RSL Scouts Japan

Today MLSsoccer.com announced that Real Salt Lake's general manager, Garth Lagerwey, travelled to Japan earlier this month to scout players. Lagerwey indicated that the "J-League is, I think, pretty similar to MLS," and he went on to say that, "its a league where we can draw some players from." Currently the only Japanese born player in the MLS is Colorado's Kosuke Kimura (MLSsoccer.com). There were no direct signings because of this trip, but Lagerwey said that the notion of coming abroad to MLS was appealing to some of the players he talked to. If nothing else, a trip like this may alert Japanese talent to the possibility of coming to Major League Soccer to play.

I have mixed feelings about a story like this. I think if the price is right for good Japanese talent, then it should be taken advantage of. A good Japanese player in the J-league has some popularity in Japan, but if he went to the MLS, he would gain a greater following. This is true for me and an American named player named Stuart Holden. The reason I came to know of Holden is because of the hype he gets for being an American in the EPL. If he still played in the MLS, I'm sure I would have learned of him at some point because of his skill, but I would only be his fan if he came to my team. With him being in another league, and one of the few Americans in that league, I feel a sense of pride watching him play, and cheer even though I didn't care for the Bolton Wanderers before. This would also happen with Japanese soccer fans and Japanese MLS players. Players who had their home team fans before, may attract fans who are just proud of them for "representing" Japan. The added attention from Japanese fans would surely help to bolster Major League Soccer's popularity in that region, even after some Japanese talent returns home.

Another benefit from adding Japanese players to the league is that they are solid technically. The one thing I remember about Japan from the last world cup is how technically sound they were on set pieces. They were truly deadly on dead-ball situations, and the MLS would benefit from players who have that kind of vision on the pitch. 

Lastly, the speed that many players in the J-league possess would be a fun addition to the MLS. The MLS has many fast players, but it never hurts to add some more pace.

My one reservation is that there is a lot of talent in the states that is developing, talent that need not take second priority to creating a new scouting network. With that said, RSL has a great youth academy and a general manager who is very aware of its importance. All in all, I hope this isn't the last I hear of MLS in Japan.

Happy New Years!