MLS Super Draft

Every year the United Soccer Coaches organization holds a soccer conference. It is one of the largest conventions held annually. Soccer coaches, administrators, and players from all over the country show up for this experience. This year it is in Chicago, IL. In 2020 it will be held in Baltimore, MD.

But the annual Convention is only one big thing. A lot of big soccer things happen at this event. Another big thing happening during this event, and every year, is what’s called the MLS Super Draft. I was interested in attending these for a little while when they first started having them…a while back…

Now I have revitalized reasoning for having interest in this event.

Nashville SC enters the MLS in 2020. Come on! That’s exciting!!

And with entry into MLS comes a pick or two or three in the 2020 MLS Super Draft. This week is the week of the 2019 MLS Super Draft at the USC Annual Convention. And guess who will be there. For the first time ever, staffers from Nashville SC will be in attendance, researching and gaining insights on what’s around the corner for us in our MLS expansion year of 2020.

It’s exciting times for Nashville SC soccer fans, of which I am one. But that is not even why I’m writing this post. Mike Jacobs is Nashville SC’s General Manager. He will be at the 2019 MLS Super Draft. Nashville SC interviewed him and posted one their website the interview. For one of the questions, he had a fascinating response that I haven’t seen in writing anywhere yet. Here is what he said:

“The gap between the college game and the pro game in USL or MLS has gotten vast in the last five years. The biggest challenge to the draft is the development of the MLS youth academies which are already attached to MLS clubs. Those academies are producing some of the best young players that teams have on their rosters.”

- Mike Jacobs, Nashville Soccer Club, General Manager

I mean, seriously. Read that quote again. I currently coach young female soccer players. 2009’s to be exact. But Mike Jacobs just gave tremendous insight into the future of American Soccer on the men’s side. I’ve been wondering where the woes of not qualifying for the World Cup in 2018 would take us. There has been a lot of talk about opinions and such. But this quote really provides interested parties in a potential answer to our Men’s US National Team shortcomings.

In the past five years…five years envelopes two World Cups. 2014 World Cup, the US didn’t look too bad. But we were counting on our veterans.

And 2018…we all know what happened in TNT. If only the goal post was smaller!

The USMNT has evolved. New coach. New GM. New player pool…mostly. And the MLS Academies are at the root of this future USMNT. Read the article at this link. Grab some insights and let me know your thoughts.

Now if our USWNT team could only get organized and compete I think we’d have happy soccer fans in the US for the first time… ;)