It's not that smaller kids are necessarily more technical, it's that size and strength are being prioritized over technical skills. A big technical kid is going to make the DAs and get called up, but a smaller kid has to be that much better technically to get noticed.
But that is just common sense. A big, technical, high IQ player is the dream. A smaller kid is going to have to make up for their lack of size with superior IQ and technicality. IQ and technicality being equal, or even close to equal, and the larger, more athletic player should be chosen.
You are making my point about American soccer. Thank you.
Modric and Hazard are my personal favorite players. But, I think for the US, Pogba is probably the archetype we are looking for.
Never gonna happen. Those kids in the US are already being told that technical doesn't matter and just go over the top and score. Breck Shea, Gyasi Zardes
Yep. The typical coaching approach at the younger ages is to allow these physically superior players to dominate the game with their size and speed. It's shortsighted and only hurts those players when they get into their teen years. By then, it's too late and their ceiling is limited. Outliers exist, both players and coaches that teach even the big kids proper soccer, but they are too few and far between. The ideal is to bring these physically superior athletes and professionally superior coaches together at the youngest ages. But there are so few quality coaches out there, the chances of the proper connections are slim. Make better coaches, who in turn make better players...regardless of size.
Bump.
I said not Top 10 as a nation for the next 10 years. We will see. As for your points, 1) Avoiding the NCAA was important for the development of those kids and that's going to make us better, for sure, 2) Tyler Adams grew up in Germany, 3) Tim Weah's dad won the Ballon d'Or and 4) Pulisic started going to Europe as a kid and basically for good by 14.
Why would players leave because of a European coach instead of of a US coach? Aren't European coaches better, in the main?
fair question. would argue the socal soccer cultures are unique, and it might be difficult for a European to make connections and/or communicate effectively, with both the players and the families.
i will read the article. thanks.
They clearly hired him cuz he looks like Beckham.
had the exact same thought
