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lookout123 · 08-08-2008, 12:02 PM

I disagree. I think the biggest problem is that our governing bodies are incompetent and too desperate to find a marketable identity rather than to develop and embrace our own. First they tried to be English, now they're trying to be Mexican. neither will work here because we're not english or mexican fans. Modelling ourselves after the Mexican program would be about 10 huge steps backward.

The US Soccer program is so inbred it is pathetic. They only look for the next marketable player. Landon Donovan? Sure, let's make him our poster child even though he failed out of the European Leagues twice and disappears in every big game. But he's looks good in ads so let's promote him as the greatest. Freddie Adu? Sure, he's only 14 and undersized but let's make him the poster child for the future of American Soccer. What's that you say? He's going to accomplish absolutely nothing other than whining and buying his own hype? Ah well, he'll look good on posters. Carlos Bocanegra, they walking red card??? sure...

You see a theme here? The guys on the US National Team are generally overrated and overhyped while guys who really could make a difference don't even get a shot because they skipped all the kids clinics and they didn't participate in the proper club circuit through the 80's and 90's. Meanwhile guys who have busted their butts outside of the system, gone to foreign countries and worked their way into teams there can't even get a game for the US because they aren't known to the good ol' boys. Jay Demerit is one example. He couldn't even get a tryout with a US team so he went to England, played in the pub leagues and landed a contract with Watford. While they aren't a great team, he did spend a year in the premier league with them before they were relegated. He is better equipped for the international game than any of our current defenders and yet... nothing.

Sad to say, but while I take Lil Lookout to the USMNT games and support them, my real team if in international tournaments is Spain. (not just because they won the euros, either. I've liked their style of play for a long time.)

08-08-2008, 12:02 PM	#20
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I disagree. I think the biggest problem is that our governing bodies are incompetent and too desperate to find a marketable identity rather than to develop and embrace our own. First they tried to be English, now they're trying to be Mexican. neither will work here because we're not english or mexican fans. Modelling ourselves after the Mexican program would be about 10 huge steps backward. The US Soccer program is so inbred it is pathetic. They only look for the next marketable player. Landon Donovan? Sure, let's make him our poster child even though he failed out of the European Leagues twice and disappears in every big game. But he's looks good in ads so let's promote him as the greatest. Freddie Adu? Sure, he's only 14 and undersized but let's make him the poster child for the future of American Soccer. What's that you say? He's going to accomplish absolutely nothing other than whining and buying his own hype? Ah well, he'll look good on posters. Carlos Bocanegra, they walking red card??? sure... You see a theme here? The guys on the US National Team are generally overrated and overhyped while guys who really could make a difference don't even get a shot because they skipped all the kids clinics and they didn't participate in the proper club circuit through the 80's and 90's. Meanwhile guys who have busted their butts outside of the system, gone to foreign countries and worked their way into teams there can't even get a game for the US because they aren't known to the good ol' boys. Jay Demerit is one example. He couldn't even get a tryout with a US team so he went to England, played in the pub leagues and landed a contract with Watford. While they aren't a great team, he did spend a year in the premier league with them before they were relegated. He is better equipped for the international game than any of our current defenders and yet... nothing. Sad to say, but while I take Lil Lookout to the USMNT games and support them, my real team if in international tournaments is Spain. (not just because they won the euros, either. I've liked their style of play for a long time.) __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin