re: I know it’s cliche, but our best athletes would dominate Soccer.

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This myopic mindset is the weirdest part for me, arguing a very sterile, static style as if it's the only way. Soccer changes and different styles become dominant over time. This is why Brazil and Italy have having so many problems now producing the same level of talent in the current modern version of soccer.

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Yep. You know what their arguments remind me of? Years ago when it was “common knowledge among football fans” that being a quarterback in the NFL was about intelligence and black players couldn’t possibly play the position and their athleticism was useless in the position.

Until black players started getting a chance and they completely redefined the position.

A couple other arguments I want to make in this thread:

1. The U.S. talent pool for soccer is pretty shallow. With a shallow talent pool you might have some athletic guys who aren’t so skilled. We might have some pretty skilled guys who aren’t that athletic. Or we might have guys who are kind of athletic and kind of skilled but not elite in any particular area.

If soccer was the main sport, we’d be producing guys who are both elite athletically in every way that makes up a great sportsman, while also being elite in the skills department. In every position on the field.

2. People mostly just talk about NFL and NBA players. Think of all of the thousands and thousands of very athletic and skilled players who may have made fantastic soccer players but either never made it to the NBA or NFL or washed out quickly because they were only 5’10” and 180 lbs. So many players out there never grew into the size required to play in the NFL or NBA yet would be been the perfect size for soccer.

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I think this is the most important point in all these discussions. People focus on the absolute high end of our athletes (like a LeBron) who are frankly better suited to play the exact sport they are elite at.

There are plenty who are incredible athletes but perhaps better suited for soccer, but we will never know if they could have excelled at it

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This is a much better take. The absolute of if this if every elite athlete played soccer no matter their age, height, build, skill is tiresome and leaves out ton legit questions outside of skill. And it goes for every sport, what if Jamaica's WR holder 4x100M team all stuck with soccer and became stars, what if TJ Watt was a hockey goalie, etc, etc.

Last, so much of football, basketball, baseball is evaluated on physical metrics, often for good reasons. Playing these sports in my youth, generally the best athletes were usually the best players. But at every level of soccer I've watched or participated usually the best players were those who understand the game and processed what was happening better/faster than anyone else. A bigger pool of youth players who have great athletic potential is important, but only pushing the best athletes to play soccer isn't it either.

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If soccer was the main sport, we’d be producing guys who are both elite athletically in every way that makes up a great sportsman, while also being elite in the skills department. In every position on the field.

2. People mostly just talk about NFL and NBA players. Think of all of the thousands and thousands of very athletic and skilled players who may have made fantastic soccer players but either never made it to the NBA or NFL or washed out quickly because they were only 5’10” and 180 lbs. So many players out there never grew into the size required to play in the NFL or NBA yet would be been the perfect size for soccer.

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Exactly this. Put every young baseball, football, and basketball athlete into a soccer bucket and see who rises to the top. The argument against is completely ludacris.

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But at every level of soccer I've watched or participated usually the best players were those who understand the game and processed what was happening better/faster than anyone else

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Jesus Christ

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But at every level of soccer I've watched or participated usually the best players were those who understand the game and processed what was happening better/faster than anyone else

Jesus Christ

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Lol, and what happened when those same guys that were better at processing things were also better athletes. These numbnuts seem to think these 2 things have to be mutually exclusive.

What is he like 5’8

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Imagine if Brazil had a near God playing defense

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He's 6'3" and one of the best defenders in the world. I watch him every week because he plays for the team I follow.

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He's 6'3" and one of the best defenders in the world. I watch him every week because he plays for the team I follow.

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Everybody is the best at something until someone bigger, faster, stronger, and with a higher sports IQ comes along

I know you’re old money or whatever but maybe read a page or two of a thread

Enjoy Finn’s

Explain how America was once dominant in tennis, now we have limited presence at the top.