Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else concerned about the future of youth soccer in our country? With DA and all these other money grubbing leagues you think we could field teams that can compete. Our first time failing to qualify since 1986!

Very few of the starters on the men's roster for the qualifiers spent time in the DA program, which didn't start until 2007. If you want to judge the DA or the current state of youth soccer in the US, it makes a lot more sense to look at performances of the U17 and U20 teams. The U20 men made it to the quarterfinals in the U20 World Cup this summer, and the U17s are currently leading their group in the opening stages of the World Cup in India.

You are relatively new to this game, aren't you?

Here is the problem, we still don't have coaches properly trained to develop players. We still don't have coaches that can properly identify and train players. STILL!! In 2017!! We have complete arrogance that we can do it better than countries that have been dominating for a century.

"Skill". What is 'skill' to an American? A kid that has some fancy footwork. He/she can do some cruyffs, feints, beckenbauers, etc. Fast too? Automatic first team! DA prospect! We are so clueless.

European coaches aren't focused on those limited things. I have spent a lot of time abroad. I have had the opportunity to ask 'why did you pick that player over the kid over there that has amazing ball skill?"

Answer: That's all he has. He has no vision. He has no idea when or where to pass and when to dribble. His mind is slow. He has no movement or creativity off the ball. His first touch is messy.

Are ANY of those things even selected for in your typical US scrimmage-based tryout? We look at 'result'. We don't look at potential. Oh that kid over there scored a bunch and was aggressive---he's the one. Not the player building the attack, moving, knowing where and when to feed the ball. The kid with the mind. Nope, no way. We also look at the kid for physical attributes before the kid has even hit puberty and the rest of the kids are thrown in the dust bin. Iceland couldn't afford to do that, so they developed everyone. Look where they are in relation to us on the World stage.

I have been frustrated by the amount of young Messi wannabes in this country that dribble the ball into the ground year after year and are lauded as superstars. They can't read or penetrate with a pass. They don't use their team. We have a bunch of individuals kicking the ball down the field or trying to do it all themselves. Unimaginative play. Slow minds. Zero soccer IQ.

We are so.far.behind. The parents so gunning for A team at age 7 and the BEST league, BEST team, BEST record are clueless. It is 99.9% of US soccer parents and coaches.

You can teach your kid shitty American style. Pump him up in the weight room. Put him on the track. He will do well in College. BUT--we need to realize we are playing an entirely different sport than "futbol' in this Country. We either recognize that and ignore it or we actually do something instead of carrying the chip that Americans can do it better and putting up excuse after excuse of why we can't succeed in the sport. 323 million people. You can't tell me the guys (minus Pulisic) are the best in America at that age. Do you know how politicized the system is at the earliest ages???? DA is part of that politicized, closed system. We are still going to be having the same tired conversation 20 years from now.

Anonymous wrote:People are blaming coaches and blah blah. People need to blame themselves as parents. Paying money for your kid to get a spot on a team that they probably don't belong on. Look at the tons of soccer threads here. It's ridiculous. It's all about money and the people in charge of these leagues and clubs love taking it from you. And you love paying just to put a sticker on your car or to brag. Youth level with a ton of clubs and multiple leagues in one area.

Sorry your kid belongs in a rec team but I won't tell yu that because we can create a new team (A-G team) or a new club and you will pay the money.

Anonymous wrote:
Here is the problem, we still don't have coaches properly trained to develop players. We still don't have coaches that can properly identify and train players. STILL!! In 2017!! We have complete arrogance that we can do it better than countries that have been dominating for a century.

"Skill". What is 'skill' to an American? A kid that has some fancy footwork. He/she can do some cruyffs, feints, beckenbauers, etc. Fast too? Automatic first team! DA prospect! We are so clueless.

European coaches aren't focused on those limited things. I have spent a lot of time abroad. I have had the opportunity to ask 'why did you pick that player over the kid over there that has amazing ball skill?"

Answer: That's all he has. He has no vision. He has no idea when or where to pass and when to dribble. His mind is slow. He has no movement or creativity off the ball. His first touch is messy.

Are ANY of those things even selected for in your typical US scrimmage-based tryout? We look at 'result'. We don't look at potential. Oh that kid over there scored a bunch and was aggressive---he's the one. Not the player building the attack, moving, knowing where and when to feed the ball. The kid with the mind. Nope, no way. We also look at the kid for physical attributes before the kid has even hit puberty and the rest of the kids are thrown in the dust bin. Iceland couldn't afford to do that, so they developed everyone. Look where they are in relation to us on the World stage.

I have been frustrated by the amount of young Messi wannabes in this country that dribble the ball into the ground year after year and are lauded as superstars. They can't read or penetrate with a pass. They don't use their team. We have a bunch of individuals kicking the ball down the field or trying to do it all themselves. Unimaginative play. Slow minds. Zero soccer IQ.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else concerned about the future of youth soccer in our country? With DA and all these other money grubbing leagues you think we could field teams that can compete. Our first time failing to qualify since 1986!

Very few of the starters on the men's roster for the qualifiers spent time in the DA program, which didn't start until 2007. If you want to judge the DA or the current state of youth soccer in the US, it makes a lot more sense to look at performances of the U17 and U20 teams. The U20 men made it to the quarterfinals in the U20 World Cup this summer, and the U17s are currently leading their group in the opening stages of the World Cup in India.

You are relatively new to this game, aren't you?

Here is the problem, we still don't have coaches properly trained to develop players. We still don't have coaches that can properly identify and train players. STILL!! In 2017!! We have complete arrogance that we can do it better than countries that have been dominating for a century.

"Skill". What is 'skill' to an American? A kid that has some fancy footwork. He/she can do some cruyffs, feints, beckenbauers, etc. Fast too? Automatic first team! DA prospect! We are so clueless.

European coaches aren't focused on those limited things. I have spent a lot of time abroad. I have had the opportunity to ask 'why did you pick that player over the kid over there that has amazing ball skill?"

Answer: That's all he has. He has no vision. He has no idea when or where to pass and when to dribble. His mind is slow. He has no movement or creativity off the ball. His first touch is messy.

Are ANY of those things even selected for in your typical US scrimmage-based tryout? We look at 'result'. We don't look at potential. Oh that kid over there scored a bunch and was aggressive---he's the one. Not the player building the attack, moving, knowing where and when to feed the ball. The kid with the mind. Nope, no way. We also look at the kid for physical attributes before the kid has even hit puberty and the rest of the kids are thrown in the dust bin. Iceland couldn't afford to do that, so they developed everyone. Look where they are in relation to us on the World stage.

I have been frustrated by the amount of young Messi wannabes in this country that dribble the ball into the ground year after year and are lauded as superstars. They can't read or penetrate with a pass. They don't use their team. We have a bunch of individuals kicking the ball down the field or trying to do it all themselves. Unimaginative play. Slow minds. Zero soccer IQ.

We are so.far.behind. The parents so gunning for A team at age 7 and the BEST league, BEST team, BEST record are clueless. It is 99.9% of US soccer parents and coaches.

You can teach your kid shitty American style. Pump him up in the weight room. Put him on the track. He will do well in College. BUT--we need to realize we are playing an entirely different sport than "futbol' in this Country. We either recognize that and ignore it or we actually do something instead of carrying the chip that Americans can do it better and putting up excuse after excuse of why we can't succeed in the sport. 323 million people. You can't tell me the guys (minus Pulisic) are the best in America at that age. Do you know how politicized the system is at the earliest ages???? DA is part of that politicized, closed system. We are still going to be having the same tired conversation 20 years from now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People are blaming coaches and blah blah. People need to blame themselves as parents. Paying money for your kid to get a spot on a team that they probably don't belong on. Look at the tons of soccer threads here. It's ridiculous. It's all about money and the people in charge of these leagues and clubs love taking it from you. And you love paying just to put a sticker on your car or to brag. Youth level with a ton of clubs and multiple leagues in one area.

Sorry your kid belongs in a rec team but I won't tell yu that because we can create a new team (A-G team) or a new club and you will pay the money.

Coach, you suck. You are correct though. Those of with knowledge in the sport are better off with private training and stints in Europe. Some of us have already pulled our kids off of top teams and left the f-d up travel world.

I do feel sorry for the parents and kids you prey on though. They eat up the BS you throw at them all the while you know you will never look at their kid again.

I put 100% of the blame on the people that turned youth soccer into a business. That did not start with parents. You are vultures.

Anonymous wrote:Great Article, and indicates there is still hope for US Men's Soccer - just a few more years to go:

https://sports.yahoo.com/usmnt-doesnt-need-better-athletes-win-world-cup-060526124.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great Article, and indicates there is still hope for US Men's Soccer - just a few more years to go:

https://sports.yahoo.com/usmnt-doesnt-need-better-athletes-win-world-cup-060526124.html

He's right that it's not about getting the "best athletes." For anyone who thinks that - that's the best way to identify yourself as a complete noob. This writer falls for the second best way though. "Look how well the [U17, U20] team has done lately. Success is right around the corner. No need to panic. We are making progress. Just need to be patient and stay the course, ...." That's a story line that has been written over and over and over again over the past 15-20 years, at least. Just like "we beat Spain," "we made it out of the 'group of death'", all little meaningless blips that do nothing but hide the lack of real progress.

Are we better at developing soccer players than we were 10-15 years ago? Sure. More small sided games at the younger ages, more year-round training, the DA system, a slow but steady growth in the number of coaches teaching (and a few actually playing) a possession style for development's sake .... We've probably taken 5 steps forward on the development path. The problem is the rest of the world has taken 10 steps forward in the same time frame. We are getting better, but we are still falling farther and farther behind.

To date, the United States men's soccer development system has developed ONE player capable of making a meaningful contribution on a regular basis for a knock-stage caliber Champion's League team.

Anonymous wrote:^^ America is not responsible for Pulisic’s talent or development. That’s been said over and over again. Try to catch up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great Article, and indicates there is still hope for US Men's Soccer - just a few more years to go:

https://sports.yahoo.com/usmnt-doesnt-need-better-athletes-win-world-cup-060526124.html

He's right that it's not about getting the "best athletes." For anyone who thinks that - that's the best way to identify yourself as a complete noob. This writer falls for the second best way though. "Look how well the [U17, U20] team has done lately. Success is right around the corner. No need to panic. We are making progress. Just need to be patient and stay the course, ...." That's a story line that has been written over and over and over again over the past 15-20 years, at least. Just like "we beat Spain," "we made it out of the 'group of death'", all little meaningless blips that do nothing but hide the lack of real progress.

Are we better at developing soccer players than we were 10-15 years ago? Sure. More small sided games at the younger ages, more year-round training, the DA system, a slow but steady growth in the number of coaches teaching (and a few actually playing) a possession style for development's sake .... We've probably taken 5 steps forward on the development path. The problem is the rest of the world has taken 10 steps forward in the same time frame. We are getting better, but we are still falling farther and farther behind.

To date, the United States men's soccer development system has developed ONE player capable of making a meaningful contribution on a regular basis for a knock-stage caliber Champion's League team.

This is not due to lack of popularity, number of participants, best athletes, not recruiting players from "the hood", or from lack of money being invested in youth development.

It is because our system does not incentivize player development, and the system used by the rest of the world does. Yes, the federation has a role to play (see Germany, Spain, Belgium), and yes, it helps when professional leagues work WITH the federation to do what's best for the country (see Germany vs England). But the inescapable truth is that player development in the rest of the world is primarily driven by individual professional clubs competing in an open market. The market is controlled by rules that are standardized world wide pursuant to FIFA regulations that the US is for some reason exempt from.

Individual Clubs not Single Entity (MLS)
Promotion and Relegation.
Solidarity Payments.
Training Compensation (note - not the same thing).

Those are the steps forward. Contrary to the author's assertion, we will never truly have a "level playing field" with the rest of the world until we start playing by the same rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great Article, and indicates there is still hope for US Men's Soccer - just a few more years to go:

https://sports.yahoo.com/usmnt-doesnt-need-better-athletes-win-world-cup-060526124.html

He's right that it's not about getting the "best athletes." For anyone who thinks that - that's the best way to identify yourself as a complete noob. This writer falls for the second best way though. "Look how well the [U17, U20] team has done lately. Success is right around the corner. No need to panic. We are making progress. Just need to be patient and stay the course, ...." That's a story line that has been written over and over and over again over the past 15-20 years, at least. Just like "we beat Spain," "we made it out of the 'group of death'", all little meaningless blips that do nothing but hide the lack of real progress.

Are we better at developing soccer players than we were 10-15 years ago? Sure. More small sided games at the younger ages, more year-round training, the DA system, a slow but steady growth in the number of coaches teaching (and a few actually playing) a possession style for development's sake .... We've probably taken 5 steps forward on the development path. The problem is the rest of the world has taken 10 steps forward in the same time frame. We are getting better, but we are still falling farther and farther behind.

To date, the United States men's soccer development system has developed ONE player capable of making a meaningful contribution on a regular basis for a knock-stage caliber Champion's League team.

I think Pulisic is capable of joining Beasley in that category.

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ America is not responsible for Pulisic’s talent or development. That’s been said over and over again. Try to catch up.

How do you figure?

Anonymous wrote:

SoccerRef wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ America is not responsible for Pulisic’s talent or development. That’s been said over and over again. Try to catch up.

How do you figure?

Pulisic was in the DA system (PA Classics) from 2008-2015, age 10-15.

Those are formative years, so it's hard to say the US system has no responsibility for developing his talent.

That said, it is beyond dispute that if he had stayed in the US system instead of going to Dortmund at age 16, his development would not have accelerated as it did.