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Maybe, it's because we lack a monolithic, unified national vision. Or maybe, just maybe, it's because we have failed to maximize our greatest strength -- diversity.



We do need a monolithic, unified national vision—development. My original point was that “mandating” a single formation at the youth level is not solely about control or even the 4-3-3. It’s about creating an environment where players, coaches, and parents can focus on learning/teaching the game – rather than competition first, everything else second.

I completely agree that utilizing our diversity is our greatest challenge and our greatest asset. For me, this is what makes American soccer so exciting. At some point though, the Wild West has to become Silicon Valley. The lawlessness of self-determination has to morph into a free market of innovation. I think we’ve made progress in this, but we still have a long way to go. Viewing recommendations or “mandates” as repressive is only going to make more room for the shysters (clubs/coaches) that pedal the quantity of wins rather than the quality of talent they produce.
Further on this (and relating to our uniquely American “wheel”), I think one biiiiiiig step USSF can take in this direction is to increase involvement of former internationals in the organizational structure, Earnie Stewart comes to mind. Former players that are familiar with our advantages/limitations and have DIVERSE opinions as to how to make the best of it.

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I also like the idea of simplifying the game for younger players. It only makes sense. But I would point out that there's nothing inherently more "simple" about 4-3-3 than there is about 4-5-1, or 3-5-2, or a diamond midfield, or any REASONABLE system. 4-3-3 glows when played by kids who are the survivors of a multi-dimensional training system that hinges on oh-so-much more than "formation." (Like what they experience at Ajax.)



Agreed. The point is to create a consistent environment for kids to learn..rather than changing formations every week/game/half! thinking that they’ll be able to execute a tactical masterpiece when they don’t even have a firm grasp of how to move off the ball!

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And yet, I think many would argue that those nations' greatest periods of international success are every bit as contingent on a "golden generation" of uniquely talented players as opposed to the system that develops them.



True, it was a bit of a cheap shot… still, I think it’s important to have a distinct (yet evolving) idea of the type of players you want to develop. To me, it would be a luxury to begin worrying about when our “golden generation” will come along, because that implies we have some standard to judge from.