Except "playing time in a top division" is a bit misleading. Jozy Altidore went to Sunderland and everybody was giddy because you know the PL! Except Sunderland sucks, he's not scoring, his confidence is now shot and he was better off playing elsewhere.
Non-European, non-Argentinian, non-Brazilian players will forever be undervalued and under utilized players in European soccer. Americans especially. It's does your development no good if you're on the bench the entire time. Other countries are starting to realize this or have realized this, Japan, S. Korea, and Mexico being the best examples. They've brought players back to strengthen their leagues and have increased their youth development. And that's what MLS is doing, they're bringing back guys to increase the money from TV so they can spend more on player development.
I'm sorry but Europe is not the future for the USMNT. A strong MLS is the future,
At the time the move to the PL made sense until he got there and found out he didn't have a midfield to get him the ball. I wouldn't be surprised if NYCFC came after him with a 6.5 million dollar per year in the lines of Dempsey and Bradley. I wonder if MLS will start over paying USA Euro players to get them to come back and grow our ldomestic league? I am all for it.