Comments on: Funes Mori: Example of US Soccer Failure http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:21:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5485 Gary Kleiban Tue, 25 May 2010 21:21:05 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5485 Hola Gabe! You have many valid points. The only thing I will add is that there are dozens of reasons why the game is a disaster here. But the most fundamental one of them all is lack of understanding on the part of every single party involved. That is why Education is the key to everything. We need the decision makers at the top to know what they're doing and not only disseminate knowledge, but help implement programs that are properly aligned with excellence. Without educated people at the top, any initiatives they pursue will be flawed. We also need those in the trenches (ie parents, players, youth and college coaches, the general fan-base, etc...) to know what quality actually looks like. If they are educated, then pressure can be applied upstream. Currently, these people don't have a clue because nobody has taught them. The blind are leading the blind in this country. That is the vicious cycle that must be broken. Is your son playing Nationals? Hola Gabe!

You have many valid points. The only thing I will add is that there are dozens of reasons why the game is a disaster here.

But the most fundamental one of them all is lack of understanding on the part of every single party involved. That is why Education is the key to everything.

We need the decision makers at the top to know what they’re doing and not only disseminate knowledge, but help implement programs that are properly aligned with excellence. Without educated people at the top, any initiatives they pursue will be flawed.

We also need those in the trenches (ie parents, players, youth and college coaches, the general fan-base, etc…) to know what quality actually looks like. If they are educated, then pressure can be applied upstream. Currently, these people don’t have a clue because nobody has taught them.

The blind are leading the blind in this country. That is the vicious cycle that must be broken.

Is your son playing Nationals?

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5484 Gary Kleiban Tue, 25 May 2010 20:35:06 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5484 Congratulations to your son Bill. As far as D-1 coaches goes, I am yet to meet a single one who knows what they're doing. Yeah Cal Poly apparently attempts to play some more structured soccer, but it could be far better. The rest of the Big West goes downhill from there. In the Pac-10, I've only seen UCLA, Stanford, & Oregon and ... no thank you. It's all prototypical American ball - all at one speed with no pause. The only school I've seen play well is Akron. But I still have my reservations since I only saw them twice and have never spoken with their coach. Thanks for the comment, and I wish you guys all the best! Congratulations to your son Bill.

As far as D-1 coaches goes, I am yet to meet a single one who knows what they’re doing. Yeah Cal Poly apparently attempts to play some more structured soccer, but it could be far better. The rest of the Big West goes downhill from there.

In the Pac-10, I’ve only seen UCLA, Stanford, & Oregon and … no thank you. It’s all prototypical American ball – all at one speed with no pause.

The only school I’ve seen play well is Akron. But I still have my reservations since I only saw them twice and have never spoken with their coach.

Thanks for the comment, and I wish you guys all the best!

]]> By: Bill http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5472 Bill Mon, 24 May 2010 22:00:09 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5472 I really appreciate and agree with your perspective, especially with college soccer. My boy just went through the recruiting process and was good enough scholastically and athletically to get offers from a lot of incredible D-3 schools he never would have had a chance of getting into without soccer. However, he didn't like the level of play in D-3 and, living in Southern California, we had the opportunity to see a lot of California D-1 schools play. With the exception of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo we were stunned at the lack of creativity and skills. Defenders kicking the ball willy-nilly down the field aimlessly when there wasn't any pressure on them, etc. My son got a very attractive offer from one of these schools but decided to accept an offer from a D-2 school that plays possession ball. I notice you have been critical of many of the colleges, could you please cite some college coaches whose style of play you actually like? I really appreciate and agree with your perspective, especially with college soccer. My boy just went through the recruiting process and was good enough scholastically and athletically to get offers from a lot of incredible D-3 schools he never would have had a chance of getting into without soccer.
However, he didn’t like the level of play in D-3 and, living in Southern California, we had the opportunity to see a lot of California D-1 schools play. With the exception of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo we were stunned at the lack of creativity and skills. Defenders kicking the ball willy-nilly down the field aimlessly when there wasn’t any pressure on them, etc.
My son got a very attractive offer from one of these schools but decided to accept an offer from a D-2 school that plays possession ball.
I notice you have been critical of many of the colleges, could you please cite some college coaches whose style of play you actually like?

]]> By: Gabe http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5414 Gabe Wed, 19 May 2010 17:49:21 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5414 I have been involved in Socal Club and HS scene with my son ( creative arg player) from 8-17 . I strongly believe one of the biggest problems here is the constant subs allowed in and out in club and HS. I've seen a guy put in the field just to take a throw in to be taken out right after getting that done!!! Creative players have to beat constantly fresh defenders , adversity can make you better...............but that combined with the lack of a passing game, bad refs that allow way to much contact and lack of opportunity ends up leaving the creative players with not much of a chance. That's why US soccer exports to the world are mostly goalies. I have been involved in Socal Club and HS scene with my son ( creative arg player) from 8-17 .
I strongly believe one of the biggest problems here is the constant subs allowed in and out in club and HS. I’ve seen a guy put in the field just to take a throw in to be taken out right after getting that done!!!
Creative players have to beat constantly fresh defenders , adversity can make you better……………but that combined with the lack of a passing game, bad refs that allow way to much contact and lack of opportunity ends up leaving the creative players with not much of a chance.
That’s why US soccer exports to the world are mostly goalies.

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5295 Gary Kleiban Wed, 12 May 2010 21:35:59 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5295 Good research Mario! You're right, time will tell. But filling Crespo's shoes is a very tall order. Young players performing well on the 1st team always attracts attention ... remember Manso at 16 playing for Newell's Old Boys? Good research Mario!

You’re right, time will tell. But filling Crespo’s shoes is a very tall order.

Young players performing well on the 1st team always attracts attention … remember Manso at 16 playing for Newell’s Old Boys?

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5294 Gary Kleiban Wed, 12 May 2010 21:31:40 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5294 Yep. I saw the recap Esteban. For the readers ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x89EnC1uZPk&feature=player_embedded Yep.
I saw the recap Esteban. For the readers …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x89EnC1uZPk&feature=player_embedded

]]> By: Mario http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5249 Mario Mon, 10 May 2010 04:50:54 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5249 The kid just turned 19. Give him some time. He could be the next Crespo, but odds are against it. Crespo at 19 scored 13 goals in his first year with River. This kid won't, but still, he's 19 and playing striker for River Plate. Damn! Just give this kid some time. Don't write him off just yet. The kid just turned 19. Give him some time. He could be the next Crespo, but odds are against it. Crespo at 19 scored 13 goals in his first year with River. This kid won’t, but still, he’s 19 and playing striker for River Plate. Damn! Just give this kid some time. Don’t write him off just yet.

]]> By: Esteban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5248 Esteban Mon, 10 May 2010 04:31:04 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5248 Funes Mori actually scored 3 goals against Racing Club last saturday. I don't know what could happen with him, I guess time will tell. He had some bad performances and I don't think he can become the next Crespo, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he has a good career after all. Funes Mori actually scored 3 goals against Racing Club last saturday.
I don’t know what could happen with him, I guess time will tell.
He had some bad performances and I don’t think he can become the next Crespo, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he has a good career after all.

]]> By: Gary Kleiban http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5174 Gary Kleiban Mon, 03 May 2010 19:17:47 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5174 That is the million dollar question Ross. A reader recently emailed us suggesting we start offering up "solutions". I completely agree, and we're going to start publishing them - there are tons of details. But I will say this. The fundamental solution is one of education. As it exists today, we have the blind leading the blind. That vicious cycle needs to be broken. Otherwise, all efforts will fall flat. That is the million dollar question Ross.

A reader recently emailed us suggesting we start offering up “solutions”. I completely agree, and we’re going to start publishing them – there are tons of details.

But I will say this. The fundamental solution is one of education. As it exists today, we have the blind leading the blind. That vicious cycle needs to be broken. Otherwise, all efforts will fall flat.

]]> By: Ross http://blog.3four3.com/2010/01/23/funes-mori-example-of-us-soccer-failure/comment-page-1/#comment-5129 Ross Sat, 01 May 2010 02:35:25 +0000 http://blog.3four3.com/?p=1275#comment-5129 My question is this: what is the best way to go about changing the U.S. system/thought on soccer? My question is this: what is the best way to go about changing the U.S. system/thought on soccer?

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