Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

OP of what, first of all. This is an anonymous board, you could be responsible for all or none of the above drivel.

How/why could anyone have an "axe to grind" with FCB Escola?

There is at least one well known Escola enthusiast on this board who has made similar comments, trashing US clubs and soccer. Then, in this thread, you have an individual making the same arguments and then posting a series of FCB videos. It's as much of a stretch for someone to refer to that person as "FCB Escola Guy" as it is for you to refer to someone as "Coach"

DP=different poster. You are making a lot of assumptions. This poster, you got mad at, may even be a parent from your kid's team. Just let it go and you'll be much happier. Focus on soccer, not on hurt feelings. This is a free country. People can express views that are different from yours.

Sorry, I saw it as "OP" on my tiny screen, not "DP" The response doesn't change though. I can type "DP" at the beginning of any post just as surely as you, the reality is that there could be 20 or 2 people in this thread at any point in time, no one knows.

No hurt feelings at all, and I wasn't angry. I think you are making assumptions. I'm just connecting the dots, it's really not that hard. I'm pretty confident that the person making these comments isn't on my team because I know those folks pretty well. But thanks for your concern.

Ahhh, the internet sleuth

He does have a point, though. No way to know without people having IDs attached to their posts.

Back to the content of this thread, let's move back to video of DA teams playing. I could care less about the foreign club videos being posted. This doesn't tell me anything about what is going on with DA this season.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

OP of what, first of all. This is an anonymous board, you could be responsible for all or none of the above drivel.

How/why could anyone have an "axe to grind" with FCB Escola?

There is at least one well known Escola enthusiast on this board who has made similar comments, trashing US clubs and soccer. Then, in this thread, you have an individual making the same arguments and then posting a series of FCB videos. It's as much of a stretch for someone to refer to that person as "FCB Escola Guy" as it is for you to refer to someone as "Coach"

DP=different poster. You are making a lot of assumptions. This poster, you got mad at, may even be a parent from your kid's team. Just let it go and you'll be much happier. Focus on soccer, not on hurt feelings. This is a free country. People can express views that are different from yours.

Sorry, I saw it as "OP" on my tiny screen, not "DP" The response doesn't change though. I can type "DP" at the beginning of any post just as surely as you, the reality is that there could be 20 or 2 people in this thread at any point in time, no one knows.

No hurt feelings at all, and I wasn't angry. I think you are making assumptions. I'm just connecting the dots, it's really not that hard. I'm pretty confident that the person making these comments isn't on my team because I know those folks pretty well. But thanks for your concern.

Ahhh, the internet sleuth

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

OP of what, first of all. This is an anonymous board, you could be responsible for all or none of the above drivel.

How/why could anyone have an "axe to grind" with FCB Escola?

There is at least one well known Escola enthusiast on this board who has made similar comments, trashing US clubs and soccer. Then, in this thread, you have an individual making the same arguments and then posting a series of FCB videos. It's as much of a stretch for someone to refer to that person as "FCB Escola Guy" as it is for you to refer to someone as "Coach"

DP=different poster. You are making a lot of assumptions. This poster, you got mad at, may even be a parent from your kid's team. Just let it go and you'll be much happier. Focus on soccer, not on hurt feelings. This is a free country. People can express views that are different from yours.

Sorry, I saw it as "OP" on my tiny screen, not "DP" The response doesn't change though. I can type "DP" at the beginning of any post just as surely as you, the reality is that there could be 20 or 2 people in this thread at any point in time, no one knows.

No hurt feelings at all, and I wasn't angry. I think you are making assumptions. I'm just connecting the dots, it's really not that hard. I'm pretty confident that the person making these comments isn't on my team because I know those folks pretty well. But thanks for your concern.

Anonymous wrote:Somebody’s multiple personalities are talking in both ears. I posted the critique of US soccer and used the “sounds great, coach”. I did not post any videos on this thread. I don’t have kids nor do I coach for FCB so I wasn’t on some FCB thread. I honestly don’t know what you are talking about.

There are many different people that post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

OP of what, first of all. This is an anonymous board, you could be responsible for all or none of the above drivel.

How/why could anyone have an "axe to grind" with FCB Escola?

There is at least one well known Escola enthusiast on this board who has made similar comments, trashing US clubs and soccer. Then, in this thread, you have an individual making the same arguments and then posting a series of FCB videos. It's as much of a stretch for someone to refer to that person as "FCB Escola Guy" as it is for you to refer to someone as "Coach"

DP=different poster. You are making a lot of assumptions. This poster, you got mad at, may even be a parent from your kid's team. Just let it go and you'll be much happier. Focus on soccer, not on hurt feelings. This is a free country. People can express views that are different from yours.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

OP of what, first of all. This is an anonymous board, you could be responsible for all or none of the above drivel.

How/why could anyone have an "axe to grind" with FCB Escola?

There is at least one well known Escola enthusiast on this board who has made similar comments, trashing US clubs and soccer. Then, in this thread, you have an individual making the same arguments and then posting a series of FCB videos. It's as much of a stretch for someone to refer to that person as "FCB Escola Guy" as it is for you to refer to someone as "Coach"

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why you are trying to focus on FCB. Didn't I specifically ask to ignore what FCB is doing and focus on FC Damm? FCB is in the video simply to show that a small well-coached club without a professional team can play positive soccer against elite level opposition without losing composure or tripping over the ball or having terrible touches. Are you saying that Loudoun and Arlington are more organized and press better than kids from La Masia? FC Damm players have space because they are intelligent in their movement, positioning and decision-making. They do not bunch up on one side of the field as the players do in the DA video. They also have proper passing and receiving technique with the ball rolling on the ground and not bouncing or flying in the air so it is easier to control. What's the next excuse?

There are no excuses. In the DA video I saw, there was much more pressing than the young buys were doing, which will lead to more errors on average no matter who is playing. That's why you press hard. I have watched plenty of DA games in person and spacing is not an issue. I'm focused on FCB because you keep posting FCB videos.

Ok, let's say the young boys did not do enough pressing. Here's U14 game between FC Damm and EF Gava. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i8-BxjdQdU

Once again, the players are not tripping over the ball or take horrendous touches when pressed hard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

DP here. Did this poster say something about Escola or do you have an ax to grind with them? He/she stated that US soccer should not set the bar low, use excuses and rely solely on physicality. I know DCU , Bethesda and VDA academy parents, who say similar things.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

These arguments are just becoming incoherent. Facts are facts, not excuses. You can choose to accept the truth or not, that doesn't make it any less true, FCB Escola guy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why you are trying to focus on FCB. Didn't I specifically ask to ignore what FCB is doing and focus on FC Damm? FCB is in the video simply to show that a small well-coached club without a professional team can play positive soccer against elite level opposition without losing composure or tripping over the ball or having terrible touches. Are you saying that Loudoun and Arlington are more organized and press better than kids from La Masia? FC Damm players have space because they are intelligent in their movement, positioning and decision-making. They do not bunch up on one side of the field as the players do in the DA video. They also have proper passing and receiving technique with the ball rolling on the ground and not bouncing or flying in the air so it is easier to control. What's the next excuse?

There are no excuses. In the DA video I saw, there was much more pressing than the young buys were doing, which will lead to more errors on average no matter who is playing. That's why you press hard. I have watched plenty of DA games in person and spacing is not an issue. I'm focused on FCB because you keep posting FCB videos.

Anonymous wrote:Look the answer from all coaches and USSF officials is that it can’t be done because we have too many players (seriously-wtf on that one), we don’t have the culture blah, blah, we can never be as good as other countries.

We seem to continually set the lowest bar possible and throw our hands in the air that we can’t possibly be expected to close the gap. It’s one excuse after another.

Let’s just introduce steroids like all the other major American pro sports and get them all with our physicality. Sounds great, Coach.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure why you are trying to focus on FCB. Didn't I specifically ask to ignore what FCB is doing and focus on FC Damm? FCB is in the video simply to show that a small well-coached club without a professional team can play positive soccer against elite level opposition without losing composure or tripping over the ball or having terrible touches. Are you saying that Loudoun and Arlington are more organized and press better than kids from La Masia? FC Damm players have space because they are intelligent in their movement, positioning and decision-making. They do not bunch up on one side of the field as the players do in the DA video. They also have proper passing and receiving technique with the ball rolling on the ground and not bouncing or flying in the air so it is easier to control. What's the next excuse?

There are no excuses. In the DA video I saw, there was much more pressing than the young buys were doing, which will lead to more errors on average no matter who is playing. That's why you press hard. I have watched plenty of DA games in person and spacing is not an issue. I'm focused on FCB because you keep posting FCB videos.

You know, when I look at that Loudoun-ARL game and compare with the Spanish games, the thing that strikes me the most is that this is more a style of play difference. Poster above favors the style that the Spanish teams are playing. The DA players are more physical and take more risks with the ball. I saw many examples of the DA players not playing the safe pass but being aggressive. Poster attributes this as a bad decision, but it's just a risk. Sometimes this works out and other times it doesn't. Loudoun in particular does a good job of possessing the ball after settling down the game in the opening minutes. Arlington has success playing the ball forward in combination.

I think it comes back to culture. Americans by nature are much more physical and aggressive than Spaniards, and it shows in the style of play. There's no reason a physical and aggressive team couldn't beat a finesse team, assuming player skill is similar on both sides. There is no right or wrong style, they are just different, and each has its positives and negatives.

Except that’s what our USMNT has been doing forever with zero success. Soccer is just not a purely brawn sport. That’s why we do so poorly on the International stage. We can exploit our physicality all we want. It’s not getting the job done.

And Spaniards play with a 5-second rule (some say 3 seconds) where if they lose the ball they do anything to get it back immediately. You are sorely mistaken if you don’t see the physicality of Spanish teams when that happens. Puyol, Sergio Ramos,,,, come on man.

Wow, the defense of the Spanish here is incredible. The (accurate) finesse comment was on the video of little boys playing soccer, not Puyol and Sergio Ramos.

This isn't about the USMNT and it isn't about pure brawn. No one can say the DA video shows two teams playing on pure brawn. Yes, we aren't getting the job done because we are at a cultural disadvantage which has been discussed many, many times here. Unless your solution is for our players to move to Spain from birth so they can imbibe the culture, I think this debate on Spanish youth clubs is a complete waste of time. Our players will continue to be born and grow up here, so the onus to create the ideal environment is on us as parents. We have this conversation if/when all the other destination sports in the country have been eclipsed, this is a different conversation entirely. We just aren't there yet.