Soccer and US Top Athletes

#26
#26
Definitely do not need to be a great athlete to be a great player. Sergio Busquets is one of the most clumsy, uncoordinated "athletes" I've ever seen. But he's a top three defensive midfielder in the world.
 
#27
#27
says a lot that some would say that some of the top players in the world aren't great athletes. Guess that's why we're so far behind. Well that and the fact some think Lebron would make a great keeper
 
#28
#28
utvolpj said:
says a lot that some would say that some of the top players in the world aren't great athletes. Guess that's why we're so far behind. Well that and the fact some think Lebron would make a great keeper
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Do you know who Sergio Busquets is?
 
#30
#30
utvolpj said:
no but I just watched highlights. If you think that's clumsy and uncoordinated then I'm sorry I even opened the thread.
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The classic guy who watches a five minute highlight video acting like he knows more than the guy who has watched over 200 of his games. Move on pj
 
#31
#31
volball625 said:
Definitely do not need to be a great athlete to be a great player. Sergio Busquets is one of the most clumsy, uncoordinated "athletes" I've ever seen. But he's a top three defensive midfielder in the world.
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Same could be said for Peter Crouch, but he's spent almost 10 years in the EPL and a good deal of time on senior national squad for England. He literally looks like he could trip over his own feet, the ball or both with every step he takes while in possession, yet he's made a successful career as a striker because he's at least 5-7 inches taller than almost anyone else on the pitch.
 
#32
#32
utvolpj said:
no but I just watched highlights. If you think that's clumsy and uncoordinated then I'm sorry I even opened the thread. I'll just let you guys discuss :hi:
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I was pretty surprised to find out when I did, but now I just look at it like baseball. Athleticism definitely helps, especially in certain positions, but the key is really knowing what you're doing and putting yourself in the right place at the right time.

Wasn't trying to be chippy. :hi:
 
#33
#33
milohimself said:
I was pretty surprised to find out when I did, but now I just look at it like baseball. Athleticism definitely helps, especially in certain positions, but the key is really knowing what you're doing and putting yourself in the right place at the right time.

Wasn't trying to be chippy. :hi:
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Pretty much spot on.
 
#34
#34
It's all about development. That's how a small country without the most athletic guys like the Netherlands competes with the likes of Brazil. The Dutch have been great with development, and Cryuff going to Barcelona has gone a long way in turning that club, and Spain, into a power. As youth development continues to improve, we'll become really, really good. It may be some time, though.
 
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#35
#35
tvolsfan said:
It's all about development. That's how a small country without the most athletic guys like the Netherlands competes with the likes of Brazil. The Dutch have been great with development, and Cryuff going to Barcelona has gone a long way in turning that club, and Spain, into a power. As youth development continues to improve, we'll become really, really good. It may be some time, though.
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This. Plus the fact that kids from the Netherlands, England, Brazil, Argentina, etc... play pick up soccer day in and day out. Like I said before, soccer is growing and it's time will come, it's just going to be 8-10 years.
 
#36
#36
Soccer will get better slowly but not it is not ingrained into the DNA like it is in the rest of the world. US players get their higher level of training when they go abroad to play. The technical training and basics are taught so much better abroad because they live it. So, to answer question, if we did not have three other sports dominating the market we could be much better. Don't see that changing in many lifetimes to come.
 
#38
#38
Hayezb said:
This. Plus the fact that kids from the Netherlands, England, Brazil, Argentina, etc... play pick up soccer day in and day out. Like I said before, soccer is growing and it's time will come, it's just going to be 8-10 years.
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This is a huge factor, that is underplayed, IMO. The Netherlands has played integrated soccer for decades. Instead of taking the English approach*, their pro teams have welcomed foreigners, blacks, etc. for a long time, and their football has benefited for it. They have enjoyed knowledge and familiarity with a number of different playing styles, and kids are learning more at an earlier age.

*England has always resisted change. They have taken measures to keep English footballers on EPL rosters (rather than playing the best available), and they don't tailor their strategy to their squad, they make their squad play the same style they've played for decades, with long balls over the top as the key offensive strategy.
 
#39
#39
Hayezb said:
This. Plus the fact that kids from the Netherlands, England, Brazil, Argentina, etc... play pick up soccer day in and day out. Like I said before, soccer is growing and it's time will come, it's just going to be 8-10 years.
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They said that 8-10 years ago and 8-10 years before that. It's a slow process. You don't just turn the corner overnight.

I think Klinnsmann has raised the ceiling a bit but the floor is still about the same.

The increased exposure to top tier leagues and tournaments is important to the growth of the sport.
 
#40
#40
While I'm not a diehard soccer fan, I do enjoy watching spectacles like the World Cup and the Euro. That being said, and not to offend anyone, I've watched a lot of football games and a lot of soccer games. Football wins. End of story. I have to believe if the rest of the world was raised on American football, instead of soccer, they too wouldn't give a flip about soccer. Barring something cataclysmic happening with professional football in this country (due to the concussion/suicide issue), I just don't ever see soccer making real headway in this country. Even if football dies (which is unlikely), there is still basketball. Like I said, I'm not trying to stir the pot; I know some of you genuinely enjoy soccer more, but the vast majority of people in this country simply do not and never will.
 
#41
#41
volprof said:
While I'm not a diehard soccer fan, I do enjoy watching spectacles like the World Cup and the Euro. That being said, and not to offend anyone, I've watched a lot of football games and a lot of soccer games. Football wins. End of story. I have to believe if the rest of the world was raised on American football, instead of soccer, they too wouldn't give a flip about soccer. Barring something cataclysmic happening with professional football in this country (due to the concussion/suicide issue), I just don't ever see soccer making real headway in this country. Even if football dies (which is unlikely), there is still basketball. Like I said, I'm not trying to stir the pot; I know some of you genuinely enjoy soccer more, but the vast majority of people in this country simply do not and never will.
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Forever is a long time. I don't care where soccer ranks as far as popularity in the US, I just want it to get to the point where MLS salaries are good enough to attract the talent to be a top 5 league in the world.
 
#42
#42
volprof said:
While I'm not a diehard soccer fan, I do enjoy watching spectacles like the World Cup and the Euro. That being said, and not to offend anyone, I've watched a lot of football games and a lot of soccer games. Football wins. End of story. I have to believe if the rest of the world was raised on American football, instead of soccer, they too wouldn't give a flip about soccer. Barring something cataclysmic happening with professional football in this country (due to the concussion/suicide issue), I just don't ever see soccer making real headway in this country. Even if football dies (which is unlikely), there is still basketball. Like I said, I'm not trying to stir the pot; I know some of you genuinely enjoy soccer more, but the vast majority of people in this country simply do not and never will.
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The second bolded statement is probably true, but the first is just flat out wrong. Many people in foreign countries find the constant stoppages of play in American football to be very offputting. Also, IMO one of the main reasons that soccer is so popular throughout the world is the fact that all it takes is and open area, (not even grass is necessary) a couple of sticks to make a goal and a round object to serve as the ball. That allows even the most impoverished people in the world to play the game.

Even if people in other countries grew up watching American football, probably 75% of them would never be able to actually play the game due to the absurd cost of the equipment required to play it. The majority of the world doesn't have lots of people who can just afford hundreds or even thousands of dollars for their kids to play sports, that's just reality. In this same line of logic, the fact that kids in most countries wouldn't be able to play American football would mean they wouldn't be able to field quality higher level teams, which would basically mean that the sport would never catch on.
 
#43
#43
IF the US cared about soccer and developed young players, we'd be dominate. Only problem is no one cares about soccer and I don't see it changing anytime soon
 
#44
#44
Yankee_Vol said:
IF the US cared about soccer and developed young players, we'd be dominate. Only problem is no one cares about soccer and I don't see it changing anytime soon
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I don't think caring about it has much to do with anything. We have such an enormous population advantage over european countries that soccer could go right on being the fifth rung of the us sports ladder and once we have comparable academies in place, we could be right up there. Maybe not dominant, since major international competition is so infrequent that dynasties are never established, but relevant is possible
 
#45
#45
wow, very interesting discussion this thread is. ive always assumed that our superstar talent in other sports would make great soccer teams, but i understand that it wouldnt quite work that way. i heard somewhere that, internationally, most soccer fundamentals are instilled in a kid before he is 6 years old. not sure if thats true or not. i cant add much that hasnt already been said in this thread but i would like to mention a few things and get your guys response. 1. could the growing injury concern in football ie; the concussion problem mentioned earlier and the fact that football players are getting faster and more athletic, lead to maybe more parents pushing their young children towards soccer, which is cheaper, somewhat safer, and growing rapidly? 2. how important is it for American soccer, growth wise, to be embraced by our african american population. i know its a touchy question, but a legitimate one, imo. 3. i just want to play the "what if they played soccer" game from earlier in the thread. what if barry sanders had grown up playing soccer instead of football?
 
#46
#46
Yankee_Vol said:
IF the US cared about soccer and developed young players, we'd be dominate. Only problem is no one cares about soccer and I don't see it changing anytime soon
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No one cares? This is just stupid, plain and simple.

Soccer is huge in Tennessee, especially east Tennessee. Every year there are nationally ranked high school teams from the east. Especially the girls side, I think 5 teams were in the top 20 last year.
 
#47
#47
Hayezb said:
No one cares? This is just stupid, plain and simple.

Soccer is huge in Tennessee, especially east Tennessee. Every year there are nationally ranked high school teams from the east. Especially the girls side, I think 5 teams were in the top 20 last year.
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i think he means that soccer is a take it or leave it sport in this country. we had 1 summer camp in south pittsburg when i was a kid that had a great turnout but after it was over, soccer was never mentioned again.
 
#48
#48
orange parmejohn said:
i think he means that soccer is a take it or leave it sport in this country. we had 1 summer camp in south pittsburg when i was a kid that had a great turnout but after it was over, soccer was never mentioned again.
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I can agree with your statement, but he did specifically say "Only problem is no one cares about soccer".
 
#50
#50
Hayezb said:
I can agree with your statement, but he did specifically say "Only problem is no one cares about soccer".
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Outside of youth, they really don't. Soccer is a youth sport in this country as a whole. How does a national ranking mean people care? That's worth nothing when talking about people in this country not caring about soccer. outside of HS and the world cup, no one cares.
 
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