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..... metaphorically speaking that is.
Until football is within the hearts of their people... as it is in other parts of the world.... continued relative mediocrity awaits.
Even the fact that they call the world game soccer and not football (a forced change perhaps) and other silly changes they sought to introduce... the lamented penalty shootout etc....indicated that they have not fully embraced the game of football... they have embraced soccer.... their own creation... a kind of software downgrade.
If the US ever discovers how to have their kids play the game of football spontaneously and not merely in overcoached (and often poorly coached) teams and leagues, then they will be a world force in the game.
Basketball is a good analogy... that's a game kids have in their hearts... and play spontaneously.... the results show it.
The US has less people in organized basketball than they do in organized soccer (sic) yet have mediocre results in football.... a telling statistic.
Until that day of embracing football, the dream of lasting victories, world domination... will remain but a fleeting illusion... to be pursued... but never attained.
In other words... they will continue to produce automatons .... ie reasonably efficient players...but lacking that special quality that separates average players from good and good players from great.
Witness that despite: spending billions on the game, having vast waves of children playing the game, beautifully manicured facilities up and down the country, a credible professional league, hosting a world cup, a vhuge immigrant population from countries that have the game in their hearts etc etc etc.......The national team is merely fair to middling... akin in quality perhaps to Sweden or Austria.
Their elevated ranking in the highly flawed FIFA system is counter intuitive.
Elite teams seek out the US basically because it's a good payday (money is never a problem) .... and secondly adequate match practice, without them being especially threatened with defeat.
As a consequence of this ready access to elite teams the US enjoys a ranking above what the quality of play may deserve.... this ranking leaves their supporters giddy but it is fool's gold.... the gulf between the US and the elite teams is vast.
Some may say this is sour Jamaican grapes... that we are far behind the US. Yes Jamaica is far behind... what we put in we get out. If we put in more... we will get more and be closer to being competitive.
Unfortunately for the US, they would experience diminishing returns if more resources are applied to their football "problem". Resources are not the problem as in Jamaica's sorry case.
Their problem is entirely cultural... for them football is a mere pastime.... it's not in the heart.
The US automatons have to incorporate elements of the Jamaican performing seals.... and vice versa.... for these two teams to improve.
Until football is within the hearts of their people... as it is in other parts of the world.... continued relative mediocrity awaits.
Even the fact that they call the world game soccer and not football (a forced change perhaps) and other silly changes they sought to introduce... the lamented penalty shootout etc....indicated that they have not fully embraced the game of football... they have embraced soccer.... their own creation... a kind of software downgrade.
If the US ever discovers how to have their kids play the game of football spontaneously and not merely in overcoached (and often poorly coached) teams and leagues, then they will be a world force in the game.
Basketball is a good analogy... that's a game kids have in their hearts... and play spontaneously.... the results show it.
The US has less people in organized basketball than they do in organized soccer (sic) yet have mediocre results in football.... a telling statistic.
Until that day of embracing football, the dream of lasting victories, world domination... will remain but a fleeting illusion... to be pursued... but never attained.
In other words... they will continue to produce automatons .... ie reasonably efficient players...but lacking that special quality that separates average players from good and good players from great.
Witness that despite: spending billions on the game, having vast waves of children playing the game, beautifully manicured facilities up and down the country, a credible professional league, hosting a world cup, a vhuge immigrant population from countries that have the game in their hearts etc etc etc.......The national team is merely fair to middling... akin in quality perhaps to Sweden or Austria.
Their elevated ranking in the highly flawed FIFA system is counter intuitive.
Elite teams seek out the US basically because it's a good payday (money is never a problem) .... and secondly adequate match practice, without them being especially threatened with defeat.
As a consequence of this ready access to elite teams the US enjoys a ranking above what the quality of play may deserve.... this ranking leaves their supporters giddy but it is fool's gold.... the gulf between the US and the elite teams is vast.
Some may say this is sour Jamaican grapes... that we are far behind the US. Yes Jamaica is far behind... what we put in we get out. If we put in more... we will get more and be closer to being competitive.
Unfortunately for the US, they would experience diminishing returns if more resources are applied to their football "problem". Resources are not the problem as in Jamaica's sorry case.
Their problem is entirely cultural... for them football is a mere pastime.... it's not in the heart.
The US automatons have to incorporate elements of the Jamaican performing seals.... and vice versa.... for these two teams to improve.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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