By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Sep 27, 2011) US Soccer Players -- In this edition of the 5 Questions, Tony asks about MLS teams in the Champions Leagues, Bolton without Holden, and youth development, financial fair play, and what MLS teams are better than average away from home. As always, your contributions are welcome in the comments section.
After such a positive start, is the CONCACAF Champions League going to end up disappointing for MLS clubs?
Seattle has advanced. Toronto can only advance at the expense of Dallas. The Galaxy made things easier with a stoppage time winner and a final game against the worst team in the group. The Rapids seemed to be focused on collecting parting gifts and hopefully not too many injuries so they can focus on MLS play, only to win on the road and create a favorable scenario to keep going in the competition. So what's good enough for MLS in the Champions League? Two out of five? Three out of five?
How do Bolton Wanderers improve their early season form?
After the tough news that Stuart Holden is lost to them for six months, Bolton is once again regrouping. And, once again, they've got a tough game. This time it's Chelsea, part of a brutal schedule that's already included the two Manchester clubs, Liverpool, and Arsenal. Bolton lost all of those games, outscored 14 to 3. After Chelsea, they get the rest of October and all of November against clubs that aren't considered contenders. What they do in those games will tell us considerably more than how they've already done against the league's elite.
When Claudio Reyna talks about reforming youth soccer in the United States, and improving player development, what is he really talking about?
Actual ratings and standards. In a welcome development, Reyna is willing to put his considerable reputation on the line to make much-needed changes. Reyna wants to de-emphasize results and fitness and emphasize long-term player development. In the article, Soccer America's Mike Woitalla points out that Reyna lives in the real world of American youth club soccer where many clubs emphasize results and fitness, not player development. Those teams often win titles at younger age groups where bigger, taller players have an advantage over more skillful players. Reyna understands this and hopes the evaluations will be used. A club “that creates a good environment for long-term player development but doesn’t win titles can point to the evaluations as evidence of the validity of its approach.”
What’s the latest team you would expect to evoke Financial Fair Play as an explanation to the why they have started the season so slowly?
Go on, guess. Inter Milan? Real Madrid? No, it’s fellow European Cup winner, Nottingham Forest. This might sound familiar, but they’ve already played West Ham, Leicester, Derby (imagine, a Clough who can coach?), and Southampton, all contenders for promotion. What this means for US National Team player Robbie Findley is an open question. He's played in all seven league games this season, usually coming off the bench and scoring one goal. In the League Cup, he scored in all three of Forest's games including the exit to Newcastle.
How many MLS are above .500 on the road this season?
Two, the Galaxy and Seattle, with Dallas and DC at .500. The Galaxy has a chance to go undefeated at home. At the other end of the standings, there are many reasons Chivas USA and San Jose aren’t in playoff contention, and lack of success at home is a good place to start.
