You are right, knowledge and understanding about TECHNICAL OR FOUNDATION FOOTBALL SKILLS is only for top Coaches with experience. Tactics are easier to understsnd. But the reason why pro academies produce the best players is because their understand technification. A team is only as good as the individuals in that team. Of Course a great coach can make a great team, but, experience and Intelligence is vital ..
Great Interview! We have some very strong leagues in southern California: ECNL, MLS Next, with many talented players and strong competition. I guess we have every component that makes a strong soccer culture, and we are coming for that world cup. Just gives us 10 more years ;-)
@varen9112 do you think ECNL and mls next delivers talent? I bet in 5 years time these leagues will be found out to be a hollow shell of a marketing scheme. Middle to upper class money funnel. Oh yes come play for our ECNL team or MLS next team we have the prestige! Meanwhile Elite 17 year olds train with the first team in European clubs. Not to mention ECNL and MLS Next’s Achilles heal. Money. It’s all about the money. Market your club to have enough age groups and teams to join the “big” youth leagues to justify mom and dad’s 5,000-10,000 a year investment in their kids’ ECNL or MLS Next team. If you pay this stupid money for your kid who probably will never go pro or become elite on the world stage how do you justify your investment? Winning. Results. If we listened to Romeo Jozak one of the brightest minds on youth development in the world this is counter productive. Technical development > results/winning.
I coached in England for 20 years and now in Barcelona for 15 years. The catalan / Barcelona boys and girls league is extremely competitive & brutal (for players and coaches which find their lvl). There are 5 levels in leagues and the best kids and Coaches are playibg against Academys of Barcelona, Girona & Espsnyol. The competition in teams and amongst individual players is technically and tactically unbelievable & brutal. You need to improve every week which is mandatory. The best kids are playibg against and fightibg to get in the Pro academys.. They practice 4 nights a week for 2 hours a night and play at weekend. Many kids are doing extra (early mornings or evenings to improve weaknesses(Physically, technically and tactically). Holidays are for tournaments against some of the best clubs/teams in Europe (Uk, france, italy, holland and some international teams.. football IQ here in Barcelona is top…
I totally agree with him: MLS is a crappy league (2nd/3rd tier compared to European) first and foremost because there is no relegation. Chicago Fire was terrible from the start, with 12 games and only 2-3 wins, yet they didn't fire the coach (which was the main problem for lack of performance). San Jose with 9 games had 7 loss, I knew they're were not going anywhere. There were many clubs that way, but they don't need to change the coach, because finishing in the last 4 does not punish a terrible job with relegation. Anyway, MLS as is, has no attraction. It has money, but nothing more and therefore I only see highlights once in a while.
Until MLS creates divisions A, B, C, D with promotion and relegation of teams to lower divisions and promotions for teams that performed well in the previous season to access MLS level A, soccer in the USA will not evolve!
P&R will not solve the size and culture issue. USA Youth Soccer is built to protect kids whose parents have money from competing with kids who do not. USA soccer will continue to suck until its willing to face the elephants in the room. RACISM and CLASSISM.
You are right, knowledge and understanding about TECHNICAL OR FOUNDATION FOOTBALL SKILLS is only for top Coaches with experience. Tactics are easier to understsnd. But the reason why pro academies produce the best players is because their understand technification. A team is only as good as the individuals in that team. Of Course a great coach can make a great team, but, experience and Intelligence is vital ..
Best interview I’ve heard yet on the us shortfalls
Thank you for sharing . Always great to see this great interviews. Cheers
Great Interview! We have some very strong leagues in southern California: ECNL, MLS Next, with many talented players and strong competition. I guess we have every component that makes a strong soccer culture, and we are coming for that world cup. Just gives us 10 more years ;-)
@varen9112 do you think ECNL and mls next delivers talent? I bet in 5 years time these leagues will be found out to be a hollow shell of a marketing scheme. Middle to upper class money funnel. Oh yes come play for our ECNL team or MLS next team we have the prestige! Meanwhile Elite 17 year olds train with the first team in European clubs. Not to mention ECNL and MLS Next’s Achilles heal. Money. It’s all about the money. Market your club to have enough age groups and teams to join the “big” youth leagues to justify mom and dad’s 5,000-10,000 a year investment in their kids’ ECNL or MLS Next team. If you pay this stupid money for your kid who probably will never go pro or become elite on the world stage how do you justify your investment? Winning. Results. If we listened to Romeo Jozak one of the brightest minds on youth development in the world this is counter productive. Technical development > results/winning.
I coached in England for 20 years and now in Barcelona for 15 years. The catalan / Barcelona boys and girls league is extremely competitive & brutal (for players and coaches which find their lvl). There are 5 levels in leagues and the best kids and Coaches are playibg against Academys of Barcelona, Girona & Espsnyol. The competition in teams and amongst individual players is technically and tactically unbelievable & brutal. You need to improve every week which is mandatory. The best kids are playibg against and fightibg to get in the Pro academys.. They practice 4 nights a week for 2 hours a night and play at weekend. Many kids are doing extra (early mornings or evenings to improve weaknesses(Physically, technically and tactically). Holidays are for tournaments against some of the best clubs/teams in Europe (Uk, france, italy, holland and some international teams.. football IQ here in Barcelona is top…
İnteresting football insight from the USA context.
Great interview Gary.
Thank you!
I totally agree with him: MLS is a crappy league (2nd/3rd tier compared to European) first and foremost because there is no relegation.
Chicago Fire was terrible from the start, with 12 games and only 2-3 wins, yet they didn't fire the coach (which was the main problem for lack of performance). San Jose with 9 games had 7 loss, I knew they're were not going anywhere. There were many clubs that way, but they don't need to change the coach, because finishing in the last 4 does not punish a terrible job with relegation.
Anyway, MLS as is, has no attraction. It has money, but nothing more and therefore I only see highlights once in a while.
Until MLS creates divisions A, B, C, D with promotion and relegation of teams to lower divisions and promotions for teams that performed well in the previous season to access MLS level A, soccer in the USA will not evolve!
P&R will not solve the size and culture issue. USA Youth Soccer is built to protect kids whose parents have money from competing with kids who do not. USA soccer will continue to suck until its willing to face the elephants in the room. RACISM and CLASSISM.
Why can’t they MLS put a team or two into champions league?
because its a European league and the travel for games ion the US would be too much