Originally Posted by
TomLawrence
First off McKennie didn't go to Germany when he was under 18 because that is illegal and nor was it why he was free. He was free because he wasn't signed to a professional contract, the opposite of Davies.
Additionally, I'm not sure what is confusing. They want both, just the exact same as Portugal and the Netherlands have good producing academies along with their investments in the 18-21 year old range. Utilizing both methods will give maximum results and is why every mid-tier league going emphasizes on both of them.
MLS Academies have only even really been starting to be taken seriously and invested in within the last couple of years. How many academy players do you think clubs produce capable of playing at the highest level? Class of 92s don't just grow on trees and pumped out every year. 4 players from a lower mid-tier league within a couple of years moving to top clubs is a great result. Although is quite the stretch to include Tabla with the other three, he isn't even close to their level. You can add on the likes of Miazga, Yedlin, Shaq Moore, Palmer-Brown, Sargent from IMG which has been closed to focus on MLS academies, Chris Gloster, Alex Mendez, Hyndman etc. have all come from MLS academies and moved to bigger European clubs. The MLS not following compensation guidelines and missing out on money is another discussion, but there has been a good size of talent produced in MLS academies in just the last 2-3 years.
Nor will a homegrown strategy take over 20 years. Why on Earth would it take that long? Manchester City had a decent academy but they've pumped money into it in the past 8-9 years and have already had the likes of Sancho, Brahim Diaz, and Foden come through. It takes max 8 years to see the effects of an academy overhaul, no where close to 20 years. A good academy infrastructure implemented will have an immediate impact and u10s will spend their entire academy life under it which is 8 years.