Everton's American potential

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Perhaps in the next decade when the MLS really comes of age the American stateside player will be a force. Still early for that and for the better players Europe is the destination for them. Hopefully the best come to us.

 

[TX Bill]

No doubt that the MLS has really helped our National Team improve by leaps and bounds.

That's one good thing about MLS.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

No doubt that the MLS has really helped our National Team improve by leaps and bounds.

That's one good thing about MLS.

Yes that keeps many opportunties for the college talent emerging everywere. I think the MLS will be a excellent pull for some South American talent in the future also. I don't mean the ones in their twilight either.

 

[TX Bill]

Yes that keeps many opportunties for the college talent emerging everywere. I think the MLS will be a excellent pull for some South American talent in the future also. I don't mean the ones in their twilight either.

It's going to take some time but in the future, NCAA Soccer will not be a route to take to the pros. When? I don't know but the next level of business for MLS will be setting up well run academy models and molding players from a young age.

I think at that point, you'll see an increase in the quality of play like what we've seen from the inception of MLS in 1996 to where it is today.

However I believe that unlike the other NCAA sports that act as a stepping stone to the professional sports leagues here, it'll be more of a rarity for MLS in the future.

 

[toffeestillidie]

:blink:

Ego? Hmm, maybe.

better than english players for sure



*waits*

 

[mezzrow]

This is an excellent thread - I'm just picking it up.

One thing to float - imagine Deion Sanders as, well, as any position you can think of. As a footballer, where would you play a Deion with touch, distribution, and/or striking skills equal to his skills as a defender and returner? The mind boggles.

 

[Rook]

This is an excellent thread - I'm just picking it up.

One thing to float - imagine Deion Sanders as, well, as any position you can think of. As a footballer, where would you play a Deion with touch, distribution, and/or striking skills equal to his skills as a defender and returner? The mind boggles.

If Barry Sanders was born in Europe he'd at worst be a 20+ goal poacher. The quickest accleration I ever saw. Plus with his feet he could probably easily outdribble anyone with just a little bit of expereince. Imagine a player who was 2-3 steps quicker than Owen in his prime and yet has way too much size (he's only 5'8" but he's 225lbs) and strength in his legs that no one could push him around. I've never seen an athlete like him

Another player who would be great, Bo Jackson.

 

[mezzrow]

If Barry Sanders was born in Europe he'd at worst be a 20+ goal poacher. The quickest accleration I ever saw. Plus with his feet he could probably easily outdribble anyone with just a little bit of expereince. Imagine a player who was 2-3 steps quicker than Owen in his prime and yet has way too much size (he's only 5'8" but he's 225lbs) and strength in his legs that no one could push him around. I've never seen an athlete like him

Another player who would be great, Bo Jackson.

Bo - Lord a mercy. Imagine Yakubu with the pace of Theo Walcott. And moves like Leo Messi. Like Deion, a two sport athlete. There are old men who were around when Bo played baseball that say that the crack of the bat when Bo hit one just right sounded just like Babe Ruth -it was a sound you never forget. Mind you, these were OLD guys, back in the 80's.

 

[ChicagoToffee]

It is a great stretch to deduce football talent on physical skills alone. Sprinters converted to NFL wide receivers by and large failed (Renaldo Nehemiah) although Bob Hayes worked out well. It's one thing to be quick and agile and another to do it with a ball on your foot.

It's fun to imagine though.

 

[ChicagoToffee]

Since we're fantasizing, what about LeBron James (6'8", 250 lbs) - add 4 inches and 50-60 pounds to Fellaini with a much better vertical. Would be the most dominating presence in the box in the Prem. Few could push him off the ball either.

 

[coolblue007]

Since we're fantasizing, what about LeBron James (6'8", 250 lbs) - add 4 inches and 50-60 pounds to Fellaini with a much better vertical. Would be the most dominating presence in the box in the Prem. Few could push him off the ball either.

But, at that tall, his heads so far from his feet ... he might not be able to kick any better than an nancyboy!

P.S> I'm still amazed whenever Crouch finds a way to score. :blink:

 

[Dixie Dean]

I spent five years in my early 20s refereeing youth football over here in the U.S. The thing about the sport over here is the age where kids leave the sport for something else. Sure, it's by far the most popular youth sport here. Everyone takes their kids to play, but "just for fun." There are tons of leagues for kids aged 5 through 12 or so, but the coaches (for the most part) don't know squat about tactics and sometimes don't know squat about fundamentals. So, you can get a kid who play youth soccer (football) for six or seven years, but who really doesn't know anything about the game except "Pass it to Timmy, because he's good and he'll score and we'll win.".........

I have a friend who learned to play football in Italy. He now coaches his sons, and he was sounding off to me just yesterday here at work on this very subject. He teaches his kids tactics and they go out and demolish another team 15 nil because their kids don't even know which direction to run. Then the coach and parents of the other team get mad at him for "hurting their kids' feelings" by beating the crap out of them. Sad....

 

[GhostOfDixie]

What a crock this thread has turned into. You can't and never will be able to manufacture a super footballer. It can't happen and it won't happen.

If your going to be a great footballer, the first development comes naturally, and then it's just a case of developing that raw talent.

Just because someone is fast and can swerve around most of the NFL, doesn't mean that he can be a good footballer.

Sorry lads but you need to grip reality a tad.

 

[Dixie Dean]

Oh, I'm 100% in agreement with you. And, as seen in my previous post from the way kids are being "taught", that isn't going to happen anytime in soon here in the US.

You can't gel to the top if your foundation is bad.

 

[GhostOfDixie]

Oh, I'm 100% in agreement with you. And, as seen in my previous post from the way kids are being "taught", that isn't going to happen anytime in soon here in the US.

You can't gel to the top if your foundation is bad.

Well as long as were not going to get the general American athletes are better than everyone else, ego trip. Can't be doing with that.