Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Brazil's in their own class as far as the remaining teams go. They're going to be a blast to watch in 2014.
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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (11 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Cameron has his work permit hearing on Sunday.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
BeInSport.tv is up and running now. It will be free until August 15.
http://beinsport.tv/vidtest.html
http://beinsport.tv/vidtest.html
Ah, Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson. Um...I really hope this continues to function on my work network like it does now.
El Floppo
Footballguy
So what does this do to the reserve squads?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This was my first chance to get a look at Houston since they picked up Oscar Boniek Garcia from Honduras. They look very good. I can see why they have jumped into first in the East. If the transfer for Cameron goes through, they will be adding old team member Ricardo Clark back to the fold.
In a related note, Honduras is producing some decent talent. I can't figure out why they are struggling in qualifying so far against teams they should be handling. It is early still obviously.
In a related note, Honduras is producing some decent talent. I can't figure out why they are struggling in qualifying so far against teams they should be handling. It is early still obviously.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Seattle LA game Sunday night on ESPN2 should be fun. Already 59k tickets sold. Should break 60k easily.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Mexico and Senegal IN ET on MSNBC.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
So let me see if I got this straight when comparing the youth teams between US and Mexico
2011 U17 World Cup
Mexico - Champions
US - Out in round of 16
2012 U20 World Cup
Mexico - 3rd place
US - Did not qualify
2012 Olympics (U23+)
Mexico - At worst 4th
US - Did not qualify
Yikes
2011 U17 World Cup
Mexico - Champions
US - Out in round of 16
2012 U20 World Cup
Mexico - 3rd place
US - Did not qualify
2012 Olympics (U23+)
Mexico - At worst 4th
US - Did not qualify
Yikes
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
It's on MSNBC.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Honduras....damn.
CONCACAF showing up bigtime.
CONCACAF showing up bigtime.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Or not.PK awarded to Brazil after some very sloppy defending.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
They put up a decent fight against arguably the best team in the tournament. Both guys who scored for Honduras are MLS guys. I am interested to see how Martinez (the first goal scorer) does for Seattle.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Micah Richards stretchered off in the South Korea game. Looks like a leg injury but the announcers saying it might be a head injury.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Son of a #####.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
He looked okay. He had a nasty collision with the SK keeper on a ball played into the box and they were both injured. It looked like a clash of heads, which is why Arlo White thought it was a head injury. Richards was stretchered off, but they got him out of the stretcher and he was limping around on the sideline. He didn't look like he had a concussion, but who knows. Pearce gave him a minute to see if he could go, but he couldn't so they subbed him off.The SK keeper stayed on for a few more minutes while they warmed up the backup, and then they subbed him off as well.Son of a #####.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Trying to stutter-step during a PK always works out great.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Last year, when NBC surprised many of us with a contract for MLS, the fan base has some high hopes that NBC would do a better job than Fox did. While we will be better able to tell after next season, the relationship is off to a good start.
We also later learned that MLS turned down more money from Fox to jump in bed with NBC.
We also later learned that MLS turned down more money from Fox to jump in bed with NBC.
The ratings for MLS games are also up 24% on the ESPNs this year. They need to keep growing to make the contract in 2014 something that can garner the league a decent sized deal. The league is doing relatively great at the gate but needs the tv money to continue to grow.
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
Yeah I saw that too. 22 years old.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Holy hell.
El Floppo
Footballguy
:( Horrible news.
Not a good day for MLS, with that tragedy and the Montreal v Philly nasty head-butt incident. And can somebody explain why Jack Mc got sent off there? Looked liked some [british-affectation] argy-bargy [/british-affectation] with each guy grabbing eachother, but wtf? HOpefully Rivas sees a looooong time away from the team.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
From ESPN:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Jack Mc was not in the original play. I think it went like this.
Hoppenot and Rivas tangled and Hoppenot did a bit of a hip toss on Rivas to get him to ground
Rivas stood up, head butted Hoppenot, who went down
Jack Mc came in and pushed Rivas, who went down.
Ref did not really see how hard Jack pushed, which did not seem hard at all, but appeared to be the old fashioned third man in rule.
Here is the highlight, fwiw
http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-08-04-mtl-v-phi/highlights?videoID=195388
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Steve Tasker
Footballguy
A 21 year old Nigerian player died on the field during a game this morning in Romania. Rough morning.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Bits and pieces are coming in about Urso
*He went unconscious at Park Street Patio (bar/pub type place)
*Police officers and EMS arrived at 12:50am and tried CPR and then took him to hospital
*Was pronounced dead at hospital at 1:51am
*Autopsy will be on Monday
*He went unconscious at Park Street Patio (bar/pub type place)
*Police officers and EMS arrived at 12:50am and tried CPR and then took him to hospital
*Was pronounced dead at hospital at 1:51am
*Autopsy will be on Monday
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
1) small sided games are very good for young kids but at your sons age, I expected their to be a lot more tactics taught as well. Learning formations and your individual responsibility in each formation is very important at this age. I would think if you go watch a higher level club team in your area practice you will see a lot more going on besides small sides games2) The best way to deal with physical play is to learn how to use your body to shield the ball. There was a tiny midfielder in the early days of MLS named Mauricio Cienfeugos. He was smaller than the legs of some of his opponents but his ability to shield the ball allowed him to be a great player. You can find a bunch of vids online to give you an idea of what I am talking about in regards to how to shield the ball. 3) Larry Bird had a quote once. "God blessed me with height and court vision, everything else I busted my ### for". I am a believer that field vision is something you are born with. To enhance it, you could no better than find your closest pro side and watch them live. You can do this from tv as well, but as Floppo has explained in the past, you can learn so much more in a live setting because you can see the whole field.
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Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
Thanks for the reply, good stuff. This team is pretty advanced for their level, and the coach has been with the bulk of them for 6 or 7 years, so he may think they've already learned those basics, and I think he mentioned his approach is to let them figure out the tactics in the heat of battle. Regarding the physical play, I think I'm sweating it more than he is since I haven't seen enough play at this higher level to distinguish between what's acceptable and what's unacceptable. I know there's a lot of 'extracurricular' activity that takes place, I just don't want to lose my mind over 'normal' play. As for the 3rd point, that may be tougher, as we don't get the chance to see many live games and he barely tolerates watching it on TV. He had his first action with the team today (he had his tonsils out 2 weeks ago and is finally cleared for activity), playing futsal. They scrimmaged two older teams, including one with some JV kids from his future high school, and he was in goal for both games. I had to stay home and watch our other kids, but the report I got back was that even though they got pummelled (7-1 and 13-4), he stopped a lot more shots than he let in. The comment from the coach apparently was something to the effect that he'd probably do better in the full-sized goal. The Mrs. apparently was kind of
about the comment, but I figure it probably wasn't meant as an insult, and now that he's 13 and working towards playing in HS, the days of coddling players is over.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
wait, is your kid a keeper? I did not get that from your original post. Keepers are a totally different breed and are handled usually much differently than a field player.He had his first action with the team today (he had his tonsils out 2 weeks ago and is finally cleared for activity), playing futsal. They scrimmaged two older teams, including one with some JV kids from his future high school, and he was in goal for both games. I had to stay home and watch our other kids, but the report I got back was that even though they got pummelled (7-1 and 13-4), he stopped a lot more shots than he let in. The comment from the coach apparently was something to the effect that he'd probably do better in the full-sized goal. The Mrs. apparently was kind of
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Messi (Arg) Falcao (Col)Ronaldo (Por) Sahin (Tur) Y. Toure (IC) Schweinsteiger (Ger)Evra (Fra) Kompany (Bel) Pique (Spa) Alves (Bra)Hart (Eng)3 South America7 Europe1 Africa'Native said:
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Charlie Steiner
Footballguy
He's not really a keeper, but he likes playing there. He's been physically inactive for the last 2 weeks because of his surgery, so this was the only thing he was ready for today. His first full practice will be Thursday, so we'll get a better idea of how out of shape he is. Last year, he played on the front line, left wing (?), and he was good at getting the ball up the sideline and then cross it to the strikers. This year he's probably going to be a midfielder, but I'm not sure if he'll be in the middle or out wide. The assistant who coached him in the past played him in the middle, but I don't know that he'll be enough of a presence to see a lot of time there. He does like to distribute the ball and is willing to mix it up in traffic; is that what a center midfielder is supposed to do?'NewlyRetired said:wait, is your kid a keeper? I did not get that from your original post. Keepers are a totally different breed and are handled usually much differently than a field player.'Charlie Steiner said:He had his first action with the team today (he had his tonsils out 2 weeks ago and is finally cleared for activity), playing futsal. They scrimmaged two older teams, including one with some JV kids from his future high school, and he was in goal for both games. I had to stay home and watch our other kids, but the report I got back was that even though they got pummelled (7-1 and 13-4), he stopped a lot more shots than he let in. The comment from the coach apparently was something to the effect that he'd probably do better in the full-sized goal. The Mrs. apparently was kind of
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Sounds like a nice set of skills for a holding midfielder
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Reminder: Seattle vs LA on ESPN2 at 9:00pm eastern tonight
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It is not often a simple factual statement from an announcer makes you cringe
"And that's Brek Shea's first assist of the season"
Just the type of stat you love about an attack minded winger with more than half the season gone :(
"And that's Brek Shea's first assist of the season"
Just the type of stat you love about an attack minded winger with more than half the season gone :(
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
FWIW, I've spent most of my playing life playing as a center midfielder because of my supposedly-exceptional "field vision" (look at me!). If your son has as good field vision as you've indicated, center midfield is probably his natural position. There is plenty of tactical fluidity in the position, depending on how sophisticated the team is capable of playing. There are playmaking central midfielders, guys like Wesley Sneijder who are always on the attacking end. There are ball-winner "destroyer" central midfielders, guys like Mascherano, who hound the opposing team's midfielders all game and distribute the ball out of the back, and plenty more roles.Having innate field vision can make up for a lot of shortcomings, IMO. I was permanently one of the smallest - if not the smallest - players on the field until I was about 18. I've never had the top end speed required to excel on the wing. But a player who is able to know where his teammates are at all times and to deliver them the ball really should be on the field and not in net, IMO.He's not really a keeper, but he likes playing there. He's been physically inactive for the last 2 weeks because of his surgery, so this was the only thing he was ready for today. His first full practice will be Thursday, so we'll get a better idea of how out of shape he is. Last year, he played on the front line, left wing (?), and he was good at getting the ball up the sideline and then cross it to the strikers. This year he's probably going to be a midfielder, but I'm not sure if he'll be in the middle or out wide. The assistant who coached him in the past played him in the middle, but I don't know that he'll be enough of a presence to see a lot of time there. He does like to distribute the ball and is willing to mix it up in traffic; is that what a center midfielder is supposed to do?'NewlyRetired said:wait, is your kid a keeper? I did not get that from your original post. Keepers are a totally different breed and are handled usually much differently than a field player.'Charlie Steiner said:He had his first action with the team today (he had his tonsils out 2 weeks ago and is finally cleared for activity), playing futsal. They scrimmaged two older teams, including one with some JV kids from his future high school, and he was in goal for both games. I had to stay home and watch our other kids, but the report I got back was that even though they got pummelled (7-1 and 13-4), he stopped a lot more shots than he let in. The comment from the coach apparently was something to the effect that he'd probably do better in the full-sized goal. The Mrs. apparently was kind of
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Eddie Johnson
Spartans Rule
Footballguy
Ronaldo (Por) Van Persie (Ned) Messi(Arg)Schweinsteiger (Ger) Modric (Cro) Toure (IC)Evra (Fra) Kompany (Bel) Pique (Esp) D Alves (Bra)Hart (Eng)I was wondering why Andy used Pique over a Spanish midfielder but once I started playing around with it I saw why. You could swap Pique, Alves and Schweinsteiger for Thiago Silva, Lahm and Xavi/Iniesta but I don't think it's worth it.'Native said:
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
We are in a strange point in history. Almost any other time in history you could have put an Italian great in back and then used one of the Spaniards in the middle.
Steve Tasker
Footballguy
No love for Pirlo after that Euro Cup?
Spartans Rule
Footballguy
Not to mention your best options from Brazil are a fullback and a center back. Maybe Neymar joins the lineup soon but not yet.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Has him in my lineup but then removed for Toure to give more tackling ability to the midfield.
Spartans Rule
Footballguy
I considered him, but went for more versatility in the midfield.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
I'd use my Spanish player on Iniesta. 
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
2v2 and 3v3 aren't exactly "scrimmages"- those are drills that are going to help the kids learn what it means to constantly move off the ball, receive and defend the ball/player, and pass the ball. Larger scrimmages/games will help more with positional tactics, as will more specific drills (ie; crossing drills with 3 or 4 attackers going at goal against the GK and a defender or two- moving down the field as a unit and defending as a unit).re: physical play- as Andy says, it's not always about being big or strong. One of the best guys at holding/shielding the ball on my college squad was a short (5'-5" max) somewhat out of shape Englishman who had the agility, ball control and body positioning to keep us bigger guys off the ball at will. So regrading how to improve- your kid needs to work on his ball skills so that he's comfortable getting pushed around with the ball at his feet. Also needs to have lower body strength and agility to do this one-legged (one foot on the ball, the other planted). Also needs to understand how to position himself so that the ball is always the maximum distance from the defender and how to use his upper body without relying on pushing.re: ball-skills... I used to work an hour a day minimum on this on my own outside of practice. You mention repetition- and that's exactly it. Start with juggling; once a kid can juggle with intent and not just bounce the ball off his feet until it drops- it shows that he's comfortable with the ball. I used to always have a plan with my skill work- I'd ladder up on both feet (1 on R, 1 on L, 2 on R, 2 on L, etc), do 2 touch on each foot where the first touch controls it low, and the second pops it up head height so the other foot has to control it low again. Also do this to each body part- foot, thigh, head and back down. To where I'd juggle as fast as I could (IIRC, I got counted at somewhere around 100 juggles in a minute) or on my toes, or spinning the ball as fast as I could in each direction with each foot. They're hard at first, but as long as your kid is focused and works hard he'll get there. I used to have beginner kids at camps just drop the ball and pop it back to their hands with each foot, keeping the foot parallel to the ground and without spin so that they'd start to feel the control in a more recognized... hands-involved... controlled way. Once it got easy and very controlled with one foot (ie: not flying around or having to reach for the ball, but popping right back to their hands where they left them after droppping the ball), I'd have them touch with each foot once and back to the hands. And so on until they could start lifting it off the ground with their feet. The juggling skills are somehting your kid can do at home in a hallway, or on the driveway/yard, especially once he starts getting control. Or he can take it to a field too- I used go out before college practice and do those drills but while running at different speeds while juggling. Obviously, I spent a lot of time on this- but ultimately I could literally do anything I wanted with the ball- which made my game on the field much, much easier.A nice thing about the juggling thing- I used to spend a few evenings a week with my dad after he got home from work where he'd toss me the ball in specific patterns (that I'd set up) to each foot, chest, thigh, head, etc. As a non-soccer guy, this was a genunine way for him to particpate in what I was doing. I loved it, and I think he did too.Besides juggling, there were repeated foot skills that were more dribbling based that were derived from or generated by Kruyff, IIRC. I think the idea was that there are only a handful of "real" moves (stepover, pullback, cutback, etc) and there was a tape somewhere that showed Dutch kids just doing them over and over again with each foot while standing/not-moving. I did my own version of these too (I didn't have the tape), but while moving on a field. In retrospect, I wish I had concentrated as much on being explosive out of the move as I did on the foot skills involved. re: field vision... I think some people just have better peripheral vision and spatial awareness.'NewlyRetired said:
I ended up being an architect and I think seeing space on the field that other's didn't or couldn't were just part of my DNA more than anything I was ever taught or practiced (also ended up a #10 type, attacking central MF). But it did help a ton that my ball skills were always excellent from all the practice, so I didn't have to concentrate on those while playing and could focus more on the field.
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