As for the comment from D.S. about ODP being an unbiased system I simply have to laugh. Maybe in Texas. Not in NorCal. Too political and too size based. NorCal ODP should have been much better. Lots of skilled players, not that would actually get selected. ODP is a good idea that needs better oversight.

Part of the lack of intensity in MLS is the lack of fan support, which adds a whole new dimension to a football game. Of course, the bigger reason is that the incoming player pool (primarily from college) does not have the combination of technical and tactical acumen to play 90 minutes of sound football. American kids learn at an early age to run hard and kick long balls, and the adult players easily fall into this trap when faced with technically superior competition.

To Steve: have your son try out for the ODP (Olympic Development Program) – this is (usually, mostly) an unbiased system to identify good talent and help them develop into high-quality players. Also have him looked by coaches at academies like the one FC Dallas has – I am sure they will view it as an investment to develop a strong player.

I’ve watched Beckham play twice in MLS. For about 30 minutes of the 2nd game – after he received a half time earful perhaps – he came out of played with tremendous impact, what one would expect from a Man Utd or Real Madrid starter. However the rest of the time I’ve seen him on the pitch, he looked as if he were playing in a charity match, or writing the next chapter of his book in his head. I’m sure there is a reason behind that – but I can only guess at the dynamics.

Perhaps the managers are not jousting with each other in the press, nor the hometown fans ready to brawl over team allegiance. Perhaps MLS players think: nobody really cares about who wins or loses; it is second class soccer; cities aren’t really behind the teams; fans are not passionate; its where they play so they don’t have to learn a second language or come to realize they are not as good as they think.

In my town we have a hockey team (the Sharks) and people follow them with visible vigor, showing their colors at any given time, flying their allegiance constantly.

We also have an MLS team who has won the MLS championship – still many of the most ardent local soccer fans would be embarrassed to admit they follow the team, and I’ve had some local soccer afficianados say they don’t follow MLS at all, but instead follow the EPL, La Liga, etc., where the beautiful game is played. Better to watch Man Utd on TV, than MLS live.

If I end up with a son looking ahead to a pro career, based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d encourage him to go to Europe.

I think part of getting a critical mass of soccer energy is the density of it. When every 5-20 miles you enter a different region of team allegiance, there is a friction and passion which is absent when a team from NY plays a team from LA.

The best team in the MLS is, of course, the San Jose Earthquakes, who have risen from painful ashes, and will come to dominate the league in years ahead.

But they’d play even better soccer if San Francisco and Sacramento and Santa Cruz had equivalent teams, with their local populaces all right behind them in a fierce battle for pride and bragging rights. Maybe then it would matter and we’d see a bit of urgency, and the players full potential.

Of course pubs wouldn’t be a bad idea either, but we’re in America.

It’s going to take a long time to get the passion that other leagues have. The kids growing up with it now might have it, the adults not so much.

MLS will continue to get better though. It has done more good than bad for our National team.

You rip Holden for his bad play at the end.. I just watched the game again as I had it on DVR and he was easily one of our best players for the whole match. He will be back in Europe when his contract runs out in MLS I believe. He can play over there and it will help him get even better.