State of the States | July, 2011

July finds the state of the States to be disarray, confusion, and pessimism. The crushing senior squad loss to a revitalized Mexico in the Gold Cup final and the struggles of the youth national teams have led to a call for heads and an overhaul of the system. But is that overhaul already taking place courtesy of the Development Academy program?

Balance of Power

Despite a string of weak performances in the Gold Cup, the lack of quality elsewhere in CONCACAF allowed the US to stumble into a predictable final against their arch-rivals from across the dos a cero border. And the final looked like so many of these affairs have over the last decade: Mexico dominating possession and chances, but the US capitalizing on counters and set pieces. Somehow, miraculously, a toothless and underperforming US side made it dos a cero.

But the balance of power has shifted in the region. Yesterday's triumph for Mexico in the U-17 World Cup, a tournament that saw the US draw against New Zealand, lose against Uzbekistan, and bow out in humiliating fashion, put a cap on their excellent summer. The Gold Cup final, however, really demonstrated that Mexico are back in a big way. Four goals without reply confirmed their dominance and attacking flair and left a staid and predictable US only with questions.

Does Bob Bradley need to go? Where is the next generation pushing the likes of Donovan and Dempsey? Is the focus on strong, physical players leaving the US bereft of the type of quick, technical quality that Mexico is so flush with? Does the failure of the U-17s to impress at their World Cup and the U-20s to even qualify for theirs signal that the system is broken entirely?

Moving Forward

The hope, of course, is that the nascent Development Academy programs (both attached to MLS clubs and not) will start developing the kind of talent that isn't being consistently turned out by collegiate programs. The first fruits of the academies are beginning to break into MLS senior squads now. How long until this new generation starts to have a serious impact on the national programs? Will they prove so much different from the old?

Amidst the ashes of the Gold Cup debacle, there was one glimmer of promise from a non-college youngster brought up in MLS, though not through the academy system. Freddy Adu, the wunderkind turned washout, came on to great effect in the semi-final and earned a starting role in the final. After bouncing around Europe and landing in the Turkish second division, his call-up for the Gold Cup saw a collective scratching of heads from US fans.

But Adu is precisely the type of player, quick, technical, and with vision, that the US needs to be developing. Sadly, his early promise had always remained looking like just that. Until now. Is this just another flash in the pan? Was all he needed regular playing time and to get his head on straight? It's too much to expect that Freddy will fulfill his messianic promise as the latest savior of American soccer, but his hundred-odd minutes in the Gold Cup prove that he can still be a significant contributor and difference-maker.

Silly Season

Undoubtedly part of Adu's renaissance was regular playing time, something that quite a few on the US roster have been lacking of late. And that makes the summer transfer season a significant one in the eyes of USMNT fans, particularly in regards to the European-based players. Will Gooch see more than the bench in Portugal? Will Altidore eventually wind up in Holland? Does a potential move for Bedoya sap his field time? And where will the likes of Michael Bradley and Freddy Adu land?

On a related note, there were rumors swirling about Tim Ream being plucked from MLS, but they seem to have been just that. Are there any other young MLS talents that might be on the move this summer? The rumor mill seems seductively quiet. But movement the other direction has already begun with Toronto FC stocking up on Euro-vets. And traffic within MLS has yet to really catch fire, with DC United's trade for Dwayne De Rosario from the Red Bulls being the most significant.

Looking Ahead

And all of that leaves us, like US Soccer in general, with more questions than answers as we plow headlong through the heart of summer. Let's add to the confusion with a look ahead, shall we?

• Late summer is when the playoff picture begins to get interesting, more so than ever in 2011 with 10 post-season spots up for grabs. A quick glance at the standings reveals four teams on 22 points competing for that 10th spot, and they're not far behind the rest of the playoff pack, nor too far ahead of the dregs gathered at the foot of the table.
• Refs always come in for abuse and criticism the world over, but MLS refs have been diabolically bad thus far. Does the trend continue? If so, is there anything the USSF can do about it?
• The MLS All-Star roster is fittingly star-studded, but not the best that MLS has to offer. Here's hoping the coach/commissioner's picks produce a more balanced and competitive team and that they produce a better spectacle than last year.

And that's where we part company this month. Thanks for reading, and check back next month for another edition of State of the States.

Michael S. Hund is the creator of the Fullback Files, a blog covering DC United, the US National Team, and Major League Soccer.