USMNT Head Coach thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

^^^ This refers more to the men's side. The women's side is on relatively equal footing with the rest of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

^^^ This refers more to the men's side. The women's side is on relatively equal footing with the rest of the world.

More parents don’t want their sons playing tackle football or on steroids to be a pro baseball player. Basketball requires outrageous height. More male athletes are trickling into soccer and lacrosse and soccer is the most widely played sport at the youth level. Add in the big Hispanic population and we have a much more athletically talented pool than most countries dominating the sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

^^^ This refers more to the men's side. The women's side is on relatively equal footing with the rest of the world.

More parents don’t want their sons playing tackle football or on steroids to be a pro baseball player. Basketball requires outrageous height. More male athletes are trickling into soccer and lacrosse and soccer is the most widely played sport at the youth level. Add in the big Hispanic population and we have a much more athletically talented pool than most countries dominating the sport.

You're living in a bubble around DC. Most parents in states like PA, TX, FL, and the entire midwest/plains (where most of the best athletes come from) don't avoid football like the plague. Lots of great athletes still going to baseball, where there is big money. Basketball doesn't require obscene height though it helps in some positions for sure.

Soccer is not the destination sport in this country yet...not by a longshot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

US Soccer exists to help MLS and itself make more money, not promote the sport. The difference between other countries which also have corrupt Mafias as soccer federations is that there are enough people who make money off producing world-class players to create and sustain a development system that produces them. Our half-assed development system doesn't do that because all MLS cares about is that they are good enough not to be completely humiliated by the LatAm players coming into the system and the washed-up Euro superstars who come here to retire while playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

US Soccer exists to help MLS and itself make more money, not promote the sport. The difference between the US and other countries which also have corrupt Mafias as soccer federations is that in those countries there are enough people who make money off producing world-class players to create and sustain a development system that produces them. Our half-assed development system doesn't do that because all MLS cares about is that they are good enough not to be completely humiliated by the LatAm players coming into the system and the washed-up Euro superstars who come here to retire while playing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

China and India would be men’s WC finalists every four years if population were the main story.

People can choose to believe whatever they wish on this, but that doesn’t make those views reality. The reality is that soccer is at best fourth or fifth behind the other sports mentioned in this country, for the men. There are secondary effects to that, which include that boys aren’t spending their youth dissecting what went right or wrong in every big soccer match (Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, you name it) of the weekend. They do spend the time thinking about last weekends NFL football slate, College football bowl games, pro and college basketball matches, etc. These boys can break down NFL or NBA teams and plays on par with grown men. That’s the culture. If playing soccer in this country were even half as lucrative as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, then it might be different. The reality is that it’s not and therefore there’s no real incentive to focus on soccer. Heroes and the spoils are not in soccer and there is a pitifully small chance of Americans playing in European top soccer leagues vs top American leagues (aforementioned sports and MLS).

Also, not sure why Usain Bolt is coming up when it was mentioned that there are mental factors that play in, including reaction time and quickness in decision making, to go along with the speed and strength. The mentally gifted male athletes in the US aren’t predominantly choosing soccer either, and these mental traits are needed in other sports.

It’s fine to use a population argument, all things being equal. But they aren’t. I would bet any amount of money that if the US had a soccer culture and professional environment similar to that of Europe, with no 3-4 other sports trumping soccer, we would be dominant on the men’s side.

That’s just not reality.

[Anonymous]

India has the same problem the US does: People are fanatical about another sport, in this case cricket.

When they hosted the U17 World Cup last year many of the games were played in stadiums built for cricket.

[Anonymous]

Modric's technique and speed of play is way better than Usain Bolt. In soccer it's about accuracy, speed and precision... of the ball, not the person.

[Anonymous]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop_Dreams

This was 1994- 20 years ago.

[Anonymous]

*25 years ago

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Modric's technique and speed of play is way better than Usain Bolt. In soccer it's about accuracy, speed and precision... of the ball, not the person.

It’s actually both the ball and the person, speed of thought, speed of action, and physical speed. That’s why soccer fields aren’t littered with geeks in pocket protectors.

[Anonymous]

Well it really depends, no? LVG always said it’s not about the ball nor the player, but rather about the space that the ball may be played into and the opponent that may come into that space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

China and India would be men’s WC finalists every four years if population were the main story.

People can choose to believe whatever they wish on this, but that doesn’t make those views reality. The reality is that soccer is at best fourth or fifth behind the other sports mentioned in this country, for the men. There are secondary effects to that, which include that boys aren’t spending their youth dissecting what went right or wrong in every big soccer match (Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, you name it) of the weekend. They do spend the time thinking about last weekends NFL football slate, College football bowl games, pro and college basketball matches, etc. These boys can break down NFL or NBA teams and plays on par with grown men. That’s the culture. If playing soccer in this country were even half as lucrative as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, then it might be different. The reality is that it’s not and therefore there’s no real incentive to focus on soccer. Heroes and the spoils are not in soccer and there is a pitifully small chance of Americans playing in European top soccer leagues vs top American leagues (aforementioned sports and MLS).

Also, not sure why Usain Bolt is coming up when it was mentioned that there are mental factors that play in, including reaction time and quickness in decision making, to go along with the speed and strength. The mentally gifted male athletes in the US aren’t predominantly choosing soccer either, and these mental traits are needed in other sports.

It’s fine to use a population argument, all things being equal. But they aren’t. I would bet any amount of money that if the US had a soccer culture and professional environment similar to that of Europe, with no 3-4 other sports trumping soccer, we would be dominant on the men’s side.

That’s just not reality.

Can we agree that soccer is a more complicated sport to be good at than football, baseball or basketball?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s no one’s “fault.” It’s the culture. The US simply doesn’t have the pervasive soccer culture that other countries do. I often wonder how the landscape might look if Soccer were the primary sport in this country, over football, baseball, basketball, and hockey.

Unfortunately, it just isn’t.

The US does not have a "pervasive" soccer culture, but it does have millions of people who are passionate about the game. The problem is that the USSF has failed miserably in its mission to advance soccer in this country, the latest coaching hire being an ample proof of that.

Unfortunately, millions of passionate fans doesn't equate to the best available talent choosing to play soccer over the population at large. The best athletes in this country still choose other sports. A cultural/social construct. It's not to say that all the best athletes are in other sports, but disproportionately this is the case. It's not just about physical brawn either; the same physical attributes that help this population set do well in other sports would help them do well in soccer, including mental processing quickness, reaction time, and superior motor control mapping and skill, to go along with the strength and speed needed to physically perform. That creme de la creme talent disproportionately goes to other sports in this country.

US Soccer can't fix that problem. It's cultural.

How much of a population do you need to play soccer to be successful? Croatia has only 4 million in total population and made it to the final of the WC. Also, do we fail because other nations field more athletic teams and overwhelm us physically (because our best athletes play other sports) or do we fail because we are inferior technically and tactically? I just don't buy the argument that we fail because our best athletes play other sports. Usain Bolt is faster than anyone in NFL, MLB, or NBA, but he was not able to make it as a professional soccer player despite several tryouts. At the same time, Modric, who is not particularly athletic, won the best player award in soccer last year.

China and India would be men’s WC finalists every four years if population were the main story.

People can choose to believe whatever they wish on this, but that doesn’t make those views reality. The reality is that soccer is at best fourth or fifth behind the other sports mentioned in this country, for the men. There are secondary effects to that, which include that boys aren’t spending their youth dissecting what went right or wrong in every big soccer match (Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, you name it) of the weekend. They do spend the time thinking about last weekends NFL football slate, College football bowl games, pro and college basketball matches, etc. These boys can break down NFL or NBA teams and plays on par with grown men. That’s the culture. If playing soccer in this country were even half as lucrative as the NFL, NBA, and MLB, then it might be different. The reality is that it’s not and therefore there’s no real incentive to focus on soccer. Heroes and the spoils are not in soccer and there is a pitifully small chance of Americans playing in European top soccer leagues vs top American leagues (aforementioned sports and MLS).

Also, not sure why Usain Bolt is coming up when it was mentioned that there are mental factors that play in, including reaction time and quickness in decision making, to go along with the speed and strength. The mentally gifted male athletes in the US aren’t predominantly choosing soccer either, and these mental traits are needed in other sports.

It’s fine to use a population argument, all things being equal. But they aren’t. I would bet any amount of money that if the US had a soccer culture and professional environment similar to that of Europe, with no 3-4 other sports trumping soccer, we would be dominant on the men’s side.

That’s just not reality.

Can we agree that soccer is a more complicated sport to be good at than football, baseball or basketball?

Of course. Soccer is much more fluid than those 3, which tend to be more linear and direct, not to mention the constant stoppages.