You know what, we weren't that young. Some of those older guys, but not old men, really contributed: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/bsp/statistics/group_d/results.stm Looking at the rosters, I don't think this team was as good or surely didn't have as strong a bench. I think Frankie, Cobi, Sanneh, Stewart are all real battlers.
We do have enough skills to compete against other nations. But we get too excited on players like Donovan, who didn't really prove anything yet. Anyway, this WC was the proof of the MLS players huge weakness. Amongst the other Yanks abroad, they clearly sucked big time.
Two reasons why this won't fix our problem: 1) The way the game is taught in America is too technical. In South American countries kids are left unsupervised with a ball made up of rolled up newspapers. These kids aren't coached every minute of their lives, they live with the ball at their feet. They know how to control the ball by instinct and natural feel. Americans need to encourage more street games to improve ball handling and control. 2) No heart. Take eleven soldiers from Iraq and put them on the pitch in the World Cup. These people care about their country. It wasn't just US soccer these guys were representing, these guys were representing a nation.
First.... What are we defining as our problem. Not making the second round? Or, not playing our best? I would feel absolutely no shame in losing to any of these teams. That's not my problem. My problem was simply a matter of how we lost. We didn't go down leaving our best effort on the field. We didn't go down playing the game that got us through qualifying. I don't care even if that game isn't good enough, it's what we got. We went down playing guys out of position, because it looked possible on paper. We went down playing the guys with experience, because that's more important then speed and desire. Arena caved to the pressure. He stopped trusting in the players and started playing chess with them. That's why we need a new coach. As for new players. You get what you got. Many people on here will be disappointed if they really believe that Donovan and Beasley are done.
I'm not totally sold on the playing in Europe thing. Dempsey played pretty well for us, and he doesn't play in Europe. Beaz and Convey play in Europe, and they weren't as impressive. You can dress a burger up all you want, but at the end of the day its a piece-a-meat between two slices of bread.. ANUMOUT!
or maybe the team was lucky in 2002 and the players were too dumb to realize it. We need better players and MLS, because of it's current state of mediocrity, isn't the place to go trolling for them. With few exceptions ( Twellman and Dempsey, for example), the league is stocked with average players, most of equal ability. Hell, Donovan has regressed since coming back into the league.
What exactly would 11 Soldiers accomplish that the US NT didn't? Or is there a 11 man unit in the Armed Forces comprised of elite footballers?
Problem #1: The coach is scared. From his game plan. He tried to get at least 1 points out of first game. Then get 3 at the last. When he find out that Ghana is even better than Czech, he pushed panic button, so you have a scared game plan on Game 3. Resolution #1: Get a coach who has no fear. World Cup group play is do or die game. Anytime you get 3 points, that sets up the momentum. Play all games for the win. We are not T&T. We don't have great players like elite nations, but we get good enough players to compete with everyone. Problem #2: The coach sets his starting 11 years ago. So there is no true competation among the team. Starters, no matter how they sucked, they will still start a game. In any other country, if Beasley can get a roster spot, he would thank the God for the chances every second. So it showed in prepare games, when both games the starters showed the lazy a$$, and only the 2nd game, all subs played their hearts out. Well, only Convey is able to get in the starting lineup. Resolution #2: A good coach will give rat's a$$ about who you are. In Dutch team, both Seedorf and Davids sit in home. With a good coach, JOB, Pope, and Beasley will sit in the home. As the game proved, Conrad is much better than Pope. Problem #3: Relay on one single player to make the contribution--Landon Donovan. Landon, in all fairness, only successed on his leadership role on U-17 WC. He failed to lead his team in U-20 and U-23. He didn't showed much after WC 2002 on critical games in a consistance manner. Resolution #3: A good coach will have his alternative plan with the game than can miss the so called crucial player.