Comments on: Considering Robbie Rogers and the lesser attractive side of the Yanks abroad equation

By: metroplexfrog

metroplexfrog — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 17:33:57 +0000

Our guys that go to Euro teams need to do a better job of finding the right situations for themselves. I would rather a guy go somewhere and play than go to a big club and sit on the bench.

By: tylerbetts

tylerbetts — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:18:54 +0000

To the player at hand … this isn’t really a surprise. I was a big fan of Robbie’s for most of his Columbus tenure, but let’s be honest. Like you said in the article, he was always “this close” to being something special. He had clashes with teammates. He had clashes with coaches. He had rumblings of not giving his all in practice and training. He moped at times. He was very good at a number of things, but not great at any of them. Plus, I believe this is his second failed stint in Europe. Hopefully he comes back to MLS, but it won’t be in Columbus. Not as long as the current staff is in place, that is. Columbus still has his rights, but they’ll move them for a small return.

To the issue at hand. Man, I’d love an easy answer. Yes, I want our boys to go challenge themselves. yes, I want our boys to get paid. Yes, I want to see our boys on the biggest stage possible. But I never want to see our boys chained to the bench. Especially in a lower division. Too many of our guys that go to Europe end up with not the best teams. And while yes, fighting relegation is great for building character and toughness that will help with qualifying and in Brazil, it can also lead to managers being fired, regime changes, and a guy who was the apple of the old manager’s eye being almost unwanted by the new guy. And, not everyone is the special player and special talent Dempsey is to overcome that (repeatedly).

By: Steve Davis

Steve Davis — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:21:06 +0000

You guys are right. The money is a prime motivating factor. Athletic careers are brief, as we know. I probably should have added that into the calculus.

By: dfstell

dfstell — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:35:23 +0000

The money is why I can’t get too upset about these guys going. I mean….it seems absurd what some of these guys get paid in MLS. Hell….a lot of us fans make more money that many of the players. Isn’t it weird that we have players on national TV and some of them are making $50K? They’re objects in fantasy leagues and some of them make less than the fans participating in the leagues.

Can’t ever blame a guy for doubling his salary.

By: dfstell

dfstell — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:30:33 +0000

I think I generally agree with you. Just moving to a better club isn’t necessarily better if you aren’t getting to play….especially for a younger player.

But, on the other hand….I look at this mostly through the prism of the USMNT and it seems like these guys are just proving that they are fringe international players. I mean, it doesn’t look like the US is missing out on the next dominant centerback because Tim Ream can’t get time at Bolton. If he were the next dominant centerback, he would be playing more.

Now, what is sad is that there isn’t a quicker way to get guys out of these bad situations. What’s happening is that they’re finding their ceiling as players, but then rotting in a poor situation for 2-3 years before escaping to a place where they can play and where nobody has any delusions of grandeur anymore. It seems a shame if they waste their age 25-26 years when they should be at the peak.

By: whordy

whordy — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:10:27 +0000

On the other hand, isn’t this par for the course? I know we want to hand craft all our NT super stars and plot the course for their career, but is that reasonable? Players try to challenge themselves; a lot fail. That’s not unique to Americans, or even Soccer.
I also, wholly disagree with your last line. With all due respect, playing in a lesser league because of fear of failure doesn’t do our NT, our national brand or these players any favors. I know the MLS wants to hand-craft the league but they can’t hand-craft the NT. That’s what I love about having Klinsmann, pushing players to challenge themselves is what we need. Not to hide in the Columbus or Toronto because better leagues would eat them up.

By: rufulk

rufulk — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:03:05 +0000

One aspect of this conversation that is not adequately discussed is the salary issue. Players almost always make significantly more when they go abroad. Everyone knows that. What many people don’t realize (or at least discuss) is that when a U.S. player crashes out of Europe and returns to the States, they usually keep a pretty substantial pay raise.

So, really it’s a win-win for U.S. boys. They go abroad and test themselves, and if it doesn’t work out, they can return at a pay grade significantly higher than what they would have accrued had they stayed put.