Other Team Discussion Thread Vol. 12: Spoilers Within

Bolivianfuego · Feb 11, 2011

fatbastard said: ↑

I think I saw Neill in a commercial for Gnomeo & Juliet
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Hahahahahaha. Did he score TWO goals with his head there too???

apqjr said: ↑

From MLS's "Kick Off" page (always a good read by the way):

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/kick-la-chase-roberto-carlos-ruiz-resurfaces

I hope he stays away from us, sorry Bolivianfuego.

Also:
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Yea, apparently everyone on this board feels the same way too, lol Anyways rumor now is he might go to philly. I wouldnt be surprised if he does well in MLS given his fitness and sharpness after scoring and playing well vs. some decent european competition in Europa League.

apqjr · Feb 11, 2011

RE: Ruiz...I didn't realize he was only 31, it seems like he's been around forever

dozerman · Feb 11, 2011

Ruiz is close to signing with Philly according to Ives. Hating Philly this year will be even easier with floppy fish gracing their ranks...

Ives' Blog Post

Lowecifer · Feb 11, 2011

apqjr said: ↑

RE: Ruiz...I didn't realize he was only 31, it seems like he's been around forever
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That's because he drinks the blood of virgins.

song219 · Feb 11, 2011

dozerman said: ↑

Ruiz is close to signing with Philly according to Ives. Hating Philly this year will be even easier with floppy fish gracing their ranks...
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On the surface Ruiz doesn't seem like Nowak's sort of player but what do I know?

asitis · Feb 11, 2011

dozerman said: ↑

Ruiz is close to signing with Philly according to Ives. Hating Philly this year will be even easier with floppy fish gracing their ranks...

Ives' Blog Post
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How in the world could he play for Philly? The Nowak I remember would have his foot stuck up Ruiz's a$$ for all the crap he pulls.

asitis

Bootsy Collins · Feb 11, 2011

If you like soccer in general -- not just DCU, but the sport -- you should check out this interview with Xavi in the Guardian today. It's a really good read.

MattMathai · Feb 11, 2011

Bootsy Collins said: ↑

If you like soccer in general -- not just DCU, but the sport -- you should check out this interview with Xavi in the Guardian today. It's a really good read.
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Seconded.

He shows a very keen understanding of the game and includes a not-so-subtle slam at Capello.

Mostly it shows me just how far we have to go re: the development of soccer brains in this country.

DCUroma · Feb 11, 2011

Bootsy Collins said: ↑

If you like soccer in general -- not just DCU, but the sport -- you should check out this interview with Xavi in the Guardian today. It's a really good read.
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Thanks for the link. This probably is the best soccer interview I have heard or read ever.

Bolivianfuego · Feb 11, 2011

Yea its good stuff.

nobletea · Feb 15, 2011

So Beck's libel lawsuit (about bangin hookers) in LA was tossed out by a Hispanic judge with the last name "Real".

The irony.

BigKris · Feb 15, 2011

nobletea said: ↑

So Beck's libel lawsuit (about bangin hookers) in LA was tossed out by a Hispanic judge with the last name "Real".

The irony.
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It takes a special kind of nerd to not only understand why this is ironic but also savor it.

bigredfutbol · Feb 15, 2011

MattMathai said: ↑

Seconded.

He shows a very keen understanding of the game and includes a not-so-subtle slam at Capello.

Mostly it shows me just how far we have to go re: the development of soccer brains in this country.
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Sunday I was watching a youth soccer scrimmage with some other parents, and the subject of "soccer IQ" came up; I told a couple of the Dads about this article in that same light. It's amazing how many "talented" youth players will expend a great deal of energy and effort getting themselves stuck in a corner with no good options.

Bolivianfuego · Feb 15, 2011

bigredfutbol said: ↑

Sunday I was watching a youth soccer scrimmage with some other parents, and the subject of "soccer IQ" came up; I told a couple of the Dads about this article in that same light. It's amazing how many "talented" youth players will expend a great deal of energy and effort getting themselves stuck in a corner with no good options.
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The answer to making our kids better with their feet? Imersing(sp) them in possession drills, and playing a TON of futsal.

uniteo · Feb 15, 2011

bigredfutbol said: ↑

Sunday I was watching a youth soccer scrimmage with some other parents, and the subject of "soccer IQ" came up; I told a couple of the Dads about this article in that same light. It's amazing how many "talented" youth players will expend a great deal of energy and effort getting themselves stuck in a corner with no good options.
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well, I don't know what age group you're talking about, but that is exactly the type of learning process talented youth players should be going through.

Experiential learning. They need to find out, by doing, what they are capable of. And then find out by practicing and watching and doing what may be a better way. The responsibility of the coach is not to give them a rote script of how to problem solve, but to make sure they have the technical skill (e.g. good first touch, good close control, ability to play with either foot, but mostly ability to play with their head up) and tactical flexibility to problem solve on their own.

But maybe this isn't the right forum for this. How about Backe wanting to win the Supporter's Shield over the Cup?

Q*bert Jones III · Feb 15, 2011

Good for him.

I hope he wins neither.

Lowecifer · Feb 15, 2011

Bolivianfuego said: ↑

The answer to making our kids better with their feet? Imersing(sp) them in possession drills, and playing a TON of futsal.
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I'm a firm believer in training in glass strewn alleys!

Bolivianfuego · Feb 15, 2011

Hell yes! And then for money! Carlos Tevez style!

bigredfutbol · Feb 15, 2011

uniteo said: ↑

well, I don't know what age group you're talking about, but that is exactly the type of learning process talented youth players should be going through.

Experiential learning. They need to find out, by doing, what they are capable of. And then find out by practicing and watching and doing what may be a better way. The responsibility of the coach is not to give them a rote script of how to problem solve, but to make sure they have the technical skill (e.g. good first touch, good close control, ability to play with either foot, but mostly ability to play with their head up) and tactical flexibility to problem solve on their own.

But maybe this isn't the right forum for this. How about Backe wanting to win the Supporter's Shield over the Cup?
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U-13. To me, they were learning to pay absolutely no attention to the field or other players. I get what you're saying--and I'm of the mind that parents on the sidelines should refrain from yelling "pass the ball" and whatnot--but I do think coaches need to spend more time teaching kids to play intelligently and to see, and use, space.

It's important to try things, to learn from mistakes, and to be free to invent their own solutions--but IMHO the "tactical flexibility" part of your comment above is often missing in American soccer.

This isn't a dig at either coach--they're both very good, both teams have some kids who really "get" soccer as opposed to just being able to run really fast with a ball at their feet, and the other team in particular were pretty solid tactically. It was more a general observation of what sort of "effort" gets overpraised in our youth development system.

DCUroma · Feb 15, 2011

bigredfutbol said: ↑

U-13. To me, they were learning to pay absolutely no attention to the field or other players. I get what you're saying--and I'm of the mind that parents on the sidelines should refrain from yelling "pass the ball" and whatnot--but I do think coaches need to spend more time teaching kids to play intelligently and to see, and use, space.

It's important to try things, to learn from mistakes, and to be free to invent their own solutions--but IMHO the "tactical flexibility" part of your comment above is often missing in American soccer.

This isn't a dig at either coach--they're both very good, both teams have some kids who really "get" soccer as opposed to just being able to run really fast with a ball at their feet, and the other team in particular were pretty solid tactically. It was more a general observation of what sort of "effort" gets overpraised in our youth development system.
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What level of U-13 was this?

Kids just playing on the street or in fields is what we are missing in the states, its to structured here. When you play pickup is when/where you learn to find space.

nobletea · Feb 15, 2011

I grew up half poor white urban America, half white middle class suburbia. I played soccer exclusively on a blacktop basketball court at recess during school until 6th grade when I learned to play on grass (and without long pants) and actually had a coach. I remember always being among the best players I came across. I always played defense because I could easily anticipate everything that was going to happen.

When I got to high school, I studied the game. By the time I got out, I understood the dynamics of time and space in soccer much more than most kids I came across. But my body started to give out on the training demands.

I am confident that in college I would have been surpassed by superior atheletes and guys who had years of formal training that I didn't get.

So now I coach. And the main thing I try to teach is time and space. I do this because I was able to teach and practice technical fundamental skills on my own just fine, but nobody ever taught me about time and space. Not a whisper.

And personally, I think much of what I was able to accomplish on the field came because I understood and applied those concepts to make up for my limited technical ability and atheleticism. I think it teaches you to love the nuance of the game and think about it in creative ways.

That to me, and hopefully to most kids, is way more interesting than dribbling around cones in practice. They can learn to dribble around hats in their backyard in their own time.

Also, I think every team in the league should want to win the SS every year. Bad teams don't win a SS. Except maybe Columbus.

Bolivianfuego · Feb 15, 2011

Most important thing that kids can learn, confidence on their touch, control, and ability to 'dead' a ball. The quicker you do this the quicker time you have to turn the ball, get by players, or even do a simple pass out of trouble.

Sometimes the most simply, annoying drills to kids pay off because they will do these 'little' things in their sleep.

The Cold Sea · Feb 15, 2011

Along the lines of youth development speak:

The house that built Barca:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9393966.stm

"This is the house - La Masia - that has been the foundation of Barca's success. It provides the DNA for the club's players, the philosophy for how the game should be played - to pressure, to keep possession, to attack."

Bootsy Collins · Feb 15, 2011

The Cold Sea said: ↑

Along the lines of youth development speak:

The house that built Barca:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9393966.stm

"This is the house - La Masia - that has been the foundation of Barca's success. It provides the DNA for the club's players, the philosophy for how the game should be played - to pressure, to keep possession, to attack."
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Two weeks!

apqjr · Feb 15, 2011

Chivas USA has acquired defender Heath Pearce

Chivas USA has acquired defender Heath Pearce, an experienced defender and a member of the United States National Team, in a trade with FC Dallas in exchange for allocation money.
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Kansas City's Bunbury injures elbow

Early diagnoses point to a dislocation.
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(Chris Agorsor) Baltimore native had no interest in playing for D.C. United

Although he’s from the south side of Baltimore – from Severn, Md., to be exact – Agorsor says he has never heard from D.C. United throughout the years, nor was he interested in playing for them. He says the rivalry between his youth soccer club, the Baltimore Bays, and D.C. United’s academy was a heated one in the youth ranks.

According to Agorsor, Baltimore “is a lot more similar to Philly than to DC … and Philadelphia was the closest I could be to playing in Baltimore.”
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His comeback is a wonderful thing, but I wonder if there's any back-story to his anti-DCU feelings, or was his youth club rivalry really that intense?