Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Athletes tend to gravitate towards the sport that their physical attributes are better served. Many, MANY of the positions for football have physical attribute requirements that would make for a bad soccer player. In fact, generally only corners, safeties and wide receivers would have the right physical mix of lean size and speed that would translate to soccer. The rest of the positions are just too big and slow. This is an example of the athleticism one of the greatest QBs of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxx_u67eUSA

He clearly missed his calling.

Basketball, please, only some point guards would fit the mold and forget most baseball players.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Height 6? 1?, Weight 176 lbs
*could* run the 40 yard dash between 4.64-4.70 seconds

And Kobe Bryant is 6'6" 212 lbs. these are attributes. Ronaldo lacks NBA attributes. Kobe's size is not a proven soccer attribute. Exactly what is so hard to understand about that? In fact if height was a requirement then Sweeden would be the soccer Mecca of Europe.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Ronaldo and Messi as No. 1 and 2 on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes could encourage American kids to think differently about their sporting career choices.

Their respective incomes of $88 million and $81.4 million for the past year eclipsed No. 3 LeBron James' $77.2 million.

But there's no clear path for them to get to play for Barcelona or AC Milan. They get free college tuition but no real chance to get to that level.

Free college tuition ? Their parents pay a minimum $4k/year from 8-18 for travel and training fees. I wouldn't call that free. The vast majority will not even get a scholarship and the few that do will be at some 3rd tier academic school. The kid could get into a better college on grades alone. That $ would be better in a 529.

It's correct there is zero path in the US. My kids love soccer and they are in a family with a Pro player and several D1 athletes and I've been beating my head against the wall at how the path is even more convoluted then it was in the late 80s when I played. More snake oil salesmen, more bureaucracy, more politics, more shitty academies, too many watered down leagues and more emphasis on physical attributes/pure size over technical ability. More people are walking around wearing soccer jerseys and watching the World Cup--but that's about all that's changed over the last several decades in this country. Last night's game shows that much.

You can't even go to an Academy tryout without a fucking invitation. Way to preclude finding the hidden gem. You have to be full checkbook invested and your nose up somebody's ass to even get a chance. We have only added more barriers along the path. Crazy shit in this country.

This, right here is the problem in action, folks. Re read this post.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Ronaldo and Messi as No. 1 and 2 on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes could encourage American kids to think differently about their sporting career choices.

Their respective incomes of $88 million and $81.4 million for the past year eclipsed No. 3 LeBron James' $77.2 million.

But there's no clear path for them to get to play for Barcelona or AC Milan. They get free college tuition but no real chance to get to that level.

Free college tuition ? Their parents pay a minimum $4k/year from 8-18 for travel and training fees. I wouldn't call that free. The vast majority will not even get a scholarship and the few that do will be at some 3rd tier academic school. The kid could get into a better college on grades alone. That $ would be better in a 529.

It's correct there is zero path in the US. My kids love soccer and they are in a family with a Pro player and several D1 athletes and I've been beating my head against the wall at how the path is even more convoluted then it was in the late 80s when I played. More snake oil salesmen, more bureaucracy, more politics, more shitty academies, too many watered down leagues and more emphasis on physical attributes/pure size over technical ability. More people are walking around wearing soccer jerseys and watching the World Cup--but that's about all that's changed over the last several decades in this country. Last night's game shows that much.

You can't even go to an Academy tryout without a fucking invitation. Way to preclude finding the hidden gem. You have to be full checkbook invested and your nose up somebody's ass to even get a chance. We have only added more barriers along the path. Crazy shit in this country.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MLS has an article/"highlight" of Yedlin outracing Messi (http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/06/21/watch-lionel-messi-victimized-deandre-yedlins-speed-copa-semi). How embarrassing is that? Messi had a goal and 2 assists and probably could've had a lot more...but we'll take some pride in having a player that beat him in a foot race for a loose ball...And that is another reason why the MLS/US Soccer isn't very good -- too much focus on size/speed, not enough on skill and tactical understanding of the game.

To be fair, there weren't many other highlights in that game.

Also, one of the major factors in that game was Argentina's pressure. (In other words, speed, endurance and aggression.)

POSSESION.

Argentina's possession was the difference.

Americans focus on pure speed and size. Their players looked like high schoolers they way they couldn't keep control of the ball or in their possession.

The pp's analysis is typical of the average American.

And yours is typical of the person who comes in and needs to feel superior to everyone else in soccer, whether it's a constructive contribution to the discussion or not.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Athletes tend to gravitate towards the sport that their physical attributes are better served. Many, MANY of the positions for football have physical attribute requirements that would make for a bad soccer player. In fact, generally only corners, safeties and wide receivers would have the right physical mix of lean size and speed that would translate to soccer. The rest of the positions are just too big and slow. This is an example of the athleticism one of the greatest QBs of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxx_u67eUSA

He clearly missed his calling.

Basketball, please, only some point guards would fit the mold and forget most baseball players.

You're proving the point. All of the kids who would make good soccer players are more likely to play in those positions than play soccer. Soccer is not a sport that people pick for their kids if the kid has even a remote chance of going professional.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Athletes tend to gravitate towards the sport that their physical attributes are better served. Many, MANY of the positions for football have physical attribute requirements that would make for a bad soccer player. In fact, generally only corners, safeties and wide receivers would have the right physical mix of lean size and speed that would translate to soccer. The rest of the positions are just too big and slow. This is an example of the athleticism one of the greatest QBs of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxx_u67eUSA

He clearly missed his calling.

Basketball, please, only some point guards would fit the mold and forget most baseball players.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Height 6? 1?, Weight 176 lbs
*could* run the 40 yard dash between 4.64-4.70 seconds

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Ronaldo and Messi as No. 1 and 2 on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes could encourage American kids to think differently about their sporting career choices.

Their respective incomes of $88 million and $81.4 million for the past year eclipsed No. 3 LeBron James' $77.2 million.

But there's no clear path for them to get to play for Barcelona or AC Milan. They get free college tuition but no real chance to get to that level.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Athletes tend to gravitate towards the sport that their physical attributes are better served. Many, MANY of the positions for football have physical attribute requirements that would make for a bad soccer player. In fact, generally only corners, safeties and wide receivers would have the right physical mix of lean size and speed that would translate to soccer. The rest of the positions are just too big and slow. This is an example of the athleticism one of the greatest QBs of all time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxx_u67eUSA

He clearly missed his calling.

Basketball, please, only some point guards would fit the mold and forget most baseball players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no hope for anything that equates to US and soccer. Other than the women's team which who knows how long that's going to last. As long As the rich kids and politiciAn of parents run youth soccer it's going to be shit for the future

It's not just that. It's that soccer is a distant 3rd or 4th behind other big youth sports (football, basketball, baseball, hockey). As long as our most talented young athletes are siphoned off to those sports, US soccer will be playing with our 5th tier talent.

Please stop with this tired narrative. Exactly what Argentinian did you see last night that would be a NBA Point Guard or NFL Linebacker, or overweight MLB pitcher? I can't even believe that this is brought up after watching Messi last night. The smallest guy on the field kicked our ass and we think it is because our NBA point guards aren't playing soccer.
Soccer requires more skill and training of those skills than most sports do, not just size and speed. If we don't change our "I can teach soccer skills but I can't teach size and speed", football mentality we will never improve.

Can't agree more.

The point is that top athletes have a variety of options open to them- more so than most other countries' athletes- and soccer is towards the bottom of the heap when you look for long term potential, success and possibly going pro. Lots and lots of athletes choose between sports.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_multi-sport_athletes#List_of_athletes

Ronaldo and Messi as No. 1 and 2 on the Forbes list of the world's highest-paid athletes could encourage American kids to think differently about their sporting career choices.

Their respective incomes of $88 million and $81.4 million for the past year eclipsed No. 3 LeBron James' $77.2 million.