Why is it every time someone on this board or any of the others start to criticize the squad, players or federation everyone starts saying "how can you not support the team? You're a traitor, you suck, you don't really love U.S. soccer, your really a Mexican, Brazilian" etc.? Cohen said something interesting the other night on Fox Phone In. U.S. fans are almost apologetic for being supporters and have a real inferiority complex. I agree with this sentiment. I love the U.S. national team and the growth of football in this country. Having said that I think a draw on Sunday will be a disaster for the progress of the national side because it perpetuate the myth that we are on the verge and keep a lot of these wannabe jerks who are running the federation a justification for their continued existence. The English papers this week are saying pretty much the same thing about the match vs. Israel this weekend. No-they don't want to miss Euro 08, and they love their squad and country, but they think it will take this kind of epic failure to shake up the FA and its obscure behavior and choices. So why can't we do the same? Why do we accept mediocrity after the 100 million or so spent on development since 94? Why do we still develop robots and chastise those who don't conform? Why do we have so few creative players and why does all that money spent produce anything? Why don't we demand more and demand the replacement of the old boys club who lead us to this mediocrity and quite frankly, backsliding that is going on right now? (OTHER THEN MEXICO AND CONCACAF- OK?) What’s it going to take-not qualify-before we demand change? I believe I know why Klinnsman did not take the job. Because who wants to work for guys like Gulati who are so over their head it is just silly. (not that I think Klinnsman is the end all, be all but he would be a step in the right direction. I was watching Lalas on FFC the other night ranting about the quality here and it dawned on me “These guys are delusional, they really believe what they are saying.” That is very frightening when you think these guys control everything. What gives? Your constructive thoughts please.
Do you actually read the posts on BS? They are generally critical of players and coaching. How many threads have there been bashing Landon Donovan, Beasley,EJ, Gooch, Freddy Adu, Bob Bradley, Bruce Arena? The answer is hundreds. So I can't give you any points for the title of your thread. Do you realize that Brazil is the #1 team in the world? A draw would be a solid result. Most teams would lose to Brazil. Just ask Argentina. Backsliding??? We have proved recently to be the premier team in Concacaf. Back to back Gold Cups, a dominance over Mexico. Concacaf is our federation, you can not expect to much more from a team than to be the best in their federation. Few chances to prove your worth outside fed. We had a chance this summer but the blunder that USSF chose to do with Copa foiled that.
A draw would be a great result depending on the context. A 2-2 draw after holding some possession, creating dangerous chances going forward, and organizing well in defense would be a fantastic result. A 0-0 draw, or even a 1-1 draw, spent with 10 men behind the ball, chasing frantically and hoping for a random counter-attack opportunity would be a waste of time in my opinion. (Although the money will still be good either way.) Playing expressly for the draw or even a 1-0 win (depending on how you play for it) is for tourneys, qualifiers and other meaningful games. Friendlies on the other hand are for experience and trying to develop quality, cohesive play. As I've said on other threads, I'd much rather see a well-played, aggressive 4-2 loss than a bunkering, timid, "just-hope-for-a-result" 1-0 win in a friendly like this where the final score is ultimately meaningless. Of course, I'd much rather see a dominating 4-0 win for the US, but I'm not going to hold my breath. Overall I believe that people put too much emphasis on the end result in a friendly and not enough on quality of play. We've all seen enough matches to realize that there is not necessarily a direct relation between the two.
The OP is not saying a draw would be a bad result, but that a draw would maintain the status quo, which to him is bad. To the OP: do you really think losing in a friendly to Brazil would shake things up?
To the OP, some thoughts. I personally think the USMNT is heading in the right direction, if abit slowly. I know that Wikipedia is not exactly a solid primary reference, but read their article on the USMNT (search for U.S. national soccer team). Especially focus on the "History" section... I think it's pretty eye opening. If it's to be believed, the U.S. MNT program is basically about 25 years old. If you look at World Cup results, history and tradition are very important factors in football, possibly more so than any other major team sport. It takes decades to cultivate a culture of soccer at all levels in a country, and at the highest level in the U.S., it's only been around for 25. To gauge the progress of the team, I'd ask the following questions: 1. Is our national team better than it was 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 2. Does our national team have a deeper player pool than we did 5 and 10 years ago? 3. Does our national team beat regional rivals more consistently than it did 5 and 10 years ago? 4. Are there more Americans playing abroad in the top leagues of Europe than there were 5 and 10 years ago? 5. Is the sport more popular at the MLS and grass-roots level than it was 5 and 10 years ago? I'd say that the answer to all of those questions is yes. We as Americans tend to lack patience, and are very results oriented. That apporach just won't work with soccer in this country.
Well you can't exepect to make comments without having supporting facts and not be lashed out at. For me US Soccer only started to be a serious business after Italia '90. Now that is only 17 years. Compared that to other powering football nations I THINK YOU EXPECT TOO MUCH TOO SOON For one you need to undestand United States is not like any other country. You must accept the facts for what they are. Soccer is not the number 1 sport. Kids play soccer because its is encouraged at the school level and by parents. The truth is most kids don't care for it other then that pratice session and the weekend game. You will never catch one watching it on TV, or kicking a soccer ball on the street or backyard. It is what it is. I am not sure what you expect. Winning the WC ? developing players like Brazil does ? Let me tell you, it probably will never happen. I belive that the Fed people and MLS people learn from their mistakes and will adjust to do the right things. It will take time, relax and enjoy what we have. I admit I am not excited at all about this National Team . I don't know why that is. Maybe is the coach we have,who i can't stand. Or maybe is the big let down i felt after the last WC. But i realy don't seem to care if they beat Brazil 1-0 or they loose 4-0. What realy bothers me more then winning and loosing, is the HORRIBLE STYLE WE PLAY
I can handle realistic criticism of the team and the coaching. What I don't like is the anger, bile, and vitriol that I hear along with it. A national team, to me, is a different rooting situation than a club team. You can't get on your management to buy better players, or make better personnel moves. You have what you have in the pool, and you do what you can. For me, rooting for the USA in sports is a way to express patriotism in a time when I don't have much else to cheer about our place in the world. As such, I cannot be objective about our team, and I don't want to be. For me, sports is escapism, so I don't need to be constantly reminded how wrong I am to be optimistic about our team and players. I have enough crap I have to take seriously in this life. I travel all the time for work, analyze the crap out of everything me and my clients do, it's exhausting. Being analytical and objective takes the joy out of being a USA fan, so I choose not to be. I can do it for club teams, or for other sports, but not for USA Men's soccer.
Aren't results the measuring stick to go by? We have had 16 years of moral victories and I think that is much too much. You can't have more if you don't expect more.
I would settle for clean touches and positive, possesion with a purpose, some creative flair, and cohesive, not paniced defending. Do you think we are getting the coaching at the youth and the acadamy level is providing this? I see no evidence of it other then a couple of exceptions. The lack of these things directly corelates to the " horrible style we play", which I am in full agreement with you on. Look at the U17 games for proof of what I am talking about. Another team of straight on attacking that got embarassed by Tajikastan and Algeria - 2 nation squads that I am sure are sorely lacking in money and resources.
good post. i know for me coming back from Iraq, i use soccer as a way to not think about at all that crap. The USMNT are our team. We are Americans. And i'm going to support them. Do i wish they would win every game? hell yes i do. But even when they don't win, i just shake it off and say next time.
Good point, but in those countries if you wear a jersey or get up at odd times to watch games in faraway places, you're not considered one of "those" weird people like I am, and maybe you are, here in the states.
It would take 7-0 and then the American media would say, "Brazil beats America by one touchdown in defensive battle". Oh and why would Gulati give a rat's ass about negative world press. Unless the mainstream media gave Beckham level attention to the loss, meaning Osama Bin Laden would have to score the 7th goal for Brazil, Gulati will be able to do whatever he wants. They both made the second round of the World Cup twice making it to the quarters one of those times.
Oh, OK. Is that the measurment? Besides, the US has had 2 players at Rangers, they had a player at ManU, Brad Friedel is and has been a better keeper than you see at most G-14 clubs. Try again.
And yet no world cup quarters or multiple second round appearances. I will say that the Ivory Coast is a better team than the US, but so was Bulgaria in 1994.
Weak comparison to Da princes point. Wish you were right if that helps. 2 keepers-granted good ones- and 2 SPL players does not equal Barcelona, Cheslea, etc. 3. Now Mcbride would of held some sway on your side of the arguement.