Great Article: The Problem with US Soccer

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https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...rrior_aid48061

A lot of truth in this article, I know a lot of you won’t like it but my man speaks the truth.

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https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club...rrior_aid48061

A lot of truth in this article, I know a lot of you won’t like it but my man speaks the truth.

Takes some courage on EJs part to come out and lay it out like this. He is right on quite a few points.

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“Can’t teach a rich kid to be a warrior” is the best line in the article and it is absolutely valid. Obviously there’s the occasional exceptions (like kids who are rich because their parents were pros) but as a general concept it’s true.

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“Can’t teach a rich kid to be a warrior” is the best line in the article and it is absolutely valid. Obviously there’s the occasional exceptions (like kids who are rich because their parents were pros) but as a general concept it’s true.

BJ Penn says otherwise

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“Can’t teach a rich kid to be a warrior” is the best line in the article and it is absolutely valid. Obviously there’s the occasional exceptions (like kids who are rich because their parents were pros) but as a general concept it’s true.

Very true! The reality is most international superstars did come from very poor backgrounds so they not only have the talent but the drive too. Problem in the US is that soccer is a rich white sport that has no interest in including minorities from poor, rough neighborhoods. In the other countries they seek players like that out.

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Eddie Johnson is one of the biggest idiots to ever join the ranks of soccer coaches and that is saying something.

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Eddy Johnson I teach kids to dribble ball through cones with their head down the entire time. Round of applause for taking parents money

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Eddy Johnson I teach kids to dribble ball through cones with their head down the entire time. Round of applause for taking parents money

This guy is a complete tool . Lacks any common sense and very poor judgement

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Very true! The reality is most international superstars did come from very poor backgrounds so they not only have the talent but the drive too. Problem in the US is that soccer is a rich white sport that has no interest in including minorities from poor, rough neighborhoods. In the other countries they seek players like that out.

Lower income kids are not interested in soccer because there's not as much money or realistic opportunity in it. Football & Basketball will always be king, and that's where your warriors are going.

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“Can’t teach a rich kid to be a warrior” is the best line in the article and it is absolutely valid. Obviously there’s the occasional exceptions (like kids who are rich because their parents were pros) but as a general concept it’s true.

So rich kids aren’t ...competitive? Really? If I had a super athletic kid and not a lot of money, soccer would be the last sport I’d encourage them to pursue. For what? Footballl basketball baseball even track before soccer.

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Very true! The reality is most international superstars did come from very poor backgrounds so they not only have the talent but the drive too. Problem in the US is that soccer is a rich white sport that has no interest in including minorities from poor, rough neighborhoods. In the other countries they seek players like that out.

one of the biggest false narratives out there

If the rich white kid sport misnomer was the case, an African, Indian, Asian or Eastern European country would have already won the World Cup.

Italy and Holland both missed the last World Cup, no lack of hungry warriors there, no pay to play systems...they played poorly in there group stages and could not recover.

Last two winners Germany and France saught after and developed talented first generation players from Africa (France) and Turkey (Germany) and have first division teams that are willing to play young talent. I think THAT is the key to winning the Worl Cup...finding (and including immigrant) hungry young talent and having them play first team games at the highest professional level-and lucky bounces, fitness etc...

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People like Eddie Johnson and Hope Solo are actually what is horrible about US Soccer...perpetuating a myth that only rich kids can play and the sport is unaffordable for the average or even poor family. There are so many clubs in the tri state area that allow talented poor/low-income kids to play for free. NYSC, CSA Monmouth, CFC, PDA, etc. Just a few that I know of FOR SURE. It is a MYTH. Is pay to play a bad system? Yes, absolutely. Because the rich kid who is paying full freight believes he or she is entitled to the same opportunities and benefits as a far more talented kid paying the same or a poor kid paying nothing...that is why pay to play is broken. But to say soccer is a rich kid's sport out of reach for poor kids...well that is just 1000000% factually incorrect and there are 15 examples in my own kid's age group that I could cite...just in the state of NJ. So it can and does happen anywhere. Oh and mats hummels grew up rich....I'm sure eddie would beat him every day on the pitch...Mats is no warrior. LOL. What a joke this guy is with his "lab" in Orlando.

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Lower income kids are not interested in soccer because there's not as much money or realistic opportunity in it. Football & Basketball will always be king, and that's where your warriors are going.

This is what the people who say the system is the issue in the US will never acknowledge. The most talented kids in this country (in numbers, always outliers) grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL/NBA/MLB and even NHL. Until we have a cultural shift in this country we won’t be competitive on the world stage. When the NFL DB that’s 6ft runs a 4.3 40, with ridiculous change of direction and 5/10 yard explosion starts picking soccer, we will have a chance. Parents in the US with truly elite kids don’t steer them towards soccer.

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This is what the people who say the system is the issue in the US will never acknowledge. The most talented kids in this country (in numbers, always outliers) grow up dreaming of playing in the NFL/NBA/MLB and even NHL. Until we have a cultural shift in this country we won’t be competitive on the world stage. When the NFL DB that’s 6ft runs a 4.3 40, with ridiculous change of direction and 5/10 yard explosion starts picking soccer, we will have a chance. Parents in the US with truly elite kids don’t steer them towards soccer.

this is so much more idiotic than anything that comes out of eddie Johnson's mouth. yeah odell beckham if he just played soccer would be like messi, hazard, isco, de bruyne, Dybala....wow those guys are ELITE ATHLETES...6 feet or taller, 4.3 40s with RIDICULOUS CHANGE OF DIRECTION...great shuttle drill times and 40 inch verts...combine animals who could play in the nba or nfl. they are midgets other than de bruyne. lol you are an idiot. it has nothing to do with what athletes play in America. it's how soccer is taught here, our cultural approach to soccer, how it is run by US soccer...

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this is so much more idiotic than anything that comes out of eddie Johnson's mouth. yeah odell beckham if he just played soccer would be like messi, hazard, isco, de bruyne, Dybala....wow those guys are ELITE ATHLETES...6 feet or taller, 4.3 40s with RIDICULOUS CHANGE OF DIRECTION...great shuttle drill times and 40 inch verts...combine animals who could play in the nba or nfl. they are midgets other than de bruyne. lol you are an idiot. it has nothing to do with what athletes play in America. it's how soccer is taught here, our cultural approach to soccer, how it is run by US soccer...

Agree with some of your post but bottom line, best athletes are not drawn to soccer.