There was the failure to qualify for the FIFA Under-20 World Cup a year ago. Then came the shock elimination during Olympic qualifying. Is there a reason for concern about America's youth?
Yes, says US national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann, specifically when it comes to playing time for young players in MLS.
"There is definitely a concern," Klinsmann told media on a Wednesday teleconference call. "It's definitely a topic we want to bring up with [Commissioner] Don Garber and MLS because we want to make sure especially the younger group of players get as much exposure as possible coming through the developmental stage."
Of the 14 MLS players on the US Olympic team that failed to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, eight can be considered MLS regulars as far as 2011 starts are concerned: Bill Hamid (28), Sean Johnson (28), Perry Kitchen (30), Sheanon Williams (32), Brek Shea (30), Teal Bunbury (20), Jorge Villafaña (24) and Zarek Valentin (24).
Still, Klinsmann suggests that perhaps MLS should look at how other leagues afford opportunities for their younger players.
"The Mexican league, I think they have a rule where the younger players get implemented in the first-team games," Klinsmann said. "In Germany, all first-division teams have their reserve teams playing in a third- or fourth-division league, which is also a professional league to get their feet wet and get playing time and get competition week in and week out."
Klinsmann's expanded the scope of his concerns, specifically with regards to players in the 18-22 age group. He hopes that US Soccer, MLS, the NCAA and academy clubs can address together what he believes to be a shortage of competitive matches.
"[If] you summarize all the amount of games that they really have, and it's simply not enough," he said.
When discussing his desire to see younger players pushing for more playing time with their clubs, Klinsmann had a specific message for New York's Juan Agudelo.
"Last year, he often said, 'I want to play more and I need to play more,' " Klinsmann said, "and my response to Agudelo is that, 'You need to train harder and you have to force the coach to make you play. It's not something that's given to you.' That's the message to the youngsters."
