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Why isn't US men's soccer better than it is?
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:03 pm
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:03 pm
This is likely a topic that has been discussed here before, but this is probably the time that this board gets its highest volume of traffic.
I understand that in the US our elite athletes are likely drawn to other sports. I don't think that should be an excuse, though. For instance,
US population - 328 million
Croatia population - 4.1 million
yet here Croatia is, on the verge of their second World Cup semifinal in 20 years.
I only follow soccer peripherally, so could some of you in the know help me understand?
I understand that in the US our elite athletes are likely drawn to other sports. I don't think that should be an excuse, though. For instance,
US population - 328 million
Croatia population - 4.1 million
yet here Croatia is, on the verge of their second World Cup semifinal in 20 years.
I only follow soccer peripherally, so could some of you in the know help me understand?
15
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:05 pm to High C
quote:That doesn't matter.
I understand that in the US our elite athletes are likely drawn to other sports
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:05 pm to High C
Coaching, scouting, our professional league structure and pay to play.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:07 pm to High C
Short version: Pay to play
Long version:
Shitty youth system that wastes the best players in our player pool. Shitty federation that refuses wide scale top-down investment. Players who have to use their athleticism to hide their technical deficiencies rather than use their technical ability to maximize their athleticism.
Long version:
Shitty youth system that wastes the best players in our player pool. Shitty federation that refuses wide scale top-down investment. Players who have to use their athleticism to hide their technical deficiencies rather than use their technical ability to maximize their athleticism.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:08 pm to High C
Poor scouting and proper development. We need to focus on areas with biggest immigrant populations and also work on educating the American population at large.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:08 pm to pvilleguru
Yep. I just had a long discussion on the poliboard about this.
We probably have a player pool as committed to the sport as Croatia. We just do a terrible job developing that pool.
We probably have a player pool as committed to the sport as Croatia. We just do a terrible job developing that pool.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:08 pm to crazy4lsu
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:09 pm to RollTide4Ever
I've been saying that for a damn near decade. Finally it's getting to the mainstream.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:09 pm to High C
The short answer is development in elite European club systems. For a point of comparison -- you don't become an elite basketball player by playing in the Italian league. You go to the NBA. The top leagues in England, Spain, Germany, and Italy are like the NBA. If you want to be the elite, you need to be playing in those leagues.
The good news is that we have more and more younger players coming up through elite European club systems. That is going to make us relatively more competitive in the long run.
The good news is that we have more and more younger players coming up through elite European club systems. That is going to make us relatively more competitive in the long run.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:09 pm to StraightCashHomey21
Simple the best athletes play other sports
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:10 pm to Ancient Astronaut
quote:
Simple the best athletes play other sports
Wrong answer.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:10 pm to crazy4lsu
It'll get better with the next few generations as more people really grow up with the sport.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:11 pm to pvilleguru
Hopefully.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:12 pm to High C
Cause all of our best athletes are playing basketball or football.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:14 pm to ShamelessPel
quote:
Cause all of our best athletes are playing basketball or football.
No. The best body profile for soccer wouldn't even be playing in the NFL or NBA.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:15 pm to Ancient Astronaut
quote:
Simple the best athletes play other sports
If that's the case, why isn't Nigeria one of the best soccer playing nations in the world? They're mad about the sport, have a population of 200 million and are loaded with elite athletes.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:16 pm to Bench McElroy
Because it’s Nigeria
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:17 pm to Ancient Astronaut
What does that mean?
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:17 pm to crazy4lsu
quote:I just keep thinking back to when I was playing. Most coaches were dads that really didn't know much. They didn't grow up with it, didn't play it, didn't really know how to teach technical skills. As it grows, kids will get better coaching from the start. I never played club, but I didn't have a coach that really knew what he was doing until I was in 7th grade.
Hopefully.
Ultimately, we need soccer to be something kids play in the backyard, outside of a structured league.
Posted on 7/7/18 at 3:17 pm to Ancient Astronaut
quote:
Simple the best athletes play other sports
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