Comments on: Luis Gil Signs With MLS: Say Goodbye to World Class! http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/ Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:20:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: 7 Things You Should Know About Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil « The Denim Kit http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-15825 7 Things You Should Know About Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil « The Denim Kit Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:07:39 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-15825 [...] Due to FIFA rules, Gil would have had to move his family with him to Europe to play for the Gunners and then go on loan elsewhere in Europe for two years to earn an EU passport.  Gil has been criticized for passing up the opportunity — by some who think MLS is incapable of producing world class players. [...] [...] Due to FIFA rules, Gil would have had to move his family with him to Europe to play for the Gunners and then go on loan elsewhere in Europe for two years to earn an EU passport.  Gil has been criticized for passing up the opportunity — by some who think MLS is incapable of producing world class players. [...]

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-12809 Gary Kleiban Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:43:17 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-12809 Well Justin, I guess I'll have to write a series of articles attempting to give people something resembling objective criterion for "world class". For now, I'll give you one subjective opinion and one objective fact. First a simple, but still subjective definition: World Class players are the global cream of the cream. With that in mind alone, Dempsey and Donovan are not even in the discussion. Again subjectively, I can pick any player at random from the top leagues in the world and chances are they're at the same level. That makes them average when compared to players in the best leagues (that's quite good mind you). Now, to make or judge a statement such as this, one has to have watched quite a bit of footy. Hell, for the sake of argument, let's say these two are better than your average top league player. That still doesn't make them part of the cream of the cream. Then there's something a bit more objective: the market. Who has been making offers to purchase these two from their clubs? Hmmm ... And how much are they offering? Again hmmm ... Plus if you are "world class", it's not just any team in the top leagues that are looking into your services, it's the top teams in the top leagues that are interested. Dempsey and Donovan are excellent players! They most definitely have quality. But World Class? p.s. As far as MLS is concerned, player quality has improved, coaching quality has not. And it's the latter that has most developmental impact. Well Justin, I guess I’ll have to write a series of articles attempting to give people something resembling objective criterion for “world class”.

For now, I’ll give you one subjective opinion and one objective fact.

First a simple, but still subjective definition:
World Class players are the global cream of the cream.

With that in mind alone, Dempsey and Donovan are not even in the discussion. Again subjectively, I can pick any player at random from the top leagues in the world and chances are they’re at the same level. That makes them average when compared to players in the best leagues (that’s quite good mind you). Now, to make or judge a statement such as this, one has to have watched quite a bit of footy. Hell, for the sake of argument, let’s say these two are better than your average top league player. That still doesn’t make them part of the cream of the cream.

Then there’s something a bit more objective: the market.
Who has been making offers to purchase these two from their clubs? Hmmm …
And how much are they offering? Again hmmm …

Plus if you are “world class”, it’s not just any team in the top leagues that are looking into your services, it’s the top teams in the top leagues that are interested.

Dempsey and Donovan are excellent players! They most definitely have quality. But World Class?

p.s. As far as MLS is concerned, player quality has improved, coaching quality has not. And it’s the latter that has most developmental impact.

]]> By: Justin http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-12808 Justin Thu, 07 Apr 2011 20:39:17 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-12808 How are Dempsey and Donovan not world class? Also, Quality in MLS is improving. How are Dempsey and Donovan not world class? Also, Quality in MLS is improving.

]]> By: Dave Clark http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4422 Dave Clark Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:44:07 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4422 Gary, Ownership has stated that they wanted attacking soccer from day one. Gary,

Ownership has stated that they wanted attacking soccer from day one.

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4412 Gary Kleiban Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:22:39 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4412 Thanks for that majora. I guess we'll just have to wait and see if he get's traded, and what he looks like on the field in the next 2 years. Thanks for that majora. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if he get’s traded, and what he looks like on the field in the next 2 years.

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4411 Gary Kleiban Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:19:49 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4411 Hi Charles. Thanks for your comment! I think you need to look at the thesis of the article again. That is, the proposition of "world class". The US has never churned out a world class player. In that context, bringing up any American that is in Europe is just silly. The reason for highlighting Adu is the age similarity and the enormous potential. From 16 - 18, a player is still in the malleable formative years. Again the main reason for the comparison. As for Landon, he did not enter the league at this age. It looks like he was at Leverkusen from 17 - 19. Interesting huh? In addition, he is a good player and is doing well overseas (finally), but he does not fit into any world class discussion. Hi Charles. Thanks for your comment!

I think you need to look at the thesis of the article again. That is, the proposition of “world class”.

The US has never churned out a world class player. In that context, bringing up any American that is in Europe is just silly. The reason for highlighting Adu is the age similarity and the enormous potential. From 16 – 18, a player is still in the malleable formative years. Again the main reason for the comparison.

As for Landon, he did not enter the league at this age. It looks like he was at Leverkusen from 17 – 19. Interesting huh? In addition, he is a good player and is doing well overseas (finally), but he does not fit into any world class discussion.

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4410 Gary Kleiban Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:52:04 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4410 Hi Jose. Do you know who gave that mandate? I'd be interested if you had a link ... Hi Jose. Do you know who gave that mandate? I’d be interested if you had a link …

]]> By: Charles http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4408 Charles Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:16:51 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4408 I love how you bring up Adu. Nice. Just avoid the many that have gone on to great Euro careers, which you seem to prize so much. Or maybe, what is his name, oh yeah, Landon something or another. ( did you honestly think people wouldn't think of him ) Was he ruined by MLS ? It is good to have opinions, and you have to write your columns but stay unbiased in your arguements. Does your arguement look better when you ignore obvious contradictions or worse ? Worse. I love how you bring up Adu. Nice.
Just avoid the many that have gone on to great Euro careers, which you seem to prize so much.
Or maybe, what is his name, oh yeah, Landon something or another. ( did you honestly think people wouldn’t think of him )
Was he ruined by MLS ?

It is good to have opinions, and you have to write your columns but stay unbiased in your arguements. Does your arguement look better when you ignore obvious contradictions or worse ? Worse.

]]> By: majora http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4405 majora Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:38:30 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4405 I think Seattle is one of the best places he could end up... but it's unfortunate because Seattle doesn't really have anything to give up. I think Sigi is one of the few coaches that could help him become a better player and move on to Europe at some point (and do well not just mediocre). Where he is now will almost definitely turn him into another Freddy Adu. I like you have no faith in the Wizards coaching staff to develop him I hope he decides to be traded... but I hope that he ends up somewhere that can develop him unlike a majority of the teams in the teams in MLS I think Seattle is one of the best places he could end up… but it’s unfortunate because Seattle doesn’t really have anything to give up. I think Sigi is one of the few coaches that could help him become a better player and move on to Europe at some point (and do well not just mediocre). Where he is now will almost definitely turn him into another Freddy Adu. I like you have no faith in the Wizards coaching staff to develop him I hope he decides to be traded… but I hope that he ends up somewhere that can develop him unlike a majority of the teams in the teams in MLS

]]> By: jose http://blog.3four3.com/2010/02/22/luis-gil-signs-with-mls-say-goodbye-to-world-class/comment-page-1/#comment-4404 jose Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:28:14 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1448#comment-4404 p.s. As far as I know, Sigi was directed/instructed to play a positive, attacking, creative brand of soccer from the beginning of the franchise. p.s. As far as I know, Sigi was directed/instructed to play a positive, attacking, creative brand of soccer from the beginning of the franchise.

]]>