I live in the US. When I walk and drive around my city I don’t see boys just having a causal game of soccer. I see basketball, handball, street hockey, skateboarding, even ultimate frisbee. For me, that’s the biggest reason why we don’t have many elite American players.
yo no siendo estadounidense puedo decir que: el fútbol poco a poco va permeando sobre todo a los jóvenes estadounidenses El crecimiento es más rápido en unos lugares que en otros pero: a la larga el fútbol se impondrá
You are 100% spot on about our lack of development for coaches and (by extension), players. One of the biggest problems we have imo, is that many coaches (and then players who are taught) don't "understand" soccer as a game. There is so much focus on the ball itself and what happens with the ball or who does what with a ball, which can be ok, but to me, most of the game happens *away* from the ball. Things like off the ball movement (where to move AND why to move) are things I never get seen really talked about or understood. I'm not sure how that changes though.
Yeah it's a good point. You've got some coaches who are all about technique and 1v1s, some who do almost everything with rondos, some who are all about 1 and 2 touch only etc. If they focus solely on the ball, they won't be as effective off it, as you say. The game is super simple and logical. The concepts are not overly complex. They just take some time to sink in. If coaches make the effort to teach them and be patient enough to know they will repeat themselves, it will work.
Eric is absolutely right.. with the hot potato comment in the 10 minutes mark. I’ve been to mls academy, I’ve been to USSDA when they were around, I saw it at the club level and now I see it in the USL championship. Every team, every player, every coach is happy with play it safe…. These kids just pass the ball back and forth for 90 mins and have no idea why they’re even passing… they pass it into pressure. They pass it to reset.. they pass it just cause that’s how they were taught. It’s way too much. They don’t know when they have the advantage say a three vs one but yet they pass again backwards to the goalie.. and it’s like “ man.. you just had them out numbered in their final third and you’re now passing it all the way back to your goalie?? What the hell””. And the coaches are fine with this, and their teammates are fine with this, and all the parents are fine with this.. and I’m up in the stands pulling my fucking hair out. Eric nailed this.
It's like watching a team go from the kick off all the way back to their goalkeeper because nobody wants to go forward. I've seen a lot of MLS games and even USL where you barely ever see somebody be creative. The good thing is, things go in waves and cycles. The 1 touch 2 touch short passing style (Tiki Taca) is nowhere near as prevalent as it was a few years ago. Now they are talking more about "progressive possession" and 1v1s and 2v2s.
The biggest problem is that youth academies are mostly parent funded which means that the teams have a vested interest in conning parents into believing that their kids that are better than they are. So you have too many cubs with too few elite players that are sprinkled among good but not great players which waters down development. If we had honest coaches that are willing to say "Your kid isn't good enough to play pro, or even get a college scholarship" and have those players play in High School or some sort of advanced rec. That however costs coach's money so they continue to lie.
So many things to say. First, the old ODP system often resulted in teams picked based on politics as much as skill. Influential clubs and coaches managed to place more players in ODP and other better players were excluded. Second, the same system "works" for girls but not boys? Perhaps the real issue is the competition from other sports for talent, particularly those excluded by costs from the club system. In some foreign countries, kids learn to play with a "ball" of wrapped rags with a few pieces of tape around them. I've seen kids playing in a school yard with a 2 liter soda bottle. Here, we have made it harder, not easier, for children from less affluent backgrounds to play against good competition and develop their skills. Contrast that to playground basketball played in courts across the country. In addition, many parents and others are simply not able to pass on to their kids both the love of the game and focus them on watching skilled players and learning from that experience. Having parents teach you how to watch people you admire and encouraging you to copy their moves and skills is helpful. I know parents whose children played fairly high level soccer and yet still know little about the game and do not even care to watch the World Cup games because they do not understand the game enough to find it interesting.
EPL is full of foreign players - it has raised the game of those English players that have to compete for a spot everyday. Italian soccer issues are more due to the lack of quality striker development and they have never changed there system as other leagues have adapted. Other than that I agree with pretty much everything
I wonder if it has to do with cycles we can't really predict or impact. France had this great generation in the late 90s and early 2000s, but until the 2016-2018 version, the national team was not great. Belgium was an average nation after a great team in the early 90s, but then they developed an incredible generation of players. Germany did the same. So I wonder if Italy is just in a bit of a dip but will be very strong in 3-5 years. We'll see.
USSF has failed in its approach to youth development. MLS isn't doing it, either, just harvesting the Training & Solidarity payments. Time for Congress to create a separate entity to address youth development. USSF has had 109 years--I'm tired of all their excuses and BS coaching licenses that do nothing for youth development.
Coaching a team, that cannot handle the ball, like US, means focusing on very basic stuff, leaving zero time for off ball trickery, strategy etc, would be nice to focus on nuanced stuff right, but the US is too deficient in basic skills to focus on jt!!
The stratification is just as prevalent within high school (and middle school, and elementary school) sports as within club leagues. I have two daughters, one who played middle school soccer, and one who was on her high school's dance team. Both had to PURCHASE (not borrow): TWO HOME UNIFORMS (jerseys, shorts, socks, warm-up sweat shirts and pants), plus TWO AWAY UNIFORMS (same parts),. This was before you got to the SHIN GUARDS, CLEATS, and-- oh, yes-- the matching gym bags, in team colors, WITH THEIR INITIALS EMBROIDERED ON THE SIDES. ADDED TO THOSE COSTS: participation fees, travel fees, meals, extra insurance rider, and on and on. NONE OF THESE COSTS WERE OPTIONAL OR NEGOTIABLE. The final price tag? EASILY MORE THAN $1,000 PER SEASON. Lest anyone wonder, these were not prep schools, but public schools in Tennessee. Even for a solidly middle class family like ours, they were a considerable burden. For poor kids with talent but without the funds to participate, they were exclusionary.
Fantastic point. Swag is such a problem. But stuff like that makes organizations legit in the eyes of a consumer. Since the Jones's are the head of that committee, you see where the knee gets bent. But I agree with you, all of the gear is a waste of money and resources, as well as an exorbitant tax on families for what is really basic stuff.
@@campfirefootball I was trying not to say "ln my day," but here goes: In my day, when you played school sports, you got a used uniform that reeked of what you hoped was sweat, and that probably consisted of puffy iron-on letters over a cotton t-shirt, and maybe some pieces of duct tape to hold it together. Okay, it wasn't always that bad. But the point is, we borrowed it, rather than having to pay for it, and cost was never an issue. I think all of that started to go away at about the same time the state universities started charging three times what Harvard cost when I was in school. But you don't notice until you have kids of your own. And by then... By then, although it sucks, and it's not right, you still want to do right by your kid. It's the most effective extortion that can be performed without the threat of actual physical injury.
@@antman8887 You're totally right that parents are left with little choice. At my club kids used to buy a $20 gray T-shirt for training with the club logo on it. Then they were updated to being gray jerseys with their numbers on the back. These cost $45 a piece. I heard from a lot of folks about that one.
4:50 - 5:29 . . . precisely. On the one hand, we have a game that has a long established global presence and historical tradition behind it. Part of that presence and history includes an academy system that is ubiquitous (even if not universal) spanning most of the globe. On the other hand, we have another game that is still relatively new and is far from global. Yet we have one nation with two national teams that had traditionally used a different system of development for its player pool in The Pay to play to College Route, but with different results. One being something of a traditional underdog in the well-established game, the other a traditional powerhouse in the newer game. Clearly, we are talking about TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GAMES.
It's an interesting point about high school soccer "pressure" vs club soccer, but that can't be where the USMNT finds its talent. For the USMNT to become elite in the international game, we need a club soccer/pro academy system that identifies the best players by age 13-15. If you're a USMNT quality player, I think you should be in the youth national teams or a pro academy by the time you're 16-17.
One thing we definitely need to improve at is talent ID. I'm not saying it's easy or that other countries are all that much better at it. But I see so many good players get passed on and on the inverse I see coaches drool over average players who are really fast. The other thing that clouds this is the obsession to win as much as possible. You'll take a player who can get you results now over one who will be an excellent and much better player in 3 years.
Need to be spotting talented kids both boys and girls between the age of 7 to 12 from any background and putting them through training academies , waiting for them to be put through the collegiate program limits the development .
It is really curious that he focuses on HS soccer. I get that High School games have big crowds, cheering fans, with rivalries on the line, but a sixteen year old elite prospect is hopefully already on a pro contract. Leo Messi was, what, thirteen when he was sold to Barcelona? His points about coaching and moving up, however, are very well taken.
It's a wilderness out there and players develop at very different times. I'm sure there were a handful of top level youth GKs that are now in their mid twenties. Who is the starting keeper for the US? Matt Turner who graduated from Fairfield University in CT. The idea that kids need to be on pro contracts by 16 works for some, but a lot of them drop off.
And he actually walked on at Fairfield University!! Benni Feilharber used to be one of my favorite USMNT players in the late aughts, and he also walked on at UCLA. Those stories are great, and we love them when they happen, but I do not think you want to count on that kind of development for the National team. @@campfirefootball
Berhalter showed incompetence by trying to build a team without one of the best players in Reyna. It's like Argentina without messi bcoz the coach says he is slow or old. It's the coach's job to have an eye for talent. USA doesn't have many players who play in big teams, so you can't be choosy and arrogant 💯✅
Greeg berhalter had DAUGTHER in Brasil and abandoned big liar use name José Ângelo beranek talke from Uruguai thanks mam gregg berhalter never for good mam.
Buenos días, te saludo desde Santiago de Chile primero que nada soy hincha fanático de Dallas FC acá en Sudamérica, no se sabe mucho con respecto al fútbol de Estados Unidos pero: progresivamente está llamando la atención de muchos incluidos argentinos Y brasileros una de las cosas que yo me doy cuenta, siendo no estadounidense es que: con todos los problemas que tienen para captar jugadores talentosos envían a 10 o 12 jugadores a Europa por año, eso es una locura no estoy diciendo si serán buenos o malos pero por ejemplo: en lateral derecho del Borussia München Black es estadounidense y se ha mantenido en su posición lo otro interesante es que: en el último torneo juvenil que se hizo en Honduras clasificatorio para el torneo mundial que se iba a jugar en Indonesia y que luego fue trasladado a la Argentina, de los 320 o 325 jugadores que participaron en ese torneo, 80 habían sido formados en Estados Unidos es decir: Estados Unidos está surtiendo a todo Centroamérica incluido México con los jugadores que forman que hay problemas? Claro que sí pero: ahora si se preocupan por Estados Unidos sobre todos los mexicanos porque ahora si con todas las deficiencias que ustedes dicen están jugando mucho mejor Eric Wynalda es voz autorizada al respecto porque cuando participó en el torneo de la copa América 1995 fue uno de los goleadores del torneo cuánto se ha avanzado? Yo diría que bastante pero obviamente falta mucho camino por recorrer lo otro que me he dado cuenta es que: si miras las alineaciones en la década de los 90 de Estados Unidos, la influencia latina era bastante notoria con muchos jugadores de origen latinos titulares por ejemplo: en el mundial 1994 habían tres latinos titulares Marcelo Balboa, tab Ramos y Fernando Clavijo hoy: 30 y tantos años después, no hay ningún latino indiscutido en la selección titular tal vez el crecimiento debería ser más rápido pero: el momento en que el fútbol realmente explote en Estados Unidos, cuando llegue ese día y ojalá esté vivo para verlo, estados Unidos estará fácilmente entre los tres o cuatro mejores países del mundo solamente les falta un mejor técnico, porque ahora lo que más tienen son jugadores y antes era lo que más necesitaban creo que la única forma en que el fútbol crezca mucho más rápido en Estados Unidos es: con el compromiso y convencimiento de la gente es cierto que se desperdicia talento y en un país tan grande como Estados Unidos es hasta cierto punto normal porque en todos los países pasa estados Unidos y Canadá tienen un potencial enorme yo, soy de una ciudad llamada Antofagasta que queda en el norte de Chile, en esta ciudad: hay muchas empresas mineras y conocí a muchos niños, hijos de estadounidenses y canadienses que trabajaban en esas minas porque son de la gran minería y todos esos funcionarios eran de alto rango, y lo único que hacían era: después del colegio jugar fútbol mi hermano mayor jugaba con varios de ellos y en una oportunidad uno de los padres de un muchacho que se llamaba Scott Brady le dijo: hijo, por qué no juegas Basketball? Y el muchacho le respondió: este es mi deporte, esta es mi vida cuando mi hermano me lo contó, me pareció interesante puesto que nunca había escuchado hablar aún estadounidense con tanto cariño por este deporte creo que si los entrenadores quieren mejorar: deberían de salir de Estados Unidos y perfeccionarse ya sea en Europa o Sudamérica ahora vivo en Santiago, pero siempre me quedó ese recuerdo de cuando yo era niño y vivía en mi natal Antofagasta una de las cosas que me gusta del Dallas FC es que: promueve mucho a los jóvenes podría hacerse algo parecido con este club así como chivas pero obviamente mucho mejor ya que los mexicanos no son muy buenos para el fútbol Y enfocarse en los niños estadounidenses de origen no latino espero que una vez terminado su participación en Europa y ya con más años Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, los hermanos Aaronson, Taylor Woods, Malik Dillmann, Cameron Carter Vickers, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Anthony Robinson Y todos los jugadores que estuvieron en Europa se formen como entrenadores para poder dar el salto de calidad que ya se necesita porque lo básico ya está infraestructura, amor por el deporte, equipos establecidos, y una hinchada que crece cada día eso es algo innegable afortunadamente el fútbol ha llegado para quedarse en Estados Unidos y Canadá
Wynalda's somewhat mercurial personality should not distract from some valid points about US soccer. We unfortunately have a system with US soccer that is basically amateurish. It is a relic of soccer when it was much smaller and did not deal with the challenges of a large scale professional Division 1 League, or the needs of a Men's National team competing in the modern world with countries with over a hundred years of growth and high level play. Recreational soccer and soccer geared to progression to the professional, and even USMNTs game, are obviously very different. Unfortunately, US soccer's structure is tilted towards its youth and amateur divisions while having a confused approach to the professional game and the National Teams. These divergent needs cause goals, objectives, coaching and procedures that are at odds with each other; they allow for the convergence of ridiculous mechanisms like pay to play that may make sense for recreational play but not for creating truly elite players where ability should be the ONLY prerequisite for advancement to pro and national team levels. Unlike other sports in the US High School and college ball is not a route to the pros or really elite play; in my mind this is still recreational play. I played Division 1 soccer at Penn State many years ago and have coached youth soccer for years. I've seen all these issues with parents. Frankly, I would ban them from games if I could. Most people have no understanding of the massive difference between these recreational players and elite players capable of progressing to the pros or to the Men's National team. Consequently, the development of elite players must by definition be handled in a very different process and funding.
Berhalter showed himself to be a small petty man. Between deciding on a system and/or formation that wouldn't feature the player on the roster with the most talent and upside and him publicly bad mouthing that same player. Not having a a top flight professional league that is anywhere near considered a top 15 to 20 league hurts a lot. The pay to play system also hurts the development and recognition of the most talented players available. Wynalda isn't far off with his criticism
@user-gy1pu3gq3d if we want to really get to the top of the world cup we absolutely need a top flight domestic league. Additionally, USSF needs to revamp the whole pay for play model so parents have zero influence
Reyna's parents should get a statue in their honor. Without them, that bum Berhalter would still be our manager. He has not once made our team greater than the sum of our parts. He could literally be replaced by, and improved on, with an AI coach. Also, Berhalter is the one who blew up Reyna in public, possibly hamstringing Reyna's career prospects forever. He didn't even do it for a good reason, just to impress some half-interested businessmen at a conference somewhere. I would hope any parent would react the way the Reyna's did. Heaven forbid Berhalter face some consequences for his actions and his performance. Its not just players who are expected to constantly justify their position.
I understand if you don't agree with Berhalter's decisions or his way of managing the team. I agree it was a bad idea to bring up this situation at a business conference. But from everything we've heard, the Reynas were the main source of drama and toxicity in the camp at the World Cup. I know the brother of one of the USMNT players who was there and he said the tension was palpable and thick, all caused by the Reynas. So I can't support them through any of this either. Frankly their behavior was childish (as Pulisic recently said) and I would want them as far as possible. Maybe they are the biggest obstacle for Gio's growth and reputation at this point.
@@campfirefootball Bro it doesn't make sense to build a team without one of your most talented players. That is incompetent in a country with not too many top players with big game experience. It's like Argentina without messi bcoz the coach thinks he is slow. Identifying talents is the coach's job
No, that's the problem! High school coaches at all the other sports can ascend to coach at the professional level without paying for different ratings. American soccer is a money grab, making money off of every aspect of the process! You should progress with success. The more successful you are, the higher you go!
Campfire Football, at last someone who is talking about U.S. soccer youth development! Thank you for this explanation. On other hand, I would have liked a more in-depth explanation of the present situation in U.S. regarding the closing of USSDA and the MLS subsequently taking over this extremely important role. Now MLS will be the gatekeepers for prospective coaches and youth players! MLS primary goal is to make money with least cost; they have no altruistic impulses. USSF which IMO is controlled by MLS has abdicated it's responsibility to develop and foster soccer on All levels, boys and girls, because it incurred million dollar costs. I want to know what US Youth Soccer's reaction is to this development.
Thank you for the feedback. There is so much to say on every aspect of Soccer in the USA. In this video, I just wanted to point out some of the points Eric Wynalda brought up in his article. Some of it makes sense. But it does leave out the hole you are talking about with the DA disappearing and MLS Next replacing it almost immediately. It's such a big landscape and pretty confusing for almost everybody. We are such a big country with geographical barriers that make everything more complicated. We have Elite leagues, high school ball, college pathways, academies (MLS and non), 3 pro leagues (MLS, USL Champ, and USL League 1). All of this has grown significantly in the last couple decades. Now the question is how do we develop better players? I don't really have much of an opinion on MLS NEXT supplanting the DA, to be honest. They are elite leagues with different names, something like them will always exist and place large importance on making money. What I maintain is the view that coaching standards need to be raised significantly across the board. That really is up to USSF. They have to put more into coach education. Too many people just don't really know what they are doing and they are teaching kids. It's strange.
@@campfirefootball Also, possession football was a follow-on from the Dutch Total Football from the 70s that Cruyff, Neskins and others developed and thrived. It was based on the idea that everyone on the team had to be technically and tactically proficient enough to both attack and defend. That lead to the approach where forwards could immediately press and recover the ball and to the idea that the fullbacks would frequently join the attack while center backs should be capable of both ball progression and line breaking passes. And for midfielders it meant they had to take their skills "box to box" and to be able to work fluidly and interchangeably with both the forwards and defenders.
@@campfirefootballyep, it was used by commentator Andres Montes (RIP) for first time during the 2006 WC in reference to the passing game of Brazil. Then it applied to Spain for the successful 2008-2012 years and FC Barcelona’ Guardiola with players like Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas, Messi and Villa
@@psu2dcu True on all counts. But it wasn't Cruyff and Neeskins who developed the style of play in the Netherlands. That would be their manager Rinus Michels. So who was his mentor? I honestly don't know. My point is the idea of keeping the ball in tighter spaces with quick ball movement and overloads has been around for a long time. Who invented it? I couldn't say.
Wynalda is many things, but I agree with him on all of this article. We want the USMNT to succeed, especially for 2026, but we don’t have a decent coach and the one we finally just got rid of got the job because of his brother, then got into a pissing contest with his old friends. USSF has been more money hungry than focused on youth forever, and that’s SUM’s influence on not just USSF, but MLS, too. We got rid of GGG, now Don Garber needs to go. He is the biggest problem of all.
I wonder if people in the US are getting a bit greedy and obsessed with who should be the coach. Aime Jacquet was the French coach when they won the World Cup and was not considered a top coach. Lionel Scaloni was pretty much unknown. Zlatko Dalic the Croatian coach has been a revelation but nobody had a clue who he was. National team coaches need to be able to inspire and organize the team. The idea of Mourinho or Zidane is a bit ridiculous to me.
@@campfirefootball I think USSF needs to get off their a**es and find someone who has an actual football mind, a la Louis van Gaal…but they will hire another Bruce Arena and the boys will be underwhelming. The women have the same problem with Vlatko; USSF hired a boring coach from NWSL instead of fighting England for Sarina Weigman.
tiki taka is a really good style to inculcate small kids in, i think. it's easier to build other aspects of the game onto a base of responsible possession
I agree. The high press and vertical passing game are more about athleticism. You either have the energy and speed to play in that system or you don't. Being comfortable on the ball is a skill you can develop, but you have to be comfortable making short, tight passes and being punished if your touch is loose.
A better question would be what US Soccer does right? To me it's already a failure because as a sport it is not starting from the hood, instead in the US it's a middle class thing, a socioeconomical group that either descends from the upper strata (luben) or at best it is going nowhere, and just stagnates till death. There is simply no drive and no excellence from anyone involved, it's just another day in the office, the US just does random stuff, guided by people that have no idea about the sport, and just hopes it'll fail upwards.
That's a harsh but very fair assessment on the topic. And correct on all counts. As a coach in the youth system, one of the problems I see is that there is no top down cohesion to develop players. Though I think different ideas can be used in different places, what is missing is the coordination in making players better. Clubs are businesses and don't want to help their competitors. The hilarious thing is a famine mentality in an abundant space is completely illogical. There are so many kids who play and whose parents pay a lot of money. There are enough "customers" for everyone and still we manage to underproduce good players. It's kind of a funny tragedy when you think about it.
The licensing system is just a way to install gatekeepers. There are Mexican youth leagues in the USA that are every bit as good but they dispense with all of the high priced BS.
That's a great question. The most basic answer, and why I think it is valuable, is to require people some level of certification to teach kids a sport. It's not that coaching is difficult or complex, but just going out there and winging it is not going to develop players. So licensing is a good thing. However, I have issues with the levels and what they mean, something I'm not sure US Soccer has completely decided either. The courses are expensive, they take 6 months, and are akin to an academic degree. Some jobs require or prefer a certain level of education, but you can also be successful in life without it. That's where the gatekeeper concept comes in. This summer/fall the B License will be held in 9 cities across the country. That is not conducive to getting people this knowledge if it is so important. But they make it exclusive and difficult to get into, which then begs the question: Are you trying to offer a select level education to a select few people? Or are you trying to bring up the level of every coach? I do not know what the conversations are around who should get in based on what parameters, but I have seen some things that make no sense whatsoever. I don't know about other sports, but I do think it is important for people to learn about how you teach, how young people of different ages learn, and how you can convey game concepts in the quickest space of time. Over time coaching, you start to see how subtle things can make the biggest difference, something I did not grasp when I was starting.
@@alexh4436 There are so many latino kids who are totally unknown to US Soccer and they can BALL! They play in small community clubs and wreck it in state leagues. But the Mexican clubs who end up recruiting a lot of these kids don't end up developing them into full professionals either. There's a lot of work to do but I think the US and Mexico could be producing some of the best players in the world some day in the future. We'll see.
Eric is correct. You can add that MLS current format is also a major contributor to American Mediocrity. There is no relegation. MLS is about making money and the bean counters are averse to taking on risk. The idea that relegation will devalue a team's valuation is what led MLS to rig the system.
I can't take Wynalda seriously anymore. Keep in mind during the world cup he was helping throw GB under the bus by saying he had conversations with Claudio, and he knew what was going on. He's a massive part of the problem in USSF, he just thinks he should have a role in it all because he thinks he's a good coach, or the best option as the GM or President. So him blasting the system is just his way to try and get back to front and center and make his case for why he should be hired. The idea high school is somehow a higher level with more pressure is false. 1) the coaching isn't always as good 2) theres way more politics in school sports 3) The season is shorter, and where is the pressure when colleges aren't recruiting at that level. The idea that the fans somehow make the pressure ramp up... not a chance. I went to a top 2 5A/6A school in Texas... We finished second in the state and 5th in the country. The only "hostile" crowd we faced came in the State Semi Finals and Finals, Meanwhile our "fans" didn't show up because it was the same weekend as prom... High schools have other programs going on, so theres not some massive crowd. USSF also has nothing to do with High school. All the school districts have different rules, different ref set ups, and different requirements. You bring up coaching... You don't need a USSF license to coach highschool... There's place A for terrible coaches. It's interesting. Basketball and football have a pay to play system. Somehow the numbers participating aren't a set back for them? You think every kid playing football or basketball is a top level? not a chance. USSF and MLS have made massive strides, keep in mind Europe has developmental systems developed over 100 plus years. MLS is 30 years... How do you even try to compare those? Easy answer, Wynalda is just trying to be "edgy" without actually knowing how to fix anything but just wants to be considered for the job. Just make the circle smaller, and have Claudio get another inside into communicating with USSF for his son...
You make some very good points here and I do share your discontent with a lot of these 90s era USMNT guys. There are too many bad coaches, too much politics involved in team selection, and a scattergun approach to teaching the game. I think MLS and USSF have come a long way for sure, and there is good reason for these systems to be far behind Europe. The system isn't broken, but it is far from optimal. I don't know what the "answer" is because it's multifaceted. Wynalda made some points that were true, but coming from him, it's a bit hollow. One of my coaches growing up met him at a Licensing Course and said he was quite rude. Not surprising. Thank you for the opinions and feedback.
Your explanation of why he gave Gio limited time is rational. This should prove to everyone why Gregg shouldn't have been hired and especially shouldn't be given a new contract. You don't come up with a formation and/or strategy that benches one of your most talented young stars for a world cup. You build it around your best players. You sure as hell don't leave one of your more capable goal-scorers at home.
@@campfirefootball I absolutely not excusing Gio's behavior. Act like a kid you will get treated like a kid. But I do see an issue with how all the fair criticism of Gregg seemed to go poof, vanished.
@@wizarddragon I've continued to hear a lot of criticism of Berhalter and his choices. I doubt he'll be given a new contract, even if this whole thing had not happened a lot of people wanted to move in a new direction. Now who should take over?
US Soccer doesn't have the player pool for the coach to decide on whatever style he likes and telling one of our top 2 players to pound sand. France can do that with Benzema. We are not France.
It's also hard to play somebody who is giving virtually nothing in training, sulking, making it about themselves, and bringing down the rest of the group. Gio's behavior made his selection very difficult. That's on him and he'll learn because he's young. As for a playing style, you have to look at what will be the most solid and effective way to play because the World Cup can be unforgiving (just look at the game vs Netherlands). Greg went with something he believed in and it wasn't a bad showing. Was it the best approach? That's up for debate of course.
@@JackSchitt-p9t From what we as the public have been privy to, it started during those friendlies warming up for the tournament. Apparently he didn't play well and didn't show enough. If we weren't there, it's really hard to say. But Gio is a professional so if you are told you aren't starting, you prove in training that you should be the first option off the bench. If you perform when you get your chance, then you may start the next game. That's just what you have to do. To stink up the whole place is just not acceptable at the World Cup, of all places.
Well not a way to motivate a player when you tell him he is unlikely to play. Why waste the man's time. Choose a different player for the squad. Terrible for c li ach to say this to a player who plays in a top league.
From what I read and heard, he was not told he wouldn't play, he was told he would not start. This was a tactical decision. Reyna could have just trained hard and been professional and we would have played more. Was the tactical plan the right one? That's totally up for debate.
I hear your analysis. First comparing the US women's game to the US men's game is not relevant. There are many countries in the world where women are discouraged from participating in sports, so US women soccer has an advantage due to the US being a socially progressive society that values women participation in sports. The mens's game is different. The whole world participate in men's soccer, so US men's soccer is relatively less developed than countries like Brazil or Argentina where soccer is the national religion. In the US, our high school development system produce world class basketball and baseball players. American-rules football is not an international game. If it were the US would be dominant. The real problem is soccer is behind American-rules football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey in terms of popularity. Soccer is not a passion with Americans. Americans do not love soccer. Only a handful of Americans love soccer. It is not enough. I have been watching African soccer. Young children in Africa are competing on soil fields with no grass. Their goal posts are just twigs tied together with rope. They play bare footed. Their ball is a bag filled with newspaper. Yet you find African-born, African-trained, world-class African professional players in the top-European leagues. Why is this important? Because the best footballers in the world play in Europe. Yes, no African team has won the World Cup but in terms of talent Africa (as a continent) has achieved more than a structured, well-funded American soccer system. The underlying problem is that we do not have enough Americans who LOVE the game like the South Americans or Europeans. When Donovan, Dempsey, Lalas, and Howard lifted America's football hopes I thought America was on its way to becoming a world-class contender. That US World Cup team was an anomaly. Pulisic and his team mates got the USMNT to the final 16 in World Cup competition. It is an incredible accomplishment, because soccer is not a religion in the US. Soccer is behind American-rules football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey. And yet the USMNT made it to the final 16 in World Cup, world-class competition.
US soccer will not attract the best coaches from Europe, they will coach the European national teams, so you will only attract less than the best ….as. Coaches , but you have to start somewhere, you need academies associated to the MLS clubs with qualified talent scouts constantly travelling around the USA looking for talent from little peewee soccer clubs and have them coached by the best European coaches they can attract to the US clubs , because until the MLS clubs have an established supply of talented kids that they can develop from the age of 6/7 yrs old , then the US will just keep churning out the mediocre robots from the collegiate system with little skill , understanding of the game or technique. To be the best they need to employ the best , so the MLS teams need to invest in making the league better, currently the MLS is rated mediocre when compared to other leagues , especially Europe which has some of the best leagues. Build the league to be better with academies and players development will come sooner . With a population of 340 million the US should have an abundance of talent especially when countries of 10 to 60 million have far better talent and leagues in comparison. The raw talent MUST be there just needs spotting early and developing.
These are all valid solutions and understandable reading of the problems. I think it's very difficult to find a smooth and streamlined development and talent identification structure in the US, mostly due to the geographical size and the large population. Good players are coming from all over the place, and in random locations outside of major soccer markets where you find MLS academies. So how do we develop a kid from Boise, Idaho whose closest MLS team is Portland, a 6-7 hour drive? The other issue is the reality that we like to think professionalizing youth soccer environments is going to churn out a bunch of top class players, but I see so many kids just burn out and quit because they don't even enjoy the game anymore. One thing that is interesting is USL teams don't have academies. If they did, that would provide another pathway to so many players in cities that don't have MLS anywhere nearby. With 24 teams in USL Championship and 12 in USL League One, that's another 36 pro academies to develop young players who may not be ready for MLS but could get valuable minutes in the lower leagues. I would like to see a 3 tier system with promotion and relegation between the 3 leagues as well but that's not happening at least for the next decade.
@@campfirefootball the three teir system is pretty much English football before the EPL but we had 4 leagues, and promotion /relegation occurred between them all. The difference I see between US soccer and other nations is passion for the game, I hear what you say about American kids burning out and quitting , but that is naturally because it is not historically considered a national sport to the US so there is not the passion for the sport as there is in Europe and South American countries or pretty much anywhere the old British empire set foot kinda like cricket too! Lol ….but I digress…. In the U.K. kids are bought up on soccer as pretty much most dads support a team , just like you guys with American football so you see my point , the passion for the sport needs to be the driving force for the kid , not a parent forcing a child into a sport because they weren’t good enough at your “main” sports, you can’t just say to a child your not going to make it in baseball you should try doing well in soccer, I’m probably over simplifying that as an example , but it is literally the case that the passion has to be there, I know in general American sport is based on athletic ability which only carries ppl so far , soccer is so much more strategy and skill based , which can’t just be taught when you get to college hense the most definite need to tap into the youth at 6/7 yrs old. American football is pretty much overpowering the opposition by trying different “ set plays” ( again over simplified) soccer is a minimum of 90 mins of transitions of play relying on knowledge and experience of each player and how they work as a team, what I mean is it’s not stop , start , try a different play , stop try again. Without the different soccer leagues of the US developing to have academies that any child from any background can access , I can’t see how the US men’s soccer program will be able to catch up with everyone else, since the rest of the world has now caught up with the USWNT since they had a 30 Yr head start to some nations, some nations may soon supersede the USWNT for the same reasons that the collegiate system leaves the development too late. I would love to see the USMNT develop into a competitive team but I feel it needs infrastructure to change as well as support for the sport because let’s be honest in capitalist America if the fans aren’t there neither is the investment!
@@barrycarey7521 I agree with you that the USWNT is being caught quickly by more strong European nations, and their dominance will fade a bit. As for the passion aspect, A LOT of the kids I coach absolutely love the game. Once the litany of distractions start to enter their lives from 13-17, things can change. And a big reason why is the fun is taken out of the game too early. The learning becomes more rigid, winning starts to take priority, and the competition for places can turn political. A lot of this mess is created and driven (without ill intent) by adults. Parents, coaches, club directors etc. When the grown ups get in the way, things don't work. You have to facilitate players and cultivate that passion, not use it as a tool to drive home hard discipline and winning. That comes with the passion but I think our systems and structures have destroyed a lot of talented kids who just needed a better learning environment. Now what motivates kids is different. In America, we have fewer kids who see the game as way out of poverty and way to support their families. They have to want to achieve a high level mostly for internal reasons. So it's tough to compare that to Brazil or Argentina. As for culture, there is so much different. Pro teams have low crowds if they aren't winning, which is totally normalized here. However, Leeds are packing Elland Rd on a weekly basis despite struggling all season. That's a huge gap in terms of passion for the game, for a club, and for your community. It's fascinating to pick this stuff apart because it tells us a lot about how difficult it is to figure it all out.
Soccer is interruption free for a solid 45 minutes. Business hates it.
I live in the US. When I walk and drive around my city I don’t see boys just having a causal game of soccer. I see basketball, handball, street hockey, skateboarding, even ultimate frisbee. For me, that’s the biggest reason why we don’t have many elite American players.
yo no siendo estadounidense puedo decir que: el fútbol poco a poco va permeando sobre todo a los jóvenes estadounidenses
El crecimiento es más rápido en unos lugares que en otros pero: a la larga el fútbol se impondrá
Wish I could leave two likes. Amazing take
You are 100% spot on about our lack of development for coaches and (by extension), players. One of the biggest problems we have imo, is that many coaches (and then players who are taught) don't "understand" soccer as a game. There is so much focus on the ball itself and what happens with the ball or who does what with a ball, which can be ok, but to me, most of the game happens *away* from the ball. Things like off the ball movement (where to move AND why to move) are things I never get seen really talked about or understood. I'm not sure how that changes though.
Yeah it's a good point. You've got some coaches who are all about technique and 1v1s, some who do almost everything with rondos, some who are all about 1 and 2 touch only etc. If they focus solely on the ball, they won't be as effective off it, as you say. The game is super simple and logical. The concepts are not overly complex. They just take some time to sink in. If coaches make the effort to teach them and be patient enough to know they will repeat themselves, it will work.
Don't know how I found this video but this was honestly the best breakdown I've ever seen
I'm not sure how you found my video either, but I'm glad you stopped by and enjoyed it. Hopefully I bring some more stuff that interests you.
FINALLY, a discussion about the core problem with the game in the USA. This will not be an easy problem to resolve!
Very nice video. Well reasoned stuff.
Eric is absolutely right.. with the hot potato comment in the 10 minutes mark. I’ve been to mls academy, I’ve been to USSDA when they were around, I saw it at the club level and now I see it in the USL championship. Every team, every player, every coach is happy with play it safe…. These kids just pass the ball back and forth for 90 mins and have no idea why they’re even passing… they pass it into pressure. They pass it to reset.. they pass it just cause that’s how they were taught. It’s way too much. They don’t know when they have the advantage say a three vs one but yet they pass again backwards to the goalie.. and it’s like “ man.. you just had them out numbered in their final third and you’re now passing it all the way back to your goalie?? What the hell””. And the coaches are fine with this, and their teammates are fine with this, and all the parents are fine with this.. and I’m up in the stands pulling my fucking hair out. Eric nailed this.
It's like watching a team go from the kick off all the way back to their goalkeeper because nobody wants to go forward. I've seen a lot of MLS games and even USL where you barely ever see somebody be creative. The good thing is, things go in waves and cycles. The 1 touch 2 touch short passing style (Tiki Taca) is nowhere near as prevalent as it was a few years ago. Now they are talking more about "progressive possession" and 1v1s and 2v2s.
The biggest problem is that youth academies are mostly parent funded which means that the teams have a vested interest in conning parents into believing that their kids that are better than they are. So you have too many cubs with too few elite players that are sprinkled among good but not great players which waters down development. If we had honest coaches that are willing to say "Your kid isn't good enough to play pro, or even get a college scholarship" and have those players play in High School or some sort of advanced rec. That however costs coach's money so they continue to lie.
So many things to say. First, the old ODP system often resulted in teams picked based on politics as much as skill. Influential clubs and coaches managed to place more players in ODP and other better players were excluded. Second, the same system "works" for girls but not boys? Perhaps the real issue is the competition from other sports for talent, particularly those excluded by costs from the club system. In some foreign countries, kids learn to play with a "ball" of wrapped rags with a few pieces of tape around them. I've seen kids playing in a school yard with a 2 liter soda bottle. Here, we have made it harder, not easier, for children from less affluent backgrounds to play against good competition and develop their skills. Contrast that to playground basketball played in courts across the country. In addition, many parents and others are simply not able to pass on to their kids both the love of the game and focus them on watching skilled players and learning from that experience. Having parents teach you how to watch people you admire and encouraging you to copy their moves and skills is helpful. I know parents whose children played fairly high level soccer and yet still know little about the game and do not even care to watch the World Cup games because they do not understand the game enough to find it interesting.
You speak a lot of truth here. I can't argue with any of that. Thank you for sharing.
EPL is full of foreign players - it has raised the game of those English players that have to compete for a spot everyday. Italian soccer issues are more due to the lack of quality striker development and they have never changed there system as other leagues have adapted. Other than that I agree with pretty much everything
England continues to disappoint and fall short.
I wonder if it has to do with cycles we can't really predict or impact. France had this great generation in the late 90s and early 2000s, but until the 2016-2018 version, the national team was not great. Belgium was an average nation after a great team in the early 90s, but then they developed an incredible generation of players. Germany did the same. So I wonder if Italy is just in a bit of a dip but will be very strong in 3-5 years. We'll see.
@fisterhr yeah but france is elite and they have huge amounts of foreign players
USSF has failed in its approach to youth development. MLS isn't doing it, either, just harvesting the Training & Solidarity payments. Time for Congress to create a separate entity to address youth development. USSF has had 109 years--I'm tired of all their excuses and BS coaching licenses that do nothing for youth development.
Coaching a team, that cannot handle the ball, like US, means focusing on very basic stuff, leaving zero time for off ball trickery, strategy etc, would be nice to focus on nuanced stuff right, but the US is too deficient in basic skills to focus on jt!!
good point about hs soccer mixing age groups. instead of traveling expensively to find competition, teams should play against older players
The stratification is just as prevalent within high school (and middle school, and elementary school) sports as within club leagues. I have two daughters, one who played middle school soccer, and one who was on her high school's dance team. Both had to PURCHASE (not borrow): TWO HOME UNIFORMS (jerseys, shorts, socks, warm-up sweat shirts and pants), plus TWO AWAY UNIFORMS (same parts),. This was before you got to the SHIN GUARDS, CLEATS, and-- oh, yes-- the matching gym bags, in team colors, WITH THEIR INITIALS EMBROIDERED ON THE SIDES. ADDED TO THOSE COSTS: participation fees, travel fees, meals, extra insurance rider, and on and on. NONE OF THESE COSTS WERE OPTIONAL OR NEGOTIABLE. The final price tag? EASILY MORE THAN $1,000 PER SEASON. Lest anyone wonder, these were not prep schools, but public schools in Tennessee. Even for a solidly middle class family like ours, they were a considerable burden. For poor kids with talent but without the funds to participate, they were exclusionary.
Fantastic point. Swag is such a problem. But stuff like that makes organizations legit in the eyes of a consumer. Since the Jones's are the head of that committee, you see where the knee gets bent. But I agree with you, all of the gear is a waste of money and resources, as well as an exorbitant tax on families for what is really basic stuff.
@@campfirefootball I was trying not to say "ln my day," but here goes: In my day, when you played school sports, you got a used uniform that reeked of what you hoped was sweat, and that probably consisted of puffy iron-on letters over a cotton t-shirt, and maybe some pieces of duct tape to hold it together.
Okay, it wasn't always that bad. But the point is, we borrowed it, rather than having to pay for it, and cost was never an issue. I think all of that started to go away at about the same time the state universities started charging three times what Harvard cost when I was in school. But you don't notice until you have kids of your own. And by then... By then, although it sucks, and it's not right, you still want to do right by your kid. It's the most effective extortion that can be performed without the threat of actual physical injury.
@@antman8887 You're totally right that parents are left with little choice. At my club kids used to buy a $20 gray T-shirt for training with the club logo on it. Then they were updated to being gray jerseys with their numbers on the back. These cost $45 a piece. I heard from a lot of folks about that one.
What do expect with business govt.
4:50 - 5:29 . . . precisely. On the one hand, we have a game that has a long established global presence and historical tradition behind it. Part of that presence and history includes an academy system that is ubiquitous (even if not universal) spanning most of the globe. On the other hand, we have another game that is still relatively new and is far from global. Yet we have one nation with two national teams that had traditionally used a different system of development for its player pool in The Pay to play to College Route, but with different results. One being something of a traditional underdog in the well-established game, the other a traditional powerhouse in the newer game. Clearly, we are talking about TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GAMES.
It's an interesting point about high school soccer "pressure" vs club soccer, but that can't be where the USMNT finds its talent. For the USMNT to become elite in the international game, we need a club soccer/pro academy system that identifies the best players by age 13-15. If you're a USMNT quality player, I think you should be in the youth national teams or a pro academy by the time you're 16-17.
One thing we definitely need to improve at is talent ID. I'm not saying it's easy or that other countries are all that much better at it. But I see so many good players get passed on and on the inverse I see coaches drool over average players who are really fast. The other thing that clouds this is the obsession to win as much as possible. You'll take a player who can get you results now over one who will be an excellent and much better player in 3 years.
13 - 15 is way to late mate, way to late!
Need to be spotting talented kids both boys and girls between the age of 7 to 12 from any background and putting them through training academies , waiting for them to be put through the collegiate program limits the development .
Buenos días: una consulta, todos los clubes que participan en la Mayor League Soccer tienen academias?
@@teddyomararayacrooker2240 yes, though most of them are not free unfortunately
It is really curious that he focuses on HS soccer. I get that High School games have big crowds, cheering fans, with rivalries on the line, but a sixteen year old elite prospect is hopefully already on a pro contract. Leo Messi was, what, thirteen when he was sold to Barcelona? His points about coaching and moving up, however, are very well taken.
It's a wilderness out there and players develop at very different times. I'm sure there were a handful of top level youth GKs that are now in their mid twenties. Who is the starting keeper for the US? Matt Turner who graduated from Fairfield University in CT. The idea that kids need to be on pro contracts by 16 works for some, but a lot of them drop off.
And he actually walked on at Fairfield University!! Benni Feilharber used to be one of my favorite USMNT players in the late aughts, and he also walked on at UCLA. Those stories are great, and we love them when they happen, but I do not think you want to count on that kind of development for the National team.
@@campfirefootball
Berhalter showed incompetence by trying to build a team without one of the best players in Reyna. It's like Argentina without messi bcoz the coach says he is slow or old. It's the coach's job to have an eye for talent. USA doesn't have many players who play in big teams, so you can't be choosy and arrogant 💯✅
Greeg berhalter had DAUGTHER in Brasil and abandoned big liar use name José Ângelo beranek talke from Uruguai thanks mam gregg berhalter never for good mam.
Thanks
Thanks
Buenos días, te saludo desde Santiago de Chile
primero que nada soy hincha fanático de Dallas FC
acá en Sudamérica, no se sabe mucho con respecto al fútbol de Estados Unidos pero: progresivamente está llamando la atención de muchos incluidos argentinos Y brasileros
una de las cosas que yo me doy cuenta, siendo no estadounidense es que: con todos los problemas que tienen para captar jugadores talentosos envían a 10 o 12 jugadores a Europa por año, eso es una locura
no estoy diciendo si serán buenos o malos pero por ejemplo: en lateral derecho del Borussia München Black es estadounidense y se ha mantenido en su posición
lo otro interesante es que: en el último torneo juvenil que se hizo en Honduras clasificatorio para el torneo mundial que se iba a jugar en Indonesia y que luego fue trasladado a la Argentina, de los 320 o 325 jugadores que participaron en ese torneo, 80 habían sido formados en Estados Unidos
es decir: Estados Unidos está surtiendo a todo Centroamérica incluido México con los jugadores que forman
que hay problemas? Claro que sí pero: ahora si se preocupan por Estados Unidos sobre todos los mexicanos porque ahora si con todas las deficiencias que ustedes dicen están jugando mucho mejor
Eric Wynalda es voz autorizada al respecto porque cuando participó en el torneo de la copa América 1995 fue uno de los goleadores del torneo
cuánto se ha avanzado? Yo diría que bastante pero obviamente falta mucho camino por recorrer
lo otro que me he dado cuenta es que: si miras las alineaciones en la década de los 90 de Estados Unidos, la influencia latina era bastante notoria con muchos jugadores de origen latinos titulares por ejemplo: en el mundial 1994 habían tres latinos titulares Marcelo Balboa, tab Ramos y Fernando Clavijo
hoy: 30 y tantos años después, no hay ningún latino indiscutido en la selección titular
tal vez el crecimiento debería ser más rápido pero: el momento en que el fútbol realmente explote en Estados Unidos, cuando llegue ese día y ojalá esté vivo para verlo, estados Unidos estará fácilmente entre los tres o cuatro mejores países del mundo
solamente les falta un mejor técnico, porque ahora lo que más tienen son jugadores y antes era lo que más necesitaban
creo que la única forma en que el fútbol crezca mucho más rápido en Estados Unidos es: con el compromiso y convencimiento de la gente
es cierto que se desperdicia talento y en un país tan grande como Estados Unidos es hasta cierto punto normal porque en todos los países pasa
estados Unidos y Canadá tienen un potencial enorme yo, soy de una ciudad llamada Antofagasta que queda en el norte de Chile, en esta ciudad: hay muchas empresas mineras y conocí a muchos niños, hijos de estadounidenses y canadienses que trabajaban en esas minas porque son de la gran minería y todos esos funcionarios eran de alto rango, y lo único que hacían era: después del colegio jugar fútbol
mi hermano mayor jugaba con varios de ellos y en una oportunidad uno de los padres de un muchacho que se llamaba Scott Brady le dijo: hijo, por qué no juegas Basketball?
Y el muchacho le respondió: este es mi deporte, esta es mi vida
cuando mi hermano me lo contó, me pareció interesante puesto que nunca había escuchado hablar aún estadounidense con tanto cariño por este deporte
creo que si los entrenadores quieren mejorar: deberían de salir de Estados Unidos y perfeccionarse ya sea en Europa o Sudamérica ahora vivo en Santiago, pero siempre me quedó ese recuerdo de cuando yo era niño y vivía en mi natal Antofagasta
una de las cosas que me gusta del Dallas FC es que: promueve mucho a los jóvenes podría hacerse algo parecido con este club así como chivas pero obviamente mucho mejor ya que los mexicanos no son muy buenos para el fútbol
Y enfocarse en los niños estadounidenses de origen no latino
espero que una vez terminado su participación en Europa y ya con más años Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, los hermanos Aaronson, Taylor Woods, Malik Dillmann, Cameron Carter Vickers, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Anthony Robinson Y todos los jugadores que estuvieron en Europa se formen como entrenadores para poder dar el salto de calidad que ya se necesita porque lo básico ya está infraestructura, amor por el deporte, equipos establecidos, y una hinchada que crece cada día eso es algo innegable afortunadamente el fútbol ha llegado para quedarse en Estados Unidos y Canadá
@@mariademelo2033 qué?
Wynalda's somewhat mercurial personality should not distract from some valid points about US soccer. We unfortunately have a system with US soccer that is basically amateurish. It is a relic of soccer when it was much smaller and did not deal with the challenges of a large scale professional Division 1 League, or the needs of a Men's National team competing in the modern world with countries with over a hundred years of growth and high level play. Recreational soccer and soccer geared to progression to the professional, and even USMNTs game, are obviously very different. Unfortunately, US soccer's structure is tilted towards its youth and amateur divisions while having a confused approach to the professional game and the National Teams. These divergent needs cause goals, objectives, coaching and procedures that are at odds with each other; they allow for the convergence of ridiculous mechanisms like pay to play that may make sense for recreational play but not for creating truly elite players where ability should be the ONLY prerequisite for advancement to pro and national team levels. Unlike other sports in the US High School and college ball is not a route to the pros or really elite play; in my mind this is still recreational play. I played Division 1 soccer at Penn State many years ago and have coached youth soccer for years. I've seen all these issues with parents. Frankly, I would ban them from games if I could. Most people have no understanding of the massive difference between these recreational players and elite players capable of progressing to the pros or to the Men's National team. Consequently, the development of elite players must by definition be handled in a very different process and funding.
Berhalter showed himself to be a small petty man. Between deciding on a system and/or formation that wouldn't feature the player on the roster with the most talent and upside and him publicly bad mouthing that same player.
Not having a a top flight professional league that is anywhere near considered a top 15 to 20 league hurts a lot.
The pay to play system also hurts the development and recognition of the most talented players available.
Wynalda isn't far off with his criticism
We can survive without a top-flight professional league. We can't survive with Berhalter acting the way he acted.
@user-gy1pu3gq3d if we want to really get to the top of the world cup we absolutely need a top flight domestic league.
Additionally, USSF needs to revamp the whole pay for play model so parents have zero influence
Reyna's parents should get a statue in their honor. Without them, that bum Berhalter would still be our manager. He has not once made our team greater than the sum of our parts. He could literally be replaced by, and improved on, with an AI coach.
Also, Berhalter is the one who blew up Reyna in public, possibly hamstringing Reyna's career prospects forever. He didn't even do it for a good reason, just to impress some half-interested businessmen at a conference somewhere. I would hope any parent would react the way the Reyna's did. Heaven forbid Berhalter face some consequences for his actions and his performance. Its not just players who are expected to constantly justify their position.
I understand if you don't agree with Berhalter's decisions or his way of managing the team. I agree it was a bad idea to bring up this situation at a business conference. But from everything we've heard, the Reynas were the main source of drama and toxicity in the camp at the World Cup. I know the brother of one of the USMNT players who was there and he said the tension was palpable and thick, all caused by the Reynas. So I can't support them through any of this either. Frankly their behavior was childish (as Pulisic recently said) and I would want them as far as possible. Maybe they are the biggest obstacle for Gio's growth and reputation at this point.
what BS excuses and comment.
@@campfirefootball Bro it doesn't make sense to build a team without one of your most talented players. That is incompetent in a country with not too many top players with big game experience. It's like Argentina without messi bcoz the coach thinks he is slow. Identifying talents is the coach's job
I like the idea of more US player protectionism in MLS. the idea of expanding the coaching licensing program is great, too
No, that's the problem! High school coaches at all the other sports can ascend to coach at the professional level without paying for different ratings. American soccer is a money grab, making money off of every aspect of the process! You should progress with success. The more successful you are, the higher you go!
Spot on
Campfire Football, at last someone who is talking about U.S. soccer youth development! Thank you for this explanation. On other hand, I would have liked a more in-depth explanation of the present situation in U.S. regarding the closing of USSDA and the MLS subsequently taking over this extremely important role. Now MLS will be the gatekeepers for prospective coaches and youth players! MLS primary goal is to make money with least cost; they have no altruistic impulses. USSF which IMO is controlled by MLS has abdicated it's responsibility to develop and foster soccer on All levels, boys and girls, because it incurred million dollar costs. I want to know what US Youth Soccer's reaction is to this development.
Thank you for the feedback. There is so much to say on every aspect of Soccer in the USA. In this video, I just wanted to point out some of the points Eric Wynalda brought up in his article. Some of it makes sense. But it does leave out the hole you are talking about with the DA disappearing and MLS Next replacing it almost immediately.
It's such a big landscape and pretty confusing for almost everybody. We are such a big country with geographical barriers that make everything more complicated. We have Elite leagues, high school ball, college pathways, academies (MLS and non), 3 pro leagues (MLS, USL Champ, and USL League 1). All of this has grown significantly in the last couple decades. Now the question is how do we develop better players?
I don't really have much of an opinion on MLS NEXT supplanting the DA, to be honest. They are elite leagues with different names, something like them will always exist and place large importance on making money. What I maintain is the view that coaching standards need to be raised significantly across the board. That really is up to USSF. They have to put more into coach education. Too many people just don't really know what they are doing and they are teaching kids. It's strange.
Tiki-Taka was invented by Johan Cruyff ... Not Guardiola
Possession football has existed for longer than Cruyff. And "Tiki Taka" as a term I believe was invented by a commentator.
@@campfirefootball Also, possession football was a follow-on from the Dutch Total Football from the 70s that Cruyff, Neskins and others developed and thrived. It was based on the idea that everyone on the team had to be technically and tactically proficient enough to both attack and defend. That lead to the approach where forwards could immediately press and recover the ball and to the idea that the fullbacks would frequently join the attack while center backs should be capable of both ball progression and line breaking passes. And for midfielders it meant they had to take their skills "box to box" and to be able to work fluidly and interchangeably with both the forwards and defenders.
@@campfirefootballyep, it was used by commentator Andres Montes (RIP) for first time during the 2006 WC in reference to the passing game of Brazil. Then it applied to Spain for the successful 2008-2012 years and FC Barcelona’ Guardiola with players like Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Fabregas, Messi and Villa
@@psu2dcu True on all counts. But it wasn't Cruyff and Neeskins who developed the style of play in the Netherlands. That would be their manager Rinus Michels. So who was his mentor? I honestly don't know. My point is the idea of keeping the ball in tighter spaces with quick ball movement and overloads has been around for a long time. Who invented it? I couldn't say.
@@campfirefootball But in any style of play you have to have players that can both execute and further develop those ideas.
Wynalda is many things, but I agree with him on all of this article. We want the USMNT to succeed, especially for 2026, but we don’t have a decent coach and the one we finally just got rid of got the job because of his brother, then got into a pissing contest with his old friends.
USSF has been more money hungry than focused on youth forever, and that’s SUM’s influence on not just USSF, but MLS, too. We got rid of GGG, now Don Garber needs to go. He is the biggest problem of all.
I wonder if people in the US are getting a bit greedy and obsessed with who should be the coach. Aime Jacquet was the French coach when they won the World Cup and was not considered a top coach. Lionel Scaloni was pretty much unknown. Zlatko Dalic the Croatian coach has been a revelation but nobody had a clue who he was. National team coaches need to be able to inspire and organize the team. The idea of Mourinho or Zidane is a bit ridiculous to me.
@@campfirefootball I think USSF needs to get off their a**es and find someone who has an actual football mind, a la Louis van Gaal…but they will hire another Bruce Arena and the boys will be underwhelming. The women have the same problem with Vlatko; USSF hired a boring coach from NWSL instead of fighting England for Sarina Weigman.
Will always be mediocre with players that suck
It's not mediocre to make the knockout round at the last world cup, ask Mexico,
tiki taka is a really good style to inculcate small kids in, i think. it's easier to build other aspects of the game onto a base of responsible possession
I agree. The high press and vertical passing game are more about athleticism. You either have the energy and speed to play in that system or you don't. Being comfortable on the ball is a skill you can develop, but you have to be comfortable making short, tight passes and being punished if your touch is loose.
A better question would be what US Soccer does right? To me it's already a failure because as a sport it is not starting from the hood, instead in the US it's a middle class thing, a socioeconomical group that either descends from the upper strata (luben) or at best it is going nowhere, and just stagnates till death. There is simply no drive and no excellence from anyone involved, it's just another day in the office, the US just does random stuff, guided by people that have no idea about the sport, and just hopes it'll fail upwards.
That's a harsh but very fair assessment on the topic. And correct on all counts. As a coach in the youth system, one of the problems I see is that there is no top down cohesion to develop players. Though I think different ideas can be used in different places, what is missing is the coordination in making players better. Clubs are businesses and don't want to help their competitors. The hilarious thing is a famine mentality in an abundant space is completely illogical. There are so many kids who play and whose parents pay a lot of money. There are enough "customers" for everyone and still we manage to underproduce good players. It's kind of a funny tragedy when you think about it.
What is the whole point of the licensing? Do other sports require their coaches to be licensed?
The licensing system is just a way to install gatekeepers. There are Mexican youth leagues in the USA that are every bit as good but they dispense with all of the high priced BS.
That's a great question. The most basic answer, and why I think it is valuable, is to require people some level of certification to teach kids a sport. It's not that coaching is difficult or complex, but just going out there and winging it is not going to develop players. So licensing is a good thing. However, I have issues with the levels and what they mean, something I'm not sure US Soccer has completely decided either. The courses are expensive, they take 6 months, and are akin to an academic degree. Some jobs require or prefer a certain level of education, but you can also be successful in life without it.
That's where the gatekeeper concept comes in. This summer/fall the B License will be held in 9 cities across the country. That is not conducive to getting people this knowledge if it is so important. But they make it exclusive and difficult to get into, which then begs the question: Are you trying to offer a select level education to a select few people? Or are you trying to bring up the level of every coach? I do not know what the conversations are around who should get in based on what parameters, but I have seen some things that make no sense whatsoever.
I don't know about other sports, but I do think it is important for people to learn about how you teach, how young people of different ages learn, and how you can convey game concepts in the quickest space of time. Over time coaching, you start to see how subtle things can make the biggest difference, something I did not grasp when I was starting.
@@alexh4436 There are so many latino kids who are totally unknown to US Soccer and they can BALL! They play in small community clubs and wreck it in state leagues. But the Mexican clubs who end up recruiting a lot of these kids don't end up developing them into full professionals either. There's a lot of work to do but I think the US and Mexico could be producing some of the best players in the world some day in the future. We'll see.
Eric is correct. You can add that MLS current format is also a major contributor to American Mediocrity. There is no relegation. MLS is about making money and the bean counters are averse to taking on risk. The idea that relegation will devalue a team's valuation is what led MLS to rig the system.
I can't take Wynalda seriously anymore. Keep in mind during the world cup he was helping throw GB under the bus by saying he had conversations with Claudio, and he knew what was going on. He's a massive part of the problem in USSF, he just thinks he should have a role in it all because he thinks he's a good coach, or the best option as the GM or President. So him blasting the system is just his way to try and get back to front and center and make his case for why he should be hired.
The idea high school is somehow a higher level with more pressure is false. 1) the coaching isn't always as good 2) theres way more politics in school sports 3) The season is shorter, and where is the pressure when colleges aren't recruiting at that level. The idea that the fans somehow make the pressure ramp up... not a chance. I went to a top 2 5A/6A school in Texas... We finished second in the state and 5th in the country. The only "hostile" crowd we faced came in the State Semi Finals and Finals, Meanwhile our "fans" didn't show up because it was the same weekend as prom... High schools have other programs going on, so theres not some massive crowd.
USSF also has nothing to do with High school. All the school districts have different rules, different ref set ups, and different requirements. You bring up coaching... You don't need a USSF license to coach highschool... There's place A for terrible coaches.
It's interesting. Basketball and football have a pay to play system. Somehow the numbers participating aren't a set back for them? You think every kid playing football or basketball is a top level? not a chance.
USSF and MLS have made massive strides, keep in mind Europe has developmental systems developed over 100 plus years. MLS is 30 years... How do you even try to compare those? Easy answer, Wynalda is just trying to be "edgy" without actually knowing how to fix anything but just wants to be considered for the job. Just make the circle smaller, and have Claudio get another inside into communicating with USSF for his son...
You make some very good points here and I do share your discontent with a lot of these 90s era USMNT guys. There are too many bad coaches, too much politics involved in team selection, and a scattergun approach to teaching the game. I think MLS and USSF have come a long way for sure, and there is good reason for these systems to be far behind Europe. The system isn't broken, but it is far from optimal. I don't know what the "answer" is because it's multifaceted. Wynalda made some points that were true, but coming from him, it's a bit hollow. One of my coaches growing up met him at a Licensing Course and said he was quite rude. Not surprising. Thank you for the opinions and feedback.
Wynalda spitting
Your explanation of why he gave Gio limited time is rational. This should prove to everyone why Gregg shouldn't have been hired and especially shouldn't be given a new contract. You don't come up with a formation and/or strategy that benches one of your most talented young stars for a world cup. You build it around your best players. You sure as hell don't leave one of your more capable goal-scorers at home.
It's a fair point. Could he have done a better job at this? I think so. But the attitude of a player in a World Cup camp also matters.
@@campfirefootball I absolutely not excusing Gio's behavior. Act like a kid you will get treated like a kid. But I do see an issue with how all the fair criticism of Gregg seemed to go poof, vanished.
@@wizarddragon I've continued to hear a lot of criticism of Berhalter and his choices. I doubt he'll be given a new contract, even if this whole thing had not happened a lot of people wanted to move in a new direction. Now who should take over?
US Soccer doesn't have the player pool for the coach to decide on whatever style he likes and telling one of our top 2 players to pound sand. France can do that with Benzema. We are not France.
It's also hard to play somebody who is giving virtually nothing in training, sulking, making it about themselves, and bringing down the rest of the group. Gio's behavior made his selection very difficult. That's on him and he'll learn because he's young.
As for a playing style, you have to look at what will be the most solid and effective way to play because the World Cup can be unforgiving (just look at the game vs Netherlands). Greg went with something he believed in and it wasn't a bad showing. Was it the best approach? That's up for debate of course.
@@campfirefootball Gio's behavior happened *after* he was told he wouldn't have a big role.
@@JackSchitt-p9t From what we as the public have been privy to, it started during those friendlies warming up for the tournament. Apparently he didn't play well and didn't show enough. If we weren't there, it's really hard to say.
But Gio is a professional so if you are told you aren't starting, you prove in training that you should be the first option off the bench. If you perform when you get your chance, then you may start the next game. That's just what you have to do. To stink up the whole place is just not acceptable at the World Cup, of all places.
Amateurs.
Well not a way to motivate a player when you tell him he is unlikely to play. Why waste the man's time. Choose a different player for the squad. Terrible for c li ach to say this to a player who plays in a top league.
From what I read and heard, he was not told he wouldn't play, he was told he would not start. This was a tactical decision. Reyna could have just trained hard and been professional and we would have played more. Was the tactical plan the right one? That's totally up for debate.
Greeg berhalter had DAUGTHER in Brasil and abandoned big liar use name José Ângelo beranek talke from Uruguai.
I hear your analysis. First comparing the US women's game to the US men's game is not relevant. There are many countries in the world where women are discouraged from participating in sports, so US women soccer has an advantage due to the US being a socially progressive society that values women participation in sports. The mens's game is different. The whole world participate in men's soccer, so US men's soccer is relatively less developed than countries like Brazil or Argentina where soccer is the national religion. In the US, our high school development system produce world class basketball and baseball players. American-rules football is not an international game. If it were the US would be dominant. The real problem is soccer is behind American-rules football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey in terms of popularity. Soccer is not a passion with Americans. Americans do not love soccer. Only a handful of Americans love soccer. It is not enough. I have been watching African soccer. Young children in Africa are competing on soil fields with no grass. Their goal posts are just twigs tied together with rope. They play bare footed. Their ball is a bag filled with newspaper. Yet you find African-born, African-trained, world-class African professional players in the top-European leagues. Why is this important? Because the best footballers in the world play in Europe. Yes, no African team has won the World Cup but in terms of talent Africa (as a continent) has achieved more than a structured, well-funded American soccer system. The underlying problem is that we do not have enough Americans who LOVE the game like the South Americans or Europeans. When Donovan, Dempsey, Lalas, and Howard lifted America's football hopes I thought America was on its way to becoming a world-class contender. That US World Cup team was an anomaly. Pulisic and his team mates got the USMNT to the final 16 in World Cup competition. It is an incredible accomplishment, because soccer is not a religion in the US. Soccer is behind American-rules football, basketball, baseball, and ice hockey. And yet the USMNT made it to the final 16 in World Cup, world-class competition.
US soccer will not attract the best coaches from Europe, they will coach the European national teams, so you will only attract less than the best ….as. Coaches , but you have to start somewhere, you need academies associated to the MLS clubs with qualified talent scouts constantly travelling around the USA looking for talent from little peewee soccer clubs and have them coached by the best European coaches they can attract to the US clubs , because until the MLS clubs have an established supply of talented kids that they can develop from the age of 6/7 yrs old , then the US will just keep churning out the mediocre robots from the collegiate system with little skill , understanding of the game or technique. To be the best they need to employ the best , so the MLS teams need to invest in making the league better, currently the MLS is rated mediocre when compared to other leagues , especially Europe which has some of the best leagues. Build the league to be better with academies and players development will come sooner . With a population of 340 million the US should have an abundance of talent especially when countries of 10 to 60 million have far better talent and leagues in comparison. The raw talent MUST be there just needs spotting early and developing.
These are all valid solutions and understandable reading of the problems. I think it's very difficult to find a smooth and streamlined development and talent identification structure in the US, mostly due to the geographical size and the large population. Good players are coming from all over the place, and in random locations outside of major soccer markets where you find MLS academies. So how do we develop a kid from Boise, Idaho whose closest MLS team is Portland, a 6-7 hour drive?
The other issue is the reality that we like to think professionalizing youth soccer environments is going to churn out a bunch of top class players, but I see so many kids just burn out and quit because they don't even enjoy the game anymore.
One thing that is interesting is USL teams don't have academies. If they did, that would provide another pathway to so many players in cities that don't have MLS anywhere nearby. With 24 teams in USL Championship and 12 in USL League One, that's another 36 pro academies to develop young players who may not be ready for MLS but could get valuable minutes in the lower leagues.
I would like to see a 3 tier system with promotion and relegation between the 3 leagues as well but that's not happening at least for the next decade.
@@campfirefootball the three teir system is pretty much English football before the EPL but we had 4 leagues, and promotion /relegation occurred between them all. The difference I see between US soccer and other nations is passion for the game, I hear what you say about American kids burning out and quitting , but that is naturally because it is not historically considered a national sport to the US so there is not the passion for the sport as there is in Europe and South American countries or pretty much anywhere the old British empire set foot kinda like cricket too! Lol ….but I digress…. In the U.K. kids are bought up on soccer as pretty much most dads support a team , just like you guys with American football so you see my point , the passion for the sport needs to be the driving force for the kid , not a parent forcing a child into a sport because they weren’t good enough at your “main” sports, you can’t just say to a child your not going to make it in baseball you should try doing well in soccer, I’m probably over simplifying that as an example , but it is literally the case that the passion has to be there, I know in general American sport is based on athletic ability which only carries ppl so far , soccer is so much more strategy and skill based , which can’t just be taught when you get to college hense the most definite need to tap into the youth at 6/7 yrs old. American football is pretty much overpowering the opposition by trying different “ set plays” ( again over simplified) soccer is a minimum of 90 mins of transitions of play relying on knowledge and experience of each player and how they work as a team, what I mean is it’s not stop , start , try a different play , stop try again. Without the different soccer leagues of the US developing to have academies that any child from any background can access , I can’t see how the US men’s soccer program will be able to catch up with everyone else, since the rest of the world has now caught up with the USWNT since they had a 30 Yr head start to some nations, some nations may soon supersede the USWNT for the same reasons that the collegiate system leaves the development too late. I would love to see the USMNT develop into a competitive team but I feel it needs infrastructure to change as well as support for the sport because let’s be honest in capitalist America if the fans aren’t there neither is the investment!
@@barrycarey7521 I agree with you that the USWNT is being caught quickly by more strong European nations, and their dominance will fade a bit.
As for the passion aspect, A LOT of the kids I coach absolutely love the game. Once the litany of distractions start to enter their lives from 13-17, things can change. And a big reason why is the fun is taken out of the game too early. The learning becomes more rigid, winning starts to take priority, and the competition for places can turn political. A lot of this mess is created and driven (without ill intent) by adults. Parents, coaches, club directors etc. When the grown ups get in the way, things don't work. You have to facilitate players and cultivate that passion, not use it as a tool to drive home hard discipline and winning. That comes with the passion but I think our systems and structures have destroyed a lot of talented kids who just needed a better learning environment.
Now what motivates kids is different. In America, we have fewer kids who see the game as way out of poverty and way to support their families. They have to want to achieve a high level mostly for internal reasons. So it's tough to compare that to Brazil or Argentina.
As for culture, there is so much different. Pro teams have low crowds if they aren't winning, which is totally normalized here. However, Leeds are packing Elland Rd on a weekly basis despite struggling all season. That's a huge gap in terms of passion for the game, for a club, and for your community.
It's fascinating to pick this stuff apart because it tells us a lot about how difficult it is to figure it all out.