The team looked very different the last two games... much better defensively and much better with starting Chara and Nagby. It will be interesting to see what they can do on the road in Seattle this weekend.
I think Chara and Nagbe have helped immensely with the ability to keep the ball or string together more than 2 passes in the Midfield. Also Purdy was Solid but when he was starting IMO Brunner had to cover for him a lot on the Counter attack. Hall moving back there has helped with that. And Alhassan being a freaking monster has helped too. I love Futty, but I am very glad Horst is working his way back in for some depth back there.
Yea....once salaries go up where 1 million a year for a decent player isnt unheard of, the MLS will be really strong. You got some guys on the team making 50k a year. Thats garbage IMO
yep agreed.. and while I really want to expedite that process of getting there.. I like how the league seems to be organically growing its roots and not overspending which would be the death of the league. They are bein gvery careful to not go the NASL route.
yep and Horst who was starting at CB before he got hurt is in the $42,000 range. Also Goldthwaite is making like $132,000 which is waaaaaaaaaay too much for him.
That's the problem. European kids aren't playing for competitive purposes, they're playing for development. Winning your U10 league shouldn't matter. Learning how to control a pass should be the focus. Guys like Eddie Johnson go flying through the youth ranks without any technical ability because they can physically dominate in their age group, then when things like touch and creativity matter, they're useless. I agree with your assessment on where the best athletes are going. That's why we need to develop soccer brains, not just guys who can run past their opponent because speed is relative to who you are running against, but knowing how to get yourself into space to get a shot off is a skill that works at any time against an opponent. Speed is also irrelevant if you don't have the touch on the ball to put it in space for you to get up to top speed and go by your defender. Also, I'd say that in terms of straight athletics, the US National Team is as good as or better than any in speed, strength, and size, but we're lacking in vision and touch.
The reputable Oregon soccer clubs focus on development over winning as well (many coaches are European trying to bring that mentality to the clubs). But I'm not here to debate US is doing everything Europe is doing. I'm sure US is trying desperately to replicate the best they can what they do in Europe. Just wanted to point out that soccer in the US is way beyond rec teams and "boot ball" until high school. (There is a whole forum dedicated to soccer talk among the clubs in Oregon. And each state has their own forum. Pretty intense how serious some of these kids take their soccer paying thousands for year round programs and most A players have their own personal coaches as well starting at age 10) I have heard the same analysis that you are talking about. Even when you have speed and athletic ability, the US players lack the European soccer mentality. I think they use Donavan as a example of an athletic and fast US player who just couldn't hang in Europe play. Maybe if sportscenter broke down soccer games as often and the way they do for basketball and football, kids would be thinking soccer strategy all the time.
The Germans popped into my head when I was typing that. I think Philip Lahm was their only starter under 6 foot at the World Cup, so they're taller than the US. In terms of those categories and no one else is close to the US and Germany.
Is height an advantage in soccer? Seems like who the best players are not related to height. Messi comes to mind.
It can help immensely when trying to win those 50/50 balls in the air to maintain/regain posession. So it doesnt hurt to have the height. God Save us if there ever comes along someone with Messi's skills and is 6'3"
The Germans are so bruising and physical that they use their size to their advantage. They're really a site to behold and I truly enjoy watching them play.
