How Technical are the Girls?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last fall I watched several times the most highly regarded girl from this area in the class of '20, MM, as far as being a member of the U20 women's national team. She did not stand out at all as far as technique is concerned. In fact, if I didn't know who she was I would have barely paid any attention to her. She's fast and a really excellent athlete.

Who is MM

Makenna Morris

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Last fall I watched several times the most highly regarded girl from this area in the class of '20, MM, as far as being a member of the U20 women's national team. She did not stand out at all as far as technique is concerned. In fact, if I didn't know who she was I would have barely paid any attention to her. She's fast and a really excellent athlete.

In that case suggest the USNMT to replace all its players with the track team. I bet the have great athletes.

Most of the USWNT are all star track athletes.

Clearly someone has an axe to grind here. I'm not sure if their kid is a highly technical player overlooked for athletes or a athletic kid with little technical ability.

Factually I don't think many participated in Track and technically yes they are better

Track is a great option for many middle and high schoolers during non-soccer season.

How is this fact

[Anonymous]

The axe to grind poster is the same guy that always harps about how technical skills are the only thing that matters on numerous threads. Clearly he has an athletic deficiency as probably does his kid, hence the defensiveness. The rest of us know from experience and observation that it all matters. Skill, IQ, and athleticism. Henry, Bale, C. Ronaldo, Drogba, Zidane, Mueller, Robbin, Mbappe, Pogba, Ronaldinho, Etto, etc. Even Messi, Pele, Maradona, Iniesta, while not big super fast guys, had great quickness, balance, and coordination (athleticism doesn’t always mean top level sprinting speed or size).

And to claim that the USWNT players don’t have great technical skill is laughable. Most consistently dominant international soccer team ever and some posters still criticize them. Wonders never cease. Then again the poster is probably English and is simply upset because his country hasn’t won squat in over 50 years. Men’s or Women’s. We’re all thankful for the countryman that invented the sport, but the game passed your country by long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The axe to grind poster is the same guy that always harps about how technical skills are the only thing that matters on numerous threads. Clearly he has an athletic deficiency as probably does his kid, hence the defensiveness. The rest of us know from experience and observation that it all matters. Skill, IQ, and athleticism. Henry, Bale, C. Ronaldo, Drogba, Zidane, Mueller, Robbin, Mbappe, Pogba, Ronaldinho, Etto, etc. Even Messi, Pele, Maradona, Iniesta, while not big super fast guys, had great quickness, balance, and coordination (athleticism doesn’t always mean top level sprinting speed or size).

And to claim that the USWNT players don’t have great technical skill is laughable. Most consistently dominant international soccer team ever and some posters still criticize them. Wonders never cease. Then again the poster is probably English and is simply upset because his country hasn’t won squat in over 50 years. Men’s or Women’s. We’re all thankful for the countryman that invented the sport, but the game passed your country by long ago.

+1000. Love your post. It’s to the exact point and funny at the same time.

To counter a fast defender is to not let him/her obtain max speed by being shifty and routinely changing dribbling directions. Easier said than done but smart, quick and technical players do this all of the time in the Pros.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The axe to grind poster is the same guy that always harps about how technical skills are the only thing that matters on numerous threads. Clearly he has an athletic deficiency as probably does his kid, hence the defensiveness. The rest of us know from experience and observation that it all matters. Skill, IQ, and athleticism. Henry, Bale, C. Ronaldo, Drogba, Zidane, Mueller, Robbin, Mbappe, Pogba, Ronaldinho, Etto, etc. Even Messi, Pele, Maradona, Iniesta, while not big super fast guys, had great quickness, balance, and coordination (athleticism doesn’t always mean top level sprinting speed or size).

And to claim that the USWNT players don’t have great technical skill is laughable. Most consistently dominant international soccer team ever and some posters still criticize them. Wonders never cease. Then again the poster is probably English and is simply upset because his country hasn’t won squat in over 50 years. Men’s or Women’s. We’re all thankful for the countryman that invented the sport, but the game passed your country by long ago.

Wow you are way off. It is obvious you do not understand soccer or even follow the sport. LOL Messi not a fastest player. When he runs away from everyone on the field that’s just technical skill.. There are just no word for you ignorance. Ever player you list as not athlete and fast is. You do not even know what technical skills are do you? Yes those players are just slow technical players!

Talk about someone with an axe to grind. The US WNT is dominant because they are the most athletic, fastest and physical team. It has been that way from the beginning of the women’s World Cup. No other country is even comes close. If you can not see that you do not understand soccer. Diani was terrorizing teams but she disappeared when she played the US. Why do you think that was? I know it’s because Dunn is a technical player. Just stop posting. It’s embarrassing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The axe to grind poster is the same guy that always harps about how technical skills are the only thing that matters on numerous threads. Clearly he has an athletic deficiency as probably does his kid, hence the defensiveness. The rest of us know from experience and observation that it all matters. Skill, IQ, and athleticism. Henry, Bale, C. Ronaldo, Drogba, Zidane, Mueller, Robbin, Mbappe, Pogba, Ronaldinho, Etto, etc. Even Messi, Pele, Maradona, Iniesta, while not big super fast guys, had great quickness, balance, and coordination (athleticism doesn’t always mean top level sprinting speed or size).

And to claim that the USWNT players don’t have great technical skill is laughable. Most consistently dominant international soccer team ever and some posters still criticize them. Wonders never cease. Then again the poster is probably English and is simply upset because his country hasn’t won squat in over 50 years. Men’s or Women’s. We’re all thankful for the countryman that invented the sport, but the game passed your country by long ago.

This post is wrong on so many levels. Starting out with your first two players—by claiming that Thierry Henry and Gareth Bale were not super fast shows how little you know overall.

But beyond that, your comment has nothing to do with girls soccer. Those elite male players are both fast and technically gifted. But the discussion here is about girls’/women’s soccer. The fact that a team wins and is “dominant” does not mean they are technically gifted. Have you watched the top US women’s college teams play? It is not a technical game. Instead it is a direct, athletic game. Same holds true for the USWNT. They are excellent athletes and they win. But the gap has been closing, and if technical skills are not emphasized more in the US they will be surpassed by European and South American women who are both athletic and technically gifted. The problem is this dynamic is going to be very difficult to change in the US given the structures and priorities that have been created.

[Anonymous]

I hear this comment constantly that the gap is closing and the USWNT is being surpassed by other countries. What I see is rather simple. Other countries are investing in their womens programs and a level they had never done before. With that investment comes increases in players volumes and ultimately their skill level. The USA might have had a head start to some degree, one could argue other countries have been on the same pace just not as successful.

Why all the criticism of the US womens program with claims that the rest of the world has caught up?
What program has dominated for decades before others catch up?

Bottom line the USWNT is still at the very top whether they play a technical or a physical game. Why all the push to have them change style because you believe the rest of the world is catching up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hear this comment constantly that the gap is closing and the USWNT is being surpassed by other countries. What I see is rather simple. Other countries are investing in their womens programs and a level they had never done before. With that investment comes increases in players volumes and ultimately their skill level. The USA might have had a head start to some degree, one could argue other countries have been on the same pace just not as successful.

Why all the criticism of the US womens program with claims that the rest of the world has caught up?
What program has dominated for decades before others catch up?

Bottom line the USWNT is still at the very top whether they play a technical or a physical game. Why all the push to have them change style because you believe the rest of the world is catching up

Leaving aside the national team player pool, this is another post confirming the view that girls should not prioritize technical development because physical, athletic is where it’s at. College game and coaches’ priorities confirm this as well. If getting a college spot/scholarship is the goal for most, then the message is clear.

[Anonymous]

no where in my post did i say
"girls should not prioritize technical development because physical, athletic is where it’s at"

I questioned your perspective that the rest of the world has "caught up" and why the need to change a style of play when it works so damn good. You clearly like one style over the other. its your preference. In this particular case it works. Competition will game plan and counter that style and eventually it will no longer work to the degree it once did. That is coaching and game planning.

to say you must be more technical is as simple minded as saying you can win by being more physical or more fast.

For the USWNT to continue to win they will need to continue to change and stay one step ahead of their competition. This is true in any sport. This is not soccer specific but the soccer snobs will have you believe they know better and if not technical then its not the beautiful game.

[Anonymous]

Technical skills and athleticism can both be practiced and improved upon. Hence, why not try to improve both?

If your DD is on an ECNL team because she’s very athletic, good for her. If your DD is on an ECNL team because she’s very technical, good for her. There’s plenty of room for both types of players in this sport. And frankly, we need both types of players.

[Anonymous]

I know the below link talks about basketball, but I think athleticism applies across all sports.

Athleticism: The Myth

http://abasketballacademy.com/athleticism-the-myth

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know the below link talks about basketball, but I think athleticism applies across all sports.

Athleticism: The Myth

http://abasketballacademy.com/athleticism-the-myth

My DD is not technical or fast but is fearless and aggressive. AND a 2020 commit to DUKE!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the below link talks about basketball, but I think athleticism applies across all sports.

Athleticism: The Myth

http://abasketballacademy.com/athleticism-the-myth

My DD is not technical or fast but is fearless and aggressive. AND a 2020 commit to DUKE!

Right place at right time - connections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know the below link talks about basketball, but I think athleticism applies across all sports.

Athleticism: The Myth

http://abasketballacademy.com/athleticism-the-myth

My DD is not technical or fast but is fearless and aggressive. AND a 2020 commit to DUKE!

What position? Makes perfect sense if she is a Back (defender).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The axe to grind poster is the same guy that always harps about how technical skills are the only thing that matters on numerous threads. Clearly he has an athletic deficiency as probably does his kid, hence the defensiveness. The rest of us know from experience and observation that it all matters. Skill, IQ, and athleticism. Henry, Bale, C. Ronaldo, Drogba, Zidane, Mueller, Robbin, Mbappe, Pogba, Ronaldinho, Etto, etc. Even Messi, Pele, Maradona, Iniesta, while not big super fast guys, had great quickness, balance, and coordination (athleticism doesn’t always mean top level sprinting speed or size).

And to claim that the USWNT players don’t have great technical skill is laughable. Most consistently dominant international soccer team ever and some posters still criticize them. Wonders never cease. Then again the poster is probably English and is simply upset because his country hasn’t won squat in over 50 years. Men’s or Women’s. We’re all thankful for the countryman that invented the sport, but the game passed your country by long ago.

Wow you are way off. It is obvious you do not understand soccer or even follow the sport. LOL Messi not a fastest player. When he runs away from everyone on the field that’s just technical skill.. There are just no word for you ignorance. Ever player you list as not athlete and fast is. You do not even know what technical skills are do you? Yes those players are just slow technical players!

Talk about someone with an axe to grind. The US WNT is dominant because they are the most athletic, fastest and physical team. It has been that way from the beginning of the women’s World Cup. No other country is even comes close. If you can not see that you do not understand soccer. Diani was terrorizing teams but she disappeared when she played the US. Why do you think that was? I know it’s because Dunn is a technical player. Just stop posting. It’s embarrassing.

Messi isn't fast?