Gothia Cup

[Guest]

The European clubs that are attending are amateur clubs. Some of the amateur clubs on the boys side have better teams than MLS Next in US. On the girls side Europe doesn’t have that depth yet.

[Guest]

CSA team is not very good.

I think they were being sarcastic.

[Guest]

The European clubs that are attending are amateur clubs. Some of the amateur clubs on the boys side have better teams than MLS Next in US. On the girls side Europe doesn’t have that depth yet.

Its a vacation not a soccer tournament, just enjoy Sweden and have fun and don't worry about the soccer aspect.

[Guest]

It’s you say so. a vacation not a soccer tournament, just enjoy Sweden and have fun and don't worry about the soccer aspect.

If say so. Thx for telling me what to worry about. If you don’t think the teams here are better than the top teams in the us on the boys side, then you are a moron.

[Guest]

I saw a really funny article linked in social media titled "Two Cranford Soccer Players Earn Trip to World Youth Cup in Sweden." The article makes it sound like NJ14 is a youth national team that is "representing NJ" on a world stage.

https://www.tapinto.net/towns/cranfo...-cup-in-sweden

These international trips are a great experience and some of my daughters best memories is going on a trip like this, but agree - they are going on a soccer vacation.

[Guest]

My d went to gothia a couple of years ago with NCE. While the first few games are against teams put together just for the tournament, the further we got, the more competitive the games/teams got. The tournament was well put together, and they really go all out for the kids. The opening day ceremonies were like watching the opening day of the Olympics. It was at a professional soccer stadium, with over 40,000 people from all over the world. The ceremonies ended with an amazing fireworks display. The entire city is in "soccer mode" during the tournament, and it truly is an amazing experience. Yes, it's true, there are plenty of good teams to compete against here in NJ, but the tournament and the experience was over the top. Some of the European teams my d competed against were very good. They play a totally different style of soccer then we do here in the states. And honestly, it wasn't all that expensive like people would have you believe. Round trip airfare for two of us was a little over $1800. We recently went to California and round trip airfare from Newark was $1100 on Spirit. It cost us $3000 for the actual tournament with hotel. I probably spent about a thousand while there. So, close to $6000 for 6 days. A friend of ours did a week cruise to the Caribbean, and the cruise alone was $2600 per person, not including airfare. NCE won that year my d went against Canada, and I have to admit, when the teams took the fields and they played the national anthems, it was definitely a cool moment. It's easy to sit there say "what a waste of time", but it wasn't just a soccer tournament, it was a vacation and also bonding time with my d and myself. She also was there with a bunch of friends, and that made it even better. Beats heading down to Tuckahoe for the weekend playing the same teams she plays against during the season.

[Guest]

That article is super cringe. Do these people actually believe the bs the nj14 coach spouts? They're a below average team in NJ playing recreation teams in europe in front of their sucker parents and nobody else. Enjoy the parade and some meatballs.

[Guest]

It is a fun experience. The troll saying there were 40k people obviously isn’t accurate but there are like 1k at the ceremony. A big high school/small college level setting which is great. The level of soccer is nothing like MLSN boys or ECNL girls but I agree it is decent if you advance. We had a great time and it’s beautiful, but doesn’t compare to the aura of ECNL/MLSN playoffs in the US.

[Guest]

Bottom line is that trips like this are experiences. That should be the reason you do them. Its not to unlock some higher level of soccer. The experience is amazing and soccer is a side show. Depending on how you go, its a really cool soccer experience as well. My daughter played on a mixed Spanish and American team in a similar tournament and the best part from a soccer experience was seeing the different style of play. It ended up being a great learning experience for both the American players and Spanish players from a style perspective and she has friends on a different continent now to practice talking to in a different language.

Going in, I had zero expectations from a soccer perspective other than continuing building a love for the game for my D. Trips like this do exactly that. They wont turn your kid into Messi or get them signed to a european club. Put all that past you and its a wonderful experience.

[Guest]

It is a fun experience. The troll saying there were 40k people obviously isn’t accurate but there are like 1k at the ceremony. A big high school/small college level setting which is great. The level of soccer is nothing like MLSN boys or ECNL girls but I agree it is decent if you advance. We had a great time and it’s beautiful, but doesn’t compare to the aura of ECNL/MLSN playoffs in the US.

It’s so funny when someone posts something and says they’ve been to something they clearly haven’t been to. The opening ceremonies legit has 50k people attend it from countries all over the world. A simple google search will show you how dumb you look. The teams on the boys side are very good and would smoke almost any mlsn team. Why would you think European youth teams would be worse than American teams when our national team is pure trash. Mlsn is the 10th best league in the world but you think mlsn is better than European youth leagues. You’re a pure idiot. The girls side is not as good but getting better internationally and it’s reflected at the youth level. Now idiot, go back to your jersey hole and don’t come out again.

[Guest]

It is a fun experience. The troll saying there were 40k people obviously isn’t accurate but there are like 1k at the ceremony. A big high school/small college level setting which is great. The level of soccer is nothing like MLSN boys or ECNL girls but I agree it is decent if you advance. We had a great time and it’s beautiful, but doesn’t compare to the aura of ECNL/MLSN playoffs in the US.

?? I just watched the opening day ceremonies. It's easily 40,000 plus in attendance. To help you understand math, there are 1911 teams from around the world attending. Let's just say each team carries a roster of 18 plus 2 coaches. Thats 20 x 1911. Thats 38,000 players alone. Then add in parents and siblings, then you're over 40,000, not including all the refs for the 4800 games that are attending, any of the employees from gothia, even the local towns people that get tickets to the ceremony. Not sure where your pulling 1 thousand from. Is the level of soccer there better than here? Depends on where you place in the brackets. Group stages are always easy. Just like here, they get harder as you advance. And let's not kid yourself, most of these European teams would destroy the EDP/GA teams here. While it's true some of the teams are showcase teams, just put together for the tournament, alot of of teams, especially the boys, are year round teams. It's easy to criticize something you know nothing about.

[Guest]

?? I just watched the opening day ceremonies. It's easily 40,000 plus in attendance. To help you understand math, there are 1911 teams from around the world attending. Let's just say each team carries a roster of 18 plus 2 coaches. Thats 20 x 1911. Thats 38,000 players alone. Then add in parents and siblings, then you're over 40,000, not including all the refs for the 4800 games that are attending, any of the employees from gothia, even the local towns people that get tickets to the ceremony. Not sure where your pulling 1 thousand from. Is the level of soccer there better than here? Depends on where you place in the brackets. Group stages are always easy. Just like here, they get harder as you advance. And let's not kid yourself, most of these European teams would destroy the EDP/GA teams here. While it's true some of the teams are showcase teams, just put together for the tournament, alot of of teams, especially the boys, are year round teams. It's easy to criticize something you know nothing about.

Lol, I don't think attendance includes players, refs and people working an event. Attendance for sporting events indicates how many spectators there are, stupid US wanker.

[Guest]

ODP and Gothia are as big as a money grab as you can get in Youth Soccer. Say yes and pay, and you are in. Save the money for college tuition, trust me. You are going to need it.

translation: I do not make any money off this and it leaves less money for parents to spend at my club, so it is bad

[Guest]

?? I just watched the opening day ceremonies. It's easily 40,000 plus in attendance. To help you understand math, there are 1911 teams from around the world attending. Let's just say each team carries a roster of 18 plus 2 coaches. Thats 20 x 1911. Thats 38,000 players alone. Then add in parents and siblings, then you're over 40,000, not including all the refs for the 4800 games that are attending, any of the employees from gothia, even the local towns people that get tickets to the ceremony. Not sure where your pulling 1 thousand from. Is the level of soccer there better than here? Depends on where you place in the brackets. Group stages are always easy. Just like here, they get harder as you advance. And let's not kid yourself, most of these European teams would destroy the EDP/GA teams here. While it's true some of the teams are showcase teams, just put together for the tournament, alot of of teams, especially the boys, are year round teams. It's easy to criticize something you know nothing about.

at best its a large scale pre-season tournament. They shut down for the summer in Europe. This is out of season for them. Why pay and travel all that way for out of season... go to the good tournaments in March during the season.

[Guest]

Lol, I don't think attendance includes players, refs and people working an event. Attendance for sporting events indicates how many spectators there are, stupid US wanker.

You do realize they are talking about opening days ceremonies, don't you? The ceremonies ARE FOR the players, refs, people working the event, etc.