The college season is now upon us. Teams are wrapping up their preseason games and begin their quest to enter the post-season. I want to start off by telling you what college soccer means to me. To put it in a nutshell, the vast majority of the time these games make my blood boil! It’s […]
Archives for August 2009
UEFA Champions League Groups are Set!
This is the greatest club football competition in the world! The group stage draw is now set, and as usual there are some juicy match-ups. This year’s draw holds two very anticipated ones. Inter Milan and defending champion FC Barcelona will clash in a battle of top teams who traded star forwards this summer as […]
Physically Maturing Early: A Double-Edged Sword
Beginning puberty early has interesting consequences as far as a player’s soccer development. The immediate thought that comes to mind is a positive one. These players will have a physical advantage, and if they have at least average skill, they become dominant in their age group. There’s a lot of good things that come along […]
What’s an Elite Player?
This term “elite” is abused. In conversations with players, fans, media, coaches – the soccer community in general – I have heard many label this or that player elite. And sometimes it’s actually a decent player. But elite they are not. Also, it’s remarkable how many times the player that was referenced is really just […]
What Everybody Ought to Know About Possession
The lack of holding ball possession is an ugly plague that infests every sector of soccer in this country! Aside from the aesthetic appeal that comes with stringing together five, ten, twenty, forty touches while the other team fails in its attempt to recover the ball, here are some vital things you must know about […]
US Soccer 2.0: So close and yet so so far!
Welcome to 3four3. This is the first article being published here so I thought I’d provide a little background and explain the motivation. By attaching the “2.0” to US Soccer, I’m trying to convey the concept that things have changed. Not in the “it’s all different now” sense, but more that this country has taken […]