USWNT v. Germany

[Guest]

There is no doubt she is way past her prime and she is aware that’s why she is so visible on issues to stay relevant. We can assume she has an understanding that she knows her significance as a player has greatly diminished but she can continue as a great teammate, team leader and sometime player. That’s why she is still relevant for the team. The dynamics and team chemistry right now are at a there lowest point. Changes must be made either with a new coach, different system or re-evaluate the players. Maybe all these things need to change at the end of the year.

As long as her benefit for the team is the social agenda and not playing, it will always be a problem.

They don't need activists and cheerleaders. They need players. She no longer is.

[Guest]

Europe has officially caught up. I don’t think we have been surpassed but it sure feels like the playing field is equal. It may be time to reevaluate US Soccer as a whole and that begins with toxic and financially driven youth systems.

That ship sailed. An attempt to revamp was brushed off as the paying public wasn't interested. This is the exact situation that was predicted a few years ago, and the responses were all about how we'll always be great so there was no need.

Can't put that genie back in the bottle now.

[Guest]

Europe has officially caught up. I don’t think we have been surpassed but it sure feels like the playing field is equal. It may be time to reevaluate US Soccer as a whole and that begins with toxic and financially driven youth systems.

Such an easy excuse for someone who takes issue with the youth systems. US Soccer has to look at their selection process for the Youth national teams up to the National team. The U20’s were embarrassed in Costa Rica this past summer. Bad coaching and bad player selection. They looked like they picked individual players thru their “regional political clout” rather than on merit. How many players were chosen from each region. All these things within the politics of US Soccer has more effect on these teams than the training aspect of youth soccer.

[Guest]

Such an easy excuse for someone who takes issue with the youth systems. US Soccer has to look at their selection process for the Youth national teams up to the National team. The U20’s were embarrassed in Costa Rica this past summer. Bad coaching and bad player selection. They looked like they picked individual players thru their “regional political clout” rather than on merit. How many players were chosen from each region. All these things within the politics of US Soccer has more effect on these teams than the training aspect of youth soccer.

Going with politics as the reason is by far the easiest cop out answer out there. It's always the easiest thing to say they picked the wrong players and that's due to connections. It's a lazy argument.

Go bigger - why are players falling behind tactically? Why aren't we playing the same style with the same ambitions? Why don't we have a better funneling system to get players in more often to train and work together?

The answer for all that is because the landscape pushes college successes, because that's what the parents want.

[Guest]

You people are too f-en funny. Several years ago USSF saw the writing on the wall and implemented a solution. We didn't want it. Now, we complain about the fall-out and those who tried to implement it are sitting here laughing with a "I told you" deservedly smugness on their faces.

Quibble all you want about whether the solution was right or wrong; we'll never know since it was never implemented. But, what we DO know is what was done isn't working and that was evident for a long time.

[Guest]

Going with politics as the reason is by far the easiest cop out answer out there. It's always the easiest thing to say they picked the wrong players and that's due to connections. It's a lazy argument.

Go bigger - why are players falling behind tactically? Why aren't we playing the same style with the same ambitions? Why don't we have a better funneling system to get players in more often to train and work together?

The answer for all that is because the landscape pushes college successes, because that's what the parents want.

Talking about being lazy or the easiest cop out answer, blaming parent pressure? You think parents have anything to do with this? In this country college success comes first and is most important to 99% of these youth players who are identified early on. Do You think that Youth national players should put playing nationally before academics? Players getting identified early on get called into camps much more now then 5 years ago. Definitely more attention is placed on these young age groups then ever before. There has to be a balance in the States between academics and the National team. Just another genius know it all parent who wants States sponsored players academies for those players not academically gifted. College will always be the end game for 99% of the youth in this country. That landscape will never change.

[Guest]

Talking about being lazy or the easiest cop out answer, blaming parent pressure? You think parents have anything to do with this? In this country college success comes first and is most important to 99% of these youth players who are identified early on. Do You think that Youth national players should put playing nationally before academics? Players getting identified early on get called into camps much more now then 5 years ago. Definitely more attention is placed on these young age groups then ever before. There has to be a balance in the States between academics and the National team. Just another genius know it all parent who wants States sponsored players academies for those players not academically gifted. College will always be the end game for 99% of the youth in this country. That landscape will never change.

So, in your effort to dissolve the parents of any blame, you turn and do exactly that!

Nice circular argument there...

[Guest]

Germany attacked with multiple players involved. Anymore US tends to rely on the lofted ball approach instead of creating an attack. More luck than creation. It is a stale approach. You can't rely on luck to win. And their luck has run out.

[Guest]

Going with politics as the reason is by far the easiest cop out answer out there. It's always the easiest thing to say they picked the wrong players and that's due to connections. It's a lazy argument.

Go bigger - why are players falling behind tactically? Why aren't we playing the same style with the same ambitions? Why don't we have a better funneling system to get players in more often to train and work together?

The answer for all that is because the landscape pushes college successes, because that's what the parents want.

Because there is NO MONEY in pro soccer in this country. No matter how much you love it- it’s still a job and requires a ton of output for extremely little financial reward. How can you justify paying anyone $30k a year? No one makes that little in this country. It’s poverty level salary. Yes we all know there are a few that make more but so few we count them on our hands.

[Guest]

Because there is NO MONEY in pro soccer in this country. No matter how much you love it- it’s still a job and requires a ton of output for extremely little financial reward. How can you justify paying anyone $30k a year? No one makes that little in this country. It’s poverty level salary. Yes we all know there are a few that make more but so few we count them on our hands.

Parallel issue. You are described a justification-legitimate one- for developing in an environment that maximizes the chance to save on a college education. Because that is the environment that currently succeeds so that’s what the paying market wants.

Concurrently that is also the reason why our NT will
continue to fall behind.

[Guest]

Parallel issue. You are described a justification-legitimate one- for developing in an environment that maximizes the chance to save on a college education. Because that is the environment that currently succeeds so that’s what the paying market wants.

Concurrently that is also the reason why our NT will
continue to fall behind.

Not the op but one reason for that is the lack of a pro network and career path for women. The men are finally back in the hunt largely because of BDA/MLS. NWSL can't afford to train girls. And like you said the girls market is about college, not a pro path. It's changing slightly but a pro sports career in most sports isn't the goal, heavily discounted quality education is

[Guest]

Not the op but one reason for that is the lack of a pro network and career path for women. The men are finally back in the hunt largely because of BDA/MLS. NWSL can't afford to train girls. And like you said the girls market is about college, not a pro path. It's changing slightly but a pro sports career in most sports isn't the goal, heavily discounted quality education is

I don’t want to get off topic but there is greater issue and that’s women in sports isn’t a priority in the US. Only Serena Williams has been celebrated to the level of a man, both financially and socially.
That’s one person.
America Football players are making $20mm to sit on a bench. So until fans decide it’s exciting to watch women play group sports we need to educate our girls so that they can have a good life and let them work to figure out the solution. If they want to go pro fine but, they will have a solid education behind them to build a brand, company- look at Morgan (she has books, movies a company), Press, Heath. That’s what most have had to do and I’m sure they are grateful for their Stanford education to fall back on.

[Guest]

I don’t want to get off topic but there is greater issue and that’s women in sports isn’t a priority in the US. Only Serena Williams has been celebrated to the level of a man, both financially and socially.
That’s one person.
America Football players are making $20mm to sit on a bench. So until fans decide it’s exciting to watch women play group sports we need to educate our girls so that they can have a good life and let them work to figure out the solution. If they want to go pro fine but, they will have a solid education behind them to build a brand, company- look at Morgan (she has books, movies a company), Press, Heath. That’s what most have had to do and I’m sure they are grateful for their Stanford education to fall back on.

Sports is entertainment. Many just aren't entertained by women's sports. People only have so much entertainment time in their lives and pick and chose according to which they enjoy most

[Guest]

We train girls for the college game and not the international game. They don’t spend enough time together. Not too hard to see that.

GA advocates said this and were mocked.

[Guest]

Germany looked like the better team even when US won last night. Germany had higher skill IMO and played smarter. US had them on speed though Pugh is so damn fast when they play direct.