I've yet to see a team play "good" soccer at this level so why are you guys bitching and moaning? At least we made it to the round of 16, where is Mexico? Even Brasil looked lame, wtf do you want from teenagers? Germany always have some of the best youth teams and their academies, was it really a surprise to you that we lost or got "dominated" Germany's game is to be physical and play good positionally. I didn't see the game but I bet it wasn't very exciting, even from the German perspective. I think we are improving and hopefully with the MLS teams starting youth clubs we can turn the corner, we'll see...my heart goes out to these kids who busted their asses off today to the apathetic elite of BS intelligensia who will never be happy with what the US does...
This team is absolutely incapable of scoring through open play; they have to rely on set pieces and throw-ins! The team is quite poor and not even CLOSE to the level of Argentina, Spain, Ghana, Nigeria, England etc
Brazil, Mexico, and Holland played wonderfully in the '05 tournament. Holland's 1-2-1-2 goal against us was a thing of beauty. There are very nice teams at this level, to date we just have not been one of them.
Hey y not "Firing's all around! While were at it, why don't we fire that jerk of a trainer who is cool to wear his hat the right way when he comes on the field...."Yeah! I agree"
I think everyone got their hopes up after the Freddy Adu U-17 era. I wouldn't worry about it. Very few U-17 squads end up making the senior team. If you look at our pasts squads, only 2-3 players go on to make the senior team.
Hey! At least the good thing about our Youth National Team is that we know we're better than this. At least we don't have the kind of team that makes us, the fans, say "Well, there we go again." everytime they play. So, the fact that we're absolutely capable of being a great National team is something that most others in the world would kill for!
please, that is just way below the belt, even for this board.... Like someone said previously, we WERE playing a MANager down all tourney... Clueless son of a gun...
If i'm not mistakened Harkes has an academy somewhere right? Why would he leave his academy for another (IMG)? Thats not going to happen! We need to lure Eddie Stewart away from Holland! Or tell Beckham while he is injured he has to help out the U-17's (since it looks like he will be injured a lot/not playing). That money can be put to some good use!
It is more about the frustration of losing 3 out of 4 matches. No shame in getting beat by one of the best countries, but the way we played leaves a lot to be desired from our youth development.
Harkes is an assisant to Bruce Arena at NY red bull right now....but he use to coach a little for the dc united super y teams 2-3 years ago.
You're right about Harkes. However, he is currently the Asst. Coach of the New York Red Bulls and if he aspires to be a full manager, he may be tempted to take over either the U-17's or U-20's. It wouldn't be a bad first Managerial post. On the other hand, Earnie Stewart does sound like an interesting choice.
Umm, Nigeria, England, Germany, Ghana, Argentina and Spain have all been playing "good" football. What in the hell are you talking about? And keep consoling yourself with excuses thinking "we will be good one day" and "we are getting better". If anything this is a step backwards, and a bad look for the American youth system that spends so much money in these academies. It's not the result that matters- it's the way it happened. The team wasn't competetive at all. They were absolutely dominated. It's people like you who are content with the status quo that hinder the progression of the US by accepting poor results and wasted money. My heart too goes out to the kids for being deceived that they were better than they actually were. This will undoubtedly demoralize some of them. These are 'kids' who are all on the verge of being professionals and they don't need to be coddled by soccer moms such as yourself. Really I could care less if we win or not, as long as we can look competitive doing so...
Yup...they supposedly trained every week day for a good part of the day for two years! I honestly don't see any difference between any of those guys and players here at Javanon at that age level. Not saying Javanon is better, but the US team isn't dominating better! The U-17's is there to identify potential and then mold it while at the same time giving it experience! It is a good idea just not that right coaches! Think about it this way.....most of the top hgihschool prospects in basketball do at somepoint go in to the NBA (the highest level in the world). All of those players on the US FIBA team were good in highschool and younger. You can asess talent at this age we just haven't found the ability to.
Those are Sepp Herberger's quotes: "Der Ball ist rund“, "Das Spiel dauert neunzig Minuten“. Herberger coached Germany from the 1936 until 1963, with a 6 years break from 1942-49 when the Germans had other things to do. He was a Parteigenosse but is more remembered as a Casey Stengel'ish type, a World Cup'1954 winner.
We all know how good the players are, we just don't have good coaches. All I know is that we have the Talent and it's not blossoming to its full potential.....someone is to blame there and it's not the players themselves.
LOL, if you can teach them technical skills and tacitical awareness plus good managing skills in terms of player selection, substitutions, and formations then you have that damn job! Yes, I am that frustrated! I envy your German youth system because that is what USA need to look at in order to emulate them!
OK, those who watched the game, I have it on TIVO ... who acquitted themselves well today? We must have had at least a couple of bright spots, guys who seemed as if they had the quality to play on the German squad. Let's talk some good news.
Lambo was really the only one who rated well today IMHO. Williams was dangerous with his long throws, really the only major threat we had in the match.
Earnie is his name, not Eddie. I agree that he have a chance to be a good manager for USMNT at any level because of his long career in Holland.
Sukuta-Pasu !!!! just remember this name I saw this guy to play many times in Leverkusen...he is talent.. remember his name. regards from BAyer Leverkusen fans!
I've never seen Williams play badly. I've seen him struggle with his distribution at times, but every other aspect of his game has always been good to excellent. He is very consistent for a youth player. I like him as a prospect.
Toni Kroos. For us? No one except maybe Lambo. Williams was okay but he's likely going to need rotator cuff surgery, and will definitely need to pitch some simulated games before he can go on a rehab stint in double-A. He should be good for some bullpen work by next August.