Briljant Toekomst

Cruyff to Chivas Guadalajara??

2012-02-23T18:54:00.000-08:00

Thomas Rongen speaks to Toronto FC parents...

2012-02-15T06:09:00.001-08:00

"There is Strength in Unity..."

2012-02-02T15:14:00.000-08:00

Sage and heartfelt words coming from Egypt coach Bob Bradley after the death and destruction in Port Said...Bradley and his wife also joined protestors in Cairo who demonstrated against the massacre.

Viera on Ajax...

2012-01-29T12:51:00.000-08:00

Although present-day "Toekomst" and even the Ajax first team are mere shadows of their former selves, there is no denying that Ajax led the way in player development. Patrick Viera makes some interesting observations in this clip...

Thomas Rongen: New Academy Director for FC Toronto

2012-01-24T06:43:00.000-08:00

Good choice...

Tunnel-Cam

2012-01-19T11:15:00.000-08:00

Interesting look at what goes on in the tunnel before, during and after a match...

BBC Podcast ---American Samoa

2011-12-26T11:14:00.000-08:00

The remarkable story of American Samoa's first ever victory last month, now up on the BBC World Football podcast. BBC Podcast

Best Messi Interview... Ever!!

2011-12-19T07:17:00.001-08:00

Can Rongen and American Samoa Build on 1st Win?

2011-11-24T13:11:00.000-08:00

Link to Article

American Samoa 2-1 Tonga 2014WCQ

2011-11-23T07:46:00.001-08:00

River Plate Relegated...

2011-06-26T21:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Henry... turning over in his grave in Chatsworth...

Forca Barça!!

2011-05-31T07:08:00.001-07:00

FC Twente returns from Amsterdam in a Chinook!

2011-05-20T13:14:00.000-07:00

Bob Marley died 30 years ago today...

2011-05-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

Moises Orozco post-match interview

2011-03-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite players, Moises Orozco, is interviewed after USA20's win over Suriname today in Guatemala City. Moises came in at the start of the second half and helped the USA dominate possession. He also hit the post on one of his characteristic floaters over the keeper's head. Held on to the ball too long twice, and earned a yellow, but a nice 45 minutes for Moises (Riquelme) Orozco...

USA20 in Guatemala

2011-03-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

Thomas Rongen and the U20's are in Guatemala for "pre-mundial" qualifying... Suriname tonight...US Soccer has put together a good piece on the preparation for this tournament. I'm looking forward to going down next week for quarters/semis/finals...

USA-ARGENTINA...

2011-03-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

I thought that yesterday's result (1-1) was fair. Argentina dominated, as they should, through possession, high pressure, and relentless attacking. Only Tim Howard and Bradley's substitutions at half time kept the match from being an Argentine whitewash. Juan Agudelo and Tim Chandler injected life into a dull 1-4-5-1 1st half formation. Agudelo knows where to put himself to score goals...Chandler looks like a young Steve Cherundulo. There needs to be a change in center backs. Ream and Gonzalez should be playing more.

Here is the post-match presser...

Bielsa to USA?

2011-03-02T21:44:00.000-08:00

Reading reports that Sunil Gulati has offered Marcelo Bielsa the keys to the mansion that is US Soccer. Spanish language ESPN Deportes says that Gulati called Bielsa last week and offered $3 million annually to be the "Director Technico" of all the USA national teams. Bob Bradley would remain as coach of the USA men.

Bielsa and Claudio Reyna working together?? Sounds great...

Here is his press conference last month when he resigned from the Chilean Federation

5 V 2 ...

2011-01-20T12:49:00.000-08:00

The Dutch youth academies always start training with the classic 5 v 2 warmup... Nice to see the USA MNT also taking it seriously...

Blackburn Rovers launch bid to sign Brazilian legend Ronaldinho…

2011-01-02T20:37:00.001-08:00

From the Guardian:

Blackburn Rovers have made an audacious bid to sign Ronaldinho from Milan. The plan is the brainchild of Balaji Rao, a member of the family who run Venky's, the Indian chicken company which recently bought the Lancashire club.

Ronaldinho has been given permission by Milan to find a new club and was widely believed to be heading back to Brazil to play for Gremio. But his brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, revealed to he Daily Mirror that Blackburn and another unnamed Premier League club have been in contact with him about signing the Brazilian World Cup winner.

"Blackburn have contacted us. There is also other interest in England but this is confidential," said De Assis.

Real Salt Lake Academy raising eyebrows...

2010-12-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

FC Twente, Al Pacino, Oliver Stone...

2010-12-06T19:09:00.000-08:00

USSDA Winter Showcase... Phoenix

2010-12-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

Winding down, day four of the USSDA Winter Showcase... Lots of piano carriers... few piano players... Concussions and broken collarbones all around, thundering hooves hauling ass up and down the pitch... Where is the finesse??

Yes there are some who try to play... USMNT U17 coach Wilmer Cabrera is always asking his players to keep the ball on the ground and possess, but the boys often launch the ball upfield to their #9 Mario Rodriguez... hopeful balls that often disappoint.

U18 Red Bulls play well, as do FC Dallas, but most clubs play high intensity, route 1, tearing up the pitch. The many, many college coaches in attendance are smacking their lips at the prospects of hundreds of big strong fast boys/men hauling pianos up and down their pitches in the near future.

Again, where are the piano players?

U17 Nike Friendlies... USA 2-1 South Korea

2010-12-01T22:19:00.000-08:00

The problem with Ajax

2010-11-25T08:26:00.000-08:00

Just came across a blog..."The Swiss Ramble" by A Brit who has been living in Switzerland for many years. The blog mostly is about football and finance.

He writes an in-depth, behind the scenes article on why Ajax is struggling, both on and off the field. Youth development can be the key to success for Ajax and other "selling" clubs, but without the right people in charge, and serious competition from FC Twente, PSV, AZ, Utrecht for the best youth players, Ajax may be doomed to being average. The first step for Ajax is to stop living in the past, hire the best trainers available (not just ex-players) and do away with the arrogance that is prevalent at the highest levels of the Toekomst.

Link to article

World Cup Champion coach Tony DiCicco rips U.S. soccer development

2010-11-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

In one of the greatest upsets in women's soccer history, and perhaps in international women's sports history, Mexico stunned the top-ranked United States, 2-1, last night in Cancun, denying the Americans an automatic berth in the 2011 World Cup. In order to secure a trip to Germany next summer, the United States will need to defeat Costa Rica in the third-place game of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament Monday and then get past Italy in a two-game playoff later this month.

Earlier this summer the U17 WNT failed to make the finals of the U17 FIFA Women's World Cup. What does this mean? Ask Tony DiCicco:

Article

Eric Wynalda Joins Second Division Mexican Club...

2010-09-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

Frustrated at not being able to join the coaching ranks of US Soccer or the MLS, former US International, and current Fox Soccer Channel analyst Eric Wynalda has joined Mexican club Murcielagos in the northern state of Sinaloa. His job title is President of International Operations. Eyebrows might be raised at Wynalda's choice of clubs to get involved with. However, a closer look reveals that Wynalda has picked upon a trend happening here in Southern California, and in other areas of the country with a significant Mexican-American demographic.

Last January, Wynalda traveled to Mexico with Thomas Rongen and the USMNT U20's the for the Copa Chivas. He became familiar with the players on the U20 team, several of them are of Mexican descent. Many players in the US Soccer Development Academy program are also have Mexican parents, which allows them to play professionally in Mexico. At the Academy showcases where all USSDA teams play, scouts from Pachuca and Tigres are present, notebooks and business cards at the ready. Last spring players from So Cal USSDA teams Real So Cal, Irvine Strikers, and LAFC were approached by Mexican scouts and invited to tryouts in Mexico. Several, including TF3 favorites, the Orozco cousins have been signed to professional contracts. Wynalda lives in Southern California, close to Oxnard, Ventura, and the San Fernando Valley, all hotbeds of Mexican-American soccer.

Wynalda and Murcielagos are joining the movement to scout and sign Mexican-American talent for the professional leagues in Mexico. Will Wynalda be successful? Can he use this job with a low-level club to jump start his coaching/executive career in soccer? Looks like a smart move to me...

Club Website

Pelada-Next week in Los Angeles... You're Invited!!

2010-08-25T17:17:00.001-07:00

You are invited to the Los Angeles Premiere of

SXSW 2010 Official Selection and Newport Beach 2010 Award Winner

LOS ANGELES PELADA PREMIERE

with an introduction by Alexi Lalas and Q&A with the directors

Tuesday, August 31st - 8pm

The Royal Theatre - Laemmle

11523 Santa Monica Blvd.

Los Angeles, CA 90025

To buy $15 tickets: Click here

A feature length documentary about pick-up soccer

in 25 countries around the world

"To get a sense of Pelada's unique motivational quality, take the gut feeling a killer Nike commercial can evoke and imagine riding that high for 90 minutes."

-Variety

"Brimming with energy and optimism...an extended love letter to soccer...rings close to pitch-perfect..."

-The New York Times

Trailer:

TF3 interviewed the directors from Pelada last March. The film has created a tremendous buzz around the world, and has struck a chord among all of us who care deeply about football.

Pelada is a documentary following Luke and Gwendolyn, two former college soccer stars who didn’t quite make it to the pros. Not ready for it to be over, they take off, chasing the game. From prisoners in Bolivia to moonshine brewers in Kenya, from freestylers in China to women who play in hijab in Iran, Pelada is the story of the people who play.

Luis Gil loaned out to AC St. Louis...

2010-08-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

16 year old Luis Gil, winner of 2009's US Soccer young male athlete of the year, and currently riding the bench at Real Salt Lake, has been loaned to USSF D2 AC St. Louis for the rest of the year. ACSTL is currently languishing in fifth place in a six-team conference. What started out so promising in St. Louis, a French coach (Nicholas Anelka's brother), investment from the UK, talk of an MLS franchise, has turned into a battle for survival.

Gil has been a standout on both the U17 and U18 USMNT's. He is a good connector, is very technical, has good vision, and has drawn interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Real Madrid. Let's hope he gets some quality playing time on a team that obviously needs some help. Last night, he entered the match at the 70 minute mark against Portland and had some good touches.

The 16 year old will be living with the team's general manager Tim Owens and his family. Real Salt Lake will pay the teenagers reported six-figure salary.

Link to article

Los Primos Orozcos score in Holland...

2010-08-07T07:55:00.000-07:00

Newly signed professionals, Emilio and Moises Orozco have traveled with the 91-92 Tigres (Monterrey, MX) to Holland in order to participate in the "Be Quick" International tournament. In a match against Vitesse Arnhem, Emilio scored in the first half, followed by Moises in the second half. Final score: 2-0 Tigres...
For a look back at the Orozco's earlier play this year with USSDA Academy club Real So Cal go to: What is going on in Los angeles?

U20 USA MNT and Thomas Rongen take Milk Cup...

2010-08-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

The U20's looked big, strong, fast, and technically proficient in their three matches culminating in the Northern Ireland's Milk Cup trophy this week. Thomas Rongen (either you love him or hate him) has done a good job scouring the globe for U20 players eligible to play for the USA. The cycle begins to qualify in CONCACAF for the 2011 U20 World Cup that will be played in Colombia.

There is a good thread in Big Soccer about the U20's and Rongen's performance.

Video:

Thomas Rongen Discusses USA Player Development

2010-07-13T08:23:00.000-07:00

USMNT U20 coach Thomas Rongen speaks to "Yanks Abroad" about preparing for the 2011 U20 World Championship. At the end of the article he speaks about what it will take to compete for the World Cup in the not so distant future. The foundation is there, we just have to cultivate it," he stated. "We have to get better coaches at the youth levels. We have got to structure certain things better. We've got to a better job at coaching education. If we really target zone one starting tomorrow, which is [ages] 6-12, we can make sure all those players are all technically and fundamentally sound."

Link to article

"When the Coast is Clear..."

2010-07-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Like Buffett, I have strong feelings about the Gulf coast. Here is a clip from Buffett's recent benefit concert on the "Redneck Riviera"

Margaritaville - :

"How a Soccer Star is Made"

2010-06-03T17:48:00.000-07:00

Tremendous article coming out in the 6 June Sunday edition of the New York Times (magazine section). An in depth look at the Ajax youth academy by Michael Sokolove. He also looks at how Americans develop their players and describes how it is diametrically opposed. To quote: "...Americans like to put together teams, even at the Pee Wee level, that are meant to win. The best soccer-playing nations build individual players, ones with superior technical skills who later come together on teams the U.S. struggles to beat. In a way, it is a reversal of type. Americans tend to think of Europeans as collectivists and themselves as individualists. But in sports, it is the opposite. The Europeans build up the assets of individual players. Americans underdevelop the individual, although most of the volunteers who coach at the youngest level would not be cognizant of that."

Having done business with some the the aforementioned people at Ajax, I find the club too big, and too arrogant. However, they do know how to develop players. Finally, youth development in the USA is being exposed for what it is... American coaches develop teams, not players. This must change.

Link to article

Possession Soccer: RIP??

2010-05-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Last year I wrote that Barca's win in the CL final was symbolic of the philosophy of football I support: Attacking, possession, technically superior, pressuring high up on the pitch. This year, Inter's victories in the semis and final of the Champion's League have challenged the Barca/Dutch philosophy of total football. Direct balls, counterattacks, low pressure, low possession percentage were Mourhino's tools in the late stages of the CL. Zonal Marking's always spot on analysis shows graphically the dichotomy between Inter's victory over Bayern Munich and their poor passing/possession statistics.

I had hoped that the 2009 Barcelona run of six major titles would trickle down to the mangrove swamps of player development that is the US Soccer Development Academy. Would the Barca style influence the youth coaches who still care more about winning than player development? It is dangerous to generalize, but I don't think so. My son's U16 Development Academy team continues to play long balls over the top hoping for a break, a mistake by a defender, a lucky bounce that will result in a goal. Inter's win yesterday will support that "philosophy". Next week begins the USSDA Spring Showcase in Sarasota, FL. U16's and U18's will play 240 matches in five days. It will be interesting to see if Mourinho's philosophy (and at the Champion's League level, the philosophy is to win) is mirrored in the style of the American coaches and their players.

"Working on a Dream"

2010-04-19T11:08:00.000-07:00

It is no secret that FC Twente is a Briljant Toekomst favorite. The Dutch club from the provinces, belittled by the snobs from Amsterdam, Eindhoven and Rotterdam is on the cusp of winning its first ever Eredivisie. England castoff, Steve McClaren, finishing up his second year in Enschede, has positioned Twente to win the league. A victory over NAC Breda in two weeks time will seal the deal. Ajax is one point behind, so there is pressure on the Tukkers. They will handle it. Oh to be in Enschede on 2 May... Sort of like Paris in 1998..

Moises Orozco Making an Impact at Dallas Cup..

2010-03-31T10:58:00.000-07:00

Briljant Toekomst and Final Third favorite, Moises Orozco, the Oxnard, CA attacking midfielder, now training at Tigres in Monterrey, Mexico, scored the only goal Monday in the USMNT U20 victory vs the Vancouver Whitecaps at the Dallas Cup. Blogs have reported European scouts are scrambling to figure out who Moises is, as he has been flying under the US Soccer Federation radar. Ricardo Argueta, the Real So Cal Academy U18 manager has known Moises and his cousin Emilio for years. Emilio spent two years at U17 residency in Bradenton, Fl. The central defender/defensive midfielder looks a sure bet to make some waves as well.

How many more players like Moises are out there, playing at a level that can help the National team program? US Soccer must work harder to identify players like Moises earlier in their development. The USSDA (US Soccer Development Academy) is a good start, but out there in places like Oxnard, there certainly are more.

Yanks Abroad has a match recap. Read it here.

Question: Why are so many wingers playing on the "wrong" side?

2010-03-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Wilson in the "Guardian" writes about the trend of wingers... Messi, Arjen Robben, Ashley Young, Craig Bellamy, and others, why are they playing on their off foot.He calls them "inside-out wingers".

This ties in also with yesterday's post about the death of the traditional #10. The rise of two defensive midfielders has driven some of today's creative players wider. Niko Kranjcar and Luca Modric are creative players who have been forced wide to ply their trade out wide. Of course Messi is the current best example.

Read the article here.

The Decline of the #10??

2010-03-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

I'm closely following "Zonal Marking" a website dedicated to tactics, formations, diagrams, and match analysis. They have a great series about changing tactics in the 21st century. Especially interesting is the piece on the decline of the #10... the position just behind the strikers. Players like Dennis Bergkamp, Ziidane, Rui Costa, and more recently Juan Roman Riquelme were the designated playmakers. Now, wide players like Messi, Rooney, and CR7, are dominating play from the wide areas of the pitch.

It is a great read... check it out...

Article

Cruyff on Speed...

2010-03-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

To quote Cruyff on speed, “People always said I was so quick. But they missed the point. I wasn’t that quick, I just started my run a fraction of second earlier than my opponent. So I looked quick. It’s all in the eyes.”

Anticipation and decision making play a factor in “perceived” speed as much as acceleration.

“For me the basis of football is technique and possession. I always want to have the ball, dominate, and do what I want on the pitch."

2010-03-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

Who said this? And why can't we adhere to this simple philosophy in American soccer?
(If you answer correctly I will send you a dvd of last year's Champion's League final)

What is going in in Los Angeles??

2010-02-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

Something interesting is going on in Los Angeles.... This weekend the U18 Real So Cal Developmental Academy team played both Los Angeles-based MLS Academy teams on the road... And defeated... no dominated both teams...3-1 over LA Galaxy and 5-1 over Chivas USA. The RSC U18's also defeated MLS Academies DC United and Chicago Fire at the Winter Showcase last December in Phoenix. The team is strong at all positions, U17 National team members Emilio Orozco and Victor Chavez, Stanford-bound JJ Koval, Moises Orozco, are just a few names on what looks to be a real contender for the Academy championship...

Check out this clip of the cousins Orozco in action against Chivas USA... Sick!! (Moises #32, Emilio #31)...

The Orozco Cousins

Meet Me in St. Louis...

2010-02-04T21:47:00.001-08:00

There are some interesting things going on in St. Louis. Jeff Cooper a St. Louis lawyer has created a soccer business model that he hopes will be ultimately successful in the Gateway City. He launched the WPS franchise "St. Louis Athletica", in 2009, helped merge the three strongest youth soccer clubs in the area and now is bringing to the city a new professional franchise, "AC St. Louis", as part of the newly formed second division NASL. All three of these entities are sharing the facilities at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.

He has gone out on a limb in hiring Claude Anelka, the older brother of the Chelsea forward to serve as head coach. Anelka has limited coaching experience, five years ago he failed miserably as the coach of the Scottish lower division Raith Rovers. He lasted five months. Anelka will be assisted by Francisco Filho, director of player development, a one-time coach at French Academy Clarefontaine, who claims credit in the AC St. Louis press kit for overseeing the development of Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Nicolas Anelka, Louis Saha, Jean-Pierre Papin and William Gallas, and who also spent some time on the coaching staff at Manchester United. Anelka hopes to develop and produce players in St. Louis, eventually selling them to top-flight European teams. A pipe dream? We will see.

Cooper has also brought in long time MLS star and St. Louis homer Steve Ralston to play and assistant coach. Heady plans... n'est pas?? Let us keep an eye on St. Louis and see if Cooper's multidimensional model finds success where so many others have failed.

Is Television Killing Soccer?

2010-01-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

I was perusing the Guardian earlier today at 0530 PST and came across an article from one of my favorite writers, Jonathan Wilson about how television has affected soccer tactics. He uses the opinions of Jorge Valdano and Arrigo Sacchi to bolster his opinion. Valdano says that television demands activity and bemoans the disappearance the "the pause" in soccer. The pause is defined as the moment of reflection which foreshadows an attack. Soccer, like music, needs pauses, a break from intensity. In television, pauses in intensity may be a signal for viewers to change the channel. The Premiership is known more and more for its intensity, physiciality... qualities that are perfect for television. Also, many of us get our soccer through "you tube", where we only see the goal, not the buildup which can be more exciting than the goal itself.

I've been busy today, on Skype with Belgium, pitching something to US Soccer, cutting up the christmas tree, so I'm late with this post. Other blogs have picked up this article as well, and have put their own interesting spin on Wilson's article. See:
Pitch Invasion
A More Splendid Life

Feel free to discuss...

Jefta Bresser, PSV Eindoven

2009-12-20T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm working on another blog: The Final Third... Interviewed my friend Jefta last week... check it out:

Link

I will dual-post when appropriate...

Piece of Paradise...

2009-11-21T21:54:00.000-08:00

I'm in Phoenix, thinking about Kapalua, thinking about my friend Henry, also Thierry Henry, thinking about a lot of things...stretched pretty thin...
this keeps me level..

hi-pods in Holland...

2009-11-02T15:37:00.000-08:00

One of the clubs that has a hi-pod is very innovative... especially when it comes to staying dry!!

Greetings from Schiphol...

2009-10-30T01:01:00.000-07:00

Greetings from a soggy Schiphol where I am waiting to go back to Los Angeles. Spent the last week in Holland on business... Video analysis is all the rage these days at the top youth academies in the Netherlands. The Dutch are usually at the forefront of innovations in the world of football, so it is interesting to see much emphasis is on video analysis.

One aspect is very interesting.... At Feyenoord, a video room is set up with 10 macs. Youth players do their own analysis. Active learning instead of passive learning. What a novel idea!! More later on this.... Went to Utrecht, Twente, Feyenoord, Sparta Rotterdam and PSV. Saw my old friend Jefta at Der Herdgang...

Master the Ball... It's as simple as that...

2009-09-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

I'm on a rant... Why are so many American players afraid of the ball?? Because they let the ball control them...
Check out these videos... from youth development at PSV... to Man U... to the ultimate master... the scientist...

thanks to my friend "dallas cup" for the Man U clip

Xabi Alonso...

2009-08-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

From 101 great goals .com..written by Hugo Saye
(photo from 101great goals.com)

Xabi Alonso from Liverpool to Real Madrid: Could one transfer decide the outcome of the world’s top two leagues?

Very few in Liverpool colours did anything to cover themselves in glory on the opening weekend of this new Premier League season. Indeed, if a newcomer to English football had been at White Hart Lane on Sunday and was then asked which side he thought was being widely tipped for the title, he certainly would not have chosen that of the famous red.

By contrast, it was a showing that could only enhance the reputation of the club’s recently departed midfielder Xabi Alonso. His absence left Liverpool looking devoid of imagination and incision when compared to recent seasons, and proved that his comparatively sober acquisition was quite possibly the most important of all in Real Madrid’s madcap summer.

Before continuing let us first clear up a commonly held misconception about the Spaniard: he is not a defensive midfielder. His positioning just in front of the defence coupled with this country’s unwieldy approach to certain subtleties of the game have led to him often being cast as such, but his role in the team is primarily offensive.

A defensive midfielder’s main purpose is to act as a breakwater, disrupting and ideally stopping the attacking movements of the opposition before they can reach the back line and cause any real worry. His weapon of choice is the tackle. Alonso sits in a similar position but he is principally there to set up and orchestrate his own team’s attacks, not destroy those of the opposition.

He is an example of what the Italians, with their superior footballing lexicon, term as a “regista”: a deep lying playmaker, of which Milan’s Andrea Pirlo is another example who has hit the transfer rumour headlines recently. His weapon of choice is the pass.

And it is precisely this creativity which Liverpool seemed to be lacking against Tottenham on Sunday. Their supporters will say they had two decent penalty appeals turned down and if the decisions had gone their way they could have won the match, but this would have papered over the cracks, not a well deserved victory.

Certainly they have other midfielders of a very high calibre such as Javier Mascherano and the newly signed Alberto Aquilani, but the weakness is still there. What is really worrying for Liverpool is the amount of times Steven Gerrard had to drop deep. Devoid of the service Alonso used to provide him, Gerrard often had to fall back himself in order to pick up possession, thus vacating the area “in the hole” in which he was so destructive last season.

Of course the knock on effect of this is that Fernando Torres too becomes markedly less dangerous as the lethal partnership he and Gerrard had formed last year is disrupted. Over the last season or two Torres has become the finest striker in world football but this weekend he looked lost, tired and too frequently isolated.

Aquilani should eventually go some way to solving the problem but by the time he has regained full fitness and sufficiently adjusted to not just the Premier League but also Liverpool’s play to the extent where he can actually dictate it- and a generous guess would probably put this around January at the earliest- they could already be out of the race for their first title in 20 years.

And so to Spain, where Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has spent the last two months spending unthinkable sums on some of Europe’s most exciting talent. But behind the glamour of Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the most important signing could well be that of Alonso.

For around £30 million Pérez has got himself the player to conduct his mercurial forward line, the player Manuel Pellegrini needed to oil the machine and make the new Galacticos function as a team. It is questionable whether Real’s Rafael van der Vaart and Wesley Sneijder had the discipline or ability to do the job of playmaker to do those superstars justice, Alonso has both.

Without him there was a danger of the house that Pérez built looking beautiful but ending up largely bare inside, with him they should be going toe to toe with Barcelona in a bid to furnish it with silver. Whether they quite have Barça’s number yet is debatable, but it’s going to be a wonderful season as we find out.

What looks certain though, as Spain and England look forward to fresh campaigns, is that the transfer of Xabi Alonso could play a large role in the outcome of the world’s top two leagues.

"We Have the Team Our System Created"

2009-08-16T04:56:00.000-07:00

The title is taken from a Big Soccer thread started by John R. The thread is huge... spanning from June until now. A fascinating (if long) read, taking in various opinions about the USMNT style of play, especially concentrating on the squad's lack of possession play.

The USMNT is at the top of of the USSF pyramid, so the team is a reflection of what is below it. We cannot possess because still, we do not value possession at the younger levels. There are good technical, possession players like Torres, Felhaber, and Holden, but they are not yet key players in Bob Bradley's philosophy.

I do see positives further down the pyramid. Hugo Perez is in charge of player scouting/development on the West Coast for the US Soccer Development Academy. His training sessions focus on possession, pause, and transition. Maybe he can start to influence the style of play at the top of the pyramid.

Having just returned from two weeks in Europe, where I watched both matches and training sessions at FC Twente, I remained convinced that the Dutch are on the right path in the development of players. All teams play the same way, use the same formation, and are linked together by a staff who are in constant communication. A skills coach works with every team from U10 through the 1st team. There is a positive "culture" there based on player, not team development.

If you have the time, try to wade through the thread started by John R.

Sneijder to Aston Villa??

2009-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

From 101goals.com:
...Reports are abound this Friday that Martin O’Neill has confirmed Aston Villa’s interest in bringing Real Madrid’s central midfielder Wesley Sneijder to the midlands. Having spent £210 million on a new set of galacticos, it is no secret that Los Blancos are now trying to offset their spending, with all non-essential personnel available for sale if the price is right.

Sneijder began his career at Ajax and made 126 appearances netting 43 goals, an excellent return from a non-forward. Then, at 22-years-old, the Dutchman’s excellent form caught Real’s attention and a fee of €27 million was agreed between the two clubs...

He is one of my favorite players....should he stay and fight for a place on the galacticos, or jump to Aston Villa?

Video of Wesley Sneijder:

An Interesting Observation...

2009-06-30T03:20:00.000-07:00

According to Nick Theslof, who worked with Klinsmann at Bayern Munich: From a Top Drawer Soccer Article:

"Players here (in Europe) at 18 or 19, who are young professionals, are ready to go in terms of their technical ability. It's not just what they can do but the pace at which they can convert their skills under pressure," he said. "The players here are expected to have those tools already. In the United States many of those tools are still developing and sometimes are never developed. Players are not put under the same stress in terms of pressure or competition that players in Europe are."

"There is a big stress on technical skill with the ball and beating players 1v1. Whether it's passing, tapping, dribbling… from the younger ages it is stressed much higher here than it is in the United States. In my opinion players start getting stressed from the technical end maybe at 11 or 12, usually not as late as 13 or 14. There is technical training at least three times a week where they are working with the ball in a professional environment, but without the pressure of having to make it, or to win, at such a young age. But once they have that foundation, then you can start to push them competitively," he continued. "I've watched all the younger kids here training and our young kids just don't get that same type of quality. One thing that is different is that even the coaches here get training in how to do technical training. Imagine how much of a difference that can make, and that continues on for players in their late teens. A player who wants to go to the highest level can make such a big difference for his chances if he can get into a system like this now."

Pep's Motivational Clip Before CL Final

2009-06-13T11:29:00.001-07:00

Champion's League Final: Football Won...

2009-05-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

I have watched the CL final twice, once live in a bar at the Sarasota airport, and once at home yesterday. I am happy to see that Barca won, not because I am a life-long supporter... heck, there was even a time when I liked Real Madrid! I'm happy because the philosophy of football I support: attacking, possession, technically superior, pressuring high up on the pitch, won the Champion's League.

I want to connect Barcelona's victory to American youth soccer. I want young players that have the desire to play competitive soccer to learn technique and philosophy first. Coaches must provide players the tools to play this way. Winning at a young age comes second. In the round of eight last month in National Cup, my son's team went up 1-0 early against the best U15 team in the country. They scored on a well-taken free kick. The coach immediately went into a defensive shell, ten men behind the ball. As I was shooting the game, I said to myself that it would only be a matter of time before Arsenal would score. And sure enough they did, and again, and again. My son's team lost 1-3.

Why didn't we attack?, why didn't we put pressure on the Arsenal defenders? Why didn't we possess the ball? Because the players don't have the tools to play this way. They don't have the technical skills to have a great first touch, they don't have the ability to nail a five yard pass to the correct foot of a team mate. They are not fit enough to play a high pressure defense. They do not have a philosophy.

Yes, there are risks to this philosophy, however Guardiola believes the benefits outweigh them, that there is no contradiction between style and competitiveness. He can think of no more practical way of playing than the way his side plays. Luis Aragonés once claimed that "cup finals aren't for playing, they're for winning". Asked if he agreed, Guardiola grimaced. "They're for winning," he conceded, "but I don't see how you can win without playing." (Sid Lowe-Guardian).

As usual, Sid Lowe provides excellent analysis

Rudo y Cursi

2009-05-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

A look back...

2009-05-12T21:54:00.000-07:00

Put this together in 2001... Argentina-Paraguay eliminatorias...brings back some memories...

Good luck Jordan... Remember El Burrito, Kily?, La Chola? La Brujita?

Cruyff's POV on the CL Semi-final ties...

2009-05-07T06:33:00.000-07:00

Johan Cruyff has an interesting take on the semifinal ties between Barcelona and Chelsea. Dodgy referees and a technically superior Barca were the reasons he gave for the Catalan victory.

For me it was a victory of light over darkness, beauty over beast, liberalism over conservatism. Hiddink is a great trainer, but he and Chelsea paid the price for their anti-futbol tactics. Barca never stopped attacking, and ultimately were successful in obtaining the crucial away goal. Had Chelsea done the same at the Camp Nou, the result might have been different.

Roma... Roma... Va bene!!

"Pam-pam-pam-pam-pam-pam-pam-pam" (Touch, Technique, Movement)

2009-04-28T06:41:00.000-07:00

The title of this post refers to how an opponent described Pep Guardiola, current trainer of CL semi-finalist FC Barcelona. That's the sound he makes as he constantly moves the ball around. Guardiola has restored the philosophy of Johan Cruyff to the Catalan side.

"Pass, offer, receive, pass, offer... shoot... This is the Barca philosophy. A philosophy many youth clubs could adopt here in the USA. I am so tired of seeing balls pop up in the air after a players' first touch. A prominent US Soccer federation coach agrees that our technical proficiency is lacking...We both saw it during an Academy traaining session for the best of the So Cal U16's at the HDC.

I think that Barca will dominate Chelsea in the CL semis today and next week. Also, I predict a Barca-Arsenal CL final...

Link to Guardian article

(photo: Joseph Lago/AFPGetty Images)

A View from the Outside...

2009-04-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

"This is American Soccer" is a thoughtful blog written by Adam Spangler. He has a good piece on the perceptions of foreign coaches concerning young American players. Spangler asks: "Must American players always be labeled as fit, athletic, and motivated?"..

Is it time to look outside the USA and England for trainers who can elevate the American youth players? When will we hear a foreign coach state that American players are technically and tactically on the same page as their South American and European counterparts?

Article

FC Porto...

2009-04-08T07:29:00.000-07:00

They put on a brilliant display of attacking football... They were sharper, livelier, and superior in all aspects, technically superior to Manchester United. I can't help thinking that my Dutch friend, Pepijn Lijnders, who is a coach at Porto, has something to do with Porto's mastery of the ball. He is the skills coach at Porto, working with both the youth academy and 1st team.

Snow White and the Three Dwarfs..

2009-03-31T06:37:00.000-07:00

Paul Gardner writes in Soccer America about Messi, Arguero, and Tevez... And how Maradona is going with skill over size in his WCQ qualifying lineups.

Article

Wenger: General Contractor

2009-02-17T11:57:00.000-08:00

This is from August, 2008, but Arsenal's Arsene Wenger reveals how great players develop...Check out this video...He compares development to the construction of a house.

Also, here is a link to a Sky Sports article...

A Trip to the Pacific NW...

2009-02-16T18:57:00.000-08:00

Spent the weekend with the RSC Academy teams in the Pacific North West... Three games in four days, a chance for the teams to build a rhythm, bond, and get a feel for life as a footballer. Sleeping four to a room, eating together, traveling three hours on a chartered bus, following the club-mandated travel rules... these are all character and football building experiences.

How did they do? For me, it doesn't matter. In high-level youth soccer, the journey is more important than the destination.

"Players Win... Coaches Develop..."

2009-02-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

I was in the Netherlands last week... Re-visited AZ, Haarlem, Heerenveen, and PSV. As usual, the conversation is about player development... A PSV trainer said it succinctly enough...

He also said that last year he did no possession training at all with his U12's... Just technical training and 1v1, 2v2, 4v4 and a bit of 7v7... The D1's had much success, playing better than some highly rated opposition from Porto, Arsenal, Chelsea and others.

Also, shot some matches in some heavy snow... Here in So Cal we cancel at the slightest hint of moisture... even when we play on a synthetic pitch...

A Template for Youth Development

2009-01-27T06:46:00.000-08:00

Again, excellent ideas emanating from Sonoma County... Ben Ziemer provides a road map for youth development in the USA.

Key Points:
*"Improve the first four years of instructions." How many clubs put the youngest, least experienced trainers in the youngers?
* US Soccer should look at the bottom of the pyramid... not only the top.
* Improve coaches education"... Teachers must participate in professional development, why not coaches??
* Content, frequency of training...

Ben was tough on the quality at the Development Academy Showcase...Too many matches (228) to make sweeping generalizations.

All in all, an excellent piece of writing.

Article

Samir Nasri...Technical Excellence...

2009-01-24T08:26:00.000-08:00

Nike Bootroom... Enjoy four minutes of excellence...

2009-01-09T06:45:00.000-08:00

Arsenal in Better Times...

2008-12-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

For those of us who hurt when Arsenal is hurting...

Birth Year Phenomenon...

2008-12-12T06:41:00.000-08:00

Another interesting thread in Big Soccer about the failure of the USA to develop world class players. What happens in both Canadian youth hockey and USA youth soccer is that kids are selected for youth national programs not because they are better but because they are slightly more developed, due to being slightly older. Then they get access to better training and competition, and within a few years they actually are better, but they're not necessarily better than the other kids could have become.

Malcom Gladwell, a writer for the New Yorker, has a book out which partially deals with this subject. He is interviewed in ESPN.com about this "phenomenon."

Look at the graph...

Thanksgiving...

2008-11-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

Greetings from a rainy Laguna Beach. A day away from soccer... Slingbox is not working so I won't be able to watch any UEFA cup action. Off to Surf tomorrow.

Enjoy the day, and be thankful...

Grading the US Soccer Development Academy

2008-11-26T07:04:00.000-08:00

The second year of US Soccer's Development Academy has begun here in So Cal. Found an interesting piece in Big Soccer assessing the Academy. The post asks the question whether the Academy program is actually developing and producing better players or is it just an extension of the current reality in US youth soccer (win win win).

The answer to the question is complex. We know that soccer coaches in the USA are assessed not on the quality of players they coach, but on their won-lost record. We cannot blame the coaches for this... they are hired / fired based on this parameter. The relegation-promotion of youth teams in the Coast Soccer League of Southern California is a classic example. Big, strong, fast players are preferred to skill players at U9-U15. "Over the top... Over the top, kick it long..." are words I often hear coaches yell at their young charges. Where is the skill in this? Where are the tactics?

My club, Real So Cal provides a good example. The ODP winter pools have been released, the RSC BU15 has four players in it. All are big, fast, strong. Two have good skills, but have definite tactical limitations. One has no technical ability, no tactical awareness, and never, ever, uses his left foot. The major goal of the U15's this season was to place high enough in the CSL Gold division to insure an invitation into CSL Premier for the 2009 season. Developing players? Not part of the equation. Why was Real So Cal invited into the Developmental Academy? Because we win.

The Development Academy has a conflicting philosophy regarding developing players. One one hand, there is no relegation for the 74 clubs in the Academy, so the pressure to win is less than in USYSA leagues. However, there is a finals week at the end of the Academy season. The top teams are flown into Los Angeles, put up in hotels, and treated like professionals... all at the expense of US Soccer. All the teams and coaches want to reach the finals... who wouldn't? So there is strong pressure to win in the US Soccer Development Academy.

Again, Real So Cal provides a good example of this paradox. The U18 (1990) team has no "tweeners" no developmental players( a tweener is a player caught between the two Academy age groups...too old for the 16's and not ready for prime time on the 18's) registered on the team. The U16's (1992) are the same. All are age-appropriate with the exception of a 1993 player who is rostered as a developmental player. The Academy wants, but has not mandated, that the teams be comprised of some younger players. Real So Cal has not heeded the advice of the Academy. Why? Because both coaches, the RSC Board, and the players want to be in the finals next July at the Home Depot Center. Is this wrong?

The LA Galaxy Developmental teams provide an opposing example. The 1992' are made of of 60% 1992's and 40% 1993 players. Clearly they are thinking about future.

Read the post here. This might be a good thread to follow.

If anyone actually reads this blog, feel free to respond...

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Who said you can only build from the back?

2008-11-10T22:57:00.001-08:00

Talk about build up... 45 seconds and 15 passes led to the second goal for Arsenal on Saturday...

Holland-Uruguay 1974

2008-11-10T21:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry about no sound...the original track was terrible...

Brilliant Control...

2008-11-06T06:34:00.000-08:00

Check out this clip from the Liverpool-Athletico Madrid Champion's League match from Tuesday. Precise, controlled, and a great finish. Dutchman John Heitinga fires a 70 yard pass (not a long ball) finds Antonio Lopez, who crosses to Argentine Maxi(gol) Rodriguez. A tremendous blend of vertical play and first touch skill.

Johan Cruyff, Dennis Bergkamp and Robin Van Persie discuss the art of football

2008-10-28T05:55:00.000-07:00

I was in the Netherlands last week, went to the Ajax-Gronigen match courtesy of my friend Edmond Claus, youth director of Haarlem FC. Sitting three seats away from me was Dennis Bergkamp (no introduction necessary!). Got his autograph for my son, and left him alone so he could watch the match. Four days later, I'm in a hotel room in Heerenveen watching Dutch television, and I see a piece on Cruyff, and Bergkamp. Knew it was about youth soccer because there were lots of kids running around with soccer balls.

Came back to USA and as usual am perusing the European newspapers and came across this piece. It is all about street soccer. Henry Winter, (Daily Telegraph) is the writer.
Check it out...
Article

A Discussion: USA Youth Development...

2008-10-05T07:22:00.000-07:00

Most online soccer forums are not worth much with regards to gathering real information, however, there is a thread on "Big Soccer" about youth soccer in the USA that is worth reading. It is called "Friedel Academy vs the Establishment" and is worth a look. The discussion is about when to really focus on development...

Read on...

A Leo Messi Documentary...

2008-09-29T06:15:00.000-07:00

Just came across this documentary (in Spanish) on Messi...Friends, family and others are interviewed about the Argentine "phenomeno's" early days in Rosario.

Thanks again BZ...

The Secrets of Holland's Success...

2008-09-29T05:43:00.000-07:00

A good article from the Guardian on the Dutch business model... buy low, sell high. Leander Schaerlaeckens' also says that Ajax and Feyenoord are not following this model... And look where they are in the Eredivisie right now?

Indirectly this also shows how important youth development is in the Netherlands. Lacking the ability to compete with the English, Spanish, and Italian leagues, Dutch clubs must develop from within. In 2005, American Michael Bradley was bought by Herenveen from the MLS MetroStars for $80K, and was recently sold by Herenveen to Bundesliga side Borussia Moenchengladbach for a reported USD 4 million.

Arsenal Again...

2008-09-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

Arsenal's "young guns" are at it again... The club's emphasis on development is the focus of this article in the Guardian...
Photograph: Tony Marshall/EMPICS

Video

Hey US Coaches......."At Atalanta , the ABILITY to play SOCCER is 1st and the physical side is 2nd"

2008-09-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

The title comes from Ben Ziemer's Far Post Report... an excellent site about youth soccer and what is going on in Nor Cal. Ben and his brothers got fed up with the emphasis on winning at all costs in youth soccer and have created something special north of SFO... Here in So Cal, sadly, there is nothing special going on.

What is going on at Chivas USA, Galaxy?? I will try to find out.

Look at Atlanta's logo...1907... do you think they have some experience in developing players?

This is a great read... Thanks again Ben...

Former World Cup-winner Jorge Valdano has fiercely criticised the style of football produced by Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez

2008-09-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Jorge Valdano, Argentina'a "philosopher" of football had this to say about the present state of English football... After you read it, think about this: Can we apply Valdano's words to American soccer as well? Because we assess our youth coaches NOT on their development of individual players, but on team success, top-level youth soccer teams are filled with players who run fast, are physically intimidating, and play a direct style of kick and run and chase....These players win matches for their trainers, but what about skill, creativity?

"Put a shit hanging from a stick in the middle of this passionate, crazy stadium and there are people who will tell you it's a work of art. It's not: it's a shit hanging from a stick."

"Chelsea and Liverpool are the clearest, most exaggerated example of the way football is going: very intense, very collective, very tactical, very physical, and very direct," he added. "But, a short pass? Noooo. A feint? Noooo. A change of pace? Noooo. A one-two? A nutmeg? A backheel? Don't be ridiculous. None of that. The extreme control and seriousness with which both teams played the semi-final (Champion's League) neutralised any creative licence, any moments of exquisite skill."

"If Didier Drogba was the best player in the first match it was purely because he was the one who ran the fastest, jumped the highest and crashed into people the hardest. Such extreme intensity wipes away talent, even leaving a player of Joe Cole's class disoriented. If football is going the way Chelsea and Liverpool are taking it, we had better be ready to wave goodbye to any expression of the cleverness and talent we have enjoyed for a century."

Valdano explained why Benítez and Mourinho were to blame for the demise of flair and creativity. "The lives of Mourinho and Benítez have crossed in a world that is ever more scrutinised and exposed by the media, which is why they look at each other with such distrust," he wrote, "but they have two things in common: a previously denied, hitherto unsatisfied hunger for glory, and a desire to have everything under control."

"Both of those things stem from one key factor: neither Mourinho nor Benítez made it as a player. That has made them channel all their vanity into coaching. Those who did not have the talent to make it as players do not believe in the talent of players, they do not believe in the ability to improvise in order to win football matches. In short, Benítez and Mourinho are exactly the kind of coaches that Benítez and Mourinho would have needed to have made it as players."

Young Guns, A History of Arsenal's Youth System

2008-08-31T07:02:00.000-07:00

As Arsène Wenger continues to create young teams, a new book examines whether Arsenal have benefited.

From the "Guardian", the article examines Wenger's and Arsenal's developmental philosophies, and whether or not it is working for the vaunted North London club.

PSA... A look to the future...

2008-08-28T05:46:00.000-07:00

Still thinking about youth development, I'm reminded about Brad Friedel's "Premier Soccer Academy" in Lorain, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. The So Cal blog Sideline Views has a blurb on it today, and I also know someone quite well who spent a week there in June, and will be going back in the fall for a final look from the coaching staff for admittance next semester. This 1993 player came back to LA enthusiastic about the training, the facilities, the trainers, and even the food.

Excecpt for Bradenton, there is no other setup like this in the USA. In Holland, this is de-rigueur at clubs like Twente, AZ, Ajax, Feyenoord, and PSV. The players all attend the same school, which works with the club in accommodating the special need and time constraints of the players. Facilities are top notch.

Premier Soccer Academy has the right business model going. Friedel's connections in England and Europe provide an window for the best players to test their mettle across the pond. Just one player who hits it big can go a long way to paying for the operating costs...

Leaving Schiphol...

2008-08-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

Back to America today after three weeks in Holland... Schiphol is an amazing airport... organized, efficient, and the KLM business lounges are cool...

Spent time at AZ, Ajax, PSV, Haarlem and FC Twente... Youth training is about players here in Holland, not about teams. Coaches talk about vision and mission statements, about curriculum and philosophy... Of course, they have offices, decent pitches and a correct business model... although many of the top clubs are losing their best players at age 13-14-15 to UK clubs.

Do we do the same?? Comments??

You should have seen the technical superiority that the PSV D1's (U12) had over a visiting Japanese team... At the end, Roland, the PSV trainer had the PSV boys playing two touch...It is a tribute to Pepijn's legacy and Jefta Bresser's present influence on the club.

Argentina Fountain of Youth...

2008-08-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

Saw this on Ben Ziemer's "Far Post Report"... It is from Reuters, UK... "Argentina's Fountain of Youth Springs Eternal"

Note the discussion of size and the de-emphasis of winning at all costs.

"Technique and Character" What Scolari Craves...

2008-08-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

There is a trend... small quick midfielders full of technique and character... Look at Fabregeas, Xavi, Silva, Iniesta in this year's Euro Cup... Look at Messi... Deco at Chelsea... Technique and Character...

One of my favorite English journos, Henry Winter has this piece in the Telegraph

Johan Cruijff: The Total Footballer

2008-08-24T13:19:00.001-07:00

This is the end product of the Dutch method... Street soccer at its best... Dominate the 1 v 1!!

Bumpy Pitch...The Original Winger

2008-08-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of sites I read every day... The clothes at Bumpy Pitch are cool... and the posts at The Original Winger are captivating...

Do they seem connected??

US Soccer Developmental Academies...

2008-08-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here is a good article on the New England Revolution and their creation o the U16 and U18 teams for next year's US Soccer Development Academy

The Young Guns of Arsenal...

2008-08-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hey,

If you want to find out how the top youth at Arsenal are doing, check out this site:

Young Guns

Youth Development Around the World...Parts 1, 2, and 3

2008-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

This is from Norcal Premier, A US Club sanctioned league providing teams in Northern California Premier Competition, run by Benjamin Ziemer.A good look at what the Dutch do to develop their players...Note the importance of a skills coach and two coaches for U17:

"...The small details are all taken care of. The KNVB states that for everyunder-17 team, there must be two head coaches (“It’s a difficult age, when boys become men,” explains Sturing, pointing at his head), while at every club there is a dedicated skills coach and, remarkably, two “co-ordination trainers”. “The biggest problem for seven to 12-year-olds is ball control and body control,” explains Sturing, dragging us outside to illustrate his point...."
Article Part 1
Article Part 2
Article Part 3

Welcome...

2008-08-24T13:11:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the future of youth development... Here you will find information on youth development from around the world... Maybe also some politics, some fun stuff, but mostly I want to share what I have been studying everyday for many years. This blog does not represent the official view of any club, including RSC, but it does have a point of view... mine... Briggs Palmer

I are looking forward to hearing from you... Comments are always welcome