I watched some of the France v. Wales women’s qualifier last night. The main difference in the top Euro teams and the USWNT is the number of touches on the ball, the first touch, and the philosophy of play. US is not kickball, but it is more individualistic with a greater number of touches per instance of an individuals possession. US women take 2 or 3 touches on avg. vs top Euro teams that take 1-2 touches. So the ball moves around the field more quickly with top Euro squads. Second, they move off the ball into space more intuitively to enable less touches by their teammate with the ball. These two things feed and breed and support each other. Why is it this way? Culture? Individualism over the collective? Even Euro basketball teams move the ball better than US teams, but there we are so overwhelmingly more talented we still win with our second or third rate teams. Not so much with soccer anymore, and with soccer there is a much larger playing space and many more players. If the USWNT played with fewer touches and moved off the ball like the top Euro teams, that would be the end of any other country having a chance against us. Period. But we don’t. So things will be more exciting. Not a big deal. Growing soccer professionally here in the states is not a big priority for our country. So why does it really matter? It is what it is.

That was not the question.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Where did you learn to play? Did it requires thousands in fees and more thousands in gas, uniforms, futsal, plane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

It involved living in Europe for a few years when my kids were younger. Then- moving to a club run by Europeans for a brief time. Lol

And, of course, watching hours upon hours of International play in stadiums abroad and on TV at home.

In europe can't any kid that enjoys soccer play for a reasonable time and money commitment? I thought soccer was for all the kids I europe, not just the ones that can pay a lot. I read that the fees are a very small fraction of what it is here, the travel is much more local and it is not exclusionary.

The travel for a ECNL, MLSNext or GA team is expensive but there are MANY local/regional leagues where travel expense is not an issue.

You will sacrifice quality of competition in several instances but again, if a kid wants to play it can easily be done under 3k.

I read that it is subsidized by the big wealthy pro clubs and that the kids simply to not travel all over creation like they have to here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Where did you learn to play? Did it requires thousands in fees and more thousands in gas, uniforms, futsal, plane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

It involved living in Europe for a few years when my kids were younger. Then- moving to a club run by Europeans for a brief time. Lol

And, of course, watching hours upon hours of International play in stadiums abroad and on TV at home.

In europe can't any kid that enjoys soccer play for a reasonable time and money commitment? I thought soccer was for all the kids I europe, not just the ones that can pay a lot. I read that the fees are a very small fraction of what it is here, the travel is much more local and it is not exclusionary.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some are just turned off to us soccer events after the sh*t show that was the gda launch and collapse. Just screwed over so many players and this is where fans are born...when you play the sport as a kid or your kids play. That had nothing to do with the players but the whole ordeal was a big negative for us soccer.

Did not help that the men did not qualify.

Even if every girl that played in the GDA was turned off of the US Women's team forever that is a total of 8 to 10k kids. Hardly a lost generation fan wise.

The rest of youth soccer players just don't care about youth league politics.

And they do not follow or watching soccer in general. ECNL, GA and travel girls do not watch soccer and are not fans of soccer. They may watch USWNT game but they are not into soccer. They are just cheering the flag.

NWSL is ugly soccer to watch and does not attract young fans.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some are just turned off to us soccer events after the sh*t show that was the gda launch and collapse. Just screwed over so many players and this is where fans are born...when you play the sport as a kid or your kids play. That had nothing to do with the players but the whole ordeal was a big negative for us soccer.

Did not help that the men did not qualify.

Even if every girl that played in the GDA was turned off of the US Women's team forever that is a total of 8 to 10k kids. Hardly a lost generation fan wise.

The rest of youth soccer players just don't care about youth league politics.

And they do not follow or watching soccer in general. ECNL, GA and travel girls do not watch soccer and are not fans of soccer. They may watch USWNT game but they are not into soccer. They are just cheering the flag.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Where did you learn to play? Did it requires thousands in fees and more thousands in gas, uniforms, futsal, plane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

If a kid just wants to play soccer it can be done for far less than thousands.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Where did you learn to play? Did it requires thousands in fees and more thousands in gas, uniforms, futsal, plane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

It involved living in Europe for a few years when my kids were younger. Then- moving to a club run by Europeans for a brief time. Lol

And, of course, watching hours upon hours of International play in stadiums abroad and on TV at home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Where did you learn to play? Did it requires thousands in fees and more thousands in gas, uniforms, futsal, plane tickets, hotels and rental cars?

Anonymous wrote:Some are just turned off to us soccer events after the sh*t show that was the gda launch and collapse. Just screwed over so many players and this is where fans are born...when you play the sport as a kid or your kids play. That had nothing to do with the players but the whole ordeal was a big negative for us soccer.

Did not help that the men did not qualify.

Even if every girl that played in the GDA was turned off of the US Women's team forever that is a total of 8 to 10k kids. Hardly a lost generation fan wise.

The rest of youth soccer players just don't care about youth league politics.

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Nothing new. It has always been this. Now that the rest of the world has allowed their women to play the sport, it is no surprise they will surpass our women.

It is so frustrating to play American soccer if you have been trained the proper way and have vision. Like, want to blow your brains out kind of bad, especially when reinforced by Club, High School and College coaches who just don't know any better.

Some are just turned off to us soccer events after the sh*t show that was the gda launch and collapse. Just screwed over so many players and this is where fans are born...when you play the sport as a kid or your kids play. That had nothing to do with the players but the whole ordeal was a big negative for us soccer.

Did not help that the men did not qualify.

Anonymous wrote:USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.

Well it is easy to coach.

USWNT plays exactly like youth girls soccer today - mostly focused on fast and physical players. Vision and touch aren't valued when you can just run by your opponent. This works until you play against teams that are equally physical. Then the USWNT runs out of ideas and resorts to kick and run. Its ugly but very similar to every ENCL game I watch.