U.S. & International Soccer

And I’ll admit that I only watch soccer during the World Cup. And what just happen tonight is why soccer will never be relevant in this country. If soccer wants to be relevant it starts with the players showing some heart and soul. Take a lesson from the Panama players and Hondorus players tonight.

That is easily the most retarded post I have ever read on this forum. Kudos.

Hold my beer.

And I’ll admit that I only watch soccer during the World Cup. And what just happen tonight is why soccer will never be relevant in this country. If soccer wants to be relevant it starts with the players showing some heart and soul. Take a lesson from the Panama players and Hondorus players tonight.

I’m just going to go with “No”.

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

How many USA soccer games have you watched in the last 4 years, roughly?

Stop it..it’s so cute watching the soccer haters suddenly discover this thread :biggrin2:

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

How many USA soccer games have you watched in the last 4 years, roughly?

Stop it..it’s so cute watching the soccer haters suddenly discover this thread :biggrin2:

Lol… I just don’t know how someone can say that USA’s style is “tough to watch”, unless they don’t watch many games at all.

And I’ll admit that I only watch soccer during the World Cup. And what just happen tonight is why soccer will never be relevant in this country. If soccer wants to be relevant it starts with the players showing some heart and soul. Take a lesson from the Panama players and Hondorus players tonight.

That is easily the most retarded post I have ever read on this forum. Kudos.

Oh come on, he’s had other posts that top this one. :wink: :lol:

Probably today….

I’m glad that I don’t get BEIN and decided to watch other stuff.

I would have been so angry watching this game.

It was pretty maddening… :lol:

Bravo, Rog. Well said.

https://i.imgur.com/JkcgAuB.png" />

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

How many USA soccer games have you watched in the last 4 years, roughly?

Stop it..it’s so cute watching the soccer haters suddenly discover this thread :biggrin2:

Lol… I just don’t know how someone can say that USA’s style is “tough to watch”, unless they don’t watch many games at all.

I watch (pretty much) every game… for the last 30 years. It is tough to watch. National teams usually are more disjointed than club teams because they don’t get to work together as much. And the US team is usually hard to watch.

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

How many USA soccer games have you watched in the last 4 years, roughly?

Stop it..it’s so cute watching the soccer haters suddenly discover this thread :biggrin2:

Lol… I just don’t know how someone can say that USA’s style is “tough to watch”, unless they don’t watch many games at all.

I watch (pretty much) every game… for the last 30 years. It is tough to watch. National teams usually are more disjointed than club teams because they don’t get to work together as much. And the US team is usually hard to watch.

How is the USMNT tough to watch compared to other national teams though? Of course they haven’t had the superstars of the major soccer nations, but I guess I don’t think they’re “hard to watch” at all. We generally play direct soccer, and go for the jugular, rather than settling for draws or 1 goal wins (see: dos a cero games vs. Mexico). We certainly don’t park the bus.

Compared to other national teams… similar. Doesn’t make them easy to watch. And you’ve hit on a major problem with them… The best play is not always all out attack. There is a time for that, but also a time to pull back and just keep possession for a spell. They lose possession way too easily.

USA was GG13’d.

Did he predict a shut out?

I’d say US soccer is more like Gopher football. The raw talent just isn’t there to be a contender, and the style of play is tough for watch for non die hard fans.

How many USA soccer games have you watched in the last 4 years, roughly?

Stop it..it’s so cute watching the soccer haters suddenly discover this thread :biggrin2:

Lol… I just don’t know how someone can say that USA’s style is “tough to watch”, unless they don’t watch many games at all.

I mean my brother who’s played soccer his entire life said the same thing. It just doesn’t sound like they have any talent at the full back position and do a lot of overly aggressive non-creative play. I’m no soccer expert so I’m deferring to him but historically what I’ve seen from US Soccer that sounds about right.

Curious why people think Arena should be out? Didn’t the team virtually implode with Klinsman (sp?) and rebound quite healthily once Bruce took over? Did he make some really poor tactical or lineup decisions toward the end? I mean they took care of their qualifying game at home and for whatever reason slept-walked against T&T. Where did Arena fall short here?

Thanks Dan, I’ll hang up and listen.

Curious why people think Arena should be out? Didn’t the team virtually implode with Klinsman (sp?) and rebound quite healthily once Bruce took over? Did he make some really poor tactical or lineup decisions toward the end? I mean they took care of their qualifying game at home and for whatever reason slept-walked against T&T. Where did Arena fall short here?

Thanks Dan, I’ll hang up and listen.

Lost to Costa Rica at home with Arena. That played a major role in them not qualifying.

Lack of technical ability is exactly why I called it hard to watch. It’s like going to the single A state tournament instead of AA.

Fair enough.

I mean, are people looking at it after watching the EPL, and comparing it to that level? Because yeah if you’re watching USMNT looking for silky smooth passing, offensive creativity, and technical ability, you’re not going to find it.

Well yeah that’s the gold standard and ideally we try and get closer to that. I would agree the US doesn’t have the talent of some of those teams but I’m not sure they’re doing enough with the talent they have either or even assembling the right group of players.

Curious why people think Arena should be out? Didn’t the team virtually implode with Klinsman (sp?) and rebound quite healthily once Bruce took over? Did he make some really poor tactical or lineup decisions toward the end? I mean they took care of their qualifying game at home and for whatever reason slept-walked against T&T. Where did Arena fall short here?

Thanks Dan, I’ll hang up and listen.

Sounds like he’s a pretty average/below average coach in his approach to the game. Like GG13 has said they play a very direct style of play but that’s not always ideal when it doesn’t result in offense and opens up holes the other way.

Also how has the team not found a goalkeeper under the age of 50 yet?

Here’s your real problem.

https://i.imgur.com/05Fxuis.png

Here’s your real problem.

https://i.imgur.com/05Fxuis.png

This is exactly what Taylor Twellman said yesterday. The lack of talent in the 25-29 age range. This squad hasn’t made the last 2 Olympics, so obviously this group is lacking in that all important age group.

As long as the elite American kids keep playing high school and college soccer instead of playing overseas, this country will never compete on a consistent basis. They need to follow Pulisic’s lead, and whenever they have a chance start playing against the best in the world, not against Billy and Johnny from down the street.

http://www.theherdnow.com/video-the-u-s-men-blew-their-world-cup-chance-but-a-panama-goal-that-helped-eliminate-them-was-borderline-corrupt/

I saw yesterday that a parlay on Panama win, Honduras win, and US win paid 40:1.

What’s Sir Alex Ferguson up to these days?

One of the names thrown out on the Men in Blazers pod that piqued my interest was Peter Vermes. He’s done good work in KC, I think he’d do a good job with the national team.

Has anyone questioned Howard’s level of play that night? It sure felt like he was exposed a little bit with some poor positioning. The first own-goal ended up going in after an ill-timed jump, and the second goal went in from such a long distance – even though it was a fabulous (uncontested) shot. Yes, I am aware these were not easy plays, but it did not feel like his best effort was on display that night.

After typing that last line, I guess the same could be said for everyone on the team. :chainsaw: :anger:

I just don’t get why the team can’t find a keeper under the age of 50 to play the position. Though that seems like a lot of different positions on this team.

Howard was amazing four years ago in the World Cup but the guy can’t possibly do this forever. I would think that’s part of the reason he’s no longer in the EPL.

I am not a great youth soccer mind, but some of the people I have spoken with who are involved mentioned that soccer is kind of a “rich” kids sport. Soccer is one of those sports where it should be very inexpensive to play, but with traveling teams and camps, it can be quite expensive. This limits the pool of players who end up being a part of youth programs.

Here is an article from 2016 that is pretty interesting.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jun/01/us-soccer-diversity-problem-world-football

It’s the most popular sport in the world because you don’t need money to play and have dreams in it. I’m sure in the US system there are plenty of politics, though.

It’s just going to be hard to get kids playing when the other sports get so much more publicity. It’s a cycle and I don’t know if the US will be able to be a legitimate world contender in the next few decades.

Yeah, we’re always going to be at a disadvantage because kids here are more often than not going to grab a baseball, basketball, or football to play pickup games with their friends, long before they grab a soccer ball. Compared to countries like Brazil, where the kids in favelas do nothing but play soccer all day, every day.

It’s the most popular sport in the world because you don’t need money to play and have dreams in it. I’m sure in the US system there are plenty of politics, though.

It’s just going to be hard to get kids playing when the other sports get so much more publicity. It’s a cycle and I don’t know if the US will be able to be a legitimate world contender in the next few decades.

Yeah, we’re always going to be at a disadvantage because kids here are more often than not going to grab a baseball, basketball, or football to play pickup games with their friends, long before they grab a soccer ball. Compared to countries like Brazil, where the kids in favelas do nothing but play soccer all day, every day.

I think more kids are playing soccer than people think. Driving through Minneapolis (albeit south mpls) and all the parks this summer/fall were filled with kids playing soccer. Rarely did I see people playing softball or baseball or even football. I think the problem is further down the road when it becomes more competitive and the “pay to play” model kicks in.

You very well may be right. The pay-to-play thing is definitely a hindrance, from the little I’ve read up on it.

This story is a year old, but it brings up the many problems with Youth soccer, and identifying the best talent.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jun/01/us-soccer-diversity-problem-world-football

This is really great thanks.

There’s been a very detailed and lengthy exchange at USCHO about why NCAA soccer is having a negative impact on development in the US. We have more youth soccer players than any country on the planet, but unfortunately there is too much emphasis on game play rather than skill development and creativity and as such the US remains a step behind the top tier countries for national team performance.

Arena resigns.

Gulati says he won’t resign, and will run again. Now we just need to find someone to run against him.

You should do it. Couldn’t be any worse than what we’ve had the last few years.

I would want someone with actual managing experience. You can be a talking head all you want, but that doesn’t mean you can manage.

Serious question but is a guy like Alexi Lalas a candidate for Gulati’s job? Or does it have to be some 70 year old stuffed shirt worried more about making money than producing a winning National team?

Yeah, it all starts from the top and it doesn’t seem like he has any real vision to fix this honestly.

You thought the US not making the World Cup was bad. Italy fails to make the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

:shock: :shock: :shock:

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/christian-pulisic-usmnt-world-cup/

Surprised this isn’t in here yet, but a must read for anyone interested in soccer and development. Pulisic talks a little bit about how being able to play in Germany as a 16-year-old is how he got to elevate his game and the only way he was able to do that was because he had a Croatian passport.

I think the same issues impact hockey players too. The US National Camps are a good way to help elevate and identify talents at 15, 16, and 17. They can get some good coaching and get opportunities to play against players their own ability. I’m not so sure on the necessity of the NTDP, but I think the USHL and NAHL have been great things for developing hockey players. I think it’d be great if US Soccer looked at the ADM and those junior programs to develop their players in leagues like that too.

You thought the US not making the World Cup was bad. Italy fails to make the World Cup for the first time since 1958.

Italy. Chile. Netherlands. US. All not making the trip.

U.S. Playing all their youngsters vs Portugal today.

Only 5 years and 1 week until Qatar!

McKennie was great, Miazga and CCV were both very solid. I liked Adams and Sapong as well.

Gooch and Horvath were the only ones who disappointed a bit but I’m not putting much stock into this one.

US Soccer is thinking about starting a Soccer NIT for next summer. Seriously.

https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/11/14/16652530/usa-soccer-world-cup-nit-netherlands-italy-chile” class=”bbcode_url”>https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/11/14/16652530/usa-soccer-world-cup-nit-netherlands-italy-chile