OT: USA 3 Panama 2

[UConnDan97]

Aren't some of you missing the point ...

You have 5-9 years running around on a field. Enjoying being on a Team. WTF. That is far better than a many of their alternatives. We don't have to be a nation that always has the BEST sports training because we want to compete at the World Cup level. I think its great that Waquoit is out there getting kids active and having fun.

How are we going to improve? The American way. Elite kids are going to be spotted (as I remember when I was coaching) at 5 and 6 and go to travel squads ... and go to a Regional training program ... and go to a NIKE sponsored network. We won't be Italy or England. But, we can get better. We are clearly seeing elements of that in the last few years.

It can't be both??? Are you saying you can't have the casual people like Waquoit helping out youth to have some fun AND to also become great in the sport as a nation??

I'd argue that we CAN have both. I'd argue that we CAN be as good as Italy or England. In fact, I'm pretty sure we will be. Look at how we've handled CONCACAF in recent history. It used to be that we needed a miracle goal from Paul Caligiuri against Trinidad and Tobago to even get in the WC. Now, we expect to be the top team on the continent...

 

[Pudge]

No one should ignore the pure good thing that has happened. Parents get their kids running around with a soccer ball. Far easier at that young age than baseball or hoop ... and I still can't believe the Pop Warner stuff. Yes, YOU can have a good clean fun sport and training for elite levels.

Caligiuri? I was an athlete in HS; I could run and was never afraid of contact. One year (SOPH) I had a heart murmur and the doctor wanted me not to play football. When I got passed by the cardiologist, the Football coach told me it was too late in Sept. My Biology teacher was the Soccer coach of this very large NYS high school. He knew me from track. With little fanfare, he talked me into playing Soccer and put me on the field the first week (having never played). So ... from that - Varsity soccer having never played ... to Caligiuri (and a rather unimpressive 1990 roster) ... to Today: that's light years in 35 years. We are a big country and the capacity to have lots of elite athletes moving quickly to a USMNT.
My English friends tell me that there are 50 better Pro leagues than the MLS. I laugh. I see everything getting far better with the US in this sport. We will get to a great competitive level in a few World Cups.

 

[ZooCougar]

That article is crap. I love that the MLS league is really doing well ... and many many franchises are exciting. But, please ... don't tell me that the LA Galaxy is like the Yankees. etc etc

That's not what it said.

 

[ZooCougar]

Aren't some of you missing the point ...

You have 5-9 years running around on a field. Enjoying being on a Team. WTF. That is far better than a many of their alternatives. We don't have to be a nation that always has the BEST sports training because we want to compete at the World Cup level. I think its great that Waquoit is out there getting kids active and having fun.

How are we going to improve? The American way. Elite kids are going to be spotted (as I remember when I was coaching) at 5 and 6 and go to travel squads ... and go to a Regional training program ... and go to a NIKE sponsored network. We won't be Italy or England. But, we can get better. We are clearly seeing elements of that in the last few years.

That whole hope elite kids get spotted thing just doesn't work. You have to raise the overall level of play because it was too low, our elites just really aren't that elite otherwise.

 

[Waquoit]

Congratulations.

If you're done playing a martyr, maybe you'll realize you are still missing the point.

I get the point fine. You think kids playing soccer for fun is a waste of time. "Playing the martyr". What a douchy thing to say.