Originally Posted by penguinz:
USMNT peaked in 2002. There is no pride in a team that really isn't competitive on the world stage and hasn't been for over 2 decades.
as a "team playing well together", sure.
But talent-wise, top-to-bottom of roster, this group is WAY more talented than 2002.
2002 to probably 2015ish, USA played kick-ball (bunker down on defense, kick the ball long for a "god I hope we can score on a counter).
We had terrible ball movement, touches, and possession.
This team has better in nearly every position except the back-line and probably goalie. [Reply]
Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED:
On the plus side it does look like the US have found a striker. They showed a lot of good attacking movement with Flo at ST when he was in. That Weah red card will haunt us for a while. This was really the last real test before the World Cup. We have Nations League, but I think Peter Vermes could coach this team to a Nations league win in CONCACAF right now the way Mexico has been playing. One bone headed mistake cost this team from really getting a good barometer of where they are at ahead of the World Cup. Instead it’s just a bunch of what ifs that will likely save Berhalter and drive us all absolutely insane.
Peter Vermes can’t even coach SKC to a win. [Reply]
When will you learn that this country doesn't give a fuck about soccer? It's our 5th tier athletes against everyone else's top tier athletic freaks [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brioni:
When will you learn that this country doesn't give a **** about soccer? It's our 5th tier athletes against everyone else's top tier athletic freaks
Same for Canada, but Canada actually advances instead of getting grouped by Panama in the Copa.
Considering its overall talent and resources available, USA might be the biggest disappointment in soccer these days. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brioni:
When will you learn that this country doesn't give a **** about soccer? It's our 5th tier athletes against everyone else's top tier athletic freaks
We are a country of over 300 million, while we just lost to a country who is a little over 3 million….
I’d have to believe we have at least 3 million Americans out of the 300 million that care about soccer. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Pasta Little Brioni:
When will you learn that this country doesn't give a fuck about soccer? It's our 5th tier athletes against everyone else's top tier athletic freaks
People always say this and it lets me know that they don't follow US soccer. The problem isn't, and never has been, our athleticism. The US team is known for always running and never quitting. The problems lie with how they deal with tactical situations (how they see the game unfold and make decisions) and strategic alignment (coaching strategies, such as the awful defensive formation played against Panama). [Reply]
Originally Posted by loochy:
People always say this and it lets me know that they don't follow US soccer. The problem isn't, and never has been, our athleticism. The US team is known for always running and never quitting. The problems lie with how they deal with tactical situations (how they see the game unfold and make decisions) and strategic alignment (coaching strategies, such as the awful defensive formation played against Panama).
Well yes seeing the field is part of being an elite athlete. It's not all about physical traits. Our best tiered athletes simply play other sports. US soccer is a disgrace. [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJJasonp:
as a "team playing well together", sure.
But talent-wise, top-to-bottom of roster, this group is WAY more talented than 2002.
2002 to probably 2015ish, USA played kick-ball (bunker down on defense, kick the ball long for a "god I hope we can score on a counter).
We had terrible ball movement, touches, and possession.
This team has better in nearly every position except the back-line and probably goalie.
Yeah I agree. There is a ton more talent in US soccer. And I don’t think people appreciate how much during the this time span US soccer got skull fucked by greed. MLS was more important than US soccer. We blackballed players from playing in Europe, which is like telling Luka doncic he can never play for his national team if he ever played in the US. Of course you’re gonna play like shit if you’re surrounded by scrubs and minor league coaching. This isn’t theory, by the way. It was until recently that mls divorced itself from US soccer.
The fact that most players are now playing in the most competitive soccer leagues is a huge start. And there’s too much talent to have failed this badly at COPA. While they’ve gotten a little better at player development, berhalter is a remnant of that shit. [Reply]
Also, America is a ginormous country. There are a gajillion athletes out there. You can’t tell me we don’t have athletes even if many prioritize the big 3. Hell, we have tons of Hispanics in this country who probably love soccer more than any sport. There is simply no excuse. And I still believe a huge part of the problem is pay to play. College basketball doesn’t revolve their recruiting around travel leagues and academies. They go to the hood and they find players and then they develop the hell out of them. Soccer should be one of the EASIEST sports to recruit from poor neighborhoods because you barely need any equipment to learn to be great [Reply]
Originally Posted by KC_Connection:
Same for Canada, but Canada actually advances instead of getting grouped by Panama in the Copa.
Considering its overall talent and resources available, USA might be the biggest disappointment in soccer these days.
No one challenges the Brits when it comes to disappointing soccer. At least non-retired USA fans have seen their country lift a trophy in their lifetimes. [Reply]