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2
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:16 am to dj30
quote:
It seems like people on this board don't believe athletic people have the capabilities to play soccer. Just because Eddie Johnson isn't a great soccer, doesn't mean X great American athlete couldn't be a good soccer play if he chose that sport. Fact of the matter is, you just don't know. And that goes both ways.
If this were true, the NBA wouldn't have tons of great "athletes" that bomb at a sport they are physically built to dominate at. Nobody is saying that athletic ability doesn't allow one to become a great soccer player, but assuming that physical ability = success in the sport of soccer is idiotic. Look at the Spanish team. Their players are tiny, but so effective. Being able to run through a guy like AP can in football doesn't mean he can control his body in a way that fits soccer if trained, and same goes for other athletes.
Would it help if some of these tremendous athletes went to soccer rather than their sport of choice? Sure, but not as much as some of you think.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:18 am to Geauxgurt
A 4.3 40 doesn't really mean much when you run with a ball at your feet.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:20 am to SabiDojo
I´d settle for 5.2, if they can run with it ´pegado´. 
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:21 am to ForkEmDemons
quote:
no offense, but we aren't mediocre, not even close.
I'm not sure if you are trying to say this is as a good thing or a bad thing.
In truth we are a top fifteen team that punches well above their weight. We've been able to get results against top competition for the last two WC cycles. We are mediocre when compared to the best nations in the world, but we are really good in the overall scheme of things.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:22 am to Dandy Lion
Exactly.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:37 am to ForkEmDemons
quote:
no offense, but we aren't mediocre, not even close.
A few nice runs in the world cup and qualifying to be there from one of the weakest confederations indeed equals mediocre.
The US has improved this year, and I was very happy to see it, but realistically, despite this run, watching them, they are a mediocre team given the resources available to them. Again, a team from a country of 3,000,000 people did the same as a team from a rich country with a population of over 300,000,000. That goes back to the youth system here.
This post was edited on 7/2/14 at 1:39 am
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:41 am to SabiDojo
quote:
A 4.3 40 doesn't really mean much when you run with a ball at your feet.
That's part of my point. There is more to the sport than physical ability. Soccer, more than a sport like American football, is truly a skill-driven sport whereas football is a more physical talent driven sport like basketball outside of the QB position.
That isn't to say American football and basketball don't take a great amount of skill, but physical abilities can make a bigger difference in those sports.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:57 am to Geauxgurt
That doesn't mean we're mediocre. Are we at our peak? No. Are we utilizing our resources effectively from a developmental standpoint? Hell no. Are we getting the best out of what players we do have at the senior level? Yeah, I think so or at least close to it. Are we an "average" team on the world stage? Well, being a top 16 team in the world is not really average in my book. It's not where I want us to be, but it could be a lot worse.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 3:40 am to Geauxgurt
quote:
Population, wealth, and growing popularity, it isn't going to make better soccer players.
You're right, that alone will not make better soccer players. That said, the growing interest in the sport, as well as our wealth, means more money is going to be invested in the game here in the states. That means better training for future players, and thus better soccer players. This idea is laid out pretty well in Soccernomics. Great read, imo.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 8:30 am to Geauxgurt
quote:bullshite! I don't see much difference in the skill levels of Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. I see a world of difference in athleticism. Why are Ibrahimovich and Balotelli so much more popular than Pirlo or Iniesta? It isn't due to their superior skills.
Soccer, more than a sport like American football, is truly a skill-driven sport whereas football is a more physical talent driven sport like basketball outside of the QB position.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 11:04 am to Poodlebrain
quote:
Ibrahimovich
This is a poor example for the point you're trying to make. Ibra is big, but he's also one of the most skilled players in the world.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:30 pm to RB10
It is the combination of great skills and superior athleticism that make Ibrahimovich, Balotelli and Ronaldo fan favorites. The game has changed since 2010 where athleticism is at a premium. Spain didn't lose its technical skills over the past 4 years, and the rest of the world didn't advance theirs so much to explain Spain's failure at the World Cup. They were beaten by teams with better athletes. The same applies to England, Portugal and other nations that were considered disappointments. If you look at the 8 remaining teams you will see that they are all more athletic than the countries that have been eliminated, many of which were just as skillful.
Please point out any of the 8 elimination games played so far in which the team with superior athleticism lost.
Please point out any of the 8 elimination games played so far in which the team with superior athleticism lost.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:34 pm to cwil177
There's a reason Jurgen wants his players in Europe, where they would be competing for their jobs every day, instead of MLS, where they would be "big fish in a small pond."
The training and technical work in Europe is far ahead of U.S. (we're catching up), and you get better by playing with and against better players. Just look at what Geoff Cameron has done in the last three years. Dempsey wouldn't be where he is if not for Fulham.
The more our guys play in Europe and bring back their knowledge, the better we'll get.
One day, we'll (hopefully) have a domestic league that attracts top talents from other countries; until then we have to export some talent.
The training and technical work in Europe is far ahead of U.S. (we're catching up), and you get better by playing with and against better players. Just look at what Geoff Cameron has done in the last three years. Dempsey wouldn't be where he is if not for Fulham.
The more our guys play in Europe and bring back their knowledge, the better we'll get.
One day, we'll (hopefully) have a domestic league that attracts top talents from other countries; until then we have to export some talent.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:36 pm to Poodlebrain
quote:
Why are Ibrahimovich and Balotelli so much more popular than Pirlo or Iniesta? It isn't due to their superior skills.
What?
Pirlo and Iniesta are two legends. Ibra is a stud, and Balotelli is a promising talent, and both are characters, but neither reaches the international legend of Pirlo or Iniesta.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:37 pm to Geauxgurt
quote:
qualifying to be there from one of the weakest confederations indeed equals mediocre
Just because we're not Europe or South America doesn't mean we're from 'one of the weakest confederations.'
Italy, Spain, and England all went home. Mexico, U.S., and Costa Rica all go through.
Quit talking out of your arse.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:38 pm to Poodlebrain
quote:
Why are Ibrahimovich and Balotelli so much more popular than Pirlo or Iniesta? It isn't due to their superior skills.
Those two are popular because they're wildcard, headcases with immense talent.
All that to say, I don't even agree that they're more popular than Pirlo or Iniesta.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:46 pm to Stewie Griffin
It is easier said than done. The European clubs are not interested in helping the average American player develop his skills. They can find players with adequate skills to develop just about anywhere. They want young players with superior athleticism, and we don't have an abundance of those players right now. Our youth programs are producing more of them each year, but we still have a way to go.
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:47 pm to Poodlebrain
quote:
combination of great skills and superior athleticism that make Ibrahimovich
Ibra is not a superior athlete he's just big. He's not that fast and, honestly, is not that strong for someone his size. Ballotelli, drogba, lukaku, Gyan, and origi are all much better examples of the point you're trying to make.
Also, the most athletic team in the WC was, IMO, Ghana. Where are they now?
Posted on 7/2/14 at 1:49 pm to RB10
The USMNT is already an elite team athletically.
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