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View Full Version : Don't Sweat The Technique

cpwilson80
13 Oct 2005, 11:37 AM
After a choppy start to the game (which was expected with the amount of new players and an unfamiliar formation), one thing stood out that made me very happy for the future of the national team: the amount of times players would do the simple things correctly.

Whether it was Mapp quickly changing direction with the ball, Dempsey nailing a 50 yard switch that hits Quaranta on the foot, Quaranta receiving passes beautifully, Marshall positioning himself to make a potential 50/50 ball a 70/30, or Spector toe-poking a ball away from a defender, more young players have the fundamentals down than the wave of players before them.

These guys aren't finished products (particularly strength on the ball and making runs off the ball), and there's the off-chance that none of these guys help us out in 2006. However, we saw a quick glimpse of the future last night, and I think it looks pretty good.
ursula
13 Oct 2005, 11:42 AM
These guys aren't finished products (particularly strength on the ball and making runs off the ball), and there's the off-chance that none of these guys help us out in 2006. However, we saw a quick glimpse of the future last night, and I think it looks pretty good.


Agreed. If we weren't so fixated on 2006 we'd notice (and I'm sure most here did) that come 2010 we'll have quite a plethora of players.
cpwilson80
13 Oct 2005, 01:18 PM
Agreed. If we weren't so fixated on 2006 we'd notice (and I'm sure most here did) that come 2010 we'll have quite a plethora of players.

True, and I'm sure Arena's tempted to stick around for the next generation of players :)

I also think that even though these guys are on the 2010 timeframe, Arena isn't shutting the door on any of them for 2006 yet.

From USsoccer.com (http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=252211), Arena on the team:

I just think it is a real positive because we have two objectives next year. One is clearly to make our team better and prepare for the World Cup. Secondly it is to continue to move our domestic players along. We’ve had an early start on that because of the fact we qualified so early. I had the opportunity to see a number of players and I think that is important. Hopefully some of these players emerge and compete to get on our 23-man roster next year

The winter camps and friendlies will be even more interesting this time around.