https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/04/13/why-dont-most-major-league-soccer-franchises-play-their-academy-starlets/
Is the issue the Euros develop the players faster in Europe, or do they give them the chance to play leading to development?
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It's definitely not the last option. Watching the Under-17 World Cup, Weah was a good player in a very good team. However, he wasn't anywhere near as talented as Andrew Carleton or as consistent as Chris Goslin. Yet both can't get legitimate looks in Atlanta United's first team, while Weah consistently lines up alongside Neymar. And still, we urge the MLS based duo to patiently wait their turns behind Kevin Kratz and Romario Williams?
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It's understandable that MLS coaches want to put their best sides on the field, but at what stage do they have to take some responsibility for the development of their young players? Especially when the two options have never been mutually exclusive, a point that both the Red Bulls and teenagers like Durkin, Djordje Mihailovic and Alphonso Davies have all proven in their first-team chances.
However, according to analyst Alex Olshansky, until this season, under-22 domestic nationals (Americans and Canadians) played just two percent of the available minutes in the league. In contrast, Serie A sits just over four percent, the Premier League is at almost five percent, LaLiga is over five percent, the Bundesliga is almost eight percent, and Ligue 1 is at 10 percent. To put this issue into perspective, these numbers are coming from countries where every game actually matters.
Is the issue the Euros develop the players faster in Europe, or do they give them the chance to play leading to development?