Women's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

U20 Japan game another example that our kickball doesn't work against a technical side. The japanese ladies much smaller and slower, but every japanese player better technically than our "star" Moultrie and our big/fast players consistently turn the ball over and don't have the finishing consistency. Keep identifying the early growth girls at 12yrs old USA and riding those players all the way through - you get the same results. This U20 coach clearly doesn't know what she's doing either, but you're never gonna get high quality coaches to take that job. These players have kickball success in college because there isn't a high-quality technical side like Japan in D1. Too bad bc it's beautiful soccer.
Heard this exact same story the last time Japan won the u20’s. US’s biggest problem/disadvantage is the lack of time the players get to train together in our National Team System.
 
How’s that Japan game going? I think USA will win big! We’ve got a very impressive paytoplay youth development program!
ha..nanny nanny booboo. Where were you when the U16s were wreaking havoc in Europe? The 17s go to spain shortly. We will see what happens there.

Anyway, that was an awful game. They need to address their back line at this age group. Did they bring the right players? Is that the right coach for this age group? Did the network scouts scout the right player...who was involved in the evaluation and selection. What happened since the Suds tournament...They have plenty to fix....
 
U20 Japan game another example that our kickball doesn't work against a technical side. The japanese ladies much smaller and slower, but every japanese player better technically than our "star" Moultrie and our big/fast players consistently turn the ball over and don't have the finishing consistency. Keep identifying the early growth girls at 12yrs old USA and riding those players all the way through - you get the same results. This U20 coach clearly doesn't know what she's doing either, but you're never gonna get high quality coaches to take that job. These players have kickball success in college because there isn't a high-quality technical side like Japan in D1. Too bad bc it's beautiful soccer.
They did play an excellent game and exploited the mind of the US girls. We could not keep possession and our back line is just out of position...not one player along that back line showed positional acumen. Blowing through CONCACAF did us no favors. One wonders about the coach and the coaching staff.

Also, not a good time of the year - many, many players are back home getting ready for the season.
 
Mediocre soccer is in the near future for us women’s youth soccer teams. ECNL needs to change get their mindset and focus on continued development rather than just bring the biggest and fastest player out there. You can see on tv how the rest of the world will steamroll through our teams. Pay to play has finally caught up and impacted the quality of our teams compared to the rest of the world. The women’s Euro cup this summer displayed some incredible soccer that will put the USA team way behind in a few years.
 
So you're saying that the college season is more important to these girls? For some reason, I always thought the main goal was to be an Olympian...
Great question - how much influence do the top college coaches have in this scenario? I suppose what we shouldn't do is provide an excuse for their poor performance. This same age group did well in Europe earlier this summer. What changed?
 
Mediocre soccer is in the near future for us women’s youth soccer teams. ECNL needs to change get their mindset and focus on continued development rather than just bring the biggest and fastest player out there. You can see on tv how the rest of the world will steamroll through our teams. Pay to play has finally caught up and impacted the quality of our teams compared to the rest of the world. The women’s Euro cup this summer displayed some incredible soccer that will put the USA team way behind in a few years.
I don't get his point of view. Where were you when they played very well in Europe a few months ago against the best Euro teams? I've seen on TV the younger teams steamroll every team in the world. One age group has a bad tournmanet and that means the death of US women's soccer? I don't get it.

A likely scenario is the Dutch learned from their last meeting and adjusted as needed. The Japanese saw the same weakness in this particular team and exploited it. Obviously the US coaching staff didn't do their homework or prepared their players for some adversity.

The Dutch and the Japanese have had solid programs for some years.

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Great question - how much influence do the top college coaches have in this scenario? I suppose what we shouldn't do is provide an excuse for their poor performance. This same age group did well in Europe earlier this summer. What changed?
Collage coaches and US olympic coaches have the same issues in the US with soccer. Everything is short term, based on the now vs building a team that plays possession + knows each other inside out.

Japan as a culture values tradition + working at something over and over as a group.

I dont see the US changing because theres nothing pushing for a change. Youth soccer is 10 years with 4-5 of actually playing, college is 4 years with maybe 2 years of actual game time, and pro is just a game of trying to pick the top talent to field a team. All groups (Youth, College, Pro) are different + players are essentially starting over at each level.

In Europe + other parts of the world clubs start with youth + shape them until they're ready to play pro. A single group controls the players. This gives them the time to properly train teams + players on possession.

Now that larger clubs have embraced training women. The USWNT will likely start having a more difficult time getting the wins.
 
Great question - how much influence do the top college coaches have in this scenario? I suppose what we shouldn't do is provide an excuse for their poor performance. This same age group did well in Europe earlier this summer. What changed?
Lot's of younger players on this team. 16 and 17 years old. I think based on our record with the the real World Cup, we will be right there trying to win the Cup. These younger WC's are not that important. The younger players like OM got some great experience. I can see with my eyes that possession is not looking good for the USA and that sucks. I hope we can play a better style. I saw a lot of kickball. I also think we should form a California B Team to scrimmage them before they go and play. Beating teams 7-0, 14-0 is not helping against Japan and Netherlands.
 
Collage coaches and US olympic coaches have the same issues in the US with soccer. Everything is short term, based on the now vs building a team that plays possession + knows each other inside out.

Japan as a culture values tradition + working at something over and over as a group.

I dont see the US changing because theres nothing pushing for a change. Youth soccer is 10 years with 4-5 of actually playing, college is 4 years with maybe 2 years of actual game time, and pro is just a game of trying to pick the top talent to field a team. All groups (Youth, College, Pro) are different + players are essentially starting over at each level.

In Europe + other parts of the world clubs start with youth + shape them until they're ready to play pro. A single group controls the players. This gives them the time to properly train teams + players on possession.

Now that larger clubs have embraced training women. The USWNT will likely start having a more difficult time getting the wins.
Yup, so true bro. In France and Italy, the girls play for fun and at around 14, they separate the top top players and form a "Top players league" through academies. Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 at most countries. Grade/SAT reporting are not required for the 7th and 8th grader at these professional academies for the top top players only league and not top students who know how to play kickball and smashball. All promotion and relegation is how a club moves up in Euro. The other girls not invited at the top players only league, play co-ed rec ball the rest of their life or try and prove the scouts wrong and get private coaching. In the USA, it's pay to play. Also, stay, pay and then play. It's not just about soccer over here in the States. You also better have really excellent grades, excellent SAT, excellent mom & dad with lot's of cash to pay to play and you better be the nicest human ever and volunteer any extra time you do have with helping others and never worry about yourself first.
 
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Where were you when the U16s were wreaking havoc in Europe? The 17s go to spain shortly.

I am interested to see what happens with the u17s. The u16s played subpar opponents - that was a club-payoff window dressing show with little scouting due to Covid. Don't pay any attention, just like don't pay attention to CONCACAF blowouts. They are meaningless (except the games v. Canada :) )

Typically, US early-maturing players can still overpower most of the smaller and slower international girls at 15/16 years old (there are exceptions like Nigeria). Then they catch up by 18/19. US U20 record is pathetic historically because of that. Plenty of 18/19 year old girls in this country to choose from for that team - shouldn't be any 16 or 17 year olds on it. But Nike has a say, of course, unfortunately.

Bottom line, Japanese and Dutch girls (and Spain) at the same age are more technical players than ours. That has nothing to do with playing together longer, etc. And, I think we are starting to see this same fact start to play out on the full national team with the new players being brought in - fast, strong, but not technical.

Also, note, to those complaining about the defense...yes, Japan and Netherlands scored 3 goals each. But, US offense only scored once in those two games, and that goal was a bit fortuitous.
 
I am interested to see what happens with the u17s. The u16s played subpar opponents - that was a club-payoff window dressing show with little scouting due to Covid. Don't pay any attention, just like don't pay attention to CONCACAF blowouts. They are meaningless (except the games v. Canada :) )

Typically, US early-maturing players can still overpower most of the smaller and slower international girls at 15/16 years old (there are exceptions like Nigeria). Then they catch up by 18/19. US U20 record is pathetic historically because of that. Plenty of 18/19 year old girls in this country to choose from for that team - shouldn't be any 16 or 17 year olds on it. But Nike has a say, of course, unfortunately.

Bottom line, Japanese and Dutch girls (and Spain) at the same age are more technical players than ours. That has nothing to do with playing together longer, etc. And, I think we are starting to see this same fact start to play out on the full national team with the new players being brought in - fast, strong, but not technical.

Also, note, to those complaining about the defense...yes, Japan and Netherlands scored 3 goals each. But, US offense only scored once in those two games, and that goal was a bit fortuitous.
Has nothing to do with playing together longer?

Please elaborate on how “technically skilled”individuals win games and not how 11 players work together in a system.
 
Yup, so true bro. In France and Italy, the girls play for fun and at around 14, they separate the top top players and form a "Top players league" through academies. Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 at most countries. Grade/SAT reporting are not required for the 7th and 8th grader at these professional academies for the top top players only league and not top students who know how to play kickball and smashball. All promotion and relegation is how a club moves up in Euro. The other girls not invited at the top players only league, play co-ed rec ball the rest of their life or try and prove the scouts wrong and get private coaching. In the USA, it's pay to play. Also, stay, pay and then play. It's not just about soccer over here in the States. You also better have really excellent grades, excellent SAT, excellent mom & dad with lot's of cash to pay to play and you better be the nicest human ever and volunteer any extra time you do have with helping others and never worry about yourself first.
I have a daughter that tends to play both with girls and boys, also shes attended both boys + girls camps, and recently a camp hosted by a European club.

Things I noticed...
- Boys camps are less cost then girls camps
- Boys tend to just play + not think (girls overthink things)
- Boys coaches are indifferent to coaching girls. As long as they're good + roughly the same level as the boys.
- The European club coaches were very interested to start working with girls/womens teams

I think the euro interest in working with the girls was that its something different, they were trying to figure out how to work with girls, they have respect for womens soccer in the US, and finally they were trying to determine levels + quality of training that US girls had received.

I got the feeling that the euro coaches know that womens sports are on the verge of breaking out + they wanted to be ready for it.
 
Yup, so true bro. In France and Italy, the girls play for fun and at around 14, they separate the top top players and form a "Top players league" through academies. Level 1, 2, 3 and 4 at most countries. Grade/SAT reporting are not required for the 7th and 8th grader at these professional academies for the top top players only league and not top students who know how to play kickball and smashball. All promotion and relegation is how a club moves up in Euro. The other girls not invited at the top players only league, play co-ed rec ball the rest of their life or try and prove the scouts wrong and get private coaching. In the USA, it's pay to play. Also, stay, pay and then play. It's not just about soccer over here in the States. You also better have really excellent grades, excellent SAT, excellent mom & dad with lot's of cash to pay to play and you better be the nicest human ever and volunteer any extra time you do have with helping others and never worry about yourself first.
Sure cause you have so much experience with overseas players….right?
 
Has nothing to do with playing together longer?

Please elaborate on how “technically skilled”individuals win games and not how 11 players work together in a system.
watch the game - so many 1v1 situations that the japanese win and our players do not in similar situations. Has nothing to do with playing with others, just knowing how to better move with the ball, fake, turn, collect, pass with proper weight, and finish. Those are all individual skills and have nothing to do with team dynamics like knowing where another player is going to be or pressing together, etc. "Playing together longer" is an often used excuse when the US loses. And, sometimes, it's not even true. It's not like these other international teams are playing together year round - the girls play for different club teams and colleges too. Japan's goalie plays at East Tennessee State.
 
Sure cause you have so much experience with overseas players….right?
Mums the word about what I know about this and that over their across the seas bruh. I don't know nothing about anything with regards to anything soccer in the States or overseas. I just have opinion from my 11 years of experience and nothing else. I think ((if it's ok with you oh wise one, that I think on my own and give opinion on youth soccer forum)) this U20 squad did their best and I agree with you that this team had no time to jell together, build team chemistry in the system and it was a young squad and no way they put the top U20 eligible players on this team. We will be just find when it really matters. Plus, these girls have given up a lot to be on this team and I wish them all 100% success, especially representing our awesome country. Did I want and expect this team to advance out of group, yes because I love our country and believe we are winners. We live another day :)
 
Has nothing to do with playing together longer?

Please elaborate on how “technically skilled”individuals win games and not how 11 players work together in a system.
Because they are proficient at rondo’s. As long as you have players that are excellent at doing rondos anywhere on the field the player’s are interchangeable and don’t need hella practice because the have mastered technique.

I saw the Mexico game when they beat Germany and the Mexico squad was substantially more technical than the US squad. I’m not sure about how it’s done in Europe but I’m familiar with Mexico and I’d say the USYNT’s are better funded and practice together 2-3x’s more often than the Mexican girls.
 
Because they are proficient at rondo’s. As long as you have players that are excellent at doing rondos anywhere on the field the player’s are interchangeable and don’t need hella practice because the have mastered technique.

I saw the Mexico game when they beat Germany and the Mexico squad was substantially more technical than the US squad. I’m not sure about how it’s done in Europe but I’m familiar with Mexico and I’d say the USYNT’s are better funded and practice together 2-3x’s more often than the Mexican girls.
We don't play soccer the way their taught in Europe tp play futbol. The men taught the men first and now these men are teaching the girls how to play Futbol and not smashball. I bought my kid some cleats and the guy who worked at the store played in Iran in the 70s before he escaped to the US when he was entering college. Long story Dre, but the boys from his frat played on the soccer team at Northridge and they told him about this sport called "soccer." He never heard of it before but it sounded like "futbol" where he was one of the best at his age in all of Persia. Well, he went out for a practice and destroyed them all. He ended playing at Indiana U and got a full ride. He said he is gr8tful for the full ride and it helped him become a good businessman in America but this is why were no good at the highest of men's level. Soccer=college player and Futbol=Pro player. How can we get these girls to jell more bro? I think we do have a chemistry problem but it's not the girls fault. I have MOO's but I will stay silent because I'm being watched and fact checked again.
 
Because they are proficient at rondo’s. As long as you have players that are excellent at doing rondos anywhere on the field the player’s are interchangeable and don’t need hella practice because the have mastered technique.

I saw the Mexico game when they beat Germany and the Mexico squad was substantially more technical than the US squad. I’m not sure about how it’s done in Europe but I’m familiar with Mexico and I’d say the USYNT’s are better funded and practice together 2-3x’s more often than the Mexican girls.
The US hasn’t placed above 4th in the u20’s since 2012…..remind me how many WC’s we’ve won since then?

I truely hope other countries take a run at it because the rising tide raises all boats.
 
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watch the game - so many 1v1 situations that the japanese win and our players do not in similar situations. Has nothing to do with playing with others, just knowing how to better move with the ball, fake, turn, collect, pass with proper weight, and finish. Those are all individual skills and have nothing to do with team dynamics like knowing where another player is going to be or pressing together, etc. "Playing together longer" is an often used excuse when the US loses. And, sometimes, it's not even true. It's not like these other international teams are playing together year round - the girls play for different club teams and colleges too. Japan's goalie plays at East Tennessee State.
Fair….our defense was atrocious. However your analysis doesn’t take player movement and special commitments into consideration (how off the ball players movement forces defenses to take different approaches).

Do you know what the team worked on in the 4 day camp building up to the WC, do you know who was in that camp, who came late and who simply skipped the camp and caught up with the team in CR?

I do believe the staff has to answer for their performance, but I don’t believe the sky is falling. The US senior team will always be Top 5 in the world.
 
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