SHANE STAY
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About the Author
  • Where to Buy
  • Press

future us lineup decisions

10/13/2017

 
To be on the USMNT as a 5'9" or under you almost inevitably have to be lightning fast. Donovan, Cherundolo, Beasley. Speed is great, but here's the problem with that. Xavi and Iniesta were never lightning fast. Neither were most of their similar-sized teammates: Villa, Pedro, Puyol, and others. They weren't lightning quick. They were quick, but nothing that catches the eye. And they won the Triple. So here's the other problem with US Soccer. "John" and "Bob" are both equally talented. They both play forward. John is 5'7". Bob is 6'2". US Soccer will undoubtedly go with Bob because he's taller. 
   Taller, or very well-built players have been used to evading defenders in a different way that less-built players. Someone like Iniesta - who is about 5'7" - has been used to evading taller and larger opposition since childhood, which has positively enabled his physical ability as well as his mental ability....the ability to out-think his opponents. That's really the key when it comes to soccer. For all positions other than central defense, players that are 5'9" and under should be the first choice and not the last. The list of greats goes on and on. Ronaldinho, Denilson, Messi, Roberto Baggio, George Best, Hagi, Matthaus, Hessler, Platini, Maradona, Pele, Garrincha, Giovanni, Romario, Rossi, and so forth. As kids growing up, they had to outthink and "out-skill" the bigger kids, and it translated to their approach as adults. Every now and again taller players will deserve to be in non-central defensive positions such as Zidane, Henry and Rivaldo, but for the most part 5'9" and under should be the norm, whether they're lightning fast, quick or not. 

Comments are closed.

    Shane stay +   
    ​(archives)     

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    KEY
    (NS) refers to "Non-Soccer" related blog entries, stories and essays.

    Author

    Shane Stay, author of The Euro 2020, The World Cup 2018 Book, Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet.

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    All Written Work Copyright 2014-2023 Shane Stay

Proudly powered by Weebly