Nail on the head. Every single word Landon Donovan

@landondonovan Played club and academy before college in California. System is inherently way too political and involves heavy parental influence at all levels and layers on the sidelines. the whole talent model / scouting model is broken.

He's right. As an Ajax fan, (has one of the best academies in the world), I know the results of those youth teams doesn't matter at all, also for the club. The entire focus is on developing players for the professional team - and that happens by constantly challenging players by moving them up another team level the second they are somewhat ready. Even if they aren't really ready, but they can see the potential, theyll move them up, they might struggle a bit initially, but that's also how they get better.

@landondonovan When Landon entered broadcasting world post career, his voice and lack of charisma was irritating. He’s now built an impressive reputation and is genuinely insightful to listen to. Far better than Lalas (low bar).

@landondonovan it doesn’t have to be this nuanced. it’s simple really. MLS contracts need to be worth more money to attract better U.S. athletes.

@landondonovan Spot- also making soccer available to everyone. It is almost impossible for kids to get a field to play pickup games with their friends. Every field is gated. Academies are only available to those with money.

@landondonovan Coaching my 6yr old to love the game 1st!

@landondonovan Is this really how much you guys pay. Its about £20 a month for our junior team.

@landondonovan We have plenty of this in swimming… and I’d add lots of comparing since the times are earned and posted at an individual level.

I played soccer at the rec and club levels growing up and in college, and later coached youth soccer at all levels, rec and club. Most importantly, the kids had fun and learned the game. They also picked up important life skills like communication, competition, and hard work that will serve them well beyond the field. Some of those kids went on to play in college programs and are doing great. I still see them around town when they come home to visit their parents. Some became Eagle Scouts and achieved incredible things academically early in life. Their success is exactly why I coached. What eventually drove me away? The parents. Too many of them are convinced their 10-year-old is the next Messi or Ronaldo. To any soccer parents out there, enjoy those Saturday games, because they don't last forever. Support your kids, stay positive, and don't become a distraction because they will remember that part of the experience. Final note: it's about having fun, learning new skills, learning how to win with humility and lose with dignity, and making friends that might last a lifetime. Now go kick a ball and have some fun.

@landondonovan My son played soccer one year his coach thought he was fkn Pep Guardiola. Absolute clown 🤡

@_CallMeDennis_ @landondonovan Complaining is easy. What solutions do you propose?

@landondonovan Let’s put Landon in charge of something more.

@landondonovan 1000%, must flip the incentive structure for clubs to develop youth players.

@landondonovan agree & to his point, teaching them only scoring goals makes selfish players. have watched it as my daughter has grown, from playing at 3 thru high school captain. they look to score, not pass, play defense, anything for the team. it’s maddening.

@landondonovan When our kids played my wife at I sat down at the flag or if there was a hill nearby we went there to get away from the parents.

@landondonovan Two sons of former players on the roster... There can't be more than 15 sons of former players, even eligibility to qualify. The odds of two on one team, in a country of 350 million are astronomical. No slight again Sebastian and Gio, but they are symptoms of a broken system.

@landondonovan So what is to be done about it? How should it work? How is it funded? Stop complaining and craft a solution

@landondonovan Same with baseball and basketball

@landondonovan I know one youth game that he won because I played against him and wow did he schooled me. It was man against boys.

@landondonovan Landon please be our new president of soccer please!!

I really agree with this because I coached my son's team from 8-14 and the parents had never played and didn't know the game. So I was coaching give and go's, triangle formations, and playing the perimeter they were just yelling at their kids to shoot because scoring a goal meant they were alpha.

@landondonovan Landon Donovan is the last person I would ask for advice of U.S. soccer development. He is not talented, mentally weak and never showed any passion. All 3 are required for a soccer expert to be treated seriously. Bring in Zlatan or Henry as they have the street cred. @ESPN

@landondonovan Kids learn better from other kids. Having fun, making up arbitrary rules... bring in the coaching once they've had a few years of this.

@landondonovan So USA soccer is bad bc we yell at our kids?? I guess European parents never yell at their kids?? Lol. Give me a break. Ive been around Latin American travel baseball teams. Let me tell you, it aint pretty. Make an error and your ass is on the bench.

@landondonovan You can share this message across the board when it comes to youth sports.

@landondonovan Youth soccer and baseball are the same thing 🤷🏼‍♀️

@landondonovan It’s this plus if you are talented athlete in the US in your town as a young person(athleticism, coordination, balance) whatever you are going to chose to play 3 or 4 sports before you chose soccer

@landondonovan Yeah because in Brazil or Argentina the parents never say anything to the kids on the field lol

@landondonovan It’s a Money Grab

@landondonovan I've heard every excuse except for the most accurate one, our nations best athletes are not playing soccer. They are playing football, basketball and baseball. Not sure how you direct our best athletes toward soccer, but other countries best athletes are playing soccer.

@landondonovan Thank you

@landondonovan lol sure the parents are the problem. It isn’t the lack of infrastructure, the ridiculous cost, the lack of coordination from US Soccer….. because in other countries there is no yelling from coaches or from parents and people on the sideline. 😂😂😂😂

@landondonovan "I made it to the very top" Classic LD, knows all the problems; presents zero solutions

@landondonovan I wish Landon would have addressed the absorbently high cost of clinics/clubs as well. Not only do youth clubs cherish winning as much as possible, it de-incentivizes parents from paying the thousands of dollars year in and year out.