I’ve been holding this in for a while now – ever since coverage and speculation over this year’s MLS Draft started. With the Draft this Thursday, I just have to say my piece. I’m disgusted by what most “reporters/analysts” are writing. And these are considered good sources of soccer information in America. These guys have […]
Danny Mwanga – Our Story
It all started in 2007 at the Nomads Tournament in San Diego. Our silver elite U-16 club team was slated to open group play against the Oregon State Champions, WSM Internationals. It was a beautiful day – perfect for soccer. 1st Encounter Little did we know a nightmare was around the corner. My brother and […]
Who Is This Soccer Player?
Look at the image closely … That’s right, you have no idea. Well, I’ll tell you. He is the guy who has the same dream you do He is the player that wants to get that professional contract instead of you. He might be the player who will get that starting spot, instead of you. […]
Report: U-18 National Team Camp
I was at the Home Depot Center Friday night were the participants of the U-18 camp played against a couple of PDL teams comprised of college players. I arrived 20 minutes from the end of the first game where they lost to Ventura County Fusion. I was told 4-1. All I can say from watching […]
US Soccer 2009 (Part IV: Nothing’s Changed)
It’s easy for the blind faithful to spout off the following as evidence we have “arrived”: Qualified 1st to the Wolrd Cup out of CONCACAF Got to the final in the Confederations Cup by knocking out #1 ranked Spain Got to the final of the Gold Cup But like I said in the last post, […]
US Soccer 2009 Year In Review (Part III: The Senior Team)
Thought to be kings one day and subservient the next – this is the mark of a team that wants to join the exclusive club of world soccer powers. The case for US Soccer was no different in 2009. We climbed Mount Everest by beating #1 ranked Spain, and then got obliterated by Mexico a […]
US Soccer 2009 Year In Review (Part II: U-20s)
We continue our 4-part series on recapping the US Soccer National Teams with a look at the U-20s performance. This is the age group that is most frequently targeted by critics as the point where our system fails in player development. While 18 to 20 year-olds in other countries are making regular professional appearances, our […]
US Soccer 2009 Year In Review (Part I: U-17s)
This is the first of a 4-part series that will recap the results of our National Team’s 2009 results. We start out by examining the U-17s. Usually the players on this squad form the foundation upon which the U-20s and the senior team are built. So if you want to look at the likely future […]
Coast Soccer League Age Distribution
I originally started this post as an introduction to the Coast Soccer League for our readers outside the southern california area. I wanted to go through the history and an explanation of why it is so successful with it’s teams dominating national level tournaments. But as I began digging through the data, I found something […]
World Cup Coaching Salaries
The globalization of markets has enabled soccer to grow regardless of current economic conditions. One only need look at expanding player salaries and astronomical investments clubs are making. The $94 million Real Madrid recently furnished to acquire Cristiano Ronaldo is a clear example of the money that circulates the modern game. But clubs aren’t the […]