I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying and frankly I hope the Dutch women let the US loss sting because had they not made so many silly mistakes - they would have probably gone on to beat Canada. I totally agree with you on the quality of play that this version of the US team carries - which should make it sting even worse. As far as level of play is concerned. It's all relative - and those girls have had enough time on the ball to not miss so badly - so often as they did.
Sadly I don’t think it’s too far fetched to think the USMNT is going to be on the ascent from here on out and the women on the descent. I hate to say it but I think it’s true. Granted the bar on the women’s side is so crazy high any trip up is a step down. And the bar on the men’s side has been so low that any advancement is exciting. Here’s hoping both programs continue to evolve and improve. But on the women’s side if we don’t start changing tactics and the players that can execute them we’re in for a long road ahead. And as great as it was to beat Mexico last night with our C team it was beyond clear that we were once again thoroughly outplayed in possession and living and dying by our incredible athleticism is only going to take us so far. As the women’s game is about to learn in this decade.
The women’s game would be almost unrecognizable if title 9 didn’t exist. And by unrecognizable I mean almost non existent on the college level which would flow all the way through to youth programs. Is that right +\-?
Can you illustrate how US men had more athleticism? Do you mean fitness? To me that was the difference ?
That’s my argument. We were outplayed, but through sheer grit, determination and athleticism (incredible defensive plays mostly) we kept them at bay and seized an opportunity on a fantastic set piece by Acosta. We won two finals this summer against out biggest rivals. We’re beginning to make a statement - if only in Concacaf. We’re getting better. But it’s not enough to be perennial contenders on the worlds biggest stages.
It's a huge psychological boost imo for the US program. I thought it was a mistake not playing a better roster for this tourney... I was wrong!
Unfortunate to not see Sockers girls in MCL - they jumped in for last season and I was shocked and happy that they choose that platform over NPL. Yeah MCL been down graded with recent changes but hanging out in IWSL and (I think) NPL will do very little for them. And while I know the mantra is all about training, you also need solid competition as well.
Excuse my ignorance (as I don't know much about all the various leagues, etc), but can a club just "jump" into MCL? I was under the impression that you had to qualify in "qualifiers" first and move up the divisions to get into Premier 1 or Premier 2. Again, my kid is still young, so I'm learning. My kid's team played against sockers pre-academy team in a local tourney this past spring and we were very impressed with their passing skills and ability to move the ball up the field that way.
They must qualify for Conference Qualifiers - which means A team with good results or good results in tourneys - potentially a different league. However Fall 2020 Sockers jumped into the MCL (formerly MRL) with all their non GA teams and somehow bypassed the Conference Qualifier altogether. And while that was complete BS, it was good overall for the league to have more teams - especially a club like with a like Sockers which was wasting it's time for years in the NPL. So far only 7 teams in the IWSL - a record low by far. No teams in the MCL and the NPL schedule comes out on the 12th - which is where the only other non-GA team is likely playing (2005). Just a bummer because Fall 2020 was a decent line up of teams for MCL (less the club v club crap). My wonder is why the change of heart for 2020? We were at Sockers for many years and USYS was bad and US Club Soccer was good. Had many coaches say that MRL was garbage and was absolutely floored at how much better it was then NPL (which was apparently the highest level for girls according to many there after ECNL/GDA. Absolutely false - not even close. So why in and then out in the span of one year?
With the start of the new soccer year upon us there will be a lot of player movement on the academy 1 level side. Fire released 10 - 2006 boys, some will try to latch onto the other 2 local Academy teams & others will go to their old local clubs. since Fire dropped the U18/U19 team (made U23 team) all of the 2004 boys got released except for 4 boys. I feel sorry for released boys, but they knew that is a possibility every year for them.
@Evos Is that universal change for MLS or just fire. My son is 11 and the game within the game is scary as a parent. Hope for the best!
I’ll say it again, if you have a kid who could play for Fire think long and hard about that move. Rumor has it some of the top Fire kids are leaving Fire. Not just the kids getting cut.
Beware FOMO. A very natural feeling for all parents to experience. Does more harm than good. Youth sport landscape is littered with evidence. The problem is many figure it out when it’s too late. A self motivated player is very rare and when you experience it the distinction between that type of player and one that is very good but pushed by parents is no contest. Doesn’t mean you can’t guide and learn so you’re more educated when forks in the road present themselves (ie should I leave to go to Fire?) But trust me when I tell you the goal is to have a self motivated player and forcing it doesn’t work. This not directed necessarily at you “Lefty”. Just two cents from someone who have seen the superstar kids at your sons age group become average and kids that really weren’t on anyone’s radar become very good players on very good first teams.
dropping of U18/U19 is a Fire thing. Each MLS club does their own thing, Minnesota United dropped their entire youth system last year. Supposedly for one year but we will see. Unless you are one of the top 3-4 kids on the Fire odds of you being released are very high. Fire’s U18/19 kids just won the ultra competitive MLS Cup & my understanding is that only 4 of those boys got promoted to U23 , the rest got released.
Yes, it’s very competitive and winning u19’s was impressive (not easy) That said u19’s will die out with many MLS clubs and promising kids in that age group will go USL which is a much better environment. My comment about Fire and best kids leaving. Fire has an issue. They should be THE place for the best kids. “Free”, pro club, etc etc But it’s not “the” place. And a striking number of really top class talent that gets persuaded to go there leaves and goes back to the academies from which they came. It’s happening again this year. And there’s absolutely no excuse for this happening. You think a u15 kid who makes Dortmund’s u15 team goes back to their local academy because it’s better? Preposterous to even think it. Yet it happens all too frequently with top talent at Fire. And it will get worse soon as this homegrown BS is thrown into the garbage where it belongs.
I think it's the direction the MLS Academies are going with the new MLS-2. I heard Atlanta and a couple others are dripping their U19 programs as well. But - I could be wrong. I think this is the way the MLS Academies are going and not just the Chicago Fire. I heard Atlanta and a few others are also getting rid of their U19 programs. (Could be just talk/speculation) but the chatter is there. Time will tell.
2 kids did not come back this year out of the entire academy and one of them was because of personal reasons. Not sure "all the best kids" are leaving.
Makes perfect sense…the prospects are in u16/17. Not u19. U19’s (on the whole) are awesome college players and MLS academies (rightly so) shouldn’t fork out a ton of $$$ to produce awesome college players.
I think it shows…. But eventually they’ll be forced to get it right. They did a great PR job last year (HOMEGROWN PLAYER SIGNED) but certainly seems same old from my vantage point. It should be without question the place to go if you’re the best. And it simply isn’t. (Not a knock on current players there. Plenty of talent there. Plenty).
This is what I wrote: “Rumor has it some of the top Fire kids are leaving Fire. Not just the kids getting cut.” And what I’ve recently heard is there are a few trying to get out of the paperwork they signed but can’t. It’s rumor from what I know.. But I think this week that rumor will make itself reality in one or two cases as you say.
And let’s be honest - some of the kids getting cut by Fire almost every team in this State would love to have… Want to be clear that I’m not ragging on the kids but rather the organization.