excuses

by Gary Kleiban on January 30, 2012 4 Comments

Please Fill in the Blanks

Happy mad-libbing! _______________ (Possession/4-3-3/Passing out of the back) like __________________ (F.C. Barcelona/Spain/Ajax) would never work for a __________________ (Mid-low table Premier League/Major League Soccer/NCAA Division I) team. The __________________ (British/American/American College) game is too ____________ (Fast/Physical/Aggressive) for a ________________ (British/MLS/College) team to play like that. The only reason ______________ (F.C. Barcelona/Spain/Ajax) can play like that is [...]

by Gary Kleiban on September 28, 2011 51 Comments

Referee Influence on Style of Play

There has been plenty of talk as to referees essentially dictating style of play. Not just of one game, but on entire leagues and at all levels. The implication is that this has direct influence on a coach’s player selections and the style of play he implements. So generally: Spain has more possession, skill-based play [...]

Filed Under: Soccer Education, Uncategorized Tagged With: Education, excuses

by Gary Kleiban on July 28, 2011 18 Comments

Why 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 [...]

Filed Under: National Team, News, Solutions Tagged With: excuses, Solutions, USMNT

by Gary Kleiban on July 28, 2011 4 Comments

A Letter to Our Players

We have several recently turned 20 year-olds from our first ever boys team that have true professional-level quality. Years ago, I predicted with 100% certainty that one kid in particular would go all the way. I actually have standing bets with people on this (most notable are $500 on one, and a lobster dinner every [...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advice, Development, Elite, excuses, motivation

by Gary Kleiban on July 19, 2011 29 Comments

It’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 [...]

Filed Under: Problems, Soccer Education, Solutions Tagged With: excuses, Problems, Solutions

by Gary Kleiban on June 27, 2011 19 Comments

Sooooo … Now What?

It’s been 5 long years of this: “It was our B-team.” “The players were tired.” “Bradley’s tactics were spot on.” “Bradley’s tactics were off.” “Bradley should try the youth.” “Onyewu never recovered from his injury.” “The ref sucks.” “We just don’t have the players.” “Give him time.” “We’re making progress.” “We beat Spain.” “We tied [...]

Filed Under: National Team, Problems Tagged With: excuses, Problems, USMNT

by Gary Kleiban on May 9, 2011 12 Comments

US U-20 World Cup Qualification Failure: Who Cares?

Sorry guys, you'll have to wait to be known - if ever.

I’m a bit late to the U20 topic, but this is not a news outlet; it is an education outlet. In case you’re not up to speed, we lost to Guatemala and were eliminated from the U20 World Cup for the first time in 8 cycles. And as with most US Soccer failures, many across [...]

Filed Under: National Team, Problems, Soccer Education, World Cup Tagged With: Education, excuses, Problems, USMNT, World Cup

by Gary Kleiban on December 16, 2010 17 Comments

Winning vs Soccer Development? Part II

This winning vs development argument always seems to revolve around technique. I discussed a bit in part I of this series how a coach can only go so far in technical development. But people talk over and over again about how our professional player’s lack of technique is the biggest problem. Again, we’re missing over [...]

Filed Under: MLS, National Team, Problems, Soccer Education Tagged With: Club Soccer, Development, Education, excuses, Problems, USMNT

by Gary Kleiban on December 11, 2010 23 Comments

Winning vs Development: Really? That’s the problem?

I’ve said it before and will say it again: We have only just begun the discussion on what’s wrong with soccer in the States. This discussion always surfaces, and rightly so, when we flounder on the international stage. Perhaps most recently when the US women lost to a lowly Mexico side, and subsequently limped in [...]

Filed Under: Club Soccer, Problems, Soccer Education Tagged With: Development, Education, excuses

by Gary Kleiban on January 24, 2010 12 Comments

US vs Honduras: Excuses and Another Bob Bradley Indictment

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: He doesn’t know what a “true quality” player is. He simply has no tactical understanding. On the first point, does he mean to tell me these “second string” players are the [...]

Filed Under: National Team Tagged With: excuses, USMNT