MIC Day 2
3/28/13
The second day of MIC would be the most anticipated match day, not only for the boys here, but for all the players who came before them and for the club and for US soccer. El Super Clasico between FC Barcelona and TFA (that’s us) was on the minds of all in MIC. The crowd flocked to L’Estartit stadium to see these two teams battle it out. The game did not disappoint the standing room only spectators.
Barca’s starting line up featured all their top players.
The pregame stuff was over, the whistle blew, and a great roar came over the stadium. After that, the dogs were let loose.
1st Half
We pressed the Barca players like they have never been pressured before. The maximum intensity that each player showed would be a sticking point to the many agents and scouts that were on hand to see the event. Barca players have been used to playing with ease, with their opponents sitting back and allowing them to have the ball … not with us. “In their faces!” was the motto. Don’t let them breathe.
As predicted the game would come down to set pieces, as there wasn’t much difference between the two squads. The first came in the 14th minute on a corner kick for TFA. A short corner between Uly and Efrain resulted in Efrain crossing the ball into the box with his left foot and finding the youngest player on the team Romario, who was the first to react after Barca failed to clear the ball. With a little flick into the back of the net, TFA was doing the supposed impossible.
The lead lasted only three minutes as Barca was awarded a free kick to the right of the goal 30 yards out. The ball was crossed to a group of six Barca players standing in an offside position on the six-yard box. The ref swallowed his whistle, probably in disbelief that TFA was winning and why so many Barca players were offside. (In MIC there is only one ref and for the most part they do a decent job by themselves.) However, this one made a huge mistake that would leave a devastating impact on the players and staff. Sorry doesn’t cut it … he admitted he made a mistake at half time, but just not good enough.
2nd Half
The second half continued to showcase both team’s talent – and with the intensity of the game – every loose ball and fifty-fifty challenge could impact the result. Barca found themselves starting to turn the screw and had some chances, the best coming from Ansu inside the box, only to hit the crossbar. The TFA players were displaying courageous defending blocking shots inside the box and sacrificing their bodies to maintain the tie. The final whistle blew and the teams would have to settle for a draw 1-1.
Reflection
It was a victory in the eyes of the players and staff, as they just competed with the best in the world and could have won the game.
Barca was never allowed to play short on goal kicks or goal keeper distribution, but TFA was. Funny how that is. The players work rate and talent did not go unnoticed.
Chief Scout, Head of Youth Recruitment for Manchester United, Derek Langley, was on hand for the game. Speaking with him before the match, he couldn’t wait to see the team perform. It was after the game that he couldn’t stop praising the performance and the quality of players and style that was on display. He was so impressed he wanted to have a meeting with us afterwards. In this meeting, he said and I quote:
“In my 12 years coming to this tournament, this was the best game I have ever seen. Watching this game restored my faith in football and was a breath of fresh air.”
– Derek Langley (Chief Scout for Manchester United)
What a compliment to all the players, parents and staff that have put in long hard hours to make this happen. In addition, he stated there were players that have been identified as Manchester United class A quality that he is very interested in.
Part one of the mission accomplished … now it’s time to bring down the next giant and showcase our talent to the world, followed by the MIC trophy! Tenga!
Is Ben Lederman playing in the ’99 group?
Wow, a draw against Barca…big congrats!!! What was the mood like during the match…how did Barca react to your high pressure, what was the locals reaction. Would you say this was the most intense your kids have ever played?
Congratulations, your next match is the real test. Can you guys repeat that performance in the semi-finals?
Gary and all,
This report and that quote from Langley were breathtaking. Congratulations, of course, and most of all you deserve tremendous respect and admiration for what you, the coaches and players have accomplished.
Awesome! Great for TFC and great to have a program like yours in this country.
Just saw thatnu guys beat Ajax congrats !!! U get to play FCB again !!! Good luck guys
Well done Gary, may the Lord keep blessing you with your endeavors. Keep up the good work!
Fantastic. Congratulations to Gary and the boys. Hey, US Soccer, you paying attention yet?
US Soccer is most certainly monitoring but this development is a threat to the status quo. Their plan would be to draw away one or two players at a time for a camp, run them into the ground then claim they are too slow/too small/too short/not fit/can’t do X, then discard. In that way they can work through these kids and rationally ignore the team, saying they were all given a chance. No, the only path must be to take on the US BU14 side and embarrass them. As long as US Soccer focuses on licenses in lieu of quality, Gary’s work is not done. As I have come to learn, coaching Licenses in this country are like getting your drivers license without stipulating you must drive on the right side of the road. Yes, a very few might be able to manage through the mayhem, but there must be order first, then coordination, then efficiencies. In the US we’ve got lots of focus on coordination and efficiencies, but no order. Possession is our path to order.
It’s as if almost you would want to decline national call ups for now or at least any invitations to the US soccer residential academies.
It’s thrilling to watch the progress TFA is making. Of course kids should be encouraged to participate in the camps for the national side. But to use an analogy everyone is familiar with, the US coaches/scouts are choosing players for a Real Madrid side rather than instituting a style of play then choosing players who best fit that system (Barca/Spain). The down side is, we don’t get the most intelligent team players. The Real Madrid process only works if you have access to the best in the world, which we do not.
Real Madrid in the past you have a point, but under Mourinho they absolutely have an identity.
Congrats… Great game! Hopefully you guys video tape the game… Please post on website, would love to see the game.
Congrats Brian and to Gary and the team! Another great proof point that your philosophy and direction is the right course for US Soccer to follow. You guys are really blowin away the traditional us soccer mindset. Kudos for your preservence, hard work and faith in your beliefs. Well done, sir, well done.
What you are doing is unprecedented and an inspiration to all. Keep up the great work! Have been following your progress from the East Coast.
Can’t wait to see the video! Sounds like you guys are making history. Just glad I can see it happen. 🙂
Looks like they lost to FC Barca in the semifinal 2-3. Congrats to the boys and staff on a great run!
Good stuff, Gary. It is great to finally see something positive develop in youth soccer here in the US, but also get validated by legitimately competing against the world’s best youth programs.
What was the score against ManU?
Freí visases de todo corazón! Mi padre es entrenador profesional y les ha pasado el video de tus niños el de Youtube, a sus equipos profesionales para demostrarles que la filosofía de juego( el también se identifica con Barcelona, trabajo varios años con Leo Benhakker, esa filosofía de tener la pelota de presionar arriba, de ser abiertos y profundos es la mejor. De nuevo felicidades!!!!
Freí visases de todo corazón! Mi padre es entrenador profesional y les ha pasado el video de tus niños el de Youtube, a sus equipos profesionales para demostrarles que la filosofía de juego( el también se identifica con Barcelona, trabajo varios años con Leo Benhakker, esa filosofía de tener la pelota de presionar arriba, de ser abiertos y profundos es la mejor. De nuevo felicidades!!!!
Congratulations!! My dad is a pro soccer coach and has always been influenced by the Dutch philosophy (now apllied in Barça) of possession, he has shown your teams video to his players, so they can see that it works at any level, it is amazing!! Again, congratulations!!!!
Felicidades!!!de todo corazón! Mi padre es entrenador profesional y les ha pasado el video de tus niños el de Youtube, a sus equipos profesionales para demostrarles que la filosofía de juego( el también se identifica con Barcelona, trabajo varios años con Leo Benhakker, esa filosofía de tener la pelota de presionar arriba, de ser abiertos y profundos es la mejor. De nuevo felicidades!!!!
**Congratulations!! My dad is a pro soccer coach and has always been influenced by the Dutch philosophy (now apllied in Barça) of possession, he has shown your teams video to his players, so they can see that it works at any level, it is amazing!! Again, congratulations!!!!
You guys keep showing the status quo how its done. They can’t ignore it too long.
I’m seriously jealous and wish more teams had this opportunity. Best of luck and thank you for opening doors for the boys on your team. I hope they realize how lucky they are and take full advantage. Best of luck.
I went to the tournament website – seems like you guys did a great job there. Would like to hear more stories (games against Ajax and Barca). Also there was another American team which also did pretty good (won all games in the group and lost to Man U 0:1) I am wondering if you can tell us something about them and in general about different (good) teams at the tournament (Ivory Coast team for example). What kind of soccer do they play?
Once again, congratulations on a great job and I am really jealous and trying to figure out if I can get my ass anytime soon to your area just to watch your practices and talk.
Wow, I just stumbled upon this site, and I must say it is refreshing to see someone addressing the issues with how players are coached in the US.
I grew up playing in the Dinamo Zagreb Youth Academy, some of my team mates were Luka Modric, Vedran Corluka, and Niko Krancjar, and since coming back to the United States I have not seen a team play possession football like yours. I currently coach in Orange County, CA and the parents and other coaches are so under-educated and under-qualified that I feel that they are doing more harm than good whenever they speak! I feel so bad for some of the kids that I see when I hear what their coaches are telling them, 99.9% of them are being led toward dead ends by their parent-coaches. It is a shame.
Keep up the good work! You guys remind me of my brothers who coached me growing up!
Ante,
I’ve met recently met Dinamo’s coaching director, Romeo Jozak and have known Ivan Kepcija from a coaching license. I’m assuming that you know them both?
I followed a link from Croatiansports.com
Nice videos.
Is there a reason your club is not a U.S. Soccer Development Academy?
What are your thoughts on the U.S. Academy system?
Currently, FC Barcelona’s “total futbol” style philosophy is considered to be the best in all of soccer. FC Barcelona is famous for their great passing, movement on and off the ball, and of course their possession of the ball. The world has seen many of the best players, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta & Puyol to name a few, develop and thrive to greatness within the Barcelona system. This is a system of “total futbol” that has been implemented within this club adding to it with its own Catalan flavor. The results of what we see today did not happen over night. This system of play is the look and style that has been mastered for over 100 years. It is referred to by the Spaniards and the rest of the world as a blend of dutch Total Futbol and spanish Tiki-Taka!
Wow… Will the match be uploaded to youtube?? Big game!!
Right here Nichole:
http://blog.3four3.com/2013/05/10/fc-barcelona-youth-academy-video/