unlikelyfan19
Well-Known Member
So, yes, that helps, but our youth structure, whether good or bad works very differently.
So, in the states, football is pay-to-play at the higher levels. If you are good, you will play whats called "club" football. Meaning you pay a fee to have better coaches, play in better leagues and higher profile tournaments. Over the years, this caused club teams from around the country to start unifying. So you have these club systems that can exist around the country. Back in the early 2000's, United, Chelsea, Barca, Arsenal, etc., started agreements with these clubs, subsidizing certain things, and clubs would brand themselves to the parent European clubs, though not directly being run by them. But that's how they broke in to the "youth development" in this country. Currently, City have not done that. And to be honest, I have no idea if it's been successful for clubs in Europe. Doesn't seem like it with our lack of top tier American Players. But this next generation in their teens is our first that actually look and play like Europeans. (Great first touch, tactical awareness, etc.) Pulisic (Dortmund), Carter Vickers(Tottenham), Zelam(Arsenal), McKennie(Schalke).