Copa America 2016
- Thread starter Safetydan
- Start date
Safetydan
Well-Known Member
Obviously Argentina beats the US no matter who we put out there but lemme just say: that was a **** lineup Klinsmann put out there. He talked all week about taking it to the Argentinians and then he moves Bradley (our defensive midfielder) up and puts Beckerman (even more defensive) in his place. And then, he puts Ashlyn Harris (Wondolowski) up top with Dempsey? Wondolowski is a poacher, he doesn't hold up, he's not going to get in behind, he gets in the right place and (sometimes) finishes garbage goals one time (cough* Belgium cough*). I don't know what the plan was but with this kind of non-possession/no speed/conservativism, it's no surprise we managed to not attempt a shot. Yes, we didn't attempt a shot, the entire game. The loss isn't on Klinsmann, but the way we played and how we lost definitely is.
Why not start Nagbe and Pulisic and see what happens? Maybe we look a little better. Maybe we possess the ball and find our attacking boots. The scoreline may have been the same but at least we'd have gone for it. I love Beckerman but, nobody is stopping Messi in that position so why don't we have somebody there who brings some other qualities to the game. Bradley was **** again.
Hopefully we put together a better performance on Saturday.
Why not start Nagbe and Pulisic and see what happens? Maybe we look a little better. Maybe we possess the ball and find our attacking boots. The scoreline may have been the same but at least we'd have gone for it. I love Beckerman but, nobody is stopping Messi in that position so why don't we have somebody there who brings some other qualities to the game. Bradley was **** again.
Hopefully we put together a better performance on Saturday.
Especially since teams like RSL and Sporting KC are pouring money, facilities and staff in development leagues like U13 and U18 leagues. Brick by brick.
The big thing about youth soccer is that in America it's primarily an upper class sport.
leftyjace
Well-Known Member
Football can be, as well as baseball. Tennis and golf definitely are.
But we have evidence from other countries that it doesn't HAVE to be an upper class sport. Indeed, it's very popular in the lower classes of a lot of third world countries. Why? Because it's something kids dream about.
I believe that as the sport gets more popular and becomes more visible to the lower classes, it will be just as popular. But just like any sport, there will always be an advantage to those that can afford to put their children in specialized training programs and competitive leagues - just like basketball and baseball.
Basketball (same for Football) programs take kids in, I think mainly through shoe sponsorship money. Soccer is pretty much paid for by the parents of the kids. Third world countries arent turning out a lot of top soccer players, the big nations are who have these huge soccer clubs that fund youth development like Nike/Adidas/UA fund youth development basketball in the USA.
leftyjace
Well-Known Member
Brazil?
Argentina?
Columbia?
Mexico?
Former Eastern Bloc?
That's what I'm referring to. Given that there's no hard and fast definition for a third world country, perhaps I should have been more clear.