More proof da isn't working

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But sure, GDA will definitely help keep the women ahead of the pack.

Enjoy the last WC win for USA for a very long time.

Well, to be fair, this US team is quite old. The ladies coming up haven't been able to match what these aging players have been able to do. And, almost all of the new round of ladies aren't DA products since it's only two years in. So, if the ladies do fail after this run, you will have to blame who developed them.

The current crop coming through, if/when they fail, you can then blame GDA for it. You're a few years away from that/

Of course, it's doubtful the US Women can continue to churn the results they've been able to since 1991 as there is more competition today and more leagues all over Europe that didn't exist not long ago. So, a drop is inevitable. But, that's a different discussion.

[Unregistered]

Well, to be fair, this US team is quite old. The ladies coming up haven't been able to match what these aging players have been able to do. And, almost all of the new round of ladies aren't DA products since it's only two years in. So, if the ladies do fail after this run, you will have to blame who developed them.

The current crop coming through, if/when they fail, you can then blame GDA for it. You're a few years away from that/

Of course, it's doubtful the US Women can continue to churn the results they've been able to since 1991 as there is more competition today and more leagues all over Europe that didn't exist not long ago. So, a drop is inevitable. But, that's a different discussion.

Agreed. The competition is very good. Thanks to US soccer scholarships. Many of the competition on the field in the WC for many of the other national teams played college ball (or are currently playing college ball) in the US. IF US wants to keep the competition high in the states, maybe it needs to actually invest the US college dollars in US citizens/players. There should be a cap at the amount of international players that can play in US colleges.

[Unregistered]

Well, to be fair, this US team is quite old. The ladies coming up haven't been able to match what these aging players have been able to do. And, almost all of the new round of ladies aren't DA products since it's only two years in. So, if the ladies do fail after this run, you will have to blame who developed them.

The current crop coming through, if/when they fail, you can then blame GDA for it. You're a few years away from that/

Of course, it's doubtful the US Women can continue to churn the results they've been able to since 1991 as there is more competition today and more leagues all over Europe that didn't exist not long ago. So, a drop is inevitable. But, that's a different discussion.

On the womens side - I agree that this team is older and in need of some youth. We will have to wait and see how DA effects the USWNT program in the next 4 years. The women's game has evolved and other countries are catching up to the USA's success and level of play.

As far as the men - it clearly has not helped the USA cause. 90% of the USMNT pool are DA products and the USA Men are less competitive than they were 12 years ago on the world stage. We always have success and can be competitive at the u20 level but when it comes to the "real deal" in World Cup we are falling way behind.

[Unregistered]

On the womens side - I agree that this team is older and in need of some youth. We will have to wait and see how DA effects the USWNT program in the next 4 years. The women's game has evolved and other countries are catching up to the USA's success and level of play.

As far as the men - it clearly has not helped the USA cause. 90% of the USMNT pool are DA products and the USA Men are less competitive than they were 12 years ago on the world stage. We always have success and can be competitive at the u20 level but when it comes to the "real deal" in World Cup we are falling way behind.

I don't disagree with the premise on the men's side DA hasn't done anything to help them. Not sure of the reasoning. I always felt the US when it had success -which was just getting to the quarters being being competitive- was the result of a little luck, and a lot of hard work. We were never the most talented team in any group we were in.

Luck comes and goes. But, if our biggest strength was just working hard, that can also come and go and I don't see DA doing anything to further that. So, once the workrate drops it's where skill should take over. That's where I think you can "blame" DA.

Said differently: The rest of the world's game has so far advanced that we just can't outwork them to be successful, and our development of the player isn't there yet. Is a decade a long enough time? Not sure, but that's what we have to work with.

[Unregistered]

On the womens side - I agree that this team is older and in need of some youth. We will have to wait and see how DA effects the USWNT program in the next 4 years. The women's game has evolved and other countries are catching up to the USA's success and level of play.

As far as the men - it clearly has not helped the USA cause. 90% of the USMNT pool are DA products and the USA Men are less competitive than they were 12 years ago on the world stage. We always have success and can be competitive at the u20 level but when it comes to the "real deal" in World Cup we are falling way behind.

The women's game has evolved and other countries are catching up to the USA's success and level of play.

Many passed the US level of play a long time ago. The area whey they have struggled to compete is volume, investment and culture towards women playing the sport. The US models are largely the same for boys and girls. Comical that the conventional wisdom is fro women its great and men its bad. Its sub optimal for both. Women started with a massive headstart .

[Unregistered]

The US mens team has made "some" progress. The problem is that many other teams are improving at an even more rapid rate. Some of the up and coming countries weren't even a factor a few years ago. Iceland? Then there's countries like France, Germany and England who have not only revamped but have also benefited from a crop of young immigrants/first generation players

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The US mens team has made "some" progress. The problem is that many other teams are improving at an even more rapid rate. Some of the up and coming countries weren't even a factor a few years ago. Iceland? Then there's countries like France, Germany and England who have not only revamped but have also benefited from a crop of young immigrants/first generation players

And we keep rolling out Michael Bradley and Josie Altidore who have never won anything on the world level... 🤔🧐🤔🧐

[Unregistered]

As far as the men - it clearly has not helped the USA cause. 90% of the USMNT pool are DA products and the USA Men are less competitive than they were 12 years ago on the world stage. We always have success and can be competitive at the u20 level but when it comes to the "real deal" in World Cup we are falling way behind.

The real problem on the men's side, as many have pointed out over the years, is how players are being developed AFTER they age out of the DA system. These are crucial years and no real development plan is in place here. Most of the players graduating from the DA system end up in college, where development is stifled (only 4 of the 21 on the U20 NT roster played in college, all 4 left after one year), and a small percentage end up at the bottom of an MLS roster with very little playing time. The smart ones head over to Europe. Looking at the U20 men's team, 11 are currently playing overseas, and 10 playing MLS/USL. It will be interesting to watch this group of players over the next few years to see if there is a difference in development.

Maybe if there were a more defined development system for the DA graduates, more of them would take the risk of making a career of soccer and forgo college, creating a larger pool of well trained players for the USMNT to choose from, and also strengthening the MLS. As it is now, after aging out of DA, if you don't head over to Europe or land one of the handful of MLS homegrown contracts, you pretty much have to admit defeat and head to college to start preparing for a non-soccer career. Many of these players have the potential to become solid professionals if they could only be given a real development path from 18-21 years of age. It would be great to see an MLS league full of young Americans with a bright careers ahead of them, rather than full of aging players who could no longer make the cut at their old league.

[Unregistered]

The real problem on the men's side, as many have pointed out over the years, is how players are being developed AFTER they age out of the DA system. These are crucial years and no real development plan is in place here. Most of the players graduating from the DA system end up in college, where development is stifled (only 4 of the 21 on the U20 NT roster played in college, all 4 left after one year), and a small percentage end up at the bottom of an MLS roster with very little playing time. The smart ones head over to Europe. Looking at the U20 men's team, 11 are currently playing overseas, and 10 playing MLS/USL. It will be interesting to watch this group of players over the next few years to see if there is a difference in development.

Maybe if there were a more defined development system for the DA graduates, more of them would take the risk of making a career of soccer and forgo college, creating a larger pool of well trained players for the USMNT to choose from, and also strengthening the MLS. As it is now, after aging out of DA, if you don't head over to Europe or land one of the handful of MLS homegrown contracts, you pretty much have to admit defeat and head to college to start preparing for a non-soccer career. Many of these players have the potential to become solid professionals if they could only be given a real development path from 18-21 years of age. It would be great to see an MLS league full of young Americans with a bright careers ahead of them, rather than full of aging players who could no longer make the cut at their old league.

Your post illustrates the very point that DA is NOT turning out the level of player needed to play overseas or at the highest international levels. If DA products are (the theme you suggested is “settling”) for college soccer, then clearly DA is not producing euro level professionals. Otherwise, if DA grads were capable of playing above MLS bench play - wouldn’t the euro clubs want them? Your argument contradicts itself.

[Unregistered]

Your post illustrates the very point that DA is NOT turning out the level of player needed to play overseas or at the highest international levels. If DA products are (the theme you suggested is “settling”) for college soccer, then clearly DA is not producing euro level professionals. Otherwise, if DA grads were capable of playing above MLS bench play - wouldn’t the euro clubs want them? Your argument contradicts itself.

Not the poster but just wanted to add that college and MLS rosters show a definite penchant for international players. They may not have been good enough to play at home in Germany or Brazil, but they have no trouble beating out US DA players for spots.

[Unregistered]

More proof da isn't working

Not the poster but just wanted to add that college and MLS rosters show a definite penchant for international players. They may not have been good enough to play at home in Germany or Brazil, but they have no trouble beating out US DA players for spots.

maybe we just have to accept the fact we have bad water here in the us for developing world class soccer players?

[Unregistered]

maybe we just have to accept the fact we have bad water here in the us for developing world class soccer players?

no soccer culture, costly pay to play, 5th most popular sport by a country mile, ridiculous never changing landscape, limited pro path, focus on college not a career, piss poor management at the highest levels who can't develop their way out of a paper bag....you mean that?

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no soccer culture, costly pay to play, 5th most popular sport by a country mile, ridiculous never changing landscape, limited pro path, focus on college not a career, piss poor management at the highest levels who can't develop their way out of a paper bag....you mean that?

And DA only makes those points worse - not better. Costly to play, not popular, changing landscape of coaches, limited pro path should have changed with DA in men’s soccer by now. Of course there is a focus on college soccer - get money to help pay for an education- why not? Especially if there is a limited pro path as you say.

DA across the board is watered down - if USA soccer we’re serious about increases in level of play, there would only be 20-25 teams nationally for DA. Not the numbers we see now. When the US men were competitive- we were selecting what was essentially an all star college team made up of the youngest, most athletic, and best 20 somethings we had.

[Unregistered]

And DA only makes those points worse - not better. Costly to play, not popular, changing landscape of coaches, limited pro path should have changed with DA in men’s soccer by now. Of course there is a focus on college soccer - get money to help pay for an education- why not? Especially if there is a limited pro path as you say.

DA across the board is watered down - if USA soccer we’re serious about increases in level of play, there would only be 20-25 teams nationally for DA. Not the numbers we see now. When the US men were competitive- we were selecting what was essentially an all star college team made up of the youngest, most athletic, and best 20 somethings we had.

OP here - totally agree. Back then we had a functioning ODP that got players from all over, not just one league. DA in its current format wont' fix what needs fixing. Maybe DA makes a few tweaks but that's it. That league should be about a pro path and only for the nation's truly elite who might go pro, very top D1 or nt someday. That's what those players need. The rest can play DA II or whatever al[phabetical letters you want to call it.

[Unregistered]

OP here - totally agree. Back then we had a functioning ODP that got players from all over, not just one league. DA in its current format wont' fix what needs fixing. Maybe DA makes a few tweaks but that's it. That league should be about a pro path and only for the nation's truly elite who might go pro, very top D1 or nt someday. That's what those players need. The rest can play DA II or whatever al[phabetical letters you want to call it.

The real problem is the logistics of having an "Elite" DA league in a country this big. Unfortunately, our geography necessitates the abundance of DA teams that we currently have, which waters down the concentration of talent. Youth teams taking flights to weekly league games is never going to happen.

I think ideally there needs to be multiple (say 6-8) residential academies set up in one or two small regions in the country, maybe CA and NY-Philly area? All the best players in the country would gravitate to these two regions and academies would be close enough so that the travel for league play wouldn't be too costly or time consuming. Yes, you'll miss out on a lot of players who don't want to leave home, but at least there will be some sort of concentration of very strong players, rather than the severely watered down mess we have now where the best players are spread so far and wide that they rarely get a chance to play with or compete against one another.

I still can't for the life of me figure out why US Soccer tossed the U17 residential program in Florida. That was one thing they had been doing right, gathering a group of very strong players and having them live and train together for a year of two while playing with the YNT.