Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 21:46     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.


Kick and run is so boring but it is a very American style of play. It will get you to a certain level at the youth level. Its like watching high school football vs the NFL. It’s just so one dimensional and undemanding of the player.


It’s not an American thing. Tiki taka has been soundly beaten internationally. I’m not sure who this narrow minded individual is defending it, but they must have shut their eyes in 2011 and never reopened them.


You’re the only one who keeps saying Tiki taka.

There is nothing about how American’s play that resemble any level of possession soccer. There are different degrees to commitment and we are the lowest level possible.

Most Premier league teams look like tiki taka compared to how we play.



Barcelona plays tiki taka. The premier league clubs who have figured them out do not. There are many American youth coaches who revere Premier clubs and try to emulate them, even if the result isn’t what they intend.

This argument is as dead as Barcelona’s plying style. A talented and well coached PDA could beat the same team given the right preparation and tactical response. I’m sorry this hurts you.


PDA has their chance. They lost and they looked bad doing it.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 21:26     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.


Kick and run is so boring but it is a very American style of play. It will get you to a certain level at the youth level. Its like watching high school football vs the NFL. It’s just so one dimensional and undemanding of the player.


It’s not an American thing. Tiki taka has been soundly beaten internationally. I’m not sure who this narrow minded individual is defending it, but they must have shut their eyes in 2011 and never reopened them.


You’re the only one who keeps saying Tiki taka.

There is nothing about how American’s play that resemble any level of possession soccer. There are different degrees to commitment and we are the lowest level possible.

Most Premier league teams look like tiki taka compared to how we play.



Barcelona plays tiki taka. The premier league clubs who have figured them out do not. There are many American youth coaches who revere Premier clubs and try to emulate them, even if the result isn’t what they intend.

This argument is as dead as Barcelona’s plying style. A talented and well coached PDA could beat the same team given the right preparation and tactical response. I’m sorry this hurts you.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 20:10     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.


Kick and run is so boring but it is a very American style of play. It will get you to a certain level at the youth level. Its like watching high school football vs the NFL. It’s just so one dimensional and undemanding of the player.


It’s not an American thing. Tiki taka has been soundly beaten internationally. I’m not sure who this narrow minded individual is defending it, but they must have shut their eyes in 2011 and never reopened them.


You’re the only one who keeps saying Tiki taka.

There is nothing about how American’s play that resemble any level of possession soccer. There are different degrees to commitment and we are the lowest level possible.

Most Premier league teams look like tiki taka compared to how we play.

Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 19:48     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.


Kick and run is so boring but it is a very American style of play. It will get you to a certain level at the youth level. Its like watching high school football vs the NFL. It’s just so one dimensional and undemanding of the player.


It’s not an American thing. Tiki taka has been soundly beaten internationally. I’m not sure who this narrow minded individual is defending it, but they must have shut their eyes in 2011 and never reopened them.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 14:16     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.


Kick and run is so boring but it is a very American style of play. It will get you to a certain level at the youth level. Its like watching high school football vs the NFL. It’s just so one dimensional and undemanding of the player.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 12:57     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.

Lol, in other words, concede the ball because we are incapable of controlling it, park the bus, play for a counter and hope for the best.

So sophisticated. I have news for you. We don’t have the technical ability or tactical awareness to play against them any other way and that you any American team is of such high quality that they can just dial up a game plan is hilarious.

Yes, if PDA parked the bus they might have faired better but they more than demonstrated that they are not skilled enough or well versed enough tactically to impose their will upon a team that keeps the ball.

When teams park the bus from the get go it is because they have no other answers. It isn’t by choice.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 11:42     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:All I know is that PDA played FCV 05' in the Penn Fusion Showcase and won 5-0. Arlington lost to Bethesda in the CASL last month. BTW, youthsoccer rankings does a fair job of ranking. The algorithm uses direct competition.


Except for the DA teams. It does better with the others, but there are obvious irregularities with the DA rankings that anyone would agree with, not to mention teams missing altogether.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 11:42     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.


It's been found since 2014. It's called play defense in numbers to shut down the angles and space tiki taka relies on and counterstrike. And it has broken tiki taka for awhile. If the PDA coaches had the thought to prepare for this team in the way international clubs do, they would have done much better. It just requires preparation, discipline and patience. In the world of rock, paper, scissors styles, talent and preparation trumps any single style every time.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 10:23     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.


Then find “the style” that will mesh best with what we already do well.
Anonymous
Post 12/24/2019 09:49     Subject: ICC Futures

All I know is that PDA played FCV 05' in the Penn Fusion Showcase and won 5-0. Arlington lost to Bethesda in the CASL last month. BTW, youthsoccer rankings does a fair job of ranking. The algorithm uses direct competition.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2019 22:51     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of you stated earlier that it was ridiculous to think that a player who learned tiki taka could not adapt to and excel at other styles. Now you need to tailor talent identification to a particular style? The contradictions to this style argument are amazing. Talented players when paired with good management can excel at different styles. Mediocre players can’t excel at any style. A complete team of talented players can provide attractive games and results no matter the exact playing style—this includes the top styles in vogue today, of the past, and the future.

It’s pretty clear given Spainish and Barcelona’s more recent struggles that their style isn’t some sort of magic elixir. There’s really no discussion there. Seems that the custodians of this thread simply can’t accept reality.


You must be a Arlington parent.

Kick it forward at all cost.

That is style.


Do not knock it. It’s an easy style that does not demand a high soccer IQ or technical skill level. You will be fine as long as you do not run into a faster team or a tiki taki team. LOL


I’ll bet the Arlington DA team can beat lots of teams that play tiki taka, maybe not the Spanish team in this video, but others. Talent and management >> Style


Of course they could and lots of tika taka teams could beat Arlington. It is more than just "style". It is personnel as well and that includes players and coaches. And lets just stop with the "tiki taka" label. Possession is always based on purpose and a system like Barca simply wants to control the ball with high percentage passes that build towards breaking down the defense.

A team that plays more direct and up tempo, moving the ball forward simply cannot control the tempo of the game as effectively as a well coached and executed possession system can. Barca, or any team that plays a similar style can be as aggressive and risk taking as they wish but they can also suffocate and control the game for long stretches.

A forward up tempo team can score quickly against a possession team but in order to maintain the lead at some point they will need to control the ball. Most teams will park the bus and hope to score on a quick transition. So sure, a Arlington could win but is that what we really want to be teaching our kids how to play?


Arlington’s GDA teams do not all play primarily direct.

Tiki taka is Barcelona’s style of play, and it’s distinct from other styles. “Possession” play is a cloudy term.


Arlington is a high press, bunker, direct transition club if ever there was one. Arlington is not capable of controlling the ball or the tempo of a game. They rely on isolating a forward, crossing to the oft wing score or set up and do it again. It requires little soccer IQ of its players. It doesn't challenge tactical thinking or learning on behalf of the players and it is easy to coach.

Basically, it is lazy soccer and effective primarily against similar teams with little tactical acuity themselves. Why is it so upsetting for parents to expect more of our national soccer identity? What is the harm with adapting elements of a tiki taka style to our youth programs and figure out a way to make it mesh with what we do well already?

So much defensiveness that is just so much hubris and pride. Frankly, it is nauseating. But keep thinking you play possession at Arlington. In the land of the blind the one with one working eye is King.


How did Arlington GDA sneak into this discussion? Any Arlington GDA team would get decimated by the teams that were at the group stage of ICC. They are nowhere close to the ICC level of competition.



Youth soccer ranking national u15 girls

ank Team Score
1 PLAYERS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY BLUE ECNL (NJ) 38.51
2 SLAMMERS FC LAFC ECNL (CAS) 37.99
3 LA GALAXY SOUTH BAY (CAS) 37.27
4 FC DALLAS (TXN) 37.08
5 HEAT FC ECNL (NV) 36.95
6 CALIFORNIA THORNS FC (CAN) 36.94
7 SOLAR SC (TXN) 36.85
8 REAL COLORADO (CO) 36.62
9 ST LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER SC MO ECNL (MO) 36.60
10 BEACH FC (CAS)

...

217 ARLINGTON SA (VA) 33.91



Clearly Arlington u15 girls da would beat that Barca team. These rankings really do not mean anything...I mean the top two team got beat by that Barca team.


I have yet to see a website that accurately rates DA teams. The US Youth Soccer one had FCV behind Richmond Strikers, which is ridiculous. So either it doesn't even have the DA team (and that was NPL) or they don't know how to estimate it. And MU wasn't in there at all. So it stands to reason that FC Dallas won't be properly ranked either.


Those sites rely heavily on open tournament results where ECNL plays and DA doesn’t. This is why the DA teams aren’t accurately ranked, if they are there at all. Anyone drawing any conclusion based on those sites loses immediate credibility.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2019 17:46     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of you stated earlier that it was ridiculous to think that a player who learned tiki taka could not adapt to and excel at other styles. Now you need to tailor talent identification to a particular style? The contradictions to this style argument are amazing. Talented players when paired with good management can excel at different styles. Mediocre players can’t excel at any style. A complete team of talented players can provide attractive games and results no matter the exact playing style—this includes the top styles in vogue today, of the past, and the future.

It’s pretty clear given Spainish and Barcelona’s more recent struggles that their style isn’t some sort of magic elixir. There’s really no discussion there. Seems that the custodians of this thread simply can’t accept reality.


You must be a Arlington parent.

Kick it forward at all cost.

That is style.


Do not knock it. It’s an easy style that does not demand a high soccer IQ or technical skill level. You will be fine as long as you do not run into a faster team or a tiki taki team. LOL


I’ll bet the Arlington DA team can beat lots of teams that play tiki taka, maybe not the Spanish team in this video, but others. Talent and management >> Style


Of course they could and lots of tika taka teams could beat Arlington. It is more than just "style". It is personnel as well and that includes players and coaches. And lets just stop with the "tiki taka" label. Possession is always based on purpose and a system like Barca simply wants to control the ball with high percentage passes that build towards breaking down the defense.

A team that plays more direct and up tempo, moving the ball forward simply cannot control the tempo of the game as effectively as a well coached and executed possession system can. Barca, or any team that plays a similar style can be as aggressive and risk taking as they wish but they can also suffocate and control the game for long stretches.

A forward up tempo team can score quickly against a possession team but in order to maintain the lead at some point they will need to control the ball. Most teams will park the bus and hope to score on a quick transition. So sure, a Arlington could win but is that what we really want to be teaching our kids how to play?


Arlington’s GDA teams do not all play primarily direct.

Tiki taka is Barcelona’s style of play, and it’s distinct from other styles. “Possession” play is a cloudy term.


Arlington is a high press, bunker, direct transition club if ever there was one. Arlington is not capable of controlling the ball or the tempo of a game. They rely on isolating a forward, crossing to the oft wing score or set up and do it again. It requires little soccer IQ of its players. It doesn't challenge tactical thinking or learning on behalf of the players and it is easy to coach.

Basically, it is lazy soccer and effective primarily against similar teams with little tactical acuity themselves. Why is it so upsetting for parents to expect more of our national soccer identity? What is the harm with adapting elements of a tiki taka style to our youth programs and figure out a way to make it mesh with what we do well already?

So much defensiveness that is just so much hubris and pride. Frankly, it is nauseating. But keep thinking you play possession at Arlington. In the land of the blind the one with one working eye is King.


How did Arlington GDA sneak into this discussion? Any Arlington GDA team would get decimated by the teams that were at the group stage of ICC. They are nowhere close to the ICC level of competition.



Youth soccer ranking national u15 girls

ank Team Score
1 PLAYERS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY BLUE ECNL (NJ) 38.51
2 SLAMMERS FC LAFC ECNL (CAS) 37.99
3 LA GALAXY SOUTH BAY (CAS) 37.27
4 FC DALLAS (TXN) 37.08
5 HEAT FC ECNL (NV) 36.95
6 CALIFORNIA THORNS FC (CAN) 36.94
7 SOLAR SC (TXN) 36.85
8 REAL COLORADO (CO) 36.62
9 ST LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER SC MO ECNL (MO) 36.60
10 BEACH FC (CAS)

...

217 ARLINGTON SA (VA) 33.91



Clearly Arlington u15 girls da would beat that Barca team. These rankings really do not mean anything...I mean the top two team got beat by that Barca team.


I have yet to see a website that accurately rates DA teams. The US Youth Soccer one had FCV behind Richmond Strikers, which is ridiculous. So either it doesn't even have the DA team (and that was NPL) or they don't know how to estimate it. And MU wasn't in there at all. So it stands to reason that FC Dallas won't be properly ranked either.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2019 17:35     Subject: ICC Futures

So at U15 we are behind. Where does the trend start? U10? U11? U12?
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2019 17:17     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:One of you stated earlier that it was ridiculous to think that a player who learned tiki taka could not adapt to and excel at other styles. Now you need to tailor talent identification to a particular style? The contradictions to this style argument are amazing. Talented players when paired with good management can excel at different styles. Mediocre players can’t excel at any style. A complete team of talented players can provide attractive games and results no matter the exact playing style—this includes the top styles in vogue today, of the past, and the future.

It’s pretty clear given Spainish and Barcelona’s more recent struggles that their style isn’t some sort of magic elixir. There’s really no discussion there. Seems that the custodians of this thread simply can’t accept reality.


You must be a Arlington parent.

Kick it forward at all cost.

That is style.


Do not knock it. It’s an easy style that does not demand a high soccer IQ or technical skill level. You will be fine as long as you do not run into a faster team or a tiki taki team. LOL


I’ll bet the Arlington DA team can beat lots of teams that play tiki taka, maybe not the Spanish team in this video, but others. Talent and management >> Style


Of course they could and lots of tika taka teams could beat Arlington. It is more than just "style". It is personnel as well and that includes players and coaches. And lets just stop with the "tiki taka" label. Possession is always based on purpose and a system like Barca simply wants to control the ball with high percentage passes that build towards breaking down the defense.

A team that plays more direct and up tempo, moving the ball forward simply cannot control the tempo of the game as effectively as a well coached and executed possession system can. Barca, or any team that plays a similar style can be as aggressive and risk taking as they wish but they can also suffocate and control the game for long stretches.

A forward up tempo team can score quickly against a possession team but in order to maintain the lead at some point they will need to control the ball. Most teams will park the bus and hope to score on a quick transition. So sure, a Arlington could win but is that what we really want to be teaching our kids how to play?


Arlington’s GDA teams do not all play primarily direct.

Tiki taka is Barcelona’s style of play, and it’s distinct from other styles. “Possession” play is a cloudy term.


Arlington is a high press, bunker, direct transition club if ever there was one. Arlington is not capable of controlling the ball or the tempo of a game. They rely on isolating a forward, crossing to the oft wing score or set up and do it again. It requires little soccer IQ of its players. It doesn't challenge tactical thinking or learning on behalf of the players and it is easy to coach.

Basically, it is lazy soccer and effective primarily against similar teams with little tactical acuity themselves. Why is it so upsetting for parents to expect more of our national soccer identity? What is the harm with adapting elements of a tiki taka style to our youth programs and figure out a way to make it mesh with what we do well already?

So much defensiveness that is just so much hubris and pride. Frankly, it is nauseating. But keep thinking you play possession at Arlington. In the land of the blind the one with one working eye is King.


How did Arlington GDA sneak into this discussion? Any Arlington GDA team would get decimated by the teams that were at the group stage of ICC. They are nowhere close to the ICC level of competition.



Youth soccer ranking national u15 girls

ank Team Score
1 PLAYERS DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY BLUE ECNL (NJ) 38.51
2 SLAMMERS FC LAFC ECNL (CAS) 37.99
3 LA GALAXY SOUTH BAY (CAS) 37.27
4 FC DALLAS (TXN) 37.08
5 HEAT FC ECNL (NV) 36.95
6 CALIFORNIA THORNS FC (CAN) 36.94
7 SOLAR SC (TXN) 36.85
8 REAL COLORADO (CO) 36.62
9 ST LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER SC MO ECNL (MO) 36.60
10 BEACH FC (CAS)

...

217 ARLINGTON SA (VA) 33.91



Clearly Arlington u15 girls da would beat that Barca team. These rankings really do not mean anything...I mean the top two team got beat by that Barca team.
Anonymous
Post 12/23/2019 17:16     Subject: ICC Futures

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Gosh all this talk of “Barca hater” when all along Barca guy seems to be a raving Arlington hater. They weren’t even a part of the discussion!


Considering the passion people have for defending the direct, counter strike, high press system I have no idea how anyone could take offense to their club being categorized in such a way.

If it is what you play, and you are happy with it then you should be proud.


Tiki taka isn’t the only possession style. And in recent years as people have figured out its weaknesses, it’s becoming clearer it isn’t even the best of those.