Klink
Player Valuation: £225k
WARNING: This is a long post meant to start discussion and share opinions about where American football is and where it is going. So don't say I did not warn you about the length.
Right now the US has the skill and a few world class players to beat any given team in the world. Unfortunately, for this to happen we need to play a bunkered defense and a counter attacking game. If our defense is not playing as a single unit or if Howard has an off day then we will be in trouble. I have a feeling that we will stay this way for the foreseeable future (top 15 team), but the good news (if you are American) is that the next generation should be what tilts the scales towards the US breaking through. Here is what is in the US's favor:
1. Population. The united states right now has a population of 312 million and is growing at a rate of about 1% a year. While the UK has 60 million people and a growth rate of .3%. (source Wolfram Alpha). That is a little over 5:1 advantage. That means for every 5 youth soccer players in the US only 1 of them needs to continue playing to equal the number of players being produced over in the UK.
2. Immigration: The USA continues to feel the affects of the increasing immigrant population. Most of these immigrants come from football loving countries. This increases the player pool but also brings in a different quality of player who's style is very different than the traditional American style.
3. Facilities:While I do not know how they compare to other countries but the US has some very top notch facilities, where many are made more available to the public rather than just to academy and national programs.
4. Exposure: I am sure the older Americans can provide even better examples (I'm 24 and only began following after the 98 WC), but for the longest time most professional football I was able to watch was the occasional champions league match and whatever random games Goltv broadcasted. Now ESPN has the rights to show a few EPL games as well as La Liga. Beginning March 1st we will have two football specific channels in FSC and FSC+. In fact the champions league final will be broadcast over regular FOX which every tv gets for free(this is a huge step). These channels are also being switched over to HD (hallelujah!). What is going to be the best thing to happen to american football is that ESPN has decided to fully endorse it. This has led to more football highlights during sportscenter and Top 10. I do not know what how the sports tv programming in the UK is, but over here ESPN has 4 channels and during the group stages of the world cup it will be broadcasting live from south Africa for 12 hours a day. This amount of air time can only benefit and help showcase the sport.
5. MLS: While the MLS has it's flaws (lack of team depth, almost meaningless regular season, almost non existent academy program, etc.) it is still not as bad as many believe and it is slowing improving, but the upcoming CBA negotiations has the potential to stall or even set back this growth. Still having a domestic league which still has star players and a growing number of football specific stadiums is a good thing.
Issues:
Youth Development: One of the strengths of the US is also a weakness. Since the US is so large (population and area) it is very difficult to find and develop the truly special talents. Our old ODP (Olympic Development Program) was a joke. This is where the MLS Academies need to step up so that talent is discovered and nurtured regionally rather than to be left by our national program to find these kids across the country. As of now if a youth is good enough he will train full time at the US Soccer Academy, but if he is not then he will be stuck playing for the local club team. Also I do not know how the Youth program is done in England, so if anyone can shed some light on that I would be very interested.
Coaching: This goes hand and hand with youth development but our coaching across the board needs to get better. The stereotypical American player is athletic who can excel at the fundamentals of football, but has very little tactical knowledge and little creativity. The US needs an influx of foreign coaches to change how the next generation of Americans play the game.
Conclusion:
US football is rapidly growing and improving. While I think our biggest breakthrough will come in the next generation (20 years) a good showing in this year's WC will only do wonders for the development of the country. Thanks to ESPN, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey, many American youths can see that we can make a living playing football and be able to do it on the biggest stage. I also think that all of the big clubs are noticing (what isn't enticing about a wealthy country with 310 million people and a latino influence). You read more and more about club's touring the US and trying to sign youth players to their academy, or even setting up their own. I read that once Friedel retires from the EPL he will head an academy in Ohio which will give Aston Villa first crack at the players to come out of it. So sorry about the novel I just typed but I wanted to start a thread where people can discuss what changes they predict or want to see for American soccer and even compare with the future of English football. COYB!
Right now the US has the skill and a few world class players to beat any given team in the world. Unfortunately, for this to happen we need to play a bunkered defense and a counter attacking game. If our defense is not playing as a single unit or if Howard has an off day then we will be in trouble. I have a feeling that we will stay this way for the foreseeable future (top 15 team), but the good news (if you are American) is that the next generation should be what tilts the scales towards the US breaking through. Here is what is in the US's favor:
1. Population. The united states right now has a population of 312 million and is growing at a rate of about 1% a year. While the UK has 60 million people and a growth rate of .3%. (source Wolfram Alpha). That is a little over 5:1 advantage. That means for every 5 youth soccer players in the US only 1 of them needs to continue playing to equal the number of players being produced over in the UK.
2. Immigration: The USA continues to feel the affects of the increasing immigrant population. Most of these immigrants come from football loving countries. This increases the player pool but also brings in a different quality of player who's style is very different than the traditional American style.
3. Facilities:While I do not know how they compare to other countries but the US has some very top notch facilities, where many are made more available to the public rather than just to academy and national programs.
4. Exposure: I am sure the older Americans can provide even better examples (I'm 24 and only began following after the 98 WC), but for the longest time most professional football I was able to watch was the occasional champions league match and whatever random games Goltv broadcasted. Now ESPN has the rights to show a few EPL games as well as La Liga. Beginning March 1st we will have two football specific channels in FSC and FSC+. In fact the champions league final will be broadcast over regular FOX which every tv gets for free(this is a huge step). These channels are also being switched over to HD (hallelujah!). What is going to be the best thing to happen to american football is that ESPN has decided to fully endorse it. This has led to more football highlights during sportscenter and Top 10. I do not know what how the sports tv programming in the UK is, but over here ESPN has 4 channels and during the group stages of the world cup it will be broadcasting live from south Africa for 12 hours a day. This amount of air time can only benefit and help showcase the sport.
5. MLS: While the MLS has it's flaws (lack of team depth, almost meaningless regular season, almost non existent academy program, etc.) it is still not as bad as many believe and it is slowing improving, but the upcoming CBA negotiations has the potential to stall or even set back this growth. Still having a domestic league which still has star players and a growing number of football specific stadiums is a good thing.
Issues:
Youth Development: One of the strengths of the US is also a weakness. Since the US is so large (population and area) it is very difficult to find and develop the truly special talents. Our old ODP (Olympic Development Program) was a joke. This is where the MLS Academies need to step up so that talent is discovered and nurtured regionally rather than to be left by our national program to find these kids across the country. As of now if a youth is good enough he will train full time at the US Soccer Academy, but if he is not then he will be stuck playing for the local club team. Also I do not know how the Youth program is done in England, so if anyone can shed some light on that I would be very interested.
Coaching: This goes hand and hand with youth development but our coaching across the board needs to get better. The stereotypical American player is athletic who can excel at the fundamentals of football, but has very little tactical knowledge and little creativity. The US needs an influx of foreign coaches to change how the next generation of Americans play the game.
Conclusion:
US football is rapidly growing and improving. While I think our biggest breakthrough will come in the next generation (20 years) a good showing in this year's WC will only do wonders for the development of the country. Thanks to ESPN, Landon Donovan, Tim Howard and Clint Dempsey, many American youths can see that we can make a living playing football and be able to do it on the biggest stage. I also think that all of the big clubs are noticing (what isn't enticing about a wealthy country with 310 million people and a latino influence). You read more and more about club's touring the US and trying to sign youth players to their academy, or even setting up their own. I read that once Friedel retires from the EPL he will head an academy in Ohio which will give Aston Villa first crack at the players to come out of it. So sorry about the novel I just typed but I wanted to start a thread where people can discuss what changes they predict or want to see for American soccer and even compare with the future of English football. COYB!
