OT: Thread About Nothing (TaN #...lost count)

[britdevil]

Yet the US can’t seem to get 11 guys to kick the ball on par with 11 other guys from the better teams who kick a ball. Seems like it’s something the US should be capable of but here we are.

I think USA can get there eventually. But the elite European and South American teams are just so so good.

France, England, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands....

Really rough to break into that group.

 

[JimEIV]

Yet the US can’t seem to get 11 guys to kick the ball on par with 11 other guys from the better teams who kick a ball. Seems like it’s something the US should be capable of but here we are.

I don't know anything about this but I'm not surprised...there are fields all over around here. It's been wildly popular in this area for the last 10/15 years.

There are so many fields and clubs in my area from Princeton to New Brunswick.

I just went to Google and searched "Cricket Central New Jersey"

 

[Saugus]

Not sure where to put this, but USA cricket beat Pakistan at the the T20 world cup today.

That's.... incredible.

I read an article about it, and being an Indian American myself, I was both amused by and proud of the number of players on the US team with Indian names. Like, of course it was a bunch of desis.

India is so cricket mad that now the spillover talent in the diaspora is powering other national teams too.

 

[JimEIV]

I think USA can get there eventually. But the elite European and South American teams are just so so good.

France, England, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands....

Really rough to break into that group.

I meant to quote you on the cricket post not @My3Sons

But I don't think the US will ever get there in soccer. To many portions of the country just don't value it. Surprisingly, especially in urban and poorer places.

 

[My3Sons]

I think USA can get there eventually. But the elite European and South American teams are just so so good.

France, England, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Netherlands....

Really rough to break into that group.

There is a disconnect somewhere in the US with soccer. The guys who are the last cuts from NBA and NFL and MLB teams are probably some of the world's best athletes but these guys are not also playing soccer which is a surprise given that soccer is relatively popular with kids who also play other sports. It's a sport with a professional future as well and it doesn't have expensive participation costs like hockey or lacrosse. And it's only 11 guys. The US should absolutely be able to get 11 guys from the entire population to play at the highest level.

 

[Rhodes 81]

The academy systems of the countries that are major players in global soccer are some of the key difference makers. MLS clubs are finally investing there over the last decade but it takes a long time to build a pipeline of talent. This current US generation has taken advantage of some down Mexican teams to establish itself as a dominant force in CONCACAF, but that is still off the back of certain elite individual talents most of the time. The depth is just not there for US Soccer yet.

 

[njdevils1982]

Interesting...You didn't receive any sort of legal notice explaining?

ya, they sent me this....

(but really i got something a while back, barely read it and don't remember what is said....it's in a pile of papers somewhere)

 

[JimEIV]

There is a disconnect somewhere in the US with soccer. The guys who are the last cuts from NBA and NFL and MLB teams are probably some of the world's best athletes but these guys are not also playing soccer which is a surprise given that soccer is relatively popular with kids who also play other sports. It's a sport with a professional future as well and it doesn't have expensive participation costs like hockey or lacrosse. And it's only 11 guys. The US should absolutely be able to get 11 guys from the entire population to play at the highest level.

I don't think it's a disconnect... it's how it's set up in highschool. Football and soccer compete during the same fall season.

Fall football will always be king.

Is there a highschool soccer team anywhere in the US that can get an entire community to plan a Friday night around a game? Maybe, I don't know, I've never heard of one. But there are towns from coast to coast that do that for football.

 

[My3Sons]

I don't think it's a disconnect... it's how it's set up in highschool. Football and soccer compete during the same fall season.

Fall football will always be king.

Is there a highschool soccer team anywhere in the US that can get an entire community to plan a Friday night around a game? Maybe, I don't know, I've never heard of one. But there are towns from coast to coast that do that for football.

In other parts of the country soccer is played in different seasons. The school my kids went to played during the winter season. It picked up after Halloween and ended in mid February.

 

[njdevils1982]

I don't think it's a disconnect... it's how it's set up in highschool. Football and soccer compete during the same fall season.

Fall football will always be king.

Is there a highschool soccer team anywhere in the US that can get an entire community to plan a Friday night around a game? Maybe, I don't know, I've never heard of one. But there are towns from coast to coast that do that for football.

true about soccer and football at the same time. my brother and i wanted to play both but were told can only choose one because the practices were at the same time. we chose football.

that's fine, their loss.... they didn't get two solid players that played competitive soccer.

 

[JimEIV]

In other parts of the country soccer is played in different seasons. The school my kids went to played during the winter season. It picked up after Halloween and ended in mid February.

That seems like just as tough of a sell I would think in competition with basketball?

 

[My3Sons]

That seems like just as tough of a sell I would think in competition with basketball?

The soccer playoffs lasted a bit longer than basketball playoffs. There was a player who was primarily a basketball player but he'd join the soccer team for the later playoffs. Generally I'd agree with you, but we are talking about potential pros who can walk onto the field and be the best players at about 70% effort. The kid who is 6'1" maybe 6'2" has a very limited future in basketball if he cannot shoot at a tip top level but he may be able to thrive on a soccer field. I'm just looking for 11 guys to play at a very high level. Even with the primary sports being football, baseball and basketball it just surprises me the entire country can't produce 11 top players. Think about all the first and second generation families from soccer playing counties (isn't that most of the world?) that now call the US home. 11 of those kids can't compete?

 

[njdevils1982]

The soccer playoffs lasted a bit longer than basketball playoffs. There was a player who was primarily a basketball player but he'd join the soccer team for the later playoffs. Generally I'd agree with you, but we are talking about potential pros who can walk onto the field and be the best players at about 70% effort. The kid who is 6'1" maybe 6'2" has a very limited future in basketball if he cannot shoot at a tip top level but he may be able to thrive on a soccer field. I'm just looking for 11 guys to play at a very high level. Even with the primary sports being football, baseball and basketball it just surprises me the entire country can't produce 11 top players. Think about all the first and second generation families from soccer playing counties (isn't that most of the world?) that now call the US home. 11 of those kids can't compete?

it's awesome that croatia (ranked 10th, one place above the US) can produce high quality squads with only population of about 4 million people.

 

[My3Sons]

it's awesome that croatia (ranked 10th, one place above the US) can produce high quality squads with only population of about 4 million people.

And that is my point. You telling me that the US can't find some way to do better? Does Kathy Bates hobble any US kids that show promise?

 

[njdevils1982]

i like that my bank gives me free guitar picks........

i tell them i lost my debit card and they issue me a new one.


all the while i'm sitting here with scissors cutting up the 'lost' card and sanding the gloss off so the fingers can grip...

if i wait long enough i get the one in the mail with my full name punched into the plastic... that's when the scissor handiwork comes in handy to have my name on it....

...also helps with grip with the raised lettering

 

[britdevil]

I read an article about it, and being an Indian American myself, I was both amused by and proud of the number of players on the US team with Indian names. Like, of course it was a bunch of desis.

India is so cricket mad that now the spillover talent in the diaspora is powering other national teams too.

I come from an area of England (Hampshire) that is nuts for cricket, so it's great to see.

We have a lovely cricket ground, the Rose Bowl. Fantastic place to watch the gentleman's game.

 

[Derwood]

I got a notice that yesterday was my 20 year anniversary of signing up. Where do I pick up my Rolex?

 

[Patrik26]

Today is actually my 30th wedding anniversary. We did a fancy restaurant on Sunday and we will go to a favorite local haunt tonight. Wife is out having her hair done and I'm trying to avoid any excess misery at the office. Two lawyer, three kids, multiple golden retrievers, and now a kitten and she hasn't tried to kill me in my sleep. That's the definition of a successful marriage.

Just saw this. Belated congratulations!

 

[JimEIV]

Today is actually my 30th wedding anniversary. We did a fancy restaurant on Sunday and we will go to a favorite local haunt tonight. Wife is out having her hair done and I'm trying to avoid any excess misery at the office. Two lawyer, three kids, multiple golden retrievers, and now a kitten and she hasn't tried to kill me in my sleep. That's the definition of a successful marriage.

I missed this. Congratulations!

 

[Guadana]

it's awesome that croatia (ranked 10th, one place above the US) can produce high quality squads with only population of about 4 million people.

I don't know why but I always cheer for Yugoslavian soccer teams if we are watching games with friends. That's awesome how greatly they are performing with how small their countries are.

 

[njdevils1982]

Just saw this. Belated congratulations!

I missed this. Congratulations!

..and here i am single for 30 years... lol

 

[njdevils1982]

I don't know why but I always cheer for Yugoslavian soccer teams if we are watching games with friends. That's awesome how greatly they are performing with how small their countries are.

hardly great all around. croatia has left the other divided countries in the dust since the war and newly drawn territories were established.

it's not even close.

 

[JimEIV]

..and here i am single for 30 years... lol

You got to get yourself one of those mail order brides.

 

[njdevils1982]

You got to get yourself one of those mail order brides.

of course, i ordered the palmala handerson model.

 

[JimEIV]

of course, i order the palmala handerson model.

I heard she had 5 sisters.