This will take a beating here... but you're spot on. the quality is quite poor, and I'd suggest a step below the English champsionship. Its the why that I find discouraging. Many would say its just too hard to compete for top players. While that may be true in comparison to the major leagues of Europe, its no excuse to be played off by Mexican league teams on a constant basis. Its less about the current players and more about the structure they grew up in. Sorry if this isnt to the heart of the thread, but I figured I'd add.
This nation's approach to development has been hindered over the last 30 years by its incessant needs to integrate the qualities of its culture. Soccer players here have been drilled (and drilled and drilled). The focus has been on persistence, regimented discipline, work ethic. Lines, lines, and lines. with lots of cones. Alot of this was simply due to not having experienced coaches. This impacted players development of natural skill, creativity and a philosophical understanding of the game.
Only in the last 5-8 years have we seen it change. youth academies have abandoned tactical, regimented development and changed 180 degrees. the focus is now on creativity, skill development and free flowing play. No more line after line of passing and dribbling, but activities that encourage players to sort it out. 4 cones, 12 players, 5v5 +2.... here's a couple of objectives to challenge your play... now "go". Accents, origins and philosophies are as diverse and rich in a boot room in KC, Seattle or Chicago as they are in Europe.
At a recent coaching syposium (and i imagine this conversation takes place at nearly every club meeting in the country over the last 4-5 years) the natural concern turns to why this nation hasnt developed a "star" player yet. Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley all very good, but known more for their industry than their flair. Essentially, the US wants to be Germany. Its not a reflection of Klinsmann, its why he's here. Reyna is the nation's youth director, and plied his trade in Germany for a number of years before moving to Scotland (and then the PL). hard working but creative. Technical but suffocatingly disciplined and tactical. How can we encourage that play in the academies. Can we develop not just Schweinstigers and Khedira's but Goetze's and Ozil's as well. or more succintly, why cant we build a Rooney, Gerrard, Scholes, Wilshere, Sterling... (and so on down to Michael Owen). We've developed plenty of Hendersons and Ox-Chamberlains.
The comparison fell to basketball... and the similarities are rather poignant. Basktball players develop in a far less structured environment at a younger age than soccer players do. Many suggest that environment (the opportunities to just go "play" without constant coaching) reflects similarly on how footballers develop across the world. Strong youth academies across Europe atually emphasize a lack of structure, force players into touches and let their natural abilities develop. Many dont even keep score in matches until 16. This is something this nation is trying to adopt, but is finding difficult. parents love games, scores, trophies, and unfortunately that guides training and team development. In truth, spending time with Developmental Academies not associated with MLS teams, they are struggling to maintain their own philosophy. A lack of results on the scoreline indicate failure, which is the wrong approach. They are already feeling the pressure to win, because the academy structure savagely competes for the best players. This leaves the players in power, and waters down the product.
Anyways, I see the MLS as a strong reflection of that. Its not just in the players, These coaches developed in the same manner. Porter with Timbers and Vermes with Sporting seem to have a right minded approach to development, but both are now feeling the pinch of results.
If the MLS academies stay true to their philosophies, the products that come out of them will make a major impact on the quality of play in the top league, even if its only a short time before they're snatched up by a top league. It may take a few years, but their is a generation coming. They're winning in Europe. They're getting plucked by European clubs. the process will soon settle to them coming straight through the MLS teams.