Project 2010 a total failure?

[truthandlife]

In 1998, US Soccer released "Project 2010", outlining the US's aspirations for the next 12 years. The main goal of the project was for the USA to reach the Soccer World Cup final in 2010. Carlos Queiroz and Dan Gaspar put "Project 2010" into motion prior to the Soccer World Cup 1998. The project was financially backed by Nike and IMG, and it was geared toward developing young talent - it led to the establishment of the under-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida.

Where we stand today and what we saw on the field in Costa Rica, can we say that this was a colossal waste of money? Is the USSDA any better to develop players? You see how FC Barcelona is developing players in their Academy and it is totally different than what we are doing.

I know we are not a "soccer nation" but we have 300 million people where we can carve out enough people playing soccer where we should have a pretty good team. The team that showed up and was on the field in Costa Rica was embarrassing for US Soccer. I hope a lot of people are asking a lot of questions right now.

[Dage]

It's not all about money. You need the culture of the sport. That means good and committed coaches spread over the whole country, u need successful paragons of international format and, elemental, the reputation and attention of the sport in all age groups. This needs time, patience and meticulousness.

But the money isn't waste in my eyes. In contrast, the USA need to throw even more money over the next centuries in it to come closer to the powerhorses. It's not the situation that the big soccer nations take their success for granted. So if you wanna come close u have to invest obvious more money than them.

[truthandlife]

Torres looked like the only one who could actually play. He was a liability on defense but everyone else was either invisible or a liability. No one had the ability, technical or otherwise, to settle the team down and impose his own will on the game.

And which players do have those qualities? Yes, Beasley was a nightmare at left back, but would Frankie Hejduk or Jonathan Spector have made that much of a difference? Freddy Adu and Charlie Davies showed some spirit during their brief appearances, but are they any better than Jozy Altidore or Clint Dempsey? This country simply has not produced the players who can handle situations like they were in at Costa Rica with any composure or dexterity.

You really can't fault Bradley for the players performance even though some of his decisions were questionable.

[truthandlife]

This was written a few years ago (2006) but seems like almost "deja vu" or history repeating itself.

www.nationalsocceracademy.org/articles/DeBoer.doc

[Adam Zebrowski]

i have a bridge to sell to you..

this was wasted money...who seriously believed any of that nonsense...

usa is better, but it isn't where 2010 wanted things to be....

it's a long journey taking generations...

give mls 10-15 more years to mature lots of players, and then have many americans starting at champions level sides...

that's what needs to happen..

agree, this is cultural too...grass level stuff, is NO where near accomplished yet...

but it's slowly coming

[Pandy Flapjack]

Next to the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act of 1956, Project 2010 is the greatest plan in US History.

[An Unpaved Road]

Agreed that the project was all but a daydream given the sport's culture in this country. There are signs of that front getting better, but overall I'd say that soccer is still more of an exercise regiment for children in this country than it is a serious, professional sport. Surely the folks behind P10 had to realize that it's going to take more than a decade of MLS to start poking around at the Next Level.

Nonetheless, I'm starting my own Project 2020. Hopefully I'll be living on the moon in a golden castle that's full of pizza and hot babes when that time comes around.

[El Naranja]

Depends on what you consider a "total failure".

Will we win the 10 WC? I doubt it.

Are the players better today, especially the youth, than back in 98? Leaps and bounds better.

Saprissa is a tough place for anyone to play. We lucked out with the injuries, which probably could have led to a better result.

Don't draw conclusions about the past 12 years of development based on one game.

2010 was a success.

[Asprilla9]

It's not all about money. You need the culture of the sport. That means good and committed coaches spread over the whole country, u need successful paragons of international format and, elemental, the reputation and attention of the sport in all age groups. This needs time, patience and meticulousness.

But the money isn't waste in my eyes. In contrast, the USA need to throw even more money over the next centuries in it to come closer to the powerhorses. It's not the situation that the big soccer nations take their success for granted. So if you wanna come close u have to invest obvious more money than them.
the USSF (or any federation) doesn't have the money or time to throw at this, to even make a real dent. it wouldn't/doesn't go to waste, but it can't do it alone.


the problem is, in most every other footballing country, all of this "Project 2010" equivalent stuff is paid for/carried out by the clubs. unfortunately for us, our clubs are still small-time and they run on shoe-string budgets. not to mention MLS actually had a policy for a number of years whereby you couldn't even sign some of the players you developed. and not to mention MLS has a draft (in philosophy, inherently anti-Project 2010).


to do a real Project 2010 you would need stronger clubs with full reserves and youth academies, a stronger 2nd division with a bigger roster, abolishment of college soccer, stronger youth clubs with better coaching, better neighborhood pick-up games with more diverse players and an overall society/culture that is more supporting of soccer. AND you'd need the 'carrot' out there that you can earn millions of dollars and a life of fame by dedicating your youth to soccer development (instead of the $18k/a year and adverse poverty you can dream of now as a young MLS player).


other than all that, I'd say we're right on our way to accomplishing Project 2010.

[Clint Eastwood]

Depends on what you consider a "total failure".

Will we win the 10 WC? I doubt it.

Are the players better today, especially the youth, than back in 98? Leaps and bounds better.

Saprissa is a tough place for anyone to play. We lucked out with the injuries, which probably could have led to a better result.

Don't draw conclusions about the past 12 years of development based on one game.

2010 was a success.

This is right.

The US never, ever, ever, ever was going to win the WC in 2010.

But the difference between US soccer in 1998 and 2008 is striking.

We're moving in the right direction.

People just.............FREAK OUT.............when we have a loss.

[narko]

Unrealistic expectations

[DMTerp02]

The goal of getting to a WC Final in 12 years is a lofty one for basically any nation. I mean, when was the last time England made a final? Or lots of other better soccer nations than us? Getting to a final is hard!

That said, we've come a long way since 1998, regardless of the recent result. Every generation of talent seems to improve.

[wcssstar33]

12 years was way too soon. I can see it as a project 2022 when we host the WC here. We don't know if the DA can produce players or not, its only been two years people.

[truthandlife]

That said, we've come a long way since 1998, regardless of the recent result. Every generation of talent seems to improve.

We have come a long way but every other country has come a long way also. It is not like every other country has regressed or stood still in their development. The game is evolving in a lot of ways. Is the U.S. always going to be in a catch up mode?

[Nutmeg]

I think we overestimate our progress.

Bradenton + MLS = a big step up. Since then, we've flat lined.

Until US Soccer economics reward MLS Teams for identifying, developing, and selling talent, we'll be about as efficient at developing our young talent as we are now.

[Owen Gohl]

The goal of getting to a WC Final in 12 years is a lofty one for basically any nation.

Only five nations have been in the last seven finals (semi-finalists in pren., hosts in bold):

1982: Italy - Germany (France, Poland)
1986: Argentina - Germay (France, Belgium)
1990: Germany - Argentina (Italy, England)
1994: Brazil - Italy (Sweden, Bulgaria)
1998: France - Brazil (Netherlands, Croatia)
2002: Brazil - Germany (Turkey, South Korea)
2006: Italy - France (Germany, Portugal)

The odds are that at least one of the Big Five will be in the 2010 final. Brazil very likely will be in the 2014 final. Notice that none of the 10 other nations that reached the semi-finals have been back.

The USA's best chance will be the next time they host the cup.

[keller#1]

the different mindsets and goals of mls and US Soccer is going to only end badly. US Soccer would be smart to befriend USL

[USA2010?]

What's most interesting about many in the US fan base is this...

1990 - We squeak into the WC and then get wacked.

1994 - As host, we are seeded - a huge advantage. Then we squeak out of the group, but 16 out of 24 did. We then lose to Brazil 1-0, in a game we were dominated. It was just a matter of time. That was a good showing. If I remember correctly, we had few if any real opportunities to score.

1998 - wacked again. At this point we put together a plan to get to a WC final in 12 years. That's the definition of irrational exuberence/arrogance.

2002 - We get really, really lucky to get out of the group and then get a great draw - a team we have beaten before. We look decent against Germany.

2006 - wacked again.

So with this history, of course US fans think the US should be seeded and not only get out of the group, but get to the quarters or semis???? HUH?

Every four years there are a lot what were thought to be good teams that don't get out of the group.

Just because we are strong in CONCACAF does not mean we're a world powerhouse.

Now, we are much, much better team than we used to be. We now assume that we will qualify. Is this due to Project 2010? Probably not, but not every project is going to be an unqualified success. Some just won't work out. If we only picked projects we knew we had a 100% chance of success, we'd never take any steps forward.

We've got more players in Europe, but these are mostly supporting players. Heck, the only field guys that get consistent starts are Gooch (Belgium though) Dempsey, Dolo and Bradley. The last time we had someone who was the motor of any type of offense was Reyna. Bradley good, but I don't think he's that guy. Sadly, that guy go no time in France this year.

But that's today. Let's look at 2014. I think there is a very good chance players like Altidore, Adu, Edu, Bradley, Dempsey, LD, Spector, and a U20 will get consistent starts for mid-table teams in a top 5 league.

We are so thin in so many areas that the timing of our players is a significant factor. 2010 is a little early for much of our best talent.

I suspect we'll qualify. With an average draw we won't get out of the group. We'll need a good draw.

However, in Brazil I think we'll get to the round of 16, at a minimum. 2014 is not so far away....

[Hamburgler03]

We need Project 2010 - The Coach's Edition.

[Cannons]

Torres looked like the only one who could actually play. He was a liability on defense but everyone else was either invisible or a liability. No one had the ability, technical or otherwise, to settle the team down and impose his own will on the game.

And which players do have those qualities? Yes, Beasley was a nightmare at left back, but would Frankie Hejduk or Jonathan Spector have made that much of a difference? Freddy Adu and Charlie Davies showed some spirit during their brief appearances, but are they any better than Jozy Altidore or Clint Dempsey? This country simply has not produced the players who can handle situations like they were in at Costa Rica with any composure or dexterity.

You really can't fault Bradley for the players performance even though some of his decisions were questionable.
You absolutely can blame Bradley. It was his job to produce a team that could compete and these are his hand picked people. As much as I want him gone, I'd respect him more if he admitted we cannot compete at this level, dumped every field player that will not be in the program in 5 years and started developing a new team using all players in their early 20's or younger. This is basically what Anson Dorrance did and it was a major gamble. We all know how it worked out.

At this point I'd say we need to start project 2014 because we've just thrown away four years