I don't think the Red Bulls are really a title contender, but nice win anyway.
Juventino;3199963 said:
How does youth development work in the MLS? Youth players usually get a scholarship to a college and then enter the pro draft (like in the major sports), or is that different in FM?
I love the American terminology (player introductions) and news items, by the way.
I don't know how it works in MLS, but the youth system is complicated. Essentially there are 3 tiers of domestic players.
1) Generation Adidas
Maybe it's called something else now, used to be called Project 40, but these are the best of the best. Usually they come from the U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida. This is probably the most complicated, but I know in Milwaukee we had a "Nationals" feeder club where the best players usually played (although not always) and then if they were good enough they would get shipped to big tryouts for the National Youth Teams. Most of my high school soccer team (not me) played for this club, and one got absolutely torched by like a 12 year old Freddy Adu at one of the tryouts. Anyway, through this the U-17 team tries to get the best players in the age group and then takes them down to Florida to train like professionals. I think they get free school and board, and of course they get to play on the U-17 team. I guess it's probably the closest thing we have to a Clairefontaine in the USA, and a LARGE part of the current National Team have graduated from the program. These kids usually sign "Generation Adidas" contracts when they finish and are eligible for the MLS draft before they are 18, and before they go to college. Freddy Adu I think got a Generation Adidas contract when he was 15.
2) College Players
This is pretty simple actually, it works just like the NBA or NFL draft. Good players get recruited to play at universities, and then the very best get selected in the MLS Draft based on team need.
3) Youth Team
The MLS has been slowly phasing in academies and I think most teams have highly functioning ones now (and it would be suicide not to). Essentially the clubs can recruit players from a "catchment zone" which is probably something like 50 or 100 miles from the club to play for their club youth teams. These players can get promoted up through the club ranks just like everywhere else in the world and don't go through the draft. I'd say the most noteworthy player to do this has been Andy Najar (who actually just chose to represent Honduras) at DC United who seem to have the best academy because of the great tradition of soccer around our nation's capital. I think they also sign "Generation Adidas" contracts, but don't go through the draft. These MLS Academies have started to dominate the local and national youth football scene for obvious reasons.
I have never played MLS in FM to my recollection, but if I was in charge of an MLS club I would not plan on the Draft at all. I would try to identify all the best players in my catchment zone and have the best academy possible. That would be how to develop youth players. Anyone I get through the draft is just a bonus.
If I was in charge of the Sounders in real life, I'd probably do what you're doing and focus on foreign signings (although I think these are severely limited in MLS) because I don't think the Pacific Northwest produces any good youth players. However in FM none of that might be factored in and you just might get a random assortment of Americans based on the quality of your facilities.
