Keeping up with everything in the American soccer world is a tough task. Every week we distill it all down in a few bits and pieces from the MNT, WNT, YNT, and AO world just for you!
USMNT
There's #HereForTheFuture all over Europe and they're geared up and ready to kick ass all over the continent. Deadspin is as bullish as we are.
"European Soccer Is Loaded With American Kids Ready To Tear Shit Up"
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Woof! The MNT manager rumor mill kicked into high gear over the last few days. First is was that former Mexico manager Juan Carlos Osorio's was in contract discussions for both the US and his native Colombia. Taylor Twellman quickly poured cold water on that one.
Then former Everton Manchester United and West Ham gaffer David Moyes' name popped up as interested in the US job... our informal "thumbs up or thumbs down" poll on Twitter was less than enthused. Seems as thought the interest is only one-sided.
AO tickets for MNT vs. Brazil (9/7) in East Rutherford, NJ
AO tickets for MNT vs. Mexico (9/11) in Nashville, TN
AO tickets for MNT vs. Colombia (10/11) in Tampa, FL
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USWNT
The training camp roster is out for the pair of California friendlies going down in Carson (8/31,8 p.m. PT on ESPN2) and San Jose (9/4,7 p.m. PT on ESPN2 and UDN) vs. Chile. Teen phenom Mallory #PughPughPugh and Kelley O'Hara are back after a lengthly layoff following.
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Kelley O'Hara talks to The Players Tribune about "Goals for Girls" and the fight for gender equality.
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YOUTH
Taking stock of last week's U20 WNT elimination from their World Cup. Was it a total disaster. Last week "The Equalizer" thought so. Stephanie Yang from "The Atlantic" (AO members get 50% off a subscription) preaches patience this week in her piece.
"There’s more going on here than a team with a bad plan and tired legs. The group-stage loss itself isn’t exactly incidental, but neither is it the end of the world. However, it does call for reflection on the way the U.S. youth system is built, how it plans to transition its players to the senior pool, and what goals it should set. Look at the way the senior WNT is set up at the moment: the players are fast and athletic, to be sure, in order to maintain a high press and recover smoothly, but it also requires players who are capable of seamless interchanges in midfield with a fluid understanding of roles—hardly the rigid flank play system that couldn’t overcome technically and tactically gifted teams.
Losing has value as long as it’s informative and mistakes aren’t repeated. A failed experiment can yield as much information as a successful one. It’s just a matter of U.S. Soccer being willing to take a deep, introspective look at itself to find out what needs to change. Failure to do so would be a much bigger disaster than leaving a youth tournament early."
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Spawn of Reyna on the move
Giovanni Reyna, the son of former USMNTer Claudio Reyna (currently NYCFC's Sporting Director) is set to sign for Borussia Dortmund according to Goal.com. He'll leave NYCFC's academy and join some guy named Christian Pulisic.
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YOUTH
Taking stock of last week's U20 WNT elimination from their World Cup. Was it a total disaster. Last week "The Equalizer" thought so. Stephanie Yang from "The Atlantic" (AO members get 50% off a subscription) preaches patience this week in her piece.
"There’s more going on here than a team with a bad plan and tired legs. The group-stage loss itself isn’t exactly incidental, but neither is it the end of the world. However, it does call for reflection on the way the U.S. youth system is built, how it plans to transition its players to the senior pool, and what goals it should set. Look at the way the senior WNT is set up at the moment: the players are fast and athletic, to be sure, in order to maintain a high press and recover smoothly, but it also requires players who are capable of seamless interchanges in midfield with a fluid understanding of roles—hardly the rigid flank play system that couldn’t overcome technically and tactically gifted teams.
Losing has value as long as it’s informative and mistakes aren’t repeated. A failed experiment can yield as much information as a successful one. It’s just a matter of U.S. Soccer being willing to take a deep, introspective look at itself to find out what needs to change. Failure to do so would be a much bigger disaster than leaving a youth tournament early."
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Spawn of Reyna on the move
Giovanni Reyna, the son of former USMNTer Claudio Reyna (currently NYCFC's Sporting Director) is set to sign for Borussia Dortmund according to Goal.com. He'll leave NYCFC's academy and join some guy named Christian Pulisic.
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AO FAMILy
This past week we welcomed another chapter to the AO Family. AO: Fort Collins is now official chapter #198.
In the area? Join them at Mulligan's Pub & Sports Club for MNT and WNT matches. Better yet.. join the new chapter!
Find an official chapter near you!
