End of ECNL vs GA Debate

[Guest]

We all agree that Cruff was a total visionary with La Mesa academy. When you have the caliber of offensive players like Messi, Xavi & Inestria that system absolutely works. How is Barca doing now. Coaches like Pep & Klopp have no problem sending balls over the top to their fast forwards and wingers. That’s speed. Most of the top college programs right now now use wingers to play fullbacks and want them to go forward in the attack. They use the center backs wide and drop the defensive midfielder further back. That’s the use of speed in college today.

Yes, but among all the 'fast' players, who is more effective, the player who nearly always gets the good first touch to carry the ball in or the player who takes a moment to get the ball under control which allows the defender to recover. Two points, one covered above 1- the conversation is taking it as a given that we are discussing separation among the top players, all of whom have 'athleticism' 2- starting at a young age you can focus on improving your technique as a differentiator. This is something you can control. Conversely, your athleticism, in most part, is out of your control. It is an essential asset, but one that is largely not improvable.

[Guest]

Yes, but among all the 'fast' players, who is more effective, the player who nearly always gets the good first touch to carry the ball in or the player who takes a moment to get the ball under control which allows the defender to recover. Two points, one covered above 1- the conversation is taking it as a given that we are discussing separation among the top players, all of whom have 'athleticism' 2- starting at a young age you can focus on improving your technique as a differentiator. This is something you can control. Conversely, your athleticism, in most part, is out of your control. It is an essential asset, but one that is largely not improvable.

The conversation went back to athleticism and speed vs technical. Not that you are saying that here, but that is not the point I was trying to make when I brought up Cryuff. The point was that athletics and speed come in forms but that a sharper, quicker more technical thinker will always have an advantage.

Majority of the players we are discussing are naturally athletic - that’s a given. Let me she a little about my player as I’m sure many can relate.

My kid has always been athletic- at age 5 she could do 10 full pull ups. It was freakish. She was good at all the sports she tried. Not average but really good. Most parents on here can relate. In 8th grade she decided to play basketball, having never played a day in her life. She was the best on the team (school) but when she came up against a technical player, way less athletic she was smoked. She played tennis and was so good the instructor was shocked she had never played. But when she went to play against a trained player who was younger and much less athletic she couldn’t return a single ball.
She choose soccer and is all those athletic things: tall, big, strong, fast. But she has a lot of work to do. So my point is that being athletic, fast isn’t enough. She needs more than that, once she figures that out (not me or her coach telling her) but within herself- then it will click. Thanks for the nice dialogue.

[Guest]

The technical skill is what slows the game down and allows fast decisions. Quicker thinking will beat athleticism most times. Quick thinking and athletic is elite.

womens game is very poorly developed, including the big ncaa programs so they give more weight to fast running. When it comes to football it is simple. The more running you see, then worse the level of play is.

[Guest]

The technical skill is what slows the game down and allows fast decisions. Quicker thinking will beat athleticism most times. Quick thinking and athletic is elite.

womens game is very poorly developed, including the big ncaa programs so they give more weight to fast running. When it comes to football it is simple. The more running you see, then worse the level of play is.

So true. This is why the European teams are on the rise. After watching much of the Euro Cup I fully expect the US Women will have their hands full as time progresses.

[Guest]

NJ Blaze will show everyone at Spirit United who the REAL #1 club is!

[Guest]

So true. This is why the European teams are on the rise. After watching much of the Euro Cup I fully expect the US Women will have their hands full as time progresses.

The world absolutely is catching up, quickly, and will soon pass us. Our poor performance at the Olympics[ics wasn't just about some poor roster choices (picking older name players for marketing). Will Americans still watch? They love winners but don't like soccer so much. Ask the MNT.

[Guest]

The technical skill is what slows the game down and allows fast decisions. Quicker thinking will beat athleticism most times. Quick thinking and athletic is elite.

womens game is very poorly developed, including the big ncaa programs so they give more weight to fast running. When it comes to football it is simple. The more running you see, then worse the level of play is.

I agree with all of this. Except the use of the word simple. Think there is a better term for what you are describing but not sure what it is for Americans. The Americans equate “simple” with plain and stupid.

[Guest]

The technical skill is what slows the game down and allows fast decisions. Quicker thinking will beat athleticism most times. Quick thinking and athletic is elite.

womens game is very poorly developed, including the big ncaa programs so they give more weight to fast running. When it comes to football it is simple. The more running you see, then worse the level of play is.

More sweeping generalizations here. The big NCAA programs like who?

[Guest]

I agree with all of this. Except the use of the word simple. Think there is a better term for what you are describing but not sure what it is for Americans. The Americans equate “simple” with plain and stupid.

More Cruyff:

"Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

[Guest]

More Cruyff:

"Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

This ^^- it’s not simple. What’s the better term? Neat? Organized? Clean?

[Guest]

More Cruyff:

"Playing football is very simple, but playing simple football is the hardest thing there is.”

This is a great one especially in the age of IG

Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.

[Guest]

This is a great one especially in the age of IG

Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.

A perfect example of not having proper technique is when the backs/ Defenders have been given an angle and some space- although narrow, to pass quickly and accurately to move the ball forward-and they are unable to pass it through the channel given. They don't have the skillset to pass it accurately, They lose the ball in the back with errand passes or after a while, they lose confidence and hold the ball too long creating turnovers. This can lead to disgruntled defenders shifting blame to the midfielders. They complain that they (the midfielders) are not available enough or are not moving enough to create wider openings so that they may pass more accurately. In high-level fast-moving competition those angles and openings can be narrow and close down quickly, so refining passing skills is a must for a successful "simple" possession game out of the back. What tends to happen is that the defenders then decide to hold the ball too long while trying to take space. The athletic defenders can be successful at times but eventually, they lose the ball too much or take too much time to get the ball up the field. A simple game becomes a not so simple game with possession being lost.

Soccer Nut

[Guest]

This is a great one especially in the age of IG

Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.

You seem to be trying to say that 'tricks' are not technique, which is mainly true. However, juggling is a very worthwhile skill to pursue. Foot-Eye coordination, receivances and weight of touch are all honed through juggling. Similarly, passing accuracy is something that anyone can achieve by practicing. If your premise was that many players fail to master and continually practice basic skills and instead focus on tricks then I am in agreement, but I see juggling as one of those basic skills.

[Guest]

A perfect example of not having proper technique is when the backs/ Defenders have been given an angle and some space- although narrow, to pass quickly and accurately to move the ball forward-and they are unable to pass it through the channel given. They don't have the skillset to pass it accurately, They lose the ball in the back with errand passes or after a while, they lose confidence and hold the ball too long creating turnovers. This can lead to disgruntled defenders shifting blame to the midfielders. They complain that they (the midfielders) are not available enough or are not moving enough to create wider openings so that they may pass more accurately. In high-level fast-moving competition those angles and openings can be narrow and close down quickly, so refining passing skills is a must for a successful "simple" possession game out of the back. What tends to happen is that the defenders then decide to hold the ball too long while trying to take space. The athletic defenders can be successful at times but eventually, they lose the ball too much or take too much time to get the ball up the field. A simple game becomes a not so simple game with possession being lost.

Soccer Nut

I would also say that the inability to pass out of the back through tight spaces will eventually result in kicking the ball forward by the backs to relieve pressure. You will see this a lot, even at the highest level of youth soccer, because a lot of defenders simply don't have the skill and technique to play simple through tight channels. They are, however, some of the strongest and more athletic kids on the field.

Soccer Nut

[Guest]

This is a great one especially in the age of IG

Technique is not being able to juggle a ball 1000 times. Anyone can do that by practicing. Then you can work in the circus. Technique is passing the ball with one touch, with the right speed, at the right foot of your team mate.

Doing that is fine, happens rarely in the womens game, even at the very top. Why? Because it’s not consistently needed yet to be successful.