US Scouting and Video Analysis

[SlyFox11]

Does anyone here know how extensive the USSF/USMNT scouting and video program of our World Cup opponents is?

The reason I ask is that in some countries, it seems some coaches don't claim to watch that much footage on the USA, and the scouting seems pretty casual.

In most other sports (at least in the USA), the video and scouting operations on opponents are extensive - tendencies are charted, individual performances are broken down, etc by staff people who do little else.

Anyone with any knowledge on this appreciated....

[sidefootsitter]

Does anyone here know how extensive the USSF/USMNT scouting and video program of our World Cup opponents is? ... By the time the WC hits, Bruce will know the exact arrangement of Francesco Totti's tecticles and a few less trivial things.

[helmzgk]

The reason I ask is that in some countries, it seems some coaches don't claim to watch that much footage on the USA, and the scouting seems pretty casual.



The Czech coach highly respects the US, and will probably have extensive video and scouting reports on our team. I think he's going to the Germany vs. US game next week.

that being said, I'm sure Bruce knows a lot more about the other teams, and probably the teams we could possibly play in the second round, than any other coach in our group. I'd imagine Bruce has more tape on the Ghana team alone than he does of Kenny Arena's entire life playing soccer.

[Joel Kennedy]

I know that Glenn Myernick missed the Poland match because he was scouting the Czechs...I forget who they were playing? Turkey maybe.

This came from one of the ussoccer podcast interviews with him.

[DiscoWarrior11]

The last page of this month's (thought it was weekly though?) Soccer America magazine has an article on Mooch's scouting... nothing too extensive, but that is and has been one of his main tasks with the US.

[DoctorD]

This is why I would not be surprised to see all sorts of weird things from the team this spring as Arena tries to make it tough for the scouts. Playing direct ball vs the Poles in the first half is not our strength nor our best style, but it helped get Twellman and EJ experience against big strong defenders. Then look how dominant we became once we reverted to the our normal short-pass ground game.

[ohk4]

I also wonder how much referee scouting is done around the world. I would assume that the USSF also follows the lead of US Pro Sports

[Reccossu]

I hope this is not overlooked. When would the teams know what referee has been assigned to what game? Not to be trite, but I'd certianly take a ref's tendencies into account in deciding whether Dempsey plays certain matches (for example).

[IowaBoy]

My understanding was that there'll be detailed profiles on all the players the US will face. Don't forget, one of the coaches (Onalfo maybe?) also went to Africa for one of Ghana's African Nations Cup games.

After his experience at the USSF A coaching license thing at HDC when the USMNT were there, my brother in law was exceedingly impressed with the organization and preparation (including scouting) the team is/will get before the WC.

[socks]

I know that Rooney is a huge video studier. I think he might just be a soccer junkie and just doesn't take breaks.

[sidefootsitter]

Most big time Euro refs are well known .. and can anyone really scout Peter Prendergast? (Not that he will be the US problem in Germany)

[swedust]

This is why I would not be surprised to see all sorts of weird things from the team this spring as Arena tries to make it tough for the scouts.

I don't disagree. Not that he'll pass up the opportunity for real game situation intensity, but that there will be a few curves thrown in (Landon at forward, a three-man back line, etc.).

[Adam Zebrowski]

onalfo was in dalals to watch mexico-ghana too...

this presumption that other sides don't scout sides like the usa does, is simply NOT a fact....

i'm sure the usa group has broken down the usa matches since the concacaf semifinals, and has a very good idea of the usa personel pool and tactics of play