Freed Roger wrote: I'm not on the US soccer fansites, but seems like fans have some level of a soccer background and relate/or empathize with the players. I may be just not looking in right places, but I don't hear the fans rip on individual players like they do in other sports.
You're dead on. There is tons of ripping, fairly and unfairly, but it's weirdly paternalistic. It's like the "only I can pick on my little brother, not you" mentality, so if you've never illegally streamed a U-20 qualifier vs Barbados online at work or if you don't remember Clint Mathis scoring a goal for Hannover and running over to his coach pointing at his watch saying he needs more PT, you don't get to comment on whether or not Michael Bradley is overrated.
Here's why: our national team isn't as competitive for spots as big national teams. The reason for that is a lack of higher end talent in the player pool. Because of that lack of depth, players like Michael Bradley and guys who came before him like Cobi Jones or Tab Ramos - players who were really, really good compared to their american counterparts - never seriously have to worry about their spot in the lineup. That consistency isn't all bad though. Before Jurgen came along, that consistency bred teams that were more organized and experienced than a lot of the more talented teams they played and that led to us often punching above our weight. Especially against Mexico and in World Cups. Fans grow comfortable with that familiarity. One thing I really liked about the national team that Jurgen really stomped all over and made me turn on him was that going into any given game, I could predict the lineup and the result with more accuracy than any other team I love. There was a comfort in that. You could prepare yourself for losses, take the wins as they came, and get really excited at the big moments when they exceeded your expectations. It was a fun, steady team. But that comfort combined with the apathy of the general sports fan public at large probably isn't good for the continued improvement of the program, and missing out on the world cup is the kind of inexcusable [expletive] up that will get rid of it for good. You only get a pat on the back when you lose to teams you're supposed to lose to when you always beat the teams you're supposed to beat. Until 2015, they did that with incredible consistency. Losing at home to Costa Rica and Mexico is just two games, but it's the difference between comfortable qualification and a continuation of the status quo and where we find ourselves now. Just two games, but it makes all the difference with the amount of money on the line for the players, federation, and the entire pyramid of american soccer that ends with MLS and the national team on top.
This is a good breakdown of what happened, why, and what's next. This site is my first daily visit (sorry grb) and it's a must for people who want to dive deep on American soccer:
http://www.americansoccernow.com/articl ... next-steps