US success, MLS inherently linked

[Zeppo]

US success, MLS inherently linked

If you think the U.S. national team's achievements in CONCACAF in particular and in international soccer in general, are an overnight success story, then you better take a quick history lesson.

Everything is connected.

You can make a case that the modern era of U.S. soccer began in 1984, when huge soccer crowds at the Los Angeles Olympics impressed FIFA officials. That laid the foundation for the United States to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup (only four years prior, the U.S. had qualified for its first World Cup in 40 years at Italia '90).

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[Culture Sound]

US football is a 8 year cycle, right now this crop of players are at their peak/prime and then they will dwindle out and then a fresh new crop will come up and replace them at the end of 2014 world cup and go through growing pains and then reach max potential by 2017/18. Their major problem is incorporating new young players into their squad when they are good. For example Freddie Adu, there is no reason why he shouldn't be playing more often now...especially with Beasely getting washed up and Donovan and Dempsey slowly following. When those players get washed up there isn't a suitable replacement in the wings that should have begun preparing to fill that void right now unless they find some ready made import then.

[Karl]

The commitment of the players...the effort they put in in all...ALL...there matches and the discipline the coaches...youth...age-group...senior instill make the teams as successful as they are. The missing ingredient is the US overlooks most of their technically proficient youngsters....and it shows in their games.

Look at the technical skill put on display by the FIFA #72 (or thereabouts ranked) South Africa team players...look at the technical skills of the players in the Iraqi team?

...if the US took their technically gifted players (mostly minorities) and had that combined with the commitment and discipline we see 'day in, day out' from the teams...

...World beaters?
Not far-fetched! ..at least I think so!

[Karl]

US football is a 8 year cycle, right now this crop of players are at their peak/prime and then they will dwindle out and then a fresh new crop will come up and replace them at the end of 2014 world cup and go through growing pains and then reach max potential by 2017/18. Their major problem is incorporating new young players into their squad when they are good. For example Freddie Adu, there is no reason why he shouldn't be playing more often now...especially with Beasely getting washed up and Donovan and Dempsey slowly following. When those players get washed up there isn't a suitable replacement in the wings that should have begun preparing to fill that void right now unless they find some ready made import then.

Freddie is indisciplined! ...anti-TEAM!
Every game he plays for the senior US team, he hogs the ball and commits so many turnovers (give the ball to the opposition)...that it is a truism that he is a valuable player...extremely valuable player for the opposition!

Adu plays in a manner that has me wondering about his thinking
Is he silly or what????

[Jawge]

Continue to fool yourself with the argument below:
"You can make a case that the modern era of U.S. soccer began in 1984, when huge soccer crowds at the Los Angeles Olympics impressed FIFA officials."

[Jawge]

The sad part is that you did not know that the US had the
team to beat the paper Tiger called spain.

If the Us gets a real coach such as Klinsman and start to recruit technical players from its innercities, in eight years they can talk to Brasil. At present the US has nothing to trouble Brasil.

The US has the players in its immigrant population but the coaching system shuns those type of players (from ODP right up) and there seems to be an old boys network going on with the US team.

When the US improves and pulls the region with it it guess what will happen at a WC? The chances of winning increases for this region. Ever wonder why the Euros and Samericans win? They have quality leaving their respective groups and these quality may at times knock off poetntial favourites, hencing paving the way for the giants. Think hard on this.
The US improving, pulls the region along and in turn serves its long term interest (such as wining the WC outside of N. America).

[Zeppo]

Newest MLS franchise thriving in first season

The Emerald City Supporters held their green and blue scarfs high and sang in unison, their words echoing off the brick facades of the historic Pioneer Square neighborhood as they marched to a recent Seattle Sounders FC match.

“Take ‘em all; take ‘em all …” they bellowed. “Short ‘n’ tall, watch ‘em fall; come on boys, take ‘em all!”

If Major League Soccer had any concerns about how soccer would be received in its newest market, they have long since disappeared. Instead, the overwhelming success of the first-year Sounders is providing a blueprint for future MLS franchises to follow.

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