Anonymous wrote:Left back for college recruiting

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketable at what level?

Who are the biggest stars of soccer (football) and the highest paid professional players? That seems pretty obvious — it’s the goal scorers and offensive play makers. Not to take anything away from defensive positions or skills, but that’s pretty much the way it is in every sport: basketball, American football, etc. Offense is flashy and the most marketable (with some exceptions, of course).

For the younger players you’re taking about, really strong and smart defenders seem to be rare indeed.

Is this true (for young players)? I would think defenders are easily most kids and the wingers/ center mid were less common?

not good defenders. Defenders who are as fast as the best wings and strikers, are good enough at tackling (something rarely taught my most coaches) to get the ball away from them and have the foot skills to advance the ball are rare. Even rarer are the ones who have enough feel for the game to know when to participate in the offense and when to drop

This...and then find one who is left footed. Left back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketable at what level?

Who are the biggest stars of soccer (football) and the highest paid professional players? That seems pretty obvious — it’s the goal scorers and offensive play makers. Not to take anything away from defensive positions or skills, but that’s pretty much the way it is in every sport: basketball, American football, etc. Offense is flashy and the most marketable (with some exceptions, of course).

For the younger players you’re taking about, really strong and smart defenders seem to be rare indeed.

Is this true (for young players)? I would think defenders are easily most kids and the wingers/ center mid were less common?

not good defenders. Defenders who are as fast as the best wings and strikers, are good enough at tackling (something rarely taught my most coaches) to get the ball away from them and have the foot skills to advance the ball are rare. Even rarer are the ones who have enough feel for the game to know when to participate in the offense and when to drop

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketable at what level?

Who are the biggest stars of soccer (football) and the highest paid professional players? That seems pretty obvious — it’s the goal scorers and offensive play makers. Not to take anything away from defensive positions or skills, but that’s pretty much the way it is in every sport: basketball, American football, etc. Offense is flashy and the most marketable (with some exceptions, of course).

For the younger players you’re taking about, really strong and smart defenders seem to be rare indeed.

Is this true (for young players)? I would think defenders are easily most kids and the wingers/ center mid were less common?

not good defenders. Defenders who are as fast as the best wings and strikers, are good enough at tackling (something rarely taught my most coaches) to get the ball away from them and have the foot skills to advance the ball are rare. Even rarer are the ones who have enough feel for the game to know when to participate in the offense and when to drop

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Marketable at what level?

Who are the biggest stars of soccer (football) and the highest paid professional players? That seems pretty obvious — it’s the goal scorers and offensive play makers. Not to take anything away from defensive positions or skills, but that’s pretty much the way it is in every sport: basketball, American football, etc. Offense is flashy and the most marketable (with some exceptions, of course).

For the younger players you’re taking about, really strong and smart defenders seem to be rare indeed.

Is this true (for young players)? I would think defenders are easily most kids and the wingers/ center mid were less common?

Anonymous wrote:Marketable at what level?

Who are the biggest stars of soccer (football) and the highest paid professional players? That seems pretty obvious — it’s the goal scorers and offensive play makers. Not to take anything away from defensive positions or skills, but that’s pretty much the way it is in every sport: basketball, American football, etc. Offense is flashy and the most marketable (with some exceptions, of course).

For the younger players you’re taking about, really strong and smart defenders seem to be rare indeed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many kids quit by U12/13. I wouldn't be so worried about marketability as ensuring my child had a team he enjoyed and a great foundation. Your kid is most likely not going pro, getting a full ride or making the best team in the state - just let them enjoy the damn sport.

People always come to these threads to say things like this. We know. We get it. It still doesn't answer the question.

Anonymous wrote:Many kids quit by U12/13. I wouldn't be so worried about marketability as ensuring my child had a team he enjoyed and a great foundation. Your kid is most likely not going pro, getting a full ride or making the best team in the state - just let them enjoy the damn sport.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a younger player on a top team (u8/u9/u10 range).

He plays most of the positions but I notice in a crunch, coach will put my ds in the same position because he is great in this position versus average in others. He does not score nearly as much as other players but he is a standout in other ways.

My question is, which positions as the boys get older (u12/13/14) will make a player more marketable or desired for a team. Or is it certain skills versus positions that make a player attractive?

On the flipside, which positions can almost any player play? (Least marketable)

Comfort on the ball, good first touch and quick, accurate short passing. With those you will be in good shape wherever you play. Without them you won't. Dribbling and finishing are also useful skills - but not as universally applicable as the others I mentioned.

After that central players are the most important to a team's success. If a team has two good center backs, a good CDM and CAM, and a good striker they will always be competitive. Without those things can be challenging. Goals are always at a premium - but actually the easiest of these to compensate for is the striker.

A good GK is also always in demand.

Just out of interest - why doesn't your son score? If his finishing isn't great - that's one of the easiest skills to practise on your own. If he just doesn't get in the right spots - have him watch games on the TV and get him to watch the goalscorers instead of the ball and see where and when they make runs on and off the ball. If he won't pull the trigger then don't worry - that will come.

PS I'm not a coach - just a parent who has watched his kids play for many years.

Yes, it's about getting in a position to score. Most CBs and CDMs can strike the ball harder than a forward. Can they get to the spot to put the ball in the net is the question. That is where a center forward comes in or a #10. You can have him watch all the EPL he can handle, but that just gives an overview on how the game is played.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a younger player on a top team (u8/u9/u10 range).

He plays most of the positions but I notice in a crunch, coach will put my ds in the same position because he is great in this position versus average in others. He does not score nearly as much as other players but he is a standout in other ways.

My question is, which positions as the boys get older (u12/13/14) will make a player more marketable or desired for a team. Or is it certain skills versus positions that make a player attractive?

On the flipside, which positions can almost any player play? (Least marketable)

Comfort on the ball, good first touch and quick, accurate short passing. With those you will be in good shape wherever you play. Without them you won't. Dribbling and finishing are also useful skills - but not as universally applicable as the others I mentioned.

After that central players are the most important to a team's success. If a team has two good center backs, a good CDM and CAM, and a good striker they will always be competitive. Without those things can be challenging. Goals are always at a premium - but actually the easiest of these to compensate for is the striker.

A good GK is also always in demand.

Just out of interest - why doesn't your son score? If his finishing isn't great - that's one of the easiest skills to practise on your own. If he just doesn't get in the right spots - have him watch games on the TV and get him to watch the goalscorers instead of the ball and see where and when they make runs on and off the ball. If he won't pull the trigger then don't worry - that will come.

PS I'm not a coach - just a parent who has watched his kids play for many years.

Anonymous wrote:I have a younger player on a top team (u8/u9/u10 range).

He plays most of the positions but I notice in a crunch, coach will put my ds in the same position because he is great in this position versus average in others. He does not score nearly as much as other players but he is a standout in other ways.

My question is, which positions as the boys get older (u12/13/14) will make a player more marketable or desired for a team. Or is it certain skills versus positions that make a player attractive?

On the flipside, which positions can almost any player play? (Least marketable)

Anonymous wrote:My 2 cents - I think the players who are harder to come by are "central" players - ones who play in the middle of the field - 6,8,10,9 - defensive/central/attacking mid or center striker/center forward. Good athletes with some skill can play wide as an outside back, outside midfield, or winger and use their speed - so these players are more common.

Players who can play around the perimeter of the field are easier to find than players who can play well in the interior.