I think, if I remember correctly, much of the commentary on a specific American game of soccer centered around the American player’s lack of skill. This is what I remember hearing 10 years ago or so. The basic observation was that the American player was a bit of a mix between long ball European play and more of a passing Latin American style of play. Neither of those styles were played very well so you had the addition of the “physical game” to the definition of an American soccer player. In order to make up for lacks in other areas (individual ball skills, tactical skills) the American player became lauded for being a more physical player. And that stuck as part of the definition of the American game.

I don’t think that needs to be the case any more. The younger generation is much, MUCH better at the skills that make Europeans and Latin Americans great players. So our expectations of American players need to change. We need to expect great touches, accurate long balls, and letting the ball do the work in MLS, WNT, MNT, etc, and get away from whooping and hollering for the person who chased down their poor first touch and almost got into scoring position by out running their defender (who, of course, was expecting a better first touch and therefore wasn’t in great position to defend a scrappy play).

The Queens have been a shadow of themselves for the past few years, and the fact the Galaxy has failed to make the playoffs indicates, IMHO, a lack of commitment to the players. If your whole quest is the almighty dollar, than one can market something to death to get fans to come to a game, spend their cash, and leave. However, would they come back? Would they recommend the experience to others? Probably not. This whole concept of runnning out a team onto the field, PRETENDING to be something that it is not hyped to be, is getting old, fast. The fact that other teams in the league that are NOT AEG controlled and are doing well, is perhaps indicative that Galaxy’s living off of past accomplishments/name recognition is done. That business model come from LIE-WICKY. One only needs to look south on the 5 Freeway to the Anaheim Angels to see an example of ownership done right. Their value has jumped enormously over the past few years. Why? They set out to build the best team they could. Quality product = wins = butts in the seats = $$$$.

oh and nathan nice joke with the “no va” lol

This talk about the “American game” is confusing to me. Futbol is futbol and I have always had a difficult time comprehending why we are told over and over that we MUST play it differently than anywhere else on the earth. Yeah I know they play differently in Spain from Germany from BPL, from Brazil, from Argentina, etc. BUt those are sstylistic things while the skills are essentially the same thing: skills lead to style, artful awareness arises from those skills which leads to goals and the beautiful game itself.

I think that if anything is the “American” game… it’s trying to reinvent the wheel just so we get to call it ours… or something like that. I just think it’s dumb. We should play the game like our continental or hemispheric siblings do. It’s not that hard, really: ball control skills, flash, flair & style, fluid 3-dimensional artful play based on those skills, exciting gorgeous goals, with an emphasis on attacking play, always driving on goal, always (and that includes back-passing only as a tactic, not because a player suddenly draws a blank and doesn’t know what to do with the ball at the moment or because they get spooked by those strange guys in different colors bearing down on them). Bottom line, like I tell my own offspring daily until their feet fall off: juggle, train your muscles to strike the ball accurately, do it again, and again, and then do it some more. If you’re standing around without a ball on your foot, what are you doing? Wasting time. Juggle, please. And the guys I play with in the park do this all the time and it shows.

I know who I don’t want to see in LA, Bruce Arena. That lunkhead was part of the problem for USMNT in at least two world cups and I don’t want him poisoning our home waters. Sigi was a personality, but you know, I think Cobi will do just fine as long as he’s unfettered by management above him. Maybe it’s just my gut affection for my hometown kid, I dunno.

As far as GM, that’s a business thing and there are far too many corporado types who have no biz being in the biz in the first place but all kinds of privilege that seems to put them there regardless. I stay up late at night worrying about that. But I know of no artful leaders who can abandon themselves to the strengths of our side.

For now, I’ll be chanting pre-game mediations as before… but with “obey the CoJones” insteada “obey the Ruud.” Hopefully that’ll help. OTOH, ever since I heard this news, I’ve been worried sick about how things are in the HDC dressing room. Focus, my sons, play futbol, leave your hearts out there on the pitch. I promise to show up and sing and chant and stomp my feet and buy more beer. My heart is with them.

Commenting on the coach thing, the best MLS coaches have
to be excellent and managing their resources because it’s
a resource limited game. Also, the ability to deal/work
with players who aren’t seasoned professionals yet is
key. Players the same age as our college freshouts
are likely already seasoned pros in Europe even if they’re still raw talent wise.

http://americansoccerreader.com/2008/08/12/eddie-lewis-to-la-galaxy/

Your comment on “the American game” is well taken. What I was thinking when I wrote that was “the American player”, which, given the requirement that 21 of your 28 (or is it 20?) roster players have to be US citizens or green card holders, means you need to understand how these “American” player are grown. Also understanding the college system and the draft and whatnot will help in figuring out scouting, scouting reports, combines, etc. Not necessary for the next 11 games, but for future personnel decisions… probably handy to have.

For example, I don’t think it is an accident that Steve Nicol manages to draft great players every year. He’s been in the US so long he knows the system and he knows MLS and he knows what he needs to do to develop young players for success here.

But yeah, “the American game” I don’t know what that is, really.