Let's talk about what US Soccer is not

[peledre]

The US Team is not England, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Brazil, Argentina etc... We are not a top 8 team. Wishing does not make it so. Setting up expectations that we should always beat subpar teams 8-0 is only setting yourself up to be disappointed. Great teams will play above the level of weaker opponents and dominate them. Good teams have a tendency of playing to the level of their opponents, which is what we see from the US on a fairly consistent basis. Folks, we need to realize where we are at as a national team, and what we are not. Until we recognize that, it's hard to look at the results and come to a rational conclusion about what they mean.

The US team has made great strides in the last 17 years. We are starting to develop a good amount of depth in the majority of positions on the field. These players have taken steps to exceed the accomplishments of the first generation in club football, and in national team results. These players represent the 2nd generation of modern US Soccer development. They are vital to the progression of the US National Team, but they are not the players that will win us a World Cup title. We need to develop enough of them so that we reach a critical mass of players that will produce the transcendent players to take us to the next level.

This is not a process that happens quickly. In order to produce world class talent with the speed of thought, technical ability, and physical attributes to compete on the world stage, we need to have the 2nd generation growing phase that will produce a higher level of play, and allow the younger players to develop in an environment of highly competitive soccer. In order to become world class, they need to be challenged from a young age to play faster, become more creative, and to fight for a position in the squad. The pieces of the puzzle are slowly coming together. The first generation players have started to move into coaching and technical roles to allow them to recognize and groom talent properly from a young age, drawing on their international experiences to aid the process. MLS is starting to gain respect and carry a higher level of play, with an increasingly competitive standard. Young prospects are developing in a professional environment at a younger age, and we are greatly increasing the number that are developing.

The US is not a world class side, we are in a 2nd generation stage that will hopefully help to produce a 3rd generation of players that has the ability to take US Soccer to the next level, and to step up to the plate with the big boys of Soccer. The sooner people recognize this, the easier it will be for all of us to get along around here. Project 2010 may have been a bit too aggressive of a goal, but 2014 or 2018 should see us in a good position to be a World Class team, if not a half step below.

[chucknyce21]

great post, sums up exactly what our MNT program is doing even though I would not be surprised in Project 2010 produces a semifinal team in South Africa

[alocksley]

Well said, but there is nothing wrong with expecting the US to whoop up on bad teams. Those are the kinds of expectations that the top teams deal with and that ultimately make you better. We need more accountability and consequences in US Soccer.

[Highbury]

We could be Mexico. They're in major denial.

[TabLalas]

Very good post; people forget that we're suspect to playing in a region that gives us false hope sometimes. U.S soccer is doing VERY well, and getting better, people should be very proud about that. There's just so much going on this country, not everyone's lives revolve around watching the sport.....................................yet.

[Roehl Sybing]

US Soccer is not the vehicle for insecure, low self-esteem fans to follow in order to get Brits to like them.

[cougs2000]

Great teams will play above the level of weaker opponents and dominate them. Good teams have a tendency of playing to the level of their opponents, which is what we see from the US on a fairly consistent basis.

I don't know, I think this is kind of an overgeneralization. In Euro qualifying recently, Italy just avoided being shocked by the Faroe Islands (2-1), Spain notched a rather unimpressive 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein, and San Marino held Germany scoreless for almost the entire first half. Almost any team can have the tendency to "play down" to the level of a relatively inferior opponent.

[Sandon Mibut]

Good points.

Here are a few more.

I said this last year after the WC but bears repeating...

*How many of our players play in the Champions' League? Last year, Feilhaber played a couple of games but he was benched by a team in the relegation zone most of the season. Yeah, we have players "in Europe" and a lot of them play AGAINST great players weekly.

But a lot of our players play for bad teams. It's not their fault their teams are bad but you don't see a lot of teams in the Top Four of the big leagues snatching up our players.

Now, compare that to Argentina, Brazil, England, Germany, Holland and France. Many, if not most of their players play in teams in the upper echelons of European club soccer.

There's a big difference between "playing in Europe" and playing for elite European teams. We've done a solid job of developing talent that can play "in Europe" but we still haven't created those elite players that play for the elite teams. And those guys are the difference makers on national teams like Italy, France, Germany, Argentina, Brazil and England.

Until we produce those types of players, we're not gonna be in that class and folks will have to accept that we're in that group of good but not great national teams.

*We have a domestic league that is rapidly improving and doing a good job developing talent and improving the depth of our league. It's also a league where Christian Gomez, who couldn't get a sniff of the Argentine national team, is the MVP and where players uncapped by Brazil and Argentia like Lucianio Emilio, Dario Sala and Carlos Marinelli come and aren't just starters but are some of the better starters in the league.

Basically, Argentine and Brazilian journeyman are stars in MLS. Not mean as a knock on MLS but when their cast-offs are our stars, that should show you there's a big gap.

*It's not just the South Americans. Look at Danny Dichio and Ronnie O'Brien who are afterthoughts in England and Ireland and come hear and look like total badasses. (If they were eligible, both would improve the US national team. Too bad that won't happen.) Ronald Wattereus barely got capped by Holland but he comes here in the twilight of his career and is one of he league's best goalkeepers. The best crosser in MLS is Terry Cooke, who never got capped by England (at least at the senior team) and was out of the Premiership when he came here.

I'm glad these guys are in MLS and they're making the league better. But when guys like that are the studs, it demonstrates the gap between where we are and the truely elite of world soccer.

I'm not anti-MLS. I watch our league religiously and support it financially and with my time. I'm not anti-US soccer. I go to games when I can, watch all of them and have traveled to several countries to see the US play.

But we have a ways to go to catch up to be the elite. We will get there, hopefully, but after some quatum leaps of steady progress the past 20 years, we're at a plateau right now and it could be a while before we go to a higher level.

[flyerhawk]

Well said, but there is nothing wrong with expecting the US to whoop up on bad teams. Those are the kinds of expectations that the top teams deal with and that ultimately make you better. We need more accountability and consequences in US Soccer.

What does this mean? Accountability and consequences for what? Winning all their games?

Top teams lose to bad teams. It happens. If you think that US fans are having a tough time with their team's performances could read what the English fans have to say about their NT.

[MMJ4mil]

one thing i noticed with the MNT: to me it looks like they play with no heart. They need to show more emotion and valor when playing. You are playing for our country and you are repping all of us so give it your all :)

[alocksley]

What does this mean? Accountability and consequences for what? Winning all their games?

Top teams lose to bad teams. It happens. If you think that US fans are having a tough time with their team's performances could read what the English fans have to say about their NT.

That is my point. The European press and fans are brutal and expect results all the time. Managers are sacked and players changed if a team is not getting results. USSoccer could benefit from the same kind of expectations. But does anyone seriously think that if we don't win the Gold Cup, for instance, Bob Bradley will be fired?

[flyerhawk]

That is my point. The European press and fans are brutal and expect results all the time. Managers are sacked and players changed if a team is not getting results. USSoccer could benefit from the same kind of expectations. But does anyone seriously think that if we don't win the Gold Cup, for instance, Bob Bradley will be fired?

Sven was manager of England for 8 years without winning a thing. McClaren has shown even less and he is still in charge.

If Bob Bradley loses in the Gold Cup final that would be disappointing but not necessarily the end of the world especially if we lost to Mexico, which is a very good squad.

Losing earlier than that would be painful and it would really depend on what happened.

Kind of odd to talk about this since the US is the only team to win both of their first 2 matches.

[alocksley]

Sven was manager of England for 8 years without winning a thing. McClaren has shown even less and he is still in charge.

If Bob Bradley loses in the Gold Cup final that would be disappointing but not necessarily the end of the world especially if we lost to Mexico, which is a very good squad.

Losing earlier than that would be painful and it would really depend on what happened.

Kind of odd to talk about this since the US is the only team to win both of their first 2 matches.

I'm not advocating Bradley be fired. I'm simply pointing out that more of a 'get results or else' atmosphere is what most of the top teams live with and it's another thing that seperates us from them.

[Zoidberg]

That is my point. The European press and fans are brutal and expect results all the time. Managers are sacked and players changed if a team is not getting results. USSoccer could benefit from the same kind of expectations. But does anyone seriously think that if we don't win the Gold Cup, for instance, Bob Bradley will be fired?


You couls also say that the majority of English fans and press are delusional when it comes to their team and overall ability, bu that's a different story.

I have tried to inform people where they need to look if they want to change US Soccer.

It's not Gulati, it's not Bradley. It's the people behind them who know little about the game, stay in the shadows, make their money and keep power
without anyone knowing they are there.

Want change. Start at the very top of USSF. Work through the bureaucrats, then through the morons who run the youth system and our club soccer landscape itself.

These are the real problems. These are the areas where true change is needed for real further advnacement. Does anyone know anything about these people? Ever hear them speak? Interviews? Pressured?
Anyone know their real priorities and purpose? How much soccer they actually know?



Of course you don't. Know one does. They hide in the shadows. That's where pressure should be placed.

But you need an interested/educated media and tons of rabid fans.

We don't have it, so more of the same. Is what it is and it isn't going to change nearly as quick as it could.

Steps are being taken. Looks and sounds good. Things ar ebeing done.

It's a shame it could be mvoing much more quickly.

Unfortunately people would have to voluntarily step aside/give up some power/give up some money and as I said once before -

That takes courage and selflessness and we don't have any George
Washington's in the USSF. Sorry. Rail all you want.

This is the deal and it ain't changing for a long time.

[Martin Fischer]

Bruce Arena lost to Colombia in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup pre World Cup 2002. Should he have been fired?

[flyerhawk]

I'm not advocating Bradley be fired. I'm simply pointing out that more of a 'get results or else' atmosphere is what most of the top teams live with and it's another thing that seperates us from them.

What sort of results are you demanding of him?

The guys has been in charge for 8 months. He's won virtually every game we have played, except for 1 tie. And he's done it while playing our youngest squad in 10 years.

Arena didn't produce in the World Cup and he got fired.

I guess I just don't see this indifferent attitude you seem to suggest we have regarding expectations. If anything I think the US team and its fans have unrealistic expectations and demands of our team.

[alocksley]

Bruce Arena lost to Colombia in the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup pre World Cup 2002. Should he have been fired?

Of course not. On the other hand, one could argue that having almost no vocal criticism throughout his tenure (compared to most big footballing nations, that is) did seem to foster a certain arrogance in Bruce Arena that may have led to his lack of flexibility and imagination in tactics and substitutions during WC 2006.

[Martin Fischer]

Of course not. On the other hand, one could argue that having almost no vocal criticism throughout his tenure (compared to most big footballing nations, that is) did seem to foster a certain arrogance in Bruce Arena that may have led to his lack of flexibility and imagination in tactics and substitutions during WC 2006.

Right, more criticism from the press or the fans is going to make Arena less arrogant.

[peledre]

Of course not. On the other hand, one could argue that having almost no vocal criticism throughout his tenure (compared to most big footballing nations, that is) did seem to foster a certain arrogance in Bruce Arena that may have led to his lack of flexibility and imagination in tactics and substitutions during WC 2006.

I think it's fair to argue that point. But Bruce has always been an arrogrant prick, especially when it comes to addressing the media.

[flyerhawk]

Of course not. On the other hand, one could argue that having almost no vocal criticism throughout his tenure (compared to most big footballing nations, that is) did seem to foster a certain arrogance in Bruce Arena that may have led to his lack of flexibility and imagination in tactics and substitutions during WC 2006.

Right. Just look at the bigger sports in America and how the media humbles the coaches. Bill Parcells, Bill Belichek, Pat Riley, Tony Larussa. Those guys are the textbook of humility.

Arena fell victim to a problem that many NT coaches suffer from. They fall in love with players from the past and choose to use them rather than younger faces that haven't proven themselves yet.