Women's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

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.
 
. 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 Mexican u17 team has trained and played 3x’s as much as the US u17’s in 2021/22. That is a fact!
 
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. Does the USNT failures help your lawsuit?
Damn, you are into your feelings! Is your kid on that US U20 team?
Miss me with the lame shit of which you speak. The US has been successful internationally because we have a massive country that supports women athletes while the rest of the world was focused on keeping their women barefooted and pregnant. The US should be producing more quality players with excellent fundamentals per capita.

I filed a claim with the EEOC but I didn’t pursue litigation because I took your advice. I found and excellent HS coach, club coach, and DOC and we a grinding now. Ya know, we’re staying ready so we don’t have to get ready homie. My player is happy, healthy and has accepted the fact that YNT isn’t a meritocracy.

Good luck to you and your player! Here’s a dedication to you and your player from your homie MacDre:
 
Damn, do you need a hug?
We all need a hug, that's a fact Jack. 3x of jelling to what? Zero? This age could have had any 2002 player but went with the youth, why? Why say no unless you had a good reason to say no. We had the #1 05 playing, the top really really good 04s starting. Jackson is 03. Where were the 2002s? Cooper can ball and she is 02. Rodman would have helped? I think most of the peeps I talk to who know a few things about this and that about soccer. We call it Futbol btw Dre. We all think the possession is missing and quality of the game is missing. Ganas? I did not watch the games. I saw highlights from the Netherlands game and the first two goals is on the GK, moo. I think that hurt the USA. I saw highlights from Ghana and I saw lot's of Ganas out on the pitch. I will watch Japan highlights when I see them.
 
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?
What changed? Maybe our competitors know the difference between playing some friendlies vs an actual World Cup tournament. Let’s search the couch for some excuses: protected, safe, coddled DOCS, coaches, and a bloated, corrupt, unaccountable US program.
 
What changed? Maybe our competitors know the difference between playing some friendlies vs an actual World Cup tournament. Let’s search the couch for some excuses: protected, safe, coddled DOCS, coaches, and a bloated, corrupt, unaccountable US program.
Hey Doc, I have a quick question. I’m trying to help my daughter achieve her dream of playing for the USWNT. I’ve heard rumors that serving on the Board of Directors (or coaching) of my local club would substantially increase my kids chance of being selected for YNT’s, is there any truth to this?
 
What changed? Maybe our competitors know the difference between playing some friendlies vs an actual World Cup tournament. Let’s search the couch for some excuses: protected, safe, coddled DOCS, coaches, and a bloated, corrupt, unaccountable US program.
Nothing changed. US has been losing to Japan at U20 for the last decade. This age group doesn't have the best players playing on it, nor do they have enough playing time with each other.
 
Damn, you are into your feelings! Is your kid on that US U20 team?
Miss me with the lame shit of which you speak. The US has been successful internationally because we have a massive country that supports women athletes while the rest of the world was focused on keeping their women barefooted and pregnant. The US should be producing more quality players with excellent fundamentals per capita.

I filed a claim with the EEOC but I didn’t pursue litigation because I took your advice. I found and excellent HS coach, club coach, and DOC and we a grinding now. Ya know, we’re staying ready so we don’t have to get ready homie. My player is happy, healthy and has accepted the fact that YNT isn’t a meritocracy.

Good luck to you and your player! Here’s a dedication to you and your player from your homie MacDre:
Yah…I owe you an apology for that cheap shot. Pretty lame indeed….got all wound up. My bad!

Most importantly, I’m glad your kid found a good home!

My DD didn’t make the cut for the u20’s this cycle (was a provisional player so was in all the Camps) but still has a shot for the next cycle based on her age.
 
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.
How did the U16s play sub par opponents?

Anyway, plenty of logic in your statement...certainly don't pay attention to CONCACAF. Agree that Nike has influence and they don't care about their ability to impact the experience level of this team. Pretty cool billboard moment to have Moultrie on the field. She's a great player but was clearly outclassed on many occassions, most of the time she was out of position.

Certainly would have helped if the US had been more dangerous up front. They couldn't keep the ball across the midline and were incapable of carrying into the final third...but the defense...out of position, poor communication, poor possession. They looked confused, as if they weren't capable of directing traffic. Time to rethink this team and look a bit deeper into the pool.
 
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