Kickoff
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 46 |
Quote:
“If we want our players to someday compete against the best in the world, it is critical for their development that they train and play as much as possible and in the right environment,” U.S. national team coach Juergen Klinsmann said in a statement released by the USSF.
“The Development Academy 10-month season is the right formula and provides a good balance between training time and playing competitive matches. This is the model that the best countries around the world use for their programs, and I think it makes perfect sense that we do as well.”
What am I missing here? In order for the United States' national men's team to be better requires a 180-degree turn in terms of how to "compete internationally" with the world's elite soccer countries? If anything, statistics prove recently that a significant downturn has been demonstrated at the highest level and by those in charge. So now we're supposed to march to the beat of their drum because a German coach and a former midfielder that scored a whopping 23 goals in 282 professional matches says so?
The most recent FIFA standings show the USA is ranked #33 in the world sandwiched between Algeria and Peru. Folks, that is the lowest ranking outside of ending 2011 at #34 since 1993. The past 20 years has seen an average ranking of #18 for the United States.
Rankings history:
2012 - 33
2011 - 34
2010 - 18
2009 - 14
2008 - 22
2007 - 19
2006 - 31
2005 - 8
2004 - 11
2003 - 11
2002 - 10
2001 - 24
2000 - 16
1999 - 22
1998 - 23
1997 - 26
1996 - 18
1995 - 19
1994 - 23
1993 - 22
Highest FIFA Ranking: #4, April 2006
Lowest FIFA Ranking: #35, October 1997
Best Mover: +14 spots, July 1995
Worst Mover: -11 spots, July 2006
World Cup Appearances: all six since 1990
CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions: 1991, 2002, 2005, 2007
CONCACAF Gold Cup Fiinalists: 1993, 1998, 2009, 2011
What caused this spiral? Was it ODP, Super Y, ECNL, IMG, college, MLS, etc.? Sorry, but just because a "leader" asks me to jump off a bridge, I'll make my own decisions. I wish US Soccer well but this just appears to be the latest "fad" in youth $occer.
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