Soccer 2017 August-December

[BobbyBlueChip]

other countries make it cheap to play soccer because they have rights to the player and can monetize the development by selling their kids who are the clubs assets to other clubs. That would be unique in the US

I have no doubt that the player pool is as technically proficient and as deep as it?s ever been. We failed this cycle in grit and toughness

We have a competitive league now, the academies are stronger than ever and our youth is playing for clubs in the top divisions of the world. the future is bright but changes need to be made organizationally from US soccer down to the state associations down to be local clubs. coaching clinics need to be cheaper/subsidized and uniform and us soccer can develop more facilities to make access to quality fields realistic for everyone. I don?t think we can ever be in the top 4-5 countries in The world until this is the favored sport here and that may never happen.

 

[BASON]

Yes, it is expensive in the US, but the truth is the overwhelming majority of those players don't have a chance to make it to the top international level. Many of those kids play other sports and participate in other activities and we let them believe they can be great or professionals and let them play year after year, when in reality, they have no chance. It is the American mentality that has to change.

Ajax has the best youth program in the world and has so for many years. Players are brought to try out for the Academy when they are 6 and 7 years old! The program is brutal and weeds out players year after year if they are not cutting it or they realize the talent is simply not there. The parents have to move the kids close to the Academy and they do attend regular school but only for half a day and then get tutored at the Academy. All of this is FREE.

It is a very impressive facility. These kids are subject to intense scrutiny and criticism. The interesting thing is that they are very, very careful about the practice and game time, especially when they are young. They take every precaution not to wear them out physically while preparing them mentally. Practices are at very fast paces and focus on touch of the ball versus scrimmaging like most practices in the US. It is extremely repetitive and detailed oriented. They focus on the player and not on a team. The US is way too focused on youth teams winning versus developing players. They also constantly monitor the coaches and how they perform and ask them to leave if they are not doing their job.

Parents are no where to be seen and have no say in anything. Can you imagine this happening in the US? By the time US players get real development, European players are polishing their development. They are way ahead of the curve. You can not develop an elite player in College.

I could go on and on, but this is the problem in the US. I highly doubt it will ever change.


The only good thing to come out of this is that Fox gets screwed since they now have the rights to the WC!

Also, have to love the irony in South America. Chile is out of the tournament because they turned in Bolivia which previously beat Peru and then had to forfeit the win and give the 3 points back to Peru which got them qualified. Karma can be a bitch!!

Exciting few days, I need some rest!

 

[PittsburghKid]

I couldn?t agree more about how training in USA vs abroad . This is why we do technical stuff daily with our girls, developing faster foot speed and footwork with the ball. Teaching the game and developing players playing the right way.

Everyone is right though it?s not going to change, the US doesn?t seem interested in the change that needs to be done.. final word on this is it?s just a debacle. Arena saying nothing has to change is over ignorant in my opinion




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[PittsburghKid]

After all said and done I back to -6.3* on year slow climb up thanks to Argentina, panama, Dutch.. USA 🤦🏼*♂️🤦🏼*♂️🤦🏼*♂️🤦🏼*♂️[emoji35]




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[PittsburghKid]

Yes, it is expensive in the US, but the truth is the overwhelming majority of those players don't have a chance to make it to the top international level.
!

What about the players with talent that can?t be found because they don?t get exposure because they have limited funds ? What can we do as a nation?

I?m just so frustrated This morning . I love soccer and love everything the game has given me and the joy I get out of it and seeing this train wreck hurts and hurts personally :/


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[BASON]

That is the beauty of academies like Ajax. They have scouts all over the country that go and watch kids play so they can be sure to find the best players no matter where they are. Most are not even full-time employees but part-timers who agree to go and watch players. They are trained on what to look for. It is really not how they play or how many goals they score or how much faster they are, it is how they run, their balance, can they control the ball and understand angles, etc. They do a great job. Of course most players are busts, but they are constantly moving new ones in after taking ones out.

I did this for a US football recruiting service for a while years ago. They used locals to go watch games and then report on players that are worth taking a look at. Was a great tool back then to find players in more rural areas that got little to no national exposure. It was a good experience and very rewarding to be a part of a kid getting a scholarship to college who may not have. They still do this to some extent but the internet has changed it some, but nothing beats seeing people actually play. I don't care how fast your 40 time is without pads, how high you can jump or how fast you get through an agility course, the real work is done on the field with competition under pressure.

 

[PittsburghKid]

Would David Wagner ever be considered or want the USA job? Let?s face it not going to get a big name but David Wagner I feel has done well


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[BASON]

That would be a good start Kid. It may have to be someone like that who has ties to the US, but has learned to coach in Europe. He has a great background in Germany and has done a fantastic job at Huddersfield. Klopp was a big fan of his as he was rumored to go to Liverpool with him. Problem is, it would be tough, in my opinion, to get him to take the job if Huddersfield continues to play well enough to finish in the middle of the pack. He appears to be on track to get a big time job in the future. Maybe if they got to him early enough they would have a chance, but it would be a risk for him. If he fails, he would have lost his place in line with the European squads. I think the job is better suited for someone more established who has had success, has a big ego and wants to prove something. Not sure who that is though right now. I guess Klinnsman fit that bill, but remember, he washed out at Bayern and Germany.

It is going to be very tough to find someone. They first need to get a new President of the Federation in February and hope they can generate some buzz to hopefully make it attractive for a big time coach to come. The issue will be over control. Any big time name will want control and US Soccer will not give it up.

 

[Penguinfan]

Shelling out $1500 a person for a season of cup.

Compared to what I spent the last couple of years, I'll take that deal.

Not complaining, I wouldn't give back one minute of my son's soccer "career". It will be over soon. They have a scrimmage game before playoffs start and for all I know they have just one meaningful game left, and I hate that.

10 years ago if you told me one of the worst days of my life would be when my son quit playing soccer I would have dismissed you as an idiot. Sitting here today it is absolutely true, I'm hating like hell that is gonna be over soon.

 

[PittsburghKid]

Haha yea $1500 is on low end for sure but even $1500 is crazy to a lot of families... we have 1 huge section game left Monday night against QV then senior night Wednesday. Big win tonight 4-0. Can?t wait for wpial (district for this Not in pa) playoffs


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[PittsburghKid]

PensFan we still need to meet up for Drinks some weekend after soccer season is over.

Does anyone else like athletic this weekend at home ? +.5 is -180 but at home if they want to stick around they need to win this.


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[Penguinfan]

PensFan we still need to meet up for Drinks some weekend after soccer season is over.

No doubt. Soccer season seemed condensed this year. Maybe the season was shorter but we had weeks with four games (three on the road with 7:30/8:00 starts :facepalm so I feel like I've constantly been on the run. Rivers is gonna call the police thinking something happened to me.

Anxiously awaiting the playoff bracket at this point.

 

[PittsburghKid]

Yea I am gone basically 7 am - 930/10 at night daily with work then practice or games.


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[Penguinfan]

Yea I am gone basically 7 am - 930/10 at night daily with work then practice or games.


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I see who you coach for. The top team in your section is going to be a problem, the are pretty good.

Good luck, I'll be rooting for you.

I'm really looking forward to the WPIAL boys bracket coming out. I can never figure out how they do the seeding, it almost seems random sometimes.

 

[PittsburghKid]

Soccer 2017 August-December

They have their whole team back from last year , we lost in a shootout last year in playoffs after 0-0 draw . This year we were up 1-0 at half at home on them and lost 2-1 with 8 left. Second game we were punked and got taken bad. Going to look forward to brackets and matchups playoffs. I think we get the 5/6 seed if we win Monday which I expect us to win.


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[BASON]

Good Luck Kid!

Friday

Stuttgart Even - I will continue to play against Koln until they do anything. Just like CP in the Premier League. We also have the added benefit of a very good home team versus a very bad road team. Koln has only 2 goals all season and 0 on the road! Even money looks like a steal based on results from the first part of the season. I am sure Koln will come to life at some point, but lets hope it is not tomorrow.

 

[BASON]

Bundesliga 2

St. Pauli -110. Play against Kaiserslautern on the road. Nice price.

 

[DZ]

Good Luck Kid!

Friday

Stuttgart Even - I will continue to play against Koln until they do anything. Just like CP in the Premier League. We also have the added benefit of a very good home team versus a very bad road team. Koln has only 2 goals all season and 0 on the road! Even money looks like a steal based on results from the first part of the season. I am sure Koln will come to life at some point, but lets hope it is not tomorrow.

Good call, Bason! Exciting finish :00hour

 

[BASON]

The end of that game was completely ridiculous. VR has not been going very well in Germany. They are still talking about that game over there.

Not messing around today. Dortmund is more or less unbeatable at home. I think Leipzig is struggling with the schedule since this is their first time playing Champions League so they have not been in top form for League games especially on the road. Dortmund also has a must win CL game coming Tuesday, but I think they will be focused at home to maintain top of the table. I am playing Dortmund -170.

 

[johnnyb]

I'm with u on Dortmund. As always, Thx for posting, bason.