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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Sort of back on topic, I am curious what people think about the real difference between being in Europe and the US at that age.  Most seem to automatically think it's better but I wonder.  Others say the real difference doesn't happen until after 16, when European kids start to focus on their professional career, and US kids get distracted by high school and college.

This seems like a good example to make a comparison because he was at a pro 1st division academy here, and now he's at a pro 1st division academy in Holland.

Here's the 04 team from DC United a few months ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO6WVOD2dIk

And here are some highlights of Yohanes playing for AZ Alkmaar's 04s this fall:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk7MA7vevfY&t=183s

Totally different level?  [/quote]

Absolutely different level and you don't have to watch more than a few minutes to see the difference.  The speed of play is faster, where the ball is played to each teammate is better, the off the ball movement is constant, the ball is on the ground versus bouncing up and down between players or playing long, the engagement in the build up in all lines is very different while DC/Orlando players only move when ball is kicked in their direction vs creating runs, checking to/etc., and so many more.[/quote]

Agree.  So much cleaner soccer in Alkmaar video.  I was a bit shocked at the level of the DCU/Orlando game.  This is supposedly the best we have at that age?  It was not good.  Slow and nobody knew where to move or how to move the ball around.  They were standing around, no off-ball movement.

I turned down a DA offer for my kid and if this is the type of soccer being taught I think we definitely made the right decision given how his current team plays vs this.  They may not win a lot, but the kids move the ball quickly, know where to move off the ball and keep it on the ground.  And, they are U13.[/quote]

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