USMNT fails to qualify for 2018 World Cup.

2-1 Trinidad & Tobago. Disappointing. On paper it was a very winnable game. They only needed to draw to be qualified as well.

There are many theories on why it happened, both relating to the overall soccer culture found within the US and the staff and team that went to Trinidad & Tobago. Here are my thoughts.

1. There was no passion from most of the players.
2. There was no leadership from any veteran players.
3. Bruce Arena didn't push the right buttons this time.
4. It has little to do with MLS being seen as a retirement league for the aging foreign players.
5. It has little to do with the MLS being a closed league versus a pro/reg league.
6. It has little to do with the saturation of sports that kids are exposed to when they're young
7. It has little to do with the lack of inner city kids playing the sport due to their poverty.
8. It has much more to do with the soccer development pyramid.
9. It has little to do with lack of fan passion.
10. MLB, NBA and the NFL aren't stealing players away.
11. The anti-Americanism has surfaced, full head, once again from foreigners commenting on this event.

If anyone has disagreements, especially with #s 4-10, leave a comment and explain why. 

EDIT: You can't make this stuff up. This hits on my #11. One discussion went that the pay to play system is proof of greedy capitalism, locking out a lot of potential talent, which is parallel to America's healthcare system where you have to pay to receive care. The people involved all agreed that this is why America's soccer system fails - or at least why USMST lost to T&T - it's because of greed. Evil capitalism. Unlike in countries like Trinidad & Tobago where healthcare is free (though it needs much work it's on the right path, said a Trinidadian) and since Trinidad & Tobago has no pay to play it's proof that all is right in such countries, hence the USMNT losing.

I'll call it soccer while you spew anti-Americanisms.

I bet I mentioned this before, but I have many interests and hobbies that tend to be occupied by non-conservatives, if not leftists.

For example, I enjoy soccer. I support my city's professional team and I also support Aston Villa. American owner of Aston Villa, Ryan Lerner, released a statement of his departure from the English football team, wanting it to be owned by a more suitable person.

The reactions, for the most part, were rather negative - as they should be - but the anti-Americanism peaked its head. One poster on a soccer/football forum said that Americans should not be involved in the game and should just stick to rounders (our baseball version) and netball (basketball). I don't really have an issue with this, not that I agree, but it's paltry when it comes to indignation. But the poster went on. By "American should not be involved in the game" he also meant as players. Brad Guzan is an American goalkeeper currently playing for Aston Villa. He's been with the club for more than five years. He also mentions DeAndre Yedlin, the EPL rookie currently playing for Sunderland via loan by Tottenahm Hotspur. Interestingly enough he does not mention Everton's goalkeeper, Tim Howard. I can only guess the poster has something against Americans playing on teams trying to avoid regulation, as if their membership to their club has anything major to do with losing English football teams.

Others complained that Lerner's statement was the typical example of American sentimentalism. I never really payed much attention to this American sentimentality, but the tone I received from Lerner's statement was that of disappointment in himself. Whatever sentimentality came through it did not bother me. I am glad he's gone because he was at best mediocre and worst indifferent. It is the expression of a businessman becoming aware he isn't the right person for the job.

Unlike Leftists & Europeans, I actually spend time with my opposition.

As for the headline, many will correct Americans, calling us Yanks, saying, "It's football, not soccer." Look, don't "correct" the linguistic differences because it's pointless once we analyze it. If I said "It's hello, not hola or salut," I'd be deemed ignorant, rude and maybe xenophobic with jabs at me not having a passport (I do have a passport). If Cuba called baseball "stickball" or whatever I personally wouldn't give two shits, nor would I be offended. I know what they mean and I'd be curious on why they call it that - if they were to use such a nomenclature.

In the end the rules aren't different, just the name.

This is the mindset I left a few years ago.

Nasty.

The "family"? Ew! Kids? Disgusting!

Then there's always that one guy.

A youtube commenter said Ted Cruz was  "cretin", and apparently this poster explains her reasons why.

If you use too many facts, real life experiences related to the issue and a little bit of common sense then you're blocked. (I saw no proof of ad homs and insults as the moderator accused poster "Mesar" of.)

 An anti-American and self-loathing Americans find out they're kindred spirits. (I'm not sure what posts Jessie was reading, but a good portion of the comments agreed with the writer.)

The modern liberal mind isn't hard to figure out - you know what they like and what they don't like ... And it's practically the same across the board. Once you have met one modern day liberal you met a good majority of them.

I don't frequent dailycaller.com, but since it was mentioned in the combox by one poster and another calling it a "bubble" (the irony) it ceases to amaze me how unhappy the American left can be. They complain about the same things:

1. Social conservatives & religion - this is the "far right" to them. They always bring up Barry Goldwater to paint social conservatives in a "you were never liked" light.
2. America's healthcare system not being "universal healthcare."
3. How ignorant/stupid Americans are.
4. How fat Americans are.
5. How many Americans don't speak a second language.

American left and American expats love:

1. Europe. (Specifically Western Europe.)
2. Europe's attitude towards sex and drugs.
3. Universal healthcare.
4. How Europeans speak multiple languages.

It's clear that the left wants America to become Western Europe 2.0. If they hate the South, the Midwest, and the suburbs then they're going to seek out greener pastures in America's cities. If their bitterness still resides in them they might even move to Europe, but they will always loathe America for what it is not and what it does not provide. As poster "howerton" expresses he wants non-Americans to constantly tell Americans "the truth" and how much better life is abroad. You heard it from many on the article - America sucks, its people suck and that Western Europe and Australia are immensely more mature, filled with wisdom and sophistication that only American wishes to achieve one day.

Chillingly speaking, it's the opposite of "And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God."

It's funny that leftists want America to conform to Western Europe "for the better", want the social conservatives to be social outcasts if not their beliefs to "die the way of the dinosaur" all while throwing mantras like "be yourself" and "be a free thinker" and other slogans that promote non-conformity & extreme individualism. They definitely sound like the teenager who's ashamed of their parents for not being "cool."

Movies, tv and foreign people.

As said by an IMDb reviewer from London "Although the need for an American version may be unnecessary to many people it's obvious that the average American, whoever they are, does not like sub-titles. Or anything that's foreign come to think of it."

This was in reaction to a European mini-series being remade by American tv producers.

I wouldn't be surprised if this the general attitude Western Europeans have the "average American, whoever they are."