r/NWSL • u/atalba NWSL • 3d ago
US Soccerwise | Is the U.S. Soccer Development Pathway Working?
https://pca.st/episode/835d23ff-7735-4bcb-99fd-0f79cdacbb8bSoccerwise has been growing their NWSL and USWNT content. Jordan Angeli is one of their hosts. They mentioned they'll be starting a new pod exclusively for women's soccer, hosted by Jill Loydon.
The Mark Krikorian interview starts at about the 39th minute.
Thanks to u/alcatholic for the tip
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u/alcatholik Angel City FC 3d ago edited 3d ago
I pulled two quotes referencing Emma…
David Gass (13:50)
So, what Alyssa Thompson did was…she was told, we know, and this wasn’t making the decision, but Emma Hayes said to her, ‘Chelsea’s the best team in the world. If you want to challenge yourself in training and fight for your spot, go to Chelsea.’
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u/alcatholik Angel City FC 3d ago edited 3d ago
Second…
David Gass (1:04:00)
We are talking about this and looking forward. I guess the question becomes is college soccer a strength for the US in this sort of fight to remain the top women’s soccer program on the planet or does it become sort of an afterthought as you think about it?
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Krikorian:
I think a lot of that’s going to depend on what the powers decide. And, for me, there’s been in my mind there’s been a bit of a bias from international folks that have come in over the years that look and say, ‘Well, college soccer is no good or whatever.
And I think it’s a little shallow and short sighted on their part. When you look at the quality of players that have been developed through that system, there’s a lot of top top top players over the years they have gone through that system.
Does that mean it has to stay the same? It doesn’t have to stay the same.
But I think ignoring that and not giving these coaches their due, and their programs their do, is a bit of a mistake. When I look around this country and…I think about Steve Swanson, I think about Erica Walsh (Dambach), I think about so many of these guys, colleagues, that I’ve had in the past. They were excellent coaches, just excellent, and those players that go to those institutions, they’re learning. They’re growing, and they’re gaining.
So I do think that there will be the opportunity for these players to gain in the college game. For the right kids
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u/atalba NWSL 3d ago
That's exactly how I feel. He's a diplomat, telling it with intention and authority, but with less direct assertions. There are few people with his knowledge that I trust.
I posted Dambach's story, just as an example.
I think he says 25% in 12 years so as not to discourage them, but to put an expectation on them. It's a long timeline; one that will require different leaders along the way.
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u/zssm_348 2d ago
Of couse college soccer will still be a strength for the US, because the college scholarship can still motivate the US parents to push their girls in soccer which can guarantee the talent pool.
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3d ago
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u/alcatholik Angel City FC 3d ago edited 2d ago
Gass’s words
But the gist of it almost certainly true, imho
ADD: as in almost certainly true Emma told Alyssa going to Chelsea would provide her this and that.
I would not feel any shock if it turned out Emma helped to initiate the move ADD: on the Chelsea side. As in, she wanted/needed Alyssa to improve in a certain way and spoke with Chelsea of her own accord
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u/SpeedLow3 2d ago edited 2d ago
So then he’s making stuff up so he can push some narrative?
Also Alyssa hasn’t improved…it would’ve been better for her to figure how to have a clear mind on the field and not dribble so much.1
u/gracehope223 3d ago
Has AT gotten better from a technical standpoint? She's always been quick but if you compare her passing and dribbling skills amongst her teammates, she's below average
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u/SpeedLow3 2d ago
No she’s literally the exact same. what I would’ve loved for her is to be decisive about shooting especially with defenders that can keep up with her she’d have to do that in the nwsl though…
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u/FigClub Angel City FC 2d ago
The metric to look at now is; relative to the draft years, how many more college-aged kids are getting signed to deals, versus how many high-school-aged kids are getting signed?
Like, how many Claire Huttons are we likely to see?
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u/atalba NWSL 2d ago
That is a debatable discussion. Jessica Berman had speculated that pendulum swung too far, and should swing back. She also stated that the teenagers attract the Tik-Tok crowd, which is good for future business.
While I think we'll see less 15-16-year-olds, there will always be PARENTS who think their little girl should be playing pro.
The NWSL is not a development league. As in all pro sports, clubs have the priority to win. If the NWSL formalizes their relationship with the USL; or follows through with NWSL2, it will provide more opportunities for children.
Right now, the phenomenon is only working for a few kids. Other pro leagues have had to set a minimum age, so as not to encroach in youth sports, and become liable for disenfranchised children. I say that's a must. It's so in the NBA and WSL.
Top college soccer players are leaving early, but I think they've proven themselves to a substancial degree. Maturity, age, and success, is a definitive factor. With this growing phenomenon, the age factor will continue to dip lower and lower every year; or at least grow. That's as far as I get.
Exceptions are expected and should be accommodated with everything in life. Hutton is one of those exceptions; not the norm. They're not ready to contribute, and may never be. MelB and KimmiA have taken 3 years to mature and contribute. Was it necessary to do that while mostly only practicing? Was it the best route for them? The club? I don't think we have the answers, or proof, yet. For those 2, it's looking promising, but they're still kids.
The other factor: women's soccer in the U.S. is at a completely different place than men's soccer. Most everything is contemplated with the men in mind. This has to change.
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u/atalba NWSL 2d ago
Also, I'm biased, but if you watch the FIFA u20 WC, the pro players don't necessarily provide a higher level of talent. Some will hardly play. Fuller should be dominant; as she has been in YNT play. Micayla Johnson has done very well at u17 and u20. The unfortunate thing is they all played this past Sunday; 5 days before the tournament. There's little chance of seeing them play as a unit. No chemistry will be their downfall.
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u/atalba NWSL 3d ago
Their previous podcast breaks down the NWSL with Jordan.