I hate being a Soccer Fan!

[Adam West]

I really thought we had a chance to medal this year in the Olympics with the incredible amount of young talent we have.

As is typical of them, they blew it again. Nothing seems to ever go their way.

They had the Netherlands beat the other day until the Netherlands scored off a free kick with about 30 seconds left to go and to top it off, two of the U.S. top players Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley were both issued their 2nd yellow card which meant they had to sit out in today's game against Nigeria.

All they had to do today was tie Nigeria which is a really good team but I really think the U.S. is better. One of the U.S. players issued a red card 3 minutes into the game and they played the entire game 10 v 11.

For anyone who didn't watch, they lost 2-1 and almost scored the tying goal but it bounced off the top of the crossbar.

It is about as frustrating as being a fan of England's National team. They can never seem to win the big games even though you know they have the talent and are capable.

Well, at least the U.S. women have a shot but they'll probably blow it too.

[SUP-Ronin]

I love being a soccer fan. I am not sure why we always stink, with the amount of kids playing soccer from like 3years old, But for some reason we simply can't compete successfully on an international level.

I have been a Manchester United fan for a long time. I love Premire and Champoins league. I will always root for the US National teams, but they do tend to disappoint.

[Adam West]

I read an interesting article on U.S. soccer recently which confirmed everything I have witnessed as a youth player and now having coached youth soccer.

U.S. soccer never really took hold until the 1970's when I was a kid. I have a brother who is 10 years older than me (he'll be 50 this year) and never played soccer because there just wasn't any interest.

I laugh when I think back to how we played. We played 11 v 11 right from the get go and our coaches were made up mostly of dads who had never played the game and could only teach it from what little information they could gather from coaching books, etc. I had a few European coaches, one from England and one from Germany who was my club coach and taught me the more tactical aspects but other than that, we were told to play our positions, taught to pass the ball, and shoot. Every once in a while, we'd get a teammate from another country and I specifically remember one from Mexico who had excellent ball control skills and rarely passed the ball, instead trying to beat defenders.

At the time, I thought he was a show-off and a ball hog but in retrospect, he was doing what he was taught and was continually developing his skills.

Now, we are entering the true 2nd generation of U.S. Soccer. Most of us that coach at any type of competitive level played soccer and understand the game. There is now a soccer development program to pick out players who look like child prodigies to help develop them into World Class players (Freddy Adu is an example). My daughter is only 11 years old and although she plays on a Club team I consider her very average compared to other players.

However, her foot skills are far superior to anything I could do at the same age mostly because she was taught the skills at a very early age. I taught her every foot move that I knew and even taught myself how to do some that I never learned and in turn taught her. She's been doing the moves since she was 9 and is continually working to perfect them but there are girls not much older than her that can do stuff I can't do.

I watched a 13 year old girl take the ball roll it from her right foot to her left, pop it in the air, juggle the ball on her feet about 50 times without even the slight loss of ball control, kick the ball up, complete a 180 and catch the ball on the back of her neck. I was absolutely stunned.

I feel we are about ready to make a major breakthrough in international soccer and become a well respected soccer playing nation soon. I had my hopes up with our young players and although they played well and were not get their rear ends handed to them; they still haven't figured out how to win.

[Wee67]

I'm right with on the frustration level with the US team on so many levels.

I think the insight regarding training and coaching is quite correct. As someone who continues to play (or at least make a feeble attempt), i still see people who've played their entire lives and don't quite get the game. I just don't think we got the same level of training that youngsters are hopefully getting today.

I do believe, hwoever, that is enough American talent that we should do better in major tournaments. I thnk this may have something to do with the national team's approach to big tournies- we play not to lose.

This may seem like a good idea and it was when we were severely outmatched. The thought was if we could not make any serious mistakes and hang with the big boys, we had a chance of pulling out some of the games. We've all seen teams dominate a match only to lose 0-1. The US team must stop playing not to lose and start playing to win. No more 4-5-1 crap. We have some good defenders and someof the best keepers in the world. We need to put the pressure on up front and go for more goals. This means so much more than just relying on one or two talented stars. It means oriented a team to control the midfield a whole lot more and to put these talented forwards in a postion to score.

[vulcan2074]

I was wonderring if there were any other Soccer Fans on this forum. I Love Soccer!

Yeah I'm with you. The US Mens team needs to get it together and realize there potential. We have some very talented players playing in Europe and the rest of the world on the team. Not to mention a huge pool of talented up and comers we can start preparing for the team. Are pool of talent is so good that now you have Scouts from leagues around the world eyeing our players for there Leagues.

Our Mens Team couldn't do it this time but maybe the womans team can. I love them. My heart was broken during the Womans World Cup.

Oh and LIVERPOOL FC Rocks. Were gonna win the League this year. No Seriously we mean it this time. Starting now. Torres is the Real deal.

V~2074

[toys2cool]

man I thought they had a shot as well,oh well

[Bo8a_Fett]

Well we can't even have an olympic football team due to the England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales F.A. not sorting it out.....we would have lost anyway....then thrown the stadium chairs at everyone....is that an olympic sport yet?

[toys2cool]

....then thrown the stadium chairs at everyone....is that an olympic sport yet?

it should be

[Adam West]

I have to say England fans are probably even more resentful than U.S. fans. We have always had a loser soccer National team (although we did come in 3rd place in the very first World Cup in 1930....but that's nothing to hang your hat on).

England has only won one World Cup and I wasn't even born then....1966. I do rout for them once the U.S. gets the boot. I'm getting tired of seeing Italy, France, Brazil, Argentina, and Germany always seeming to win it but who knows. Maybe in 2 more years, Adu and Altidore will be in their prime and we might have a decent showing although I still don't expect much. Spain will be interesting to watch too.

[vulcan2074]

The EPL started Yesterday and I'm jazzed. I've been watching Soccer all day long.
V~2074

[Bo8a_Fett]

I was born in 1966 and was named after one of the England team...Roger Hunt...who was the first player in the England team to tally up 3 goals (not geoff Hurst who scored a hatrick in the final) in the competition. Glad it wasn't Nobby Stiles....
Although we have one only one world cup, we are one of only 7 countries to win it, Brazil 5, Italy 4, West Germany 3,Argentina 2, Uraguay 2, England 1 and France 1. So not bad really...

[Adam West]

The only problem is that England is credited with inventing Soccer. I know there are soccer style games that have been around forever but England was the first to have official rules that are still being used today.

It's kind of like the U.S. playing Basketball in the Olympics. We expect nothing short of gold every single time and to win a bronze in the last Olympics was highly embarassing to us.

It also doesn't appear that England has any kind of legitimate shot at another World Cup title in the foreseeable future. I know they are ranked higher than the U.S. but like us are not considered one of the elite teams. In fact, I would say Uraguay and England are the only two World Cup winners who are no longer considered in the elite of World Soccer.

[Bo8a_Fett]

Trouble is...because of our history with being the inventers of the modern game....everybody REALLY wants to beat us...especially at home games.....that's an incentive for everyone we play....