Just a little more to elaborate on Gary’s statements from the previous article (see below) regarding Marcelo Bielsa’s scouting and promoting talented players to the next level.

“Everyone would be shocked if someone like Bielsa came. He will find the talent! He would have no problem debuting an 18 year old from the academy or from a Sunday league on the Senior Team! No U18 or U20 team, the Senior Team! (Moises Orozco would be one of them). Our NT would have complete “no names” on it. But “no names” with true quality!”

Javier Mascherano

Javier Mascherano was given his full national team cap for the Argentina squad when he had not even debut on his club team River Plate.  Bielsa had taken a group of youth team players to Japan-South Korea World Cup to act as sparring partners for training sessions.  During those sessions he noted the boy had true class to not only contend with, but displace, some of his senior peers.  These are small details only the well trained eye can see.  We all know the trajectory Mascherano has taken since.  He is now considered one of the best holding midfielders in world football.

Pavel Pardo

Pavel Pardo had a similar story.  Here is one of the best players in Mexican football in the last decade.  139 National team caps! One of the few mexican exports to have a successful stint in Europe winning the Bundesliga with Stuttgart.  He was given his first taste of 1st team professional football at Atlas by Marcelo Bielsa in 1993.

Rafa Marquez

Possibly the biggest name to come out of Mexican soccer since Hugo Sanchez was Rafa Marquez.  The player was identified by Marcelo Bielsa during his time in Mexico with Atlas.  He is considered Rafa’s first soccer mentor and has a lot to do with the success of the Mexico international.  Going on to Europe with Monaco, winning the French league title, and earning his well deserved transfer to Spanish giants FC Barcelona.

Chile

Bielsa’s next crop will soon follow, only it will be beneficial to his current employers: Chile.  Look at the transformation of Chilean Football over last 4 years.  He kicked the prima donna players to the curb and utilized mostly no-name young talent in his first term in charge.  World football beware, a soccer minnow is on the rise with the right man in charge.

Just wanted to follow up with a few examples of what can be done with a high level coach at the top of the food chain.  WE DO HAVE players with these capabilities in the United States.  Unfortunately, what we currently select nobody wants outside these borders – it’s useless on the world stage.  With the right person, our football would grow and we could aspire to boasting world class talent wanted by the European giants!

While the system and philosophy of soccer in the US as a whole must change, I’m telling you that if we had a coach with a soccer brain we would take a huge stride.

If someone like Marcelo Bielsa (I know he’s off the table) took over …

The Current National Team Pools Would be Decimated

Maybe 2 or 3 guys from the current NT would survive, and if given control over the youth NTs (ie his coaches/staff), the current pool of preferred players there wouldn’t survive either. He would clean house! Why? Because the players in these pools are mindless automatons. Sorry. They’re just not good.

People say Bob Bradley did the best he could with what he had.
I say he did the best he could with what HE selected.

Sure “the system” with all it’s “already identified national level players” was what he worked with. But the true talent is not in those “identified pools”. Those pools are WRONG. They do not identify the best! And it’s a mistake to think so.

It’s also a mistake for our head coach not to spread his tentacles much much further.

What Players Would be Selected Then?

So the criticism I always receive through emails or blog comments is:

“Ok Gary, who are the best then? You never disclose names on what players are better. Why? Because there aren’t any and you’re full of shit!”

I understand that sentiment, and I know exactly where you stand. These are statements I just can’t respond to (not to your satisfaction anyway). You want me to shoot off names? You would have no idea who these guys are! If I had said Michael Hoyos or Funes Mori a couple years ago, you would say: “Who? What are you talking about?” Let me tell you there are hundreds of players of that caliber and higher in the States. They never see the light of day because the best are usually on the bench, rarely play, or not utilized properly in MLS, college, or even youth club. The best are not picked when ripening on the vine. Instead they end up rotting and wasted.

So how do I know? Well because I’ve seen it first hand weekly, year after year, at the youth and college level. From 14 – 18, we have junk selected for our NTs. It is absolutely unbelievable how bad it is! And if you are not in these early pools, consider your future inclusion almost impossible. That would change with NT coaches with a clue. They wouldn’t care about pedigree – what team, club, league, or college you play for. They will get a player that has never played club and in a Santa Ana Mexican Sunday league team if he has quality.

In college there’s more junk being selected. And of course we know how D1 is incorrectly seen as all that matters. So more talent residing in lower tier colleges are toast! I’ll go further, if your D1 school is not a traditional NCAA power or doesn’t rack up wins in conference and tournament, you’re likely toast as well! If you don’t have “the stats”, you’re toast. A NT coach with a clue could care less where you play or how many “points” you have. Come to think of it, he may very well focus less on D1 schools where academic requirements have filtered out most of the better players. I’m willing to bet the JC’s have diamonds that are far superior. If you have quality, you’re in!

Of course there are massive logistical issues in scouting. But I’m telling you true quality far greater than what we currently have would be identified.

Everyone would be shocked if someone like Bielsa came. He will find the talent! He would have no problem debuting an 18 year old from the academy or from a Sunday league on the Senior Team! No U18 or U20 team, the Senior Team! (Moises Orozco would be one of them). Our NT would have complete “no names” on it. But “no names” with true quality!

The Larger Scale Effects

And those “no names”, that would otherwise ended up a Starbucks barista, would then have MLS contracts. The level of MLS would then rise.

And this effects “the system” and its philosophy. It tells everyone what the right model is! For the first time it correctly tells everyone in this country what a quality player looks like and hence what they should look for and try to produce.

Furthermore, by playing great soccer and performing better than his predecessors, a Bielsa also shows everyone how they should play and that we do have the talent and capacity to be great.

Another added effect is that his selections will be purchased by quality teams in Europe and actually play! This opens further doors into the virgin US market.

Having the right man and his staff at the senior and youth NTs will work wonders!

We all know the whole system and structure needs to change. But I contend it will commence along the right path and much quicker if we have the right coaches and staff for our national teams.

Thoughts? Opinions? Criticisms? Your comments either way are always welcome!

Moises Orozco

So I took a drive to the Home Depot Center today where the US Development Academy Finals are being held.

Specifically, I went to watch Real So Cal vs Concorde Fire.

My objective was to identify if there were any elite players. One of 3four3’s missions is to scout and promote the absolute cream. In this match there was only one!

His name is Moises Orozco, an offensive center mid, and the kid can play! Brian Kleiban first reported on him back in April when Thomas Rongen’s U20s played in the Dallas Cup Supergroup. Now that I’ve seen him, I wholeheartedly agree. Moises is on a completely different level.

Let’s Break Him Down

• Extremely technical.
• Exquisite first touch.
• Calm under all scenarios. He could have defenders draped all over his back without even flinching. It’s a walk in the park.
• He can use both feet. Real So Cal’s 2^nd goal was from his left-footed strike at the top of the box.
• Excellent vision and awareness. Off the ball, he is constantly looking over his shoulder and refreshing his “map” of the field. He’s always searching and moving into space as well.
• Great decision-making.
• His distribution is quality. The 3^rd goal was a brilliantly well-weighted through ball for an assist.
• Very elusive with subtle instinctive body-fakes before and after his touches.
• Everything he does is smooth, NOT robotic or forced like the traditional American player.

As for weaknesses, his defensive work rate left much to be desired. This leads me to question his work ethic – a prerequisite to reaching the highest levels. Then again it’s tough to be conclusive here without observing his training sessions over time.

Additionally from US Soccer’s perspective, he is not an athletic specimen. But that shouldn’t matter. His lack of blistering speed, brute force, vertical leap, or whatever other silliness people look at, does not hinder him or his function in the least.

Moises Orozco is ready to be a professional NOW! No college, no more youth club, or anything else! Some player agent needs to get on the ball and make it happen before the US ruins yet another kid’s potential.

The goal that saved US Soccer!

For anyone who is a fan of US Soccer or has a child that aspires to big things in the sport, you should say: “Thank you Ghana”.

I know I made my position clear last week, but this can’t be emphasized enough.

Thank the lord the US lost to Ghana on Saturday! Or in the words of Landon Donovan: “It makes me believe there is good in the world.”

This country now stands a chance at a brighter future.

Even though there are still people who naively believe the US performance showed we are improving, there are many who have started to ask questions and are attempting to identify what the problems are. And let me tell you, there are horrific problems – some of which we’ve only begun to articulate on 3four3.

Could you just imagine if the US won or heaven forbid, gotten to a semi-final! Problems, what problems? The US Soccer Federation and all the misguided, but well intended, masses would be the only voice in town. It’s interesting right? I mean these “types” of players, this “type” of coach, along with the whole US Soccer infrastructure and philosophy could have been validated with just one result.

Such is the delicate balance of public opinion. More specifically, the opinion of those who lack a sound fundamental understanding of the game.

It’s true. The most resounding and recent example; the Confederations Cup last summer. When the US got abused by Italy and Brazil in the group stage, the fanbase was up in arms (some even questioning Bradley’s continuation). Then just a week later, when the team beat Spain (regardless of being thoroughly dominated) and had a respectable score against Brazil in the final, the fanbase was lauding the “arrival” of US Soccer. Praising the likes of Onyewu, Demerit, Altidore, and company as quality players. Bob Bradley was now a genius!

I felt like vomiting!

Thank you Ghana and thank you US!

I’m also extremely happy those disallowed goals in the group stage can not be pointed to as any reason for failure. It would have been excuse #1 and everyone would have bought it. They’d say “we would have won the group if it weren’t for those damn refs”, then who knows … “likely have beaten Ghana & then even Uruguay”. But they’d be wrong and Ghana proved it!

Now it’s back to the matter at hand. For us back to articulating the problems and later, the potential solutions.

For the fan-base it’s back to asking questions, searching for answers, and exchanging ideas and opinions with one another. And hopefully in the process exerting pressure on USSF and soccer at all levels to improve.

Oh and in case I forgot, one more thing:

Thank you Ghana from the bottom of my soccer loving soul!

In just 120 minutes, you did more for our future than you can imagine.

First and foremost it was important for us to get out of the group. And it’s tough to have written a better script!

The way we advanced – by a razor’s edge – helps to keep fans grounded, while at the same time experiencing an emotional reaction so rare in all of sports. This is good for the game! It is this experience that could help push some people from average fan to passionate, or from casual observer to a regular. That’s progress.

Hopefully your heart rate was through the roof! Did you have that sinking feeling of despair when all seemed lost, only to break out screaming in the 91st minute? Or how about that soothing, calm serenity that comes right after the nerves are relaxed? Hell, maybe after all the euphoria, you might even have the urge to give the finger to critics (me being one of them).

This is necessary for soccer in our country!  We need that passion! Three games and out would not have generated this.

But Now … Now I Fear the Worst!

I whole-heatedly believe that if the US goes too far in this cup it will do more damage than good. Actually, I fear it may be devastating.

Looking at the bracket, the road to the semi-final is quite accessible. The US will not run into any of the “Great Whites”. They have a date with Ghana and then the winner of Uruguay vs South Korea. While I believe the Ghana game will be tough and Uruguay (my presumed quarterfinalist) is superior, victories are definitely not out of the question.

While the fan-base would jump for joy, I think US Soccer will be set back by a decade!

You see, all the problems you or I may talk about and witness at the youth, college, or professional level will essentially cease to be seen as such. Quite the opposite, the existing establishment and philosophies in all its forms will be reinforced.  After all, this is what propelled us to this one World Cup success, right?

Enjoy the Ride

In any case, congratulations to all the true fans out there! The way I see it, you’re in a win-win situation now: one short term, one long term.

If the team continues to advance, we become more passionate and the sport might receive more attention and more respect.  What happens down the road doesn’t effect the here and now. You want the emotional ride to continue! You want success now damn it! And that’s as it should be!

If the team loses, it was not an embarrassment and the cup still energized the base.  But more importantly, US Soccer along with its fans will continue to seriously look for major improvements.

Orozco, Pure Class in Dallas! Orozco was one of the few bright spots on US U20's

Another crack at some Elite competition for US mens soccer and another failure!  The US U-20’s were paired in the Super Group at Dallas Cup with the Mexico U-20’s, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Eintracht Frankfurt. With a National Team, player selection is usually critical as there is little time to work.  This is usually the case all over the world at all National Team levels (u17, u20, senior) so we will just be giving our analysis on the players performance for the tournament and not the coaching or team play.  Who should remain on Rongens shortlist looking towards World Cup qualifying and who doesn’t have the class to play in a World Cup if we expect the US to compete with the worlds best.

THE UNTOUCHABLES!

Zarek Valentin – The center back does his job well.  Reads the game well, communicates, organizes, and most importantly plays simple like a center back should.  He’s decent in the air and good 1 v 1 defender.

Amobi Okugo – The holding mid has been a fixture on all youth national teams for a reason.  He is a true leader out of midfield.  Like a general, he organizes the entire team and does not stop barking orders.  Sharing his experience is only part of his strength at this level.  At his position, simple is genius and Okugo usually makes the right plays, winning the ball for his team and distributing it to the best option.  Also frustrates his opponents with his patented “hand cuff” maneuver.  The refs don’t see it but opponents go crazy when he grabs them off the ball.

Jose Altamirano – One of the only players on this US squad who has quality on the ball.  He’s a great dribbler, can take people on 1 v 1, has good field vision, short game, long game, and can finish.  He should never be touched since he is the only one that can change a game with his ability in this player pool.  Can play out wide in midfield as well as up top.  However, he’d be useless up top with the US without a true #10 playmaking and providing him good service.

Dillon Powers – I was never much of a fan until seeing him in detail over in Dallas.  He has power to hold the ball and an incredible work rate off the ball.  Does he have flare or soccer savvy to be world class.  Absolutely not!  But, as the prototypical american player with power and pace, he is an asset to this team.  Playing up top in a 4-4-2 is where he belongs though, not in midfield as he was used this week.

Moises Orozco – By far the best american born player I saw this week in Dallas.  A friend of mine had mentioned to me the kid had game but it was confirmed with his performances this week.  Orozco has what we’ve discussed on 3four3 as critical, AWARENESS!  He is constantly looking around, not ball watching, so that when he receives his mind is made up where he is moving the ball to next.  Mental speed instead of physical speed!  If Rongen and all US soccer coaches gave this priority the US will one day be competitive in the international game.  Now, the kid was wasted playing up top as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 in the Mexico game.  He did not exist on the field.  However, in a 4-4-2 set up vs Vancouver he played offensive mid and ran the show.  He was equally impressive in the 2nd half vs the germans from Frankfort creating opportunities for himself and teammates but not finishing them.  It appears he’s heading to Tigres of Mexico.  Let’s keep this one on the radar and surround him with more players that think like he does.

ANOTHER LOOK?

The backline – Both Kofi Sarkodie and Char Barson didn’t exactly prove to be players that can play at the highest level but they both play year round with Zarek and that counts for something when looking for defensive stability.  Chad was wrongly sent off vs Mexico but commited a stupid game changing foul.  Kofi does not get forward enough to be considered the guy at right back in my opinion.  His defending is not bad.   Jesus Gonzales has a quality left foot.  Probably the best in the country but was played out of position in the 1st game vs Mexico.  He didn’t set the field on fire in the other two games either.  I think the kid has quality but needs to be on a team that holds possession and the US simply doesn’t so his quality is not seen.

Midfield - Fransisco Navas Cobo and Ruben Gonzales both showed some flair playing out wide in a 4-2-3-1 formation.  They both possess great dribbling ability and can take defenders on.  However, they would be better fits on teams that retain possession instead of the direct forward forward forward style the US plays.

CUT EM LOOSE, PLEASE!

Ok, Jared Watts and Ian Hines Ike weren’t exactly terrible but are nowhere near the level they need to be to stop top level competition at a world cup.  No place for them as there are much better players on American soil.

Cesar Zamora has improved since I’ve last seen him but he’s not really a holding mid nor an offensive mid.  He turns the ball over in dangerous areas that can be devastating at the highest level.  There is no room for him unless you’re playing a dual defensive mid system and there are countless players that can do the job better than Zamora.  The same goes for Will Packwood.  Another player that grows on trees.  He doesn’t do anything different.  Doesn’t tackle well, isn’t greatest passer, doesn’t have much to offer.

The offensive minded players are by far the WORST in this pool.  Bryan De la Fuente just runs around the field without a clue.  Turns the ball over constantly.  He’s an average player who I can find hundreds of in LA alone.  Ryan Finley? I’ll keep my comments to myself.  The kid has no business being on the National Team.  Embarrassing to see him run about clueless on the field.  No technique, no vision, no awareness, no finishing ability.  He missed the easiest 1 v 1 with the keeper in the Whitecaps game that made the entire crowd aske themselves this question.   How on earth is this kid on the National Team?  Will Bates is an improved version of Ryan Finley and that isn’t saying much.

Both Goalkeepers did fine!  We don’t have a problem producing those in the states.

We have the talent in this country to succeed on the worlds biggest stage.  Are we picking the right players or heading for another failure with these u20’s and more excuses?

Make way, here comes Bob Bradley

While it certainly would have been different with the 1st team, I view this performance (a 1-3 loss) as a further indictment of Bradley:

1. He doesn’t know what a “true quality” player is.
2. He simply has no tactical understanding.

On the first point, does he mean to tell me these “second string” players are the best we have in the entire country? No way man, this country has much better to offer!

On the second point, he can’t even compete with a soccer “minnow” at home. As with all the USMNT games, he just throws 11 on the pitch and hopes for the best. His coaching instruction isn’t much more than saying “work hard guys”. There is no style, no identity, no detailed tactical roles for each player. It’s all individual play!

We’ve witnessed his training sessions at the HDC since he took over, including 3 times this month. We’ve heard what comes out of his mouth, and we witnessed the quality of these players.

On one hand, this showing pisses me off to no end! On the other, I try to be optimistic that these types of performances expose him – and indirectly our federation – as incompetent.

But alas, this is only clear to a handful …

The Tsunami of Excuses Start Rolling In

Gee, what a surprise. Many American fans, reporters, commentators, bloggers just can’t help themselves but to excuse their team and coach.

• Downplaying the importance or significance of the match.

Um, I’m sure each one of these players would disagree with you. But I know, I know, the spirit of the excuse is actually to brush aside the result as meaningless – it has no bearing on what our showing at the World Cup will be. Wrong! Although these aren’t the starting WC players, this will be the coach. And this is a direct exposure to not only his judgement of talent, but his tactical understanding (or lack thereof).

• Red card & the game is over.

Really? Yes it hurts like a bitch, but it certainly can be manageable. For starters you would expect to see a reaction and different attitude from our players, now being down to 10 men. How about showing some balls and working twice as hard? That didn’t happen! How about the team showing something tactically new, huh Bradley? Nope.

By contrast, a day later Inter had to play with a man down for 60 minutes against AC Milan. Morinho and his team not only held AC Milan scoreless, but tagged on an additional goal.

Or how about our very own US holding down the fort down a man for 45 minutes against none other than eventual World Cup champs Italy (not Honduras @ home in case you’re wondering)  in 2006 WC?

This isn’t an impossible task. And even if you don’t win in the end, you can at least have a respectable showing. Weak excuse for weak people!

• Poor referee.

Please. The PK and attached yellow card was warranted. Of all things, if he missed anything important it was calling a foul on the US goal. I hear crickets about that by the way – nobody’s saying a word.  How 1st grade of you to go with this excuse!

• This was our B-team, so who cares.

Are you serious? If you truly feel this way, you’re a prime example of what’s wrong with soccer in this country. Yeah, I’d like to hear that one come out of a fan’s mouth – or an analyst – from a true soccer nation! And by the way, that wasn’t Hondura’s 1st team either …

• The guys are not in form. They’ve been on break from the MLS season.

Sweetheart, we were playing against a half-strength Honduras team. Having a multi-week concentration at the HDC should not only be enough time to get match-fit, but for a coach to implement some semblance of tactical structure. What our guys showed was not lack of form, this is their form!

Enough Already!

Stop with the spin, and make a real effort to gain some insight. Excuses are not insight. These things are not what you should be taking away from matches. This is not proper analysis. Neither is simply saying; “Our players suck”. When a team loses, it’s not always because your players are less talented.  That’s way too shallow and doesn’t strike at the heart of the problem:

Your dear Bob Bradley!

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 the final moments is that Danny Barrera from UCSB was clearly on a different level – he should go pro next year.

The second game against OC Blue Star I watched in full. The national team lost 2-0, and nothing special was displayed from either side.  The match was classic college soccer – no possession, no creativity, no pause. It was pure back and forth action at a frenetic pace, with each player in a panic when receiving the ball.

Luis Gil, who played offensive mid, was the only one displaying some brains and his frustration with teammates showed. After being subbed out 5 minutes into the second half, any semblance of structure the national team had, was lost. And that’s when the goals came.

But the main story on this occasion wasn’t the matches. You all know how I feel about the US game. The big news is on the promise of our future.

Luis Gil

I must say that after watching him on Friday, I have some concerns. We’ve talked about him here and here as having world class potential, but now I fear that’s not the case.

What gives me pause is his decision making on several possessions – trying to do too much instead of making the simple play. Now, he just turned 16 in November and maybe I should cut him a break. After all, these details could definitely be corrected. But in my lengthy discussion with a source at the camp, I now have serious doubts.

Luis Gil’s Future

There have been a handful of well-known bloggers/journalists who have included him as an MLS Draft prospect or continue discussing his possibility of an Arsenal contract. My talk last night with someone intimately close to his future, all but crushed the Arsenal thing – stating Luis does not want to go overseas.  In addition, it is extremely unlikely he will enter the draft, not for lack of MLS interest but rather that Luis wants to finish highschool (he’s now a Junior).

From a purely soccer perspective, this could choke his potential. Hopefully I’m wrong and he has some mentors that can develop him. The kid has signs of brilliance and could be a true #10 – something this country desperately lacks.

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, we need to inspect a team’s full body of work and categorize the results according to who the opponents were. Only then can you begin to appreciate where we stand.

We head into 2010 and South Africa in the same form as years past – with the US clearly demonstrating it is a middle tier B-level soccer nation. There have been no breakthroughs people!

Along with Mexico, we are the CONCACAF giants. This has been true throughout the decade. The problem I see is the perception our fan-base has. We are suffering from the same delusion that Mexico has been suffering for decades.

We know we’re not on par with the world powers, but we believe we are on the verge of getting there. That is, we are among the top of the B-list nations. We’re not there yet, and won’t be within the next decade unless big changes happen in our philosophy.

Look no further than our youth national teams.  Their records indicate we will have more of the same – losing consistently to A-list teams and splitting results with the B-listers.

It doesn’t have to be this way! We do have players with world-class potential in our country. I see it every week at our youth levels, and to some extent college.

If our goal is to crack the A-list, which I think it is, we must not only learn to identify these ballers, but develop them through good coaching and ensure their future with a system that lifts them and filters out the weaker players.

Well, duh! Everyone knows that right? Yes, in theory but not in practice.

There are at least some beacons of hope. Soccer continues to grow at the youth, college, and professional levels. The pro game from around the world continues to infiltrate more households. There is a Colombian at the helm of our U-17s, and if nothing else, identified Luis Gil and gave that team an inkling of identity.

What do you guys think? Too harsh? Is looking at our 2009 results this way incorrect?

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 month later.

American opinion followed the same highs and lows.

What’s the lesson? It’s a mistake to come to conclusions based on day to day events. You must place everything into context and take a long-term view to have a solid opinion.

Let’s look at this year’s resume!

(1-3) vs A-list Teams

The top sides we played were Brazil, Italy, and Spain.

(3-4) vs B-list Teams

These included Mexico, Egypt, Sweden, Slovakia, and Denmark.

(9-1-3) vs Soccer Minnows

All the wins came from CONCACAF teams during qualification and the Gold Cup.

Complete National Team Results

• World Cup Qualification (6-2-2)

• Confederations Cup (2-3)

• Gold Cup (4-1-1)

• Friendlies (1-2)