***OFFICIAL USMNT SOCCER THREAD***

[Dante84]

These dudes have just been smashing countries lately, and they are really, really fun to watch. Even for soccer.

Follow the games in this thread, post goals, etc...

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by sedated

This is the stupidest take in the world of soccer, and yet people still repeat it every year.

It was not the best example. For some reason it was the first name I came up with only because I was imaging a physical freak of nature playing the game. But elite guards, DB's, Smallish receivers and RBs... Some of the best footwork and agility in the world.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

What's unique about soccer is that unlike basketball, the developmental leagues all favor the suburbs. To play in the best leagues where you'll grow and get noticed, you have to pay to play. Basketball it's easy to get noticed just by being good at it. Which is where sending them to Europe would help. If we can't afford to give all our best talent the best coaching, then let Europe pay for them. Let them play in Europe, just make sure they represent the US in the world cup.

Only in the U.S. is that true, but in the U.S. it's very true.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I disagree slightly, in terms of pure athletic 'advantage' counting as much in soccer as it does in other sports.

The fascination of soccer, and ironically what makes it so boring to the lay viewer, is the way the rules and makeup of the game neturalizes so many singular athletic traits. Many of the best soccer players ever in history have been of slight build and medium to slightly below average height.

Offsides neutralizes a lot of the advantages of speed.
The difficulty of operating without your hands neutralizes a lot of size and span differences, as the longer your limbs the less intricate your maneuverability.

It's a unique mixture of the skill of things like golf and darts and bowling, with the athleticism/stamina of rugby and football, with the teamwork/strategy of basketball and hockey.

Lebron might be a potent defender, perhaps a great goalie, but it would be tough to picture him having the fine motor control in space like a Messi or Pele to be a scoring threat that rises above the rest.

Since I was i kid in Rome I've hated Soccer's off sides rule. Tradition or not, it's a detriment to the sport. But that's just my opinion.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

To me, development is such a huge piece. If I have a dirk nowitski and want him to be an elite player on the German Olympic team, I'm sending him to the nba... Not to some German B-league.

Yes, but you're thinking too old. The passion and the vision have to start from toddler age. The players require immersion into the soccer culture.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by loochy

Yes, but you're thinking too old. The passion and the vision have to start from toddler age. The players require immersion into the soccer culture.

One of the reasons my kid might never play D1 or D2 college, or have any real chance at playing any level of professional hockey, there are just too many other things he does that end up taking away from ice time. I know that some parents on my team (not that I'm coaching after this year since my son moved up to high school!!!) want their kids on the ice 7 days a week, and while that's fine for them, I'm not a fan of it for my own kid.

That being said, what you're suggesting is kind of important if we want to compete on the world stage.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

One of the reasons my kid might never play D1 or D2 college, or have any real chance at playing any level of professional hockey, there are just too many other things he does that end up taking away from ice time. I know that some parents on my team (not that I'm coaching after this year since my son moved up to high school!!!) want their kids on the ice 7 days a week, and while that's fine for them, I'm not a fan of it for my own kid.

That being said, what you're suggesting is kind of important if we want to compete on the world stage.

By that I don't even mean forcing the kids onto a team. I mean go play everyday for fun with friends, dribble a ball around the house, watch soccer on TV religiously like we watch football. Get it in your blood.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by loochy

By that I don't even mean forcing the kids onto a team. I mean go play everyday for fun with friends, dribble a ball around the house, watch soccer on TV religiously like we watch football. Get it in your blood.

It's in some people's blood..

[loochy]

I'd love to see someone try that where I work. All of the old, stodgy, super nerdy, antisocial geniuses would shut that down REAL fast.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by loochy

I'd love to see someone try that where I work. All of the old, stodgy, super nerdy, antisocial geniuses would shut that down REAL fast.

^^^ LOL, the reason we can't compete on the world stage, amirite? ^^^

All things being equal, the kids in my building would get yelled at when it was raining and we moved the game inside. Marble floors make for a lot of noise when the bambinos are trying to siesta...

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by loochy

By that I don't even mean forcing the kids onto a team. I mean go play everyday for fun with friends, dribble a ball around the house, watch soccer on TV religiously like we watch football. Get it in your blood.

Inner city kids don't view it as cool because they don't see community members and mentors playing it. Tons of areas completely ignored because they're not dense enough. And there may be hispanic outreach but the developmental leagues aren't where they are. At some point US soccer has to realize the gaps in the development system and either expand it or find ways to bring those outside of the system into it. Instead they have this totally broken approach where they first prioritize development league, then they prioritize those who stay in the MLS pipeline.

[limested]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Since I was i kid in Rome I've hated Soccer's off sides rule. Tradition or not, it's a detriment to the sport. But that's just my opinion.

Offiside (not offsides) is not a detriment to the sport. Without it the game would not be as open.

[loochy]

Originally Posted by limested

Offiside (not offsides) is not a detriment to the sport. Without it the game would not be as open.

I don't think they realize how lame cherry picking campers are.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by limested

Offiside (not offsides) is not a detriment to the sport. Without it the game would not be as open.

Actually if they didn't have the offside" (not offsides) rule as-is, "the field" would be more spread out.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by loochy

I don't think they realize how lame cherry picking campers are.

Well I coach hockey, so I'm pretty familiar with the concept. It certainly adds a different dimension to the sport, but not one that I'm a fan of.

But hey, to each their own.

[limested]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Actually if they didn't have the offside" (not offsides) rule as-is, "the field" would be more spread out.

This isn’t true. If no offside then the defense will pack their own penalty area and scoring will go down.