U17 Friendlies

I watched a bit of the game after I got home. US did look good and I have to agree with Hatter, the thing that impressed most was the type of soccer Cabrera had them playing. Free flowing agressive football with lots of nice balls into space. They defintely know how to play the game. However, that's probably a lot easier to do when you're better than the other team at nearly every position. Anyway, everywhere I look, things look bright for the future of the US men.

 

Brazil should be a test, but we did beat them in U20, if my memory is correct. I'll tape it.

 

Breast or leg or wing?

Or all of the above?

Checking out the U.S. replay momentarily. Good "heads up", Dandy!

 

Judging by the score PCB I'd say choice (D).

Echo the kudos to Don for pointing this one out, only saw the first half, but the Kid who scored (Morales?), the other striker Jerome were excellent. However, I have to single out the 13 year old (Yes 13!!). Remember the name Charles Renken, because (fingers-crossed) he will end up being the best playmaking midfielder the U.S as ever produced. OK, a little thick on the hyperbole, but this kid wasn't a munchin and showed innate ability you just don't see. In a word...WOW!!

 

Quite a goal the second one was!

Our youth teams almost always play attractive attacking soccer(was very much the same during the last U17 friendlies when we beat Brazil), so not to rain on the parade but I'm not sure how much of the credit belongs to Cabrera.

On a related note; I think the Bradington thing works. It seems its some what popular to pick it a part in favor of some euro-like professional club academy system. I think the current system of getting all the best youngsters in the country living, playing, and going to school together is good. Seems a much healthier environment for 16, 17 year olds than a professional club.

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Thought that comes to mind as I'm watching this, the U17's would take care of the WNT, certainly more entertaining to watch. Is it wrong to acknowledge this? I don't know but its true.

 

Watched as much of the replay as I could before dozing off. The kid on the left wing (sorry, name escapes me) was most impressive with ball skills. And, as said, good goals by the youngsters.

 

Well, as luck would have it, I forgot to watch.

As to Bradenton, I agree that it's been very successful. I sort of worry that MLS clubs adopting the academy model ..as the Crew has with Brad Friedel's ..will maybe end up diluting the talent development.

 

An overall impressive display of football. Crisp passing, confident on the ball at both ends of the field, and their patience in the buildup was beautiful.

 

One thing about Friedel's club is that he is bringing in foreign kids in addition to Americans. Also, I believe they all get to attend for free so it doesnt prohibit poor kids from other countries from attending. I think it is good to expose our young developing players to a wider variety of soccer styles, if they are indeed all that different.

I favor both. Have Bradenton and US soccers new development academies that are across the country, and have academies like Freidel's that have a mixture of US and foreign players.

 

I only got to see the first half but I did not feel we were completely outclassed. I did feel Brazil had the better run of play in the first half and #8 for Brazil was very good. For the US #13 (I think it was pronounced A-who-E) tormented the Brazilians frequently. Stephan Jerome looks like he could be a special player.

The first goal on a drop by Jerome to #13 who crossed to (Martinez?) #11 who's finish was spectacular was superb and completly in the run of play. I thought the first 20 minutes was a back punch counter punch style of play.

 

Wow, hatter and barry, I only saw the first 5 - 30 min. but did not at all feel like US was dominated. Guess I still have a lot to learn cause I thought the US had good control during their possesions and saw no significant threats from Brazil. Hopefully there will be a rebroadcast. The first US goal was awesome finishing by a U17 team.

 

Mo, I think I said basically the same thing except that the Brazilians did have the better end of possession for the last 20 minutes of the first half and that is when I saw the significant threats develop.

 

Kudos to turkey. They completely dominated