Women's CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying

Does the U20 women team recent performances finally show that we have inferior youth soccer development?
The boys can hide behind the fact that we have our best athletes "stolen" by football, basketball, baseball and maybe even track and field.
Girls soccer definitely has the biggest selection pool in the world plus consistent training and regular matches since a very young age.
In Brazil, Japan, Netherland, England, girl's soccer is still not popular and yet they are at the same level with us (with less total population and definitely less money spent).
I don't know if it is coaching, pay to play scheme leaving out too many talented players or college experience disrupting the development.
Whatever it is, other nations are catching up thus proves their system is better. No wonder our boys cannot catch up with the world.
 
It’s one game… at U20.. what’s up with all the sky is falling routine? Do we really think all of the best girls make these teams? Or that coaches can’t make adjustments? USA is the standard for womens soccer as it stands right now. Losing once or even twice statistically will happen. This is a great opportunity for the US U20 team to learn and improve.
 
Does the U20 women team recent performances finally show that we have inferior youth soccer development?
The boys can hide behind the fact that we have our best athletes "stolen" by football, basketball, baseball and maybe even track and field.
...and tennis, and karate, and all kinds of hockey, and lacrosse, and golf...

And I'm not making any of those up.

There may also have been one kid lost to fencing in my experience.
Girls soccer definitely has the biggest selection pool in the world plus consistent training and regular matches since a very young age.
In Brazil, Japan, Netherland, England, girl's soccer is still not popular and yet they are at the same level with us (with less total population and definitely less money spent).
I don't know if it is coaching, pay to play scheme leaving out too many talented players or college experience disrupting the development.
Whatever it is, other nations are catching up thus proves their system is better. No wonder our boys cannot catch up with the world.
 
Does the U20 women team recent performances finally show that we have inferior youth soccer development?
The boys can hide behind the fact that we have our best athletes "stolen" by football, basketball, baseball and maybe even track and field.
Girls soccer definitely has the biggest selection pool in the world plus consistent training and regular matches since a very young age.
In Brazil, Japan, Netherland, England, girl's soccer is still not popular and yet they are at the same level with us (with less total population and definitely less money spent).
I don't know if it is coaching, pay to play scheme leaving out too many talented players or college experience disrupting the development.
Whatever it is, other nations are catching up thus proves their system is better. No wonder our boys cannot catch up with the world.

Can someone, anyone, please tell us how much it costs a Spanish, or Dutch, or English or French girl to play elite club soccer at the youth level? Can any of you explain how many club options exist for girls in those countries? Can any of you identify a single non-American girls youth coach in the entire world who is a better than the best that US has to offer? Can someone please identify the fantasy country where girls get the best training in the world for free?

And since when are Brazil, Japan and the Netherlands on the same level of the US? With the incredibly unlucky exception of one game against Japan in 2011, the US has beaten the shit out of those teams every single time it has mattered since the beginning of time. Japan is crap. Brazil is crap. And the Dutch are on their way down.

Also keep in mind that there are approximately 2 players in every birth year who provide meaningful contributions to the WNT. Having the best U20 team doesn't mean anything. Having the best 2 players, however, is what counts for the WNT.
 
Does the U20 women team recent performances finally show that we have inferior youth soccer development?
The boys can hide behind the fact that we have our best athletes "stolen" by football, basketball, baseball and maybe even track and field.
Girls soccer definitely has the biggest selection pool in the world plus consistent training and regular matches since a very young age.
In Brazil, Japan, Netherland, England, girl's soccer is still not popular and yet they are at the same level with us (with less total population and definitely less money spent).
I don't know if it is coaching, pay to play scheme leaving out too many talented players or college experience disrupting the development.
Whatever it is, other nations are catching up thus proves their system is better. No wonder our boys cannot catch up with the world.
No..still ahead by a rather large margins. Cherry pick the teams if you want. Compare the U15s/16s and tell me what you get. The 17s go to Spain later this year, lets see what happens.

"In Brazil, Japan, Netherland, England, girl's soccer is still not popular " - also not true..maybe more true in Brazil than the others but not true anymore. Plenty of $$ going to the girls. Better late than never. Did you catch the Euro?

They had a bad game..it's ok to have a bad game. It's also ok to not 100% dominate every game.
 
It’s one game… at U20.. what’s up with all the sky is falling routine? Do we really think all of the best girls make these teams? Or that coaches can’t make adjustments? USA is the standard for womens soccer as it stands right now. Losing once or even twice statistically will happen. This is a great opportunity for the US U20 team to learn and improve.
Happens every time..sky is always falling and our girs are regressing...we'll have this conversataion again in 10 years. Remember when the senior team lost in 2016? Pandemonium..
 
It’s one game… at U20.. what’s up with all the sky is falling routine? Do we really think all of the best girls make these teams? Or that coaches can’t make adjustments? USA is the standard for womens soccer as it stands right now. Losing once or even twice statistically will happen. This is a great opportunity for the US U20 team to learn and improve.
I looked at previous U20 rosters and who became stars at NWSL and USWNT, saw about 4 from each roster. Shooting 15-20% on identifying the best of the best. Michelle Cooper and Alyssa Thompson seem like two that will make it. The US college system seems to highlight additional ladies that end up playing for the USWNT. With DA, ECNL, ODP losing it's luster and the new PDP, many girls are getting missed.
 
Can someone, anyone, please tell us how much it costs a Spanish, or Dutch, or English or French girl to play elite club soccer at the youth level? Can any of you explain how many club options exist for girls in those countries? Can any of you identify a single non-American girls youth coach in the entire world who is a better than the best that US has to offer? Can someone please identify the fantasy country where girls get the best training in the world for free?

Not many people are claiming it should be free. The European club options for young women and girls are growing and mostly funded through professional clubs who pay for the coaches and and facilities and travel (and education). Their incentives are weighted heavily to finding and developing the best players regardless of the family's socio-economic background.

The incentives in US youth soccer (across genders) are heavily weighted to finding the most players with the socio-economic background to pay as much money per year as they can. Developing players still happens but is secondary as a means to justify the high costs.

The US system has the 'benefit' of creating more opportunities for youths to play organized soccer with mediocre professional coaches who aren't really held accountable to much. But the US is large enough so they will continue to produce within that system. There are some great youth coaches if you are fortunate to live close enough to where they are and can afford it.


 
I looked at previous U20 rosters and who became stars at NWSL and USWNT, saw about 4 from each roster. Shooting 15-20% on identifying the best of the best. Michelle Cooper and Alyssa Thompson seem like two that will make it. The US college system seems to highlight additional ladies that end up playing for the USWNT. With DA, ECNL, ODP losing it's luster and the new PDP, many girls are getting missed.
A great example is right here in SoCal. CalSouth only picked players to represent ODP at CalSouth State Cup last year and everyone who was in SoCal league was skipped for the 2010 age group.
 
I suspect they will adjust and come out firing on all cylinders to make up GD. They played the Dutch in JUNE, won in PKs in a tight match. Great opportunity to see how they respond. They looked frustrated and surpised. The Dutch are good, hold possesion and have size/skill. They broke our high press and our backline failed miserably at 1 vs 1 defending.

Next game will be exciting, the US has to run up the score (if they even can). The Dutch will have to do the same.
How’s that Japan game going? I think USA will win big! We’ve got a very impressive paytoplay youth development program!
 
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.
 
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.
 
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