better technique wise also. I’d say there are players being unearthed and we should tap into it, in the years to come.

 

[BCWolf]

Watched MLS on and off since its inception and while there has been improvement in terms of stadia, atmosphere and attendance, the quality of play is crap. Basically lower-end Championship calibre at best with one or two exceptions.

Teams like LAFC and Galaxy might look decent in a one-off game against European competition, but would struggle massively over a longer, winter season. Watched a game between Minnesota and Vancouver last night and I think Walsall reserves could give them a game. It was awful. The only caveat I would add is that the travel is horrendous and the humidity (e.g. Houston, Atlanta, etc,), elevation (Colorado), and plastic pitches (e.g. Seattle, Portland) make the league a difficult one.

As Vancouver Wolf mentioned, once in a while a player like Alphonso Davies comes along, but in general the quality of players is simply not good enough. Anyone good enough for Europe will likely already be there. No player of any real quality goes to college.

Maybe check back in another decade. In the meantime if there is any real talent explosion I am sure one of us over here will offer an opinion.

 

[Houston Lobo]

We have a North American academy don’t we?

There's a club in San Antonio that have promoted the Wolves in the past. I'm not sure how formal the arrangement it is, either in terms of being an actual offshoot of an official academy, or whether it's the first of localized franchises which can be quite common here. I'd guess the latter would be a big step though, given the relative lack of brand awareness the club has here at present.

 

[Deleted member 3751]

Alas I fear people have been saying this since '94. For whatever reason they just don't seem to tap into the massive potential (numbers and averages wise) that they could have, particularly with the large Hispanic and Italian population.

Probably a lot to do with the fact that any kids with talent who want to play for clubs have to pay big fees, meaning it's effectively a middle class sport if you want to get on the ladder and your talent alone isn't enough

Paying to Play: How much do club sports cost?

 

[NorthWolf]

Probably a lot to do with the fact that any kids with talent who want to play for clubs have to pay big fees, meaning it's effectively a middle class sport if you want to get on the ladder and your talent alone isn't enough

Paying to Play: How much do club sports cost?

That certainly doesn't help matters I shouldn't wonder.