World cup losses are painful for many reasons.

[Renew Deal]

One of which is it takes four years (and more if you don't qualify) to move on from it. 2006 was such a horror show. The US did a lot of work over the last four years and is almost certainly the most skilled team the US ever fielded. But that still wasn't enough. They lack top quality strikers and defenders. The US is clearly in the ascendancy. Every year more and more American players play large roles at European clubs. We don't have our Ronaldo or Rooney yet. Hopefully they don't take too long to come.

[Condem]

1. The future is, indeed, bright.

The NY Times Magazine had a cover story a couple weeks back on our future soccer stars. Like the US, just a melting pot of nationalities. A very good read. By reading a couple of pieces by foreign journalists, they think it's just a matter of time of when the US is an elite soccer country.

[Upton]

2. US could have done so much more

playing a Ghana squad that was without their star player Michael Essien. A team that hadn't even scored in open play...until they met the US. An American win means they would have gone up against a very beatable Uruguay.

The road was marked, right to the semis. All they had to do was defeat two sides that were both ranked lower than the US by FIFA. When will they get another such opportunity? This is a major disappointment.

[malaise]

7. Have you followed the Black Stars and their success

from youth level.
Ghana beat the US at the 2006 WC and prevented them from making the round of 16.
The US conceded goals early in every match of this WC. Thankfully Donovan rescued them before in previous matches. They fought hard here but could not come good this time.
I think US football is improving big time.

[Renew Deal]

3. The soccer system in the US is very good.

There is a massive youth soccer system which feeds up into the "Olympic Development Program." Every quality youth team plays into their "state" tournament which feeds the national system. And the MLS is actually a very good league. It has developed lots of our current best players (Howard, Donavan, Dempsey, Altidore, Findley, and many others).

[Upton]

4. Most of those guys you mentioned

honed their skills over in Europe. Dempsey and Howard have played in the EPL for years. Donavon just came off a spell with Everton. Playing solely in what amounts to a minor league in the MLS is not good enough to be successful on the world stage.

[Renew Deal]

6. My point is that they develop here and then go play somewhere else.

And develop even more. It's something the US was missing up until the MLS came to be. The US team was amateurs with a handful of small Euro-club players up until then.

[Artie Bucco]

5. Very good?

Coaching is abysmal and I think you rate the MLS to highly. Especially since the teams still lose on a consistent basis to Caribbean and Central American teams. There is no promotion or relegation system in the MLS. I wouldn't be to keen on holding up Altidore and Findley as examples of your best players either.

[Renew Deal]

8. How do you know anything about the coaching?

Of course they lose regularly to other CONCACAF teams. They also win regularly. They are usually in the middle. What would relegation in the MLS accomplish? Altidore and Findley are great examples of what the MLS can do. The MLS has developed both of them. Findley is still there. He has a bright future.

[redqueen]

9. As for me, I think a relegation system would generate more interest.

Which could only help of course.

[Artie Bucco]

10. Coaching at a youth level and in this region is lagging.

Especially at a youth level. Skill is often times overlooked for more physical and strong players. Findley didn't do much this World Cup and I doubt he will get to many calls from European teams. Relegation motivates teams to stay alive to keep fighting even if they are a bottom rung team. you wan't to know what I think about when you mention the MLS the 5-0 drubbing Mexico handed to the US in 2009.