What follows is an initial list of 25 things obstructing the US from becoming a soccer powerhouse. The “what’s wrong” topic is always around and maintains a certain level of attention. Then, when our national teams flounder, the topic spikes and dominates the discussion. And of course everyone and their mom has an opinion. Errrr [...]
Tweet3four3 Launches Data Product!
Youth soccer in Southern California continues to evolve, lead, pioneer, and at least in my opinion, host the largest density of talent in the country. It’s like a mecca for the youth game. Now we too hope to contribute to this landscape on a macro scale and push the envelope even further! So we’re opening [...]
Tweet3four3 Turns 2! Thank You Guys!
Today marks 2 years of 3four3! When I first started, the idea was really just to get my thoughts on paper, flesh them out and refine them over time. I thought I would systematically deconstruct all the issues I saw with the sport in the U.S., and methodically build up solutions. Surely that would be [...]
TweetKlinsmann: What are the expectations?
This is the first of a multi-part series I’m doing on Klinsmann. I want to stay focused and only talk about one specific theme per post. Now is the time to clearly set up expectations. Be specific! What should his charter be? I’ve stated this before, but let me repeat not only what I think [...]
TweetWhy Bob Bradley Got Fired
CONGRATULATIONS! Whether you’d like to believe it or not, this is your triumph. I believe Bob was relieved of his duties in large part due to your collective voices. Like the last point in my optimistic piece, 5 positive influences on US Soccer in 2010, suggested, I had never witnessed such a strong and sustained [...]
TweetIt’s Gotta Be The …
Culture? The following is perhaps the most accepted as insurmountable. Soccer in the Home The scapegoat is usually of the “soccer isn’t popular” variety. Which of course implies that daddy wants to play catch with the kids; not kick the ball. And even if all those daddy’s chose to help their kids with soccer, they [...]
TweetOn Replacing Bob Bradley, Rongen, and the Whole Entourage
What are the expectations? That is key. I think people are getting it confused. Hiring a manager who actually has a clue will not get us the World Cup final, and perhaps not the quarters this cycle either. That is not the discussion we should be having. That is not the appropriate metric to use. [...]
TweetThe Importance Of An Identity: The 13th and 14th man.
There are factors beyond the individuality of players that shouldn’t go unrecognized. And this Champion’s League final offers a good backdrop for illustrating the point. Barca has the support of an entire philosophy behind them. A very clear and precise way of playing that has been engrained and rehearsed over years into oblivion. It is [...]
Tweet2 Fundamental and Objective Metrics to Judging a Coach’s Quality
How do you know a coach is any good at player development? I’m specifically addressing those coaches who are implicitly chartered with that goal. Well, here it is: 1) The coach must have a clearly possession based style. 2) The coach must be a winning one. METRIC #1 (possession) First and foremost, if the coach is not [...]
TweetAmerican Invited to Join La Masia!!!
Ben Lederman, a U-11, has been invited to join FC Barcelona’s youth Academy! This will go down as a mark in US Soccer history! He started his trial with the famed academy Monday, April 11, and just 4 training sessions later, the Director of all 7 v 7 at the club, Andres Carrasco, had made [...]
Tweet
Recent Comments