MLS v Europe for Our National Team

One thing that I have come to notice about our USA Men's National team is that very few of them play in a European league. Considering that any team in a top-flight Euro league could crush even our best MLS teams, shouldn't there be more concern that our men are still staying in the MLS? I say no after watching this Gold Cup and doing some research. 

On our current Gold Cup roster we have thirteen men playing in a league other than the MLS, seven in Europe and five in Mexico. However, we are missing Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard. Out of the five men in Mexico are Demarcus Beasley and Micheal Orozco who I think have a very good chance to go to Brazil as they are playing well. So, that gives good marks to our men in Mexico.

Now for Europe, we have one man in Sweden and two in Norway. Alejandro Bedoya plays in Sweden and Mix Diskerud and Joshua Gatt play in Norway. Now, I think I am safe to say that Sweden and Norway are not home to the most elite European leagues in the world and none of them are consistent starters.

We have two men in England, only one of which plays in the top division and that is Brek Shea, who just recently moved from FC Dallas to Stoke City and we have yet to see how that will affect his style and quality of play. 

Even though all of those men play in other leagues, our MLS boys are looking very good this Gold Cup with Beckerman hooking up well with Chris "Wondwoloski on multiple occasions. Also Nick Rimando has put in a very good showing between the sticks for us. With Wondo and Donovan doing most of the scoring and Rimando making solid saves I would say MLS is just fine to develop people who preform on the national level.