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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 12:06:39 GMT
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Post by knowingeye on May 13, 2008 12:11:58 GMT
"It's certainly not an objective of mine to create a relationship with an English club just to have English players. I'd much prefer to have as many American players as possible. That's an important part of being a U.S. professional club, to develop American players."
A view unfortunately not shared with many of our clubs when it comes to development of English or British players!
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 12:17:46 GMT
Interestingly, i recently readan American article along thos exact lines knowingeye. To paraphrase, it said that while American owners of English teams talked about brands, finance opportunities and revenues, English owners of American teams have displayed a genuine desire to advance the game, as well as develop good young American players. It concluded by sayng that the Liverpool debacle should act as a warning to any Americans thinkingnof buying into English soccer whilst knowing nothing about the cultural background to the game.
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 12:37:50 GMT
It is admirable that a huge number of American teams are looking to develop home grown talent, and the facilities and coaching over here is of an excellent standard. The main problem facing U.S. teams is the domination of the big American sports (American Football, Baseball, Basketball etc) in the schools and colleges, where the majority of outstanding athletes are going to be pulled away from "soccer" towards the more established and lucrative sports. The huge influx of hispanic immigrants, and the growing popularity of the MLS is helping matters, but it is a slow process. I think as the sport develops and more US players begin to move to Europe, interest in the sport will continue to grow, and hopefully start to be taken more seriously over here. I have been pleasantly surprised at the number of people I have met who have a real passion for the game, and are very knowledgable when it comes to the Premier League due to the vast amount of coverage it gets over here, and hopefully this will lead to the lower league sides like the Aztecs and Richmond Kickers benefiting from the growing interest in the game.
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 12:43:08 GMT
Stateside, I worked within a coaching programme out there in the States (got my UEFA badge, get me) and i can confirm that the standard technically of the players was very high, but the poaching that goes on between colleges for players is amazing. Though obviously you have a handle on it, trying to explain the sums of money made available to colleges to sign the best young talent for the "established" sports over there is virtually incomprehensible over here, as is the interest in the collegiate games. Cannot imagine Keele University's first XI getting 70,000 to watch them, can you?  |
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 12:50:32 GMT
I never really understood the whole college sports thing until I came over here, but you are right, it's insane. A while back, my girlfriend took me to see an American Football game at her old high scool, as they were playing their local rivals and she wanted me to see first hand just how different it is from how sport works in the UK. For starters, there were almost 20,000 people there, TV cameras, a huge number of old bill ..... now bear in mind this was a HIGH SCHOOL game.....
I was speaking to a few people who had kids playing at this level, and the amounts of money involved for the scools really did blow my mind. The other thing that amazed me was the sheer competitiveness. Now don't get me wrong, I think a few lessons could be learned back home when it comes to dev eloping kids with a winning mentality, but the levels it reaches over here is truly frightening!!
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 12:56:36 GMT
The thing that really struck me was how unfit the kids were to be honest. Consider all American sports and they all one common denominator - you don't need to be fit to play them (even Basketball, where you're only really going for 10 mins at a time). They weren't lazy, they were just used to weights and push ups and all that bollocks. They were barfing rings up when we got them running.
The biggest challenge we had was getting these kids fit enough to utilise their talents.
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Post by bayernoatcake on May 13, 2008 13:00:05 GMT
I never really understood the whole college sports thing until I came over here, but you are right, it's insane. A while back, my girlfriend took me to see an American Football game at her old high scool, as they were playing their local rivals and she wanted me to see first hand just how different it is from how sport works in the UK. For starters, there were almost 20,000 people there, TV cameras, a huge number of old bill ..... now bear in mind this was a HIGH SCHOOL game..... I was speaking to a few people who had kids playing at this level, and the amounts of money involved for the scools really did blow my mind. The other thing that amazed me was the sheer competitiveness. Now don't get me wrong, I think a few lessons could be learned back home when it comes to dev eloping kids with a winning mentality, but the levels it reaches over here is truly frightening!! In recent reports they want to cut the competitive edge of football in this credit as it's too competitive. They think competition at such a young age is a bad thing and that it should be bought in at a later stage. |
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:02:16 GMT
Pretty hard to see how they'd do that bayern, seeing as the average High School (American)Football Coach is like Alex Ferguson on speedballs.
They're a bunch of fucking nutters. ;D
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Post by bayernoatcake on May 13, 2008 13:03:24 GMT
English football in this country. Instead of country I put credit! ;D I'm going fooking mad!
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:08:07 GMT
;D
In many ways i'd agree, conversely. Kids should be playing non-competitive, small-sided games until 11, when they should play 8-a-side until 14, where they can progress to the full game.
We need to place greater emphasis on skills rather than winning and losing. This way we will strengthen our playing resources, whilst also stopping parents wailing like fucking banshees on the sidelines because they think little Declan is going to be the next Wayne Rooney.
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 13:09:24 GMT
The thing that really struck me was how unfit the kids were to be honest. Consider all American sports and they all one common denominator - you don't need to be fit to play them (even Basketball, where you're only really going for 10 mins at a time). They weren't lazy, they were just used to weights and push ups and all that bollocks. They were barfing rings up when we got them running. The biggest challenge we had was getting these kids fit enough to utilise their talents. I agree, the emphasis seems to be on strength, and "bulking up" rather than physical fitness, especially with American Football and Baseball. I was talking to a guy from VCU the other day who is a referee coach and he said that the fitness levels of the official's at the big US sports does not come close to the fitness of football referees, as they usually have at least six refs for a game, and also due to the stop/start nature of the games. He was actually trying to persuade me to take part in a programme he runs and become a referee over here, but after seeing some of the parents at the high school football game, my first thoughts were "Fuck that right off" ...... fitness levels might be somewhat lacking, but there is definately an abundance of what you might call "proper big bastards" over here, and I wouldn't fancy getting tangled up in some of that shit!! And then there's the guns, but i'm not even going there! I'm just thinking that refereeing is defiantely not for me |
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:12:36 GMT
Tell you what though, aren't American kids polite? Even the big giant bastards were an absolute pleasure. Really enjoyed my time over there, not least because having an English accent in the south of America (i was based at Georgia Tech.) is basically a passport for an incredible amount of sexual intercourse. Brilliant.
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 13:16:30 GMT
Yes Sir, they are indeed extremely well mannered and polite, even the big rough cunts!
And as for an English accent in the South, well....... All i'm saying is I love living in Virginia ;D
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:19:54 GMT
I remember watching the Hokies at Worsham Field - we'd taken our sophmore team up there to play - do you ever get up there?
What a weekend that was ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2008 13:21:35 GMT
I suffer from Narcole
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:22:44 GMT
psy?
;D
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2008 13:23:38 GMT
Sorry, what were we just doin?
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Post by vestanpance on May 13, 2008 13:26:04 GMT
I'm going to do some work.
See you tomorrow.
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 13:26:44 GMT
Not been to a Hokies game yet, but I will be paying a visit some time soon! I did go to my first NASCAR race they day before the Leicester game though....now THAT was an experience. Those Rednecks definately know how to party ;D
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Post by knowingeye on May 13, 2008 14:35:22 GMT
;D In many ways i'd agree, conversely. Kids should be playing non-competitive, small-sided games until 11, when they should play 8-a-side until 14, where they can progress to the full game. We need to place greater emphasis on skills rather than winning and losing. This way we will strengthen our playing resources, whilst also stopping parents wailing like fucking banshees on the sidelines because they think little Declan is going to be the next Wayne Rooney. Have a look at www.giveusbackourgame.co.uk/Thoughts? I own Avantimobile one of the lead sponsors, hence my interest in youth development. |
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 14:43:52 GMT
A great idea Knowingeye, all the best with it mate. I love some of the quotes on there, especially this one.... "The World Cup wasn't won (in 1966) on the playing fields of England. It was won on the streets" Bobby Charlton Parents need to stop using the X-Box as a baby sitter and get the kids out on the street for a proper game o' nogger! You should even start a "Kerbie" revival for the girls! |
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Post by knowingeye on May 13, 2008 14:52:24 GMT
"In England there is so much talent. I am convinced that at least 20 players at non league level could have played as well as Thierry Henry in the Premiership if they had been exposed to the correct coaching. I think it is easier to spoil your talent than bring it to the top."
Arsene Wenger
Hence he looks overseas for better VFM!
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Post by glouscesterstokie on May 13, 2008 16:36:02 GMT
is it with LA Galaxy? get landon donovan
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Post by CalgaryPotter on May 13, 2008 18:43:34 GMT
A great idea Knowingeye, all the best with it mate. I love some of the quotes on there, especially this one.... "The World Cup wasn't won (in 1966) on the playing fields of England. It was won on the streets" Bobby Charlton Parents need to stop using the X-Box as a baby sitter and get the kids out on the street for a proper game o' nogger! You should even start a "Kerbie" revival for the girls! Shit, never realised kerbie was a girls game  |
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Post by CalgaryPotter on May 13, 2008 18:49:17 GMT
One of my Canadian friends reckons that if the US started to take soccer seriously then they would win the World Cup in less than 10 years.
He's basing his judgement on the fact that the US produce some of the biggest, fastest athletes (or what I call freaks) in the world.
What he has not got his head around yet is the fact that these freaks will have the turning circle of an artic and will spend most of their time giving fouls away for bouncing normal sized folk off the ball.
If they are lucky, they may just catch up with the world on technique.
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Post by StatesideStokie on May 13, 2008 19:38:07 GMT
I have to disagree Calgary, from the games I have seen they have some great kids with superb technical ability.....but they lack the physical side of the game to compete with the big boys. They are definately improving though, and I think they will impress a few people at the next world cup....watched them give Poland a proper pasting a few weeks ago!
And by the way, kerbie is only a girls game during football season.....so you're off the hook!
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Post by daverichards on May 13, 2008 19:53:38 GMT
there are many reasons why american unis get huge attendances at games, apart from having the stadia to host such crowds.
1) US population is around 5 times that of the UK, yet they have very few "proffesional clubs" in each given sport
2) US uni's have the cream of the up and coming young talent , the draft system and all that, as such US collegiate football is like a cross between the 2nd tier and the FA youth cup of the sport, now the FA youth cup can get some big attendances in its later stages
3) Most US uni's are far bigger than UK uni's and most are "campus" based (like Keele)
4) The NFL is one of the best attendend leagues in the world, many teams sell out every game, I think the Greenbay packers have sold out every home game for almost 50 years , so its often hard to get tickets, and expensive, so people who want to see live American Football as a family goto College and High School games instead .
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