http://www.foxsportsworld.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=960786 Interesting story about the impact the Academy system has had on the Aussie cricket program. Are similar results in store for the US? The U-17 resisdency program seems to be off to a pretty good start. Also note the comments about the selectors not being afraid to leave off the old players. IMO, that was the biggest lesson learned at WC 02.
Other than taking Agoos, who else shouldn't have been on our roster? I still think Agoos should have been there and started the first game, but he should have been taken out after his performance against Portugal. I think those 23, other than Regis, were the best 23 we could have had at that tournament, that includes Agoos.
Well the Agoof was a pretty big goof. It also could be argued that the US relied too long on older defenders (Llammosa, Agoos) and didn't do a good enough job identifying and preparing replacements in the build up to the WC.
This is something I've wondered about for awhile. Offensive players traditionally get more hype but who are our young top notch defenders? The subtleties of defense may make it harder to spot these guys but who has the tenacity, smarts and passion for shutting things down? Newcastle fans for example have been ecstatic to get Woodgate and the name that has most traditionally been mentioned in the U.S. over the years has been Pope. I think Mastroeni has shown really well and Sanneh got love during the Cup but before that always took some heat. In the Academy system who is the Anti-Adu? We've shown that the U.S. develops keepers our strikers are coming along and we're always looking for a 10. Who is going to be "The Glove" of the USMNT? Or who are our top 5-10 prospects?
No Problem Chris - You don't have to worry about that. The U.S. excels in "anti soccer." No U.S. player (at least Anglo player) has creativity & attacking skill. But we are very, very good at producing guys who kill the game by prohibiting goals. Sorry, had a Paul Gardner moment. Wanted to know what it felt like to advance a thesis that was absolutely, positively contradicted by all available facts. Kinda fun, actually. In seriousness ... I'm sure that Sandon Milbut can give you a top 10 list, in roughly accurate order of true promise.