Thierry Henry, Clint Dempsey and Charlie Davies discussing perception of American players in Europe
Read that a few years ago. Now, I’ve only been following football since '07 which is around the time time Dempsey made his move to Fulham. He was a thrill to watch and I’d reckon he def helped change some opinions around US players at the time with the likes of Pulisic or McKennie continuing to this day.
But just curious for a discussion, how prevalent are the stereotypes of US players today? Is it simply just banter or are there still managers who just don’t rate US players all that much.
I don’t think anyone really cares tbh. There will be conflicting opinions on where the standard of the league lies but no one seriously attaches these stereotypes.
Where I think it could make a difference is in coaching. The MLS does just operate fairly differently and the dynamics seem like a different universe.
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I am a USSF coach- and I can firmly say how surprised I was to see the USSF revamp their youth ways - to emulate Europe.
We no longer focus on “do 29 laps and sprint everywhere”… no more “boot it up field and hope”
It’s “how well can you manage the ball under pressure” … “how well can you as a team technically play”…
There’s a huge change. It’s just began recently and hopefully in years to come it will produce talent.
May I ask how you got started as a USSF coach?
Football has always had a limited fanbase in the US because of competition with baseball, basketball, hockey, and American football. As far as high school sports are concerned, it’s on par with volleyball and tennis and lacrosse and field hockey.
There will always be a perceived gap between European football and American (soccer). We don’t have professional sponsorship of youth clubs or academies dedicated to training players. We don’t have a nationally organized youth program. We are not set up on the top level to be capable of promotion/relegation. American born players don’t necessarily get worldwide exposure because our culture doesn’t promote the game as much as it could.
Now, don’t misunderstand me. Fans of soccer in the US are passionate. Rivalries are intense. But the general opinion of the American game is that we do it wrong. That stigma sometimes makes it difficult for a player with dual citizenship to choose the USMNT.
Banter mostly. I will say Pulisic kinda didn’t do Americans any favors when he was critical of Tucel and all his father drama and the book he wrote.
When I was a kid in middle america in the 80s, the lack of american involvement had nothing to do with Europe. Americans hated the game. I remember the adults always telling me it isnt a sport. and its so boring, and play a real sport. It was also an immigrant sport and this is america. you play an american sport. Heck, there are still multitudes of americans who believe this today. there is just a large enough echo chamber that we dont have to acknowledge it.
I dont blame europeans at all for their “prove it” attitude. we have had generations to embrace the sport. now that it is finally happening, our young people need to realize that this is a calcified problem that we created.
Still waiting for a really top US player. I thought we’d have seen one by now.
Here’s a link for those like me that don’t want to give the assholes at Daily Mail any clicks:
Ready for downvotes?
Yea we are bad, very bad. We don’t play well together, way to many back passes, horrible in front of goal, don’t put teams to the sword that we should, management and coaching is garbage, BUT we will get good at this sport, very good. Then we will dominate.
I don’t think anyone really judges players based on their nationalities any more.
There’s stereotypes in the media for sure. Hard to say if there’s any active stereotypes or prejudice against US players in the management and coaching world since most people are not in it.
However, you have to think that if you’re good enough then you’ll play. Every player, regardless of nationality, has to fight for their place and the US just don’t produce world class players for the very top level.
If there is a stereotype then I’d say it’s US goalkeepers can be very good, but we’ve yet to see anything other than a ‘decent’ outfield premier league level American.
There will be loads of nations where you could make similar comments about though. For example, if I think of Danes then again I can thing of a few good to great goalkeepers, but no amazing outfielders
Charlie Davies is a bellend
bob Bradley and more recently Jesse marsch got huge ridicule
I’m just glad we don’t have the Pulisic nuthuggers polluting our sub anymore