tomorrow im going to Napoli. i will stop by napoli's training session and see if i can get some information on bernardo and the U17 national team if anyone has any questions please let me know by tomorrow morning and ill see if i can get a hold of Bernardo and ask him those questions.
I'd like to know what his impressions are of the Region IV team and was he disappointed or satisfied with his individual play versus his American peers.
The best of the best should be easy to get because it's frikkin' obvious they're the best. I mean, it wasn't a real stretch to see Freddy Adu was special. Further, for every Donovan you take for "your crew" don't forget to add David Chun, Bryan Jackson, Ford Williams, Paul Johnson, Adam Schuerman, Kenny Cutler, Nik Besagno, Memo Gonzalez, Tomiwa Ogunsola, Kellen Kalso, Greg Martin, Chris Lancos, Josh Villalobos, Brian Grazier and Chris Germani. That's the point. The folks in Bradenton have had their share of hits, but they've also missed out on a lot of talent while taking a lot of players that haven't amounted to much of anything as pros, let along moving up the national team ladder.
I think I've asked this before: would anyone care to put out a number as to what the acceptable percentage of hits and misses constitutes a well-run Bradenton program? There are always going to be hits and misses, but for the life of me I can't tell just from the lists of names whether the program is working well or not.
23 players on a world cup roster, average career 12 years then 2 starters and 2 backups per Bradenton cycle is the number I care about.
Today at 3pm im going to watch napoli's training session. i will try to get a hold of Bernardo and ask a few questions, ill make sure we do the interview in english (since like time it was hard to translate) If anyone has any specific question or questions, post them in the next 2 hours before i leave to go, and ill make sure ill ask him if i catch him.
Vincenzo Bernardo Interview: How do you feel about your TEAM performance in last weeks torneo Rocco? -"The torneo turned out to be a huge disappointment, and of course loosing 3 games is embarrassing especially since Napoli is a club with high expectations even in the youth level. So as of the team performance, again it was disappointing. But we know that this weekends game against INTER is more important for us. The torneo was more for getting the players who didn’t play much during the season to get some play time. But that’s no excuse for getting 0 points in 3 games." What is your impression on the region IV team, and were you satisfied with your individual performance? -“Well It wasn’t my first time playing against region IV. I remember in Texas when I was with region 1 we got to play against all the regional teams. For me region IV was always a solid team. Good players, that work well together. I have to admit I was impressed . Its good to see American soccer competing against top European teams, but my personal opinion is they aren’t at the same level as the top teams here. But results are results and they beat us and I’m not going to make up any excuses. As for my individual play, I thought I played well, I have to say it was easier dribbling pass the Americans, but they worked so well together that when I passed one or two defenders they quickly closed down the space to I was always forced to pass it. And id like to compliment the goalie that was in goal that game, he made some key saves especially on my shot that was going in upper 90 (smile).” The game vs. Region IV did you talk with any of those guys?-“Yes, spoke with Danny and A.B my good friends from California. We were part of the U15 NATIONAL TEAM with coach Jim Barlow. I wish we could’ve spoke more but we didn’t have the time.”
Thanks.It's a very good interview.I take note of the quote he made: Its good to see American soccer competing against top European teams, but my personal opinion is they aren’t at the same level as the top teams here. But results are results and they beat us and I’m not going to make up any excuses. As for my individual play, I thought I played well, I have to say it was easier dribbling pass the Americans, but they worked so well together that when I passed one or two defenders they quickly closed down the space to I was always forced to pass it.
Do I have this straight? Bernardo plays for a team that (excuses aside) got pounded by a Regional ODP team and the question is why he isn't on the USMNT Under 17 qualifying side? Sorry, but that's a strange question.
Get a clue Martin. He plays in Italy! For a youth Serie B team no less! We are just the US. WTF is wrong with you? Oh yeah - It is a prestigous tourney in Italy, yet it seems the Italian teams were tired and didn't really care either. They were at a complete disadvantage over teams that traveled continents, had barely any practice time together, and who weren't trained by pros, in a pro environment, in one of the biggest soccer countries in the world. It was an Italian toursit board trick to add to the coffers. The real matches for the Italian kids are this week. We just got bamboozled for our dough.
Yeah, it seems pretty clear that Napoli aren't exactly a top team. As to Max. Opt. post about Brandenton. It's not just the % of hits and misses. It's are they being coached properly first and foremost for the guys chosen! John Ellinger is proving to be the absolute train wreck I always said he was. He has hurt the perception of that program more than anyone in this country. A guy who can't coach, in charge of that program says it all. I can't imagine how much further ahead, or more polished some of those kids might have been with a freaking actual coach! You could see the improvement with Hack last cycle. I say he should be judged on 2 cycles. How the kids play together, handle the ball, triangles, interaction, tactial sense, passing, etc. Is he teaching the things needed to compete internationally? The jury is still out IMO. Let's see how they play in qualies and hopefully at the WC this summer. If we have to, go proven foreign coach for 2 cycles and evaluate. USSF and the youth coaching mafia won't allow this of course. They know better. That program is about teaching the proper game as well as identifying. It was easy to identify the clueless cancer named Ellinger. It's hard to pick kids at that age, it shouldn't be hard to get a quality coach.
1.This Regional team beat Juventus Youth team 2:0,so does that mean it's better than Juventus youth system? 2.Napoli got pounded by a Regional ODP team,does that mean Bernardo is poor too? 3.Are youth soccer's results that important?And they are only friendly matches. 4.Give these young yanks abroad some chance to shot for USA is not a bad idea.Only one chance,is better than nothing.
You do realize that could apply to hundred of kids around the country. Right? VB should be kept an eye on and if the opportunity is there it would be great to give him a shot, but logistically it will be hard to do. Only chnace would be after qualies it seems. There have been suggestions that because he plays on a Serie B youth team in Italy he must be supremely better than our guys. History shows this is a load of course but people love to pander. Thee are so many kids it will be hard to fit him in, and he would have to be clearly better than the players there already. Many of our youth players with the right connections and eyes on them could find a gig just like his no problem. Don't seel out guys short. We will see what Hack does after qualies. That will be the chance to bring him in. Hope he does, but I don't think he has to be God's gift because he is on a Euro youth team. We have had quite a few of those, and guess what? With more people getting involved we will see a lot more in the next few years. We have seen a big increase in the last year already.
Here is a list of the top 4-5 players coming out of Bradenton per cycle: Cycle 1: Donovan, DMB, Onyewu, Convey Cycle 2: Johnson, Mapp, Pierce, Marshall, Quaranta Cycle 3: Adu, Spector, Szetela, Gaven, Ward, McCarty, Bradley, Sturgis Cycle 4: Altidore, Kirk, Zimmerman So by your specifications, has Bradenton been delivering the goods or not?
Maximum Optimal, stop to believe that Bradenton is the best institution for american soccer... i actually think that MLS youth soccer leagues would have much more benefit than any Bradenton that have so many special rules (birthdays, date if birth etc.)...I think you can find "magical Americans" besides Brandeton.... I hope that MLS will have one day professional MLS youth leagues. and not only some Bradenton...or ODP....
As far as field savy, tactical acumen, being able to hold the ball in tight spaces by triangulating and making quick combos? First 3 cycles that is a big NO. A few exceptions but there should be more. Plain and simple. I have heard, and would wager that the kids who went during the first 3 cycles came out the same way except that they had a more intensive program. They didn't improve the soccer brain or their abilities they just got to refine what they already did. When you look at cycle 3 (was Sturgis on that team? or Pearce in 2?) and then you look at how silly Spain and Brazil made us look that is a major NO. Hell, the thing that sticks for me is how our defenders barely played the ball, except to hoof it long - all 3 cycles. Eek (shakes head). Hack has clearly worked on this. Again, first time around last cycle and there was improvement, there should be more this cycle as he learned from the first. From all accounts it is better. All this list shows is that there is good material. Is it being molded correctly and you know my answer on the first 3 cycles. Could have been so much more IMO. Hack is trying and we shall see. All this tells me is what I have known for the last 10 years or so. We have decent players coming out at youth level, we just don't prepare them to the fullest extent. Biggest problem? You start to see the real issues 3 to 6 years later. You have to say B'ton has worked because there was nothing else! Anything was better than what we had! How much better can it be? Well, we will find out about the Hack cycle in the next 4 to 6. At least passing, tactics and possession seem to have a place in the curriculum now. Still, I was always taught that self analysis is the hardest type. When my group is in a bit of a rut or stagnant I seek out multiple non biased outside eyes. You learn a lot about yourself that way. Thaings you probably don't want to hear or believe also. That's what I want for B'ton. The USSF does not breed confidence in this regard. Too much to lose for people in charge IMO. Answer - B'ton has helped a lot of course, as it should, since there was nothing beforehand as pointed out. How the hell couldn't it help? It also could clearly be much, much better. The lack of passing, ability to work in tight spaces, limited ball control and tactical sense are clearly missing when compared to top teams an programs. Hell to decent teams and programs. Has to be better in that regard. Has to be.
If that's what Hack really wants, then he has a lot of cultural work ahead of him to change the ODP feeder system. Either that, or the Bradenton Residency program will increasingly bypass State and Regional ODP, and will pluck guys directly through the national identification process. Because the items you describe are not high prioritities in the current feeder system.
I am not interested in any of these questions, except to mention that results are important when you are picking competitive teams, which includes the USMNT Under 17s. My only comment, for those that missed it, is that the fact that this kid plays on Napoli's youth team does not in any way demonstrate that he is good enough to be at Bradenton. He may be, or he may not be.
New information on www.soccertimes.com Bernardo called me yesterday saying that some information will be put on that website. I havent checked it out, but he's the link...this should start alot of talk- i cant wait to see it http://www.soccertimes.com
Agree. More than anything else, it demonstrates that he has an Italian passport and plays good soccer.