As a Brooklyn-born analyst with deep roots in both NBA data science and European youth systems, I’ve seen how the myth of 'talent as scoring ability' collapses under financial pressure. This piece dissects the invisible signals—odds shifts, home/away state decay, and tactical overcorrections—that doom 96% of young prospects across MLS, Erebus Cup, and beyond. It’s not about stars. It’s about systems that don’t see them coming.