He’s Dutch. For them, that’s playing coy.LVG without regard for humanity!
If the opposing coach is this bold to call out GGG, guys gotta go more than ever
He’s Dutch. For them, that’s playing coy.LVG without regard for humanity!
If the opposing coach is this bold to call out GGG, guys gotta go more than ever
We’re top 15 in the world, though.Guys, we're just not good at soccer/football, and that's okay.
I don't see any creativity in our mechanics. We're boring. We're a boring team. And have been for the last 20 years except for occasional splashes from the Landon/Clint generation.
Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
Well, fair. So we're a sweet sixteen team, on our best day?We’re top 15 in the world, though.
Nope, nothing in soccer ever changes. It's why only Scotland, and to a lesser extent England, are any good at it.We’re top 15 in the world, though.
I disagree with the original post, but I also don't think we're top 15 in the world. If we played in UEFA I think we would have struggled to qualifyWe’re top 15 in the world, though.
Elo ratings has us swimming in the 21-25 range which seems fair to me.I disagree with the original post, but I also don't think we're top 15 in the world. If we played in UEFA I think we would have struggled to qualify
Our pay for play youth system sucks. But the mls academies are growing.Guys, we're just not good at soccer/football, and that's okay.
I don't see any creativity in our mechanics. We're boring. We're a boring team. And have been for the last 20 years except for occasional splashes from the Landon/Clint generation.
Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
I dunno, it might just be that the U.S. staff decided to live with the devil they knew (NED attacking the flanks) because they were trailing and thought it was still their best chance at an equalizer.Hello 911 I would like to report a murder
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/GalindoPW/status/1599100557444030464
Look no further than this. I’m staggered at how much my son’s U8 team costs. It’s bordering on obscene. This is supposed to be premiere, and in terms of coaching and 50% of the players it very much is. The second half (including my son) wouldn’t have made the team on merit. Does anybody doubt those slots could have been taken by players potentially even more talented than what was already there, but for the price tag?Our pay for play youth system sucks.
I just don’t get people who watch this team with our current crop of players and think that this group is boring.Guys, we're just not good at soccer/football, and that's okay.
I don't see any creativity in our mechanics. We're boring. We're a boring team. And have been for the last 20 years except for occasional splashes from the Landon/Clint generation.
Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
Seriously, if your blood pressure wasn’t unhealthy four times in the last couple of weeks (specifically during the second half of all of their matches), it never will be watching this sport.I just don’t get people who watch this team with our current crop of players and think that this group is boring.
What do other countries do to develop kiddie talent? Like, how does Ajax fill out their 10yo team/academy class or whatever. Are they scouring local kiddie leagues? Street pickup games? Etc.Look no further than this. I’m staggered at how much my son’s U8 team costs. It’s bordering on obscene. This is supposed to be premiere, and in terms of coaching and 50% of the players it very much is. The second half (including my son) wouldn’t have made the team on merit. Does anybody doubt those slots could have been taken by players potentially even more talented than what was already there, but for the price tag?
Until that’s fixed, I struggle to see the US developing the elite talent needed to win a WC.
Maybe, but honest questionI dunno, it might just be that the U.S. staff decided to live with the devil they knew (NED attacking the flanks) because they were trailing and thought it was still their best chance at an equalizer.
Sometimes the way you force another team out of their strategy isn't by adjusting, it's by playing right through it so that it doesn't work.
Especially when previous “exciting” teams could barely string three passes together.Seriously, if your blood pressure wasn’t unhealthy four times in the last couple of weeks (specifically during the second half of all of their matches), it never will be watching this sport.
It’s not just the tension and drama of the games. These kids can ball. This group strings passes together well. They can control the ball in tight spaces and maneuver out of traffic better than any USMNT I’ve seen. They have dynamic attackers, even if not as many goals flowed in this tournament as we wanted. We could easily have scored more if the gods of finishing smiled on us.Seriously, if your blood pressure wasn’t unhealthy four times in the last couple of weeks (specifically during the second half of all of their matches), it never will be watching this sport.
The general shape of the system that the Belgians, Dutch, & Germans use had the FA pay clubs to run organized leagues, programs, and tournaments for all youth in their local catchment with licensed coaches. At age 10, players can be recruited in to team-run & FA-supported academies - all are fully accredited secondary schools, some residential & some day schools. At age 16 players can sign professional contracts, either with the team whose academy they came through or another club, which would owe the academy club a solidarity fee for training the player.What do other countries do to develop kiddie talent? Like, how does Ajax fill out their 10yo team/academy class or whatever. Are they scouring local kiddie leagues? Street pickup games? Etc.
Not at all. Pulisic is still young, he can improve. But he needs to be at a club in the Big 5 leagues that plays him every week and club with a good player development program would be a real plus, too.Is it too soon to talk about Pulisic's underwhelming performance for this tournament? Terrible service on his corners (how many times did the first defender simply head the ball away), missed opportunities (he should absolutely have scored on that first chance, which would have changed the whole trajectory of the game), and he never took control during any of the games. His pass to Weah in the Wales game was well played and I give him credit for crashing the net vs. Iran. But, I expected more from him.
It's probably improved, but also worth noting among our best players:I don’t think it’s necessary to have a crisis of confidence in our player development. The visible results of American development have shown plainly apparent improvement in the last half decade. It’s worth remembering that the lag time in player development improvement is long. These guys were shaped in large part by practices already in place in the late 00s and early 10s. Change takes time.
MLS academies are cranking out talent at a vastly greater rate than before. The world market is taking notice and is paying up for it. We have engaged the positive feedback loop as laggard MLS clubs see the on field and financial benefits of developing talent. Not every MLS club will be that good at this, but we also don’t need them to be.
The next four years should see continued improvements to the player pool. There’s every indication that things are heading in the right direction.
For sure, we can definitely tell that e.g. FC Dallas and NYRB have excellent academies and it shows in their transfer business and year-to-year results, I'm just wondering what can be done to develop talent below academy age since pay-to-play cuts out a lot of kids who don't have cash/don't live in cities/etc.I don’t think it’s necessary to have a crisis of confidence in our player development. The visible results of American development have shown plainly apparent improvement in the last half decade. It’s worth remembering that the lag time in player development improvement is long. These guys were shaped in large part by practices already in place in the late 00s and early 10s. Change takes time.
MLS academies are cranking out talent at a vastly greater rate than before. The world market is taking notice and is paying up for it. We have engaged the positive feedback loop as laggard MLS clubs see the on field and financial benefits of developing talent. Not every MLS club will be that good at this, but we also don’t need them to be.
The next four years should see continued improvements to the player pool. There’s every indication that things are heading in the right direction.
Pulisic, on the world stage, is an above average winger. He has shown a few flashes of form where he can get really hot, but for the most part, he’s a nice player. For the US, that’s an excellent player, because we typically don’t have above average players playing in the Premier League.Is it too soon to talk about Pulisic's underwhelming performance for this tournament? Terrible service on his corners (how many times did the first defender simply head the ball away), missed opportunities (he should absolutely have scored on that first chance, which would have changed the whole trajectory of the game), and he never took control during any of the games. His pass to Weah in the Wales game was well played and I give him credit for crashing the net vs. Iran. But, I expected more from him.
The stuff that matters most to generate high upsides is development that happens early. It’s very stingy to not give the US full credit for McKennie, Reyna, and Pulisic — they benefited from their moves overseas but the reason why they were in demand was because of development that happened in the US. Obviously all players with high upsides will need to move on to the biggest leagues to fulfill their potential, but that’s different from cultivating the upside in the first place. But we need to be generating the raw materials, and we're doing a much better job than we have been.It's probably improved, but also worth noting among our best players:
Dest- all Dutch development.
Robinson: English development
Musah: English development
Adams: Domestic development (at Red Bull, one of the few MLS side that runs a Euro-style development in house starting pre-puberty)
McKennie: 5 years in Germany, then 6 at an MLS academy, then back to Germany
Reyna: 4 years at NYCFC (note he's a pro's son so probably had some training before that) then Germany.
Pulisic: Domestic (lesser level pro-father) until 15 then Germany.
Weah: Domestic (mostly teams run by his all-time great pro father or his uncle) until 13 then PSG.
Most of our best players spent all or part of their development years in countries with much better development systems. Adams and Pulisic the true domestics (and even Pulisic left at 15 and got a lot of growth in Germany), the Reyna is a half and half, but also had a pro dad.
Also not sure if it's good or bad that all the domestics except Pulisic were ones who were in MLS acadamies by age 13... is that because we're identifying the best and getting them to acadamies, or the more likely.... if you don't get identified early, the other routes are far inferior.
Yeah I think most of the credit for those 3 is in the US. I'd give almost full credit for Pulisic, McKennie is the interesting one, because he's the reverse of the rest, he did his first 5-6 years in Germany. The question there is, do we think the foundation built before age 12 is more or less than the polish put on from 16-18. I'd guess that the most important stretch is probably like 10-16? But some are late bloomers, and some also stall out (hey Freddy Adu). So it's tough to grade. I think overall though, the MLS academies are pretty good, but the rest of the youth system is mostly garbage and we're missing tons of kids, where in other nations far more kids are on the radar of the clubs and far more clubs have good academies (despite way fewer people).The stuff that matters most to generate high upsides is development that happens early. It’s very stingy to not give the US full credit for McKennie, Reyna, and Pulisic — they benefited from their moves overseas but the reason why they were in demand was because of development that happened in the US. Obviously all players with high upsides will need to move on to the biggest leagues to fulfill their potential, but that’s different from cultivating the upside in the first place. But we need to be generating the raw materials, and we're doing a much better job than we have been.
Things are also changing fast. MLS has been a solid enough pathway that guys even a few years younger than some of the players on this list are using MLS as a launching pad for their pro careers at this point. And for the most part, they are getting chances, improving, and drawing Euro interest.
Pulisic just turned 24, so I don't think we can be sure what his ultimate ceiling will be. But, looking back at those highlights at Borussia Dortmund, I thought this World Cup would be his coming out party. Didn't happen. As someone else stated, he needs to find the best club that will let him play because his touch and his confidence both underwhelmed over the last 2 weeks. He needs to play.Pulisic, on the world stage, is an above average winger. He has shown a few flashes of form where he can get really hot, but for the most part, he’s a nice player. For the US, that’s an excellent player, because we typically don’t have above average players playing in the Premier League.
I don’t think he’ll ever be a dominant, take the game over type of player at the Prem or WC level.
FWIW Everton Twitter & boards were impressed with USA generally and interested in McK, Weah, and Musah of players they didn’t know. Lots of “gee wish he didn’t get away” for Jedi, and then “oh yeah I remember why we didn’t think he would be the heir to Baines” when he went downblind alleys or lost the ball.The stuff that matters most to generate high upsides is development that happens early. It’s very stingy to not give the US full credit for McKennie, Reyna, and Pulisic — they benefited from their moves overseas but the reason why they were in demand was because of development that happened in the US. Obviously all players with high upsides will need to move on to the biggest leagues to fulfill their potential, but that’s different from cultivating the upside in the first place. But we need to be generating the raw materials, and we're doing a much better job than we have been.
Things are also changing fast. MLS has been a solid enough pathway that guys even a few years younger than some of the players on this list are using MLS as a launching pad for their pro careers at this point. And for the most part, they are getting chances, improving, and drawing Euro interest.
As with every one of the small army of Chelsea younger players and their diaspora of loanees, it’s been rumored that Lampard was close to him and could woo him to Everton. Of course who knows how long Lampard has.Pulisic just turned 24, so I don't think we can be sure what his ultimate ceiling will be. But, looking back at those highlights at Borussia Dortmund, I thought this World Cup would be his coming out party. Didn't happen. As someone else stated, he needs to find the best club that will let him play because his touch and his confidence both underwhelmed over the last 2 weeks. He needs to play.
Turns out that this was taken out of context and was basically a compliment.Hello 911 I would like to report a murder
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/GalindoPW/status/1599100557444030464
I don't know if that's a compliment, more, I think it's more him saying... teams that get this far usually have faith in their system, for example the US didn't adjust. I don't think it was meant as a shot at Gregg either, just "that's how it is, we saw their system and attacked it" I think people who follow the USMNT were taking it as an attack, mostly because it plays into one of the most consistent criticisms of Gregg.Turns out that this was taken out of context and was basically a compliment.
View: https://twitter.com/AnAbnos/status/1599174693226827776
Honduras away. But you could argue that was to clean up his own mess.Maybe, but honest question
What is the last match you remember Berhalter making significant adjustments in?
15 months and 22 matches ago says something.Honduras away. But you could argue that was to clean up his own mess.
I guess that’s the point. His in game adjustments have been very poor. The one examples where the USMNT obviously improved was the result of an awful first 45.15 months and 22 matches ago says something.
Hello 911 I would like to report a murder
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/GalindoPW/status/1599100557444030464
LVG without regard for humanity!
If the opposing coach is this bold to call out GGG, guys gotta go more than ever
Just wanted to point our that @67YAZ ’s pithy comment (which made me laugh out loud) is actually on point here. Dutch is one of the most emotionally direct cultures in the world, and that’s an academic assessment. So much so that the woman who “rewrote the book” on culture and emotion did so and was able to do so because she herself is, in fact, Dutch, and as a foremost expert on the study of culture and emotion previously, she realized the whole thing was wrong. Like, she married an American and moved to America and was like, Um… wtf?He’s Dutch. For them, that’s playing coy.
I dunno if it’s beach soccer so much as…Guys, we're just not good at soccer/football, and that's okay.
I don't see any creativity in our mechanics. We're boring. We're a boring team. And have been for the last 20 years except for occasional splashes from the Landon/Clint generation.
Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
I'd give the Dutch credit on the first one, Memphis just out-ran Adams and received a gorgeous pass. Really hard to defend that one.Alright I got some space and slept on it and now have gone from that was an acceptable result and we should be proud of the team to ... angry.
All three of their goals could have been prevented with basic defending. It feels so much worse to not be outclassed while losing in the knockout round.
I guess I need to lean into the positive takeaway that we played them even if not for the basic defensive lapses.
Futebol de SalāoGuys, we're just not good at soccer/football, and that's okay.
I don't see any creativity in our mechanics. We're boring. We're a boring team. And have been for the last 20 years except for occasional splashes from the Landon/Clint generation.
Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
Someone (Doyle I think) suggested that goal might have been on Musah for not recognizing that he needed to cover the middle soon enough. On replay, it makes some sense, as one of the defenders, Zimmerman most likely, also was covering the same man.I'd give the Dutch credit on the first one, Memphis just out-ran Adams and received a gorgeous pass. Really hard to defend that one.
One of the more eye opening things you see if you visit any busy beach in Brazil, is the sight of literally miles of circles of kids juggling soccer balls to one another, trying to keep it off the sand. It reminded me of when I was a kid, you used to see groups of kids playing hacky sack at school recess. But I've never seen a group of kids juggling soccer balls a beach in the US. In Brazil it's everywhere, it's just built into their cultural DNA in way I'm not sure it will ever be in the US.Dudes are playing beach soccer at, like, age 2 in Brazil. Our kids aren't. That's just how it is.
For a number of years I ran a student and faculty exchange program with the Netherlands. I first understood Dutch bluntness when I checked in with a student after 2 weeks in Boston and she told me in a perplexed tone, “every time I meet someone they say, ‘nice to meet you.’ But that’s not true.”Just wanted to point our that @67YAZ ’s pithy comment (which made me laugh out loud) is actually on point here. Dutch is one of the most emotionally direct cultures in the world, and that’s an academic assessment. So much so that the woman who “rewrote the book” on culture and emotion did so and was able to do so because she herself is, in fact, Dutch, and as a foremost expert on the study of culture and emotion previously, she realized the whole thing was wrong. Like, she married an American and moved to America and was like, Um… wtf?
Anyway, in Dutch, things like unnecessary praise can even cause suspicion. Heck, the idea of thanking someone your close to for a kindness is off-putting; We love each other why the heck would you want to be thanked
for getting me a cup of coffee?
So anyway, yeah, @67YAZ is correct: LVG almost certainly wasn’t trying to rough GGG up or anything. But by the same token, we can take what he said as the brutally honest truth without chalking it up to him being a jerk, as @McBride11 suggests.
FWIW: Hidden Brain has a fantastic podcast (transcript available) on this, for anyone who is into such things:
https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/decoding-emotions/
Really been enjoying these threads by the way! Learning lots.
The Scuffed guys brought it up too. I think Greg. I think all three just looked like mental fatigue to me. All were preventable and guys looked like they shut off for a moment.Someone (Doyle I think) suggested that goal might have been on Musah for not recognizing that he needed to cover the middle soon enough. On replay, it makes some sense, as one of the defenders, Zimmerman most likely, also was covering the same man.
That’s hilarious!For a number of years I ran a student and faculty exchange program with the Netherlands. I first understood Dutch bluntness when I checked in with a student after 2 weeks in Boston and she told me in a perplexed tone, “every time I meet someone they say, ‘nice to meet you.’ But that’s not true.”
I’ve grown to love Dutch directness. You never leave a conversation wondering what they really think or want. Makes for great colleagues.
Of course, I spent all last week talking trash to my Dutch friends and now am getting a steady barrage of shit in return. Ah, the World Cup!
You made me look.Taking a look at the 1990 USMNT roster, the first time the qualified for the WC in like 30 years, it's amazing to see where they plied their trade in club soccer.
this is fucking crazy.You made me look.
1990
TEAMS:
Albany Capitals (3)
SF Bay Blackhawks (2)
Washington Stars (2)
Baltimore Blast (1) THIS IS AN INDOOR SOCCER TEAM
Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (1)
LA Heat (1)
Milwaukee Wave (1) THIS IS AN INDOOR SOCCER TEAM
Portland Timbers (1)
Real Santa Barbara (1)
San Diego Nomads (1)
Tampa Bay Rowdies (1)
UVA (1)
Wake Forest (1)
UCLA (1)
Gyori (1)
Volendam (1)
Figureres (1)
SV Meppen (1)
BY LEAGUE:
APSL-13
Europe-4
NCAA-3
MISL-2