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.

The English like to use "shit" a lot.

I'm a supporter of Aston Villa FC and today was their opener against Hull City, a club that was recently relegated to the second tier of the English professional pyramid, the Championship (not to be confused with the Champions League). The match started off with AV attacking and moving the ball through the midfield, bottling a few good changes but also scoring one goal. The second half was night and day. There was a lack of attacking and AV allowed Hull to have their way in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Eventually the opposition scored. It was tied 1-1.

Only in the last 15 or 20 minutes of the match did AV resembled their first half self. A few point blank chances bottled. At least they were getting chances now. Too late. The ref blows his whistle and both clubs have to settle for a point each in the table.

The disappointment on the reddit forum was understandable, but I can't help but bring up one word that kept coming up. Shit.

Comment from discussion [Match Thread] Aston Villa Vs Hull City.

Comment from discussion [Match Thread] Aston Villa Vs Hull City.

Comment from discussion [Match Thread] Aston Villa Vs Hull City.

Comment from discussion [Match Thread] Aston Villa Vs Hull City.

I've noticed the same thing on youtube's comment section when I'm watching vids about English clubs.

"Newcastle is shit."
"Birmingham City is shit."
"X manager is shit."

Etc. etc.

I just find it amusing. In the States there tends to be a plethora of words to express extreme disappointment. I'll even say it can be quite tame but the amount of words used is greater.

"X baseball manager is horrible at his job. He should be fired."
"X professional player is just not talented enough to play at X position as a starter."

Or it can be less gentlemanly.

"That fucking dumbass. He can kiss my sour ass for all I care."

There's also much more optimism when it comes to Americans and a disappointing opener. Take for instance the Chicago Cubs. The darn club just recently won their first World Series after 108 years. The saying "There's always next year" became a Chicago Cubs thing that would define the optimism of the fans despite no real evidence of things getting better. Then again the culture is different in American sports - there is no relegation/promotion battle found in the MLB or any in major league. In the case of AV the mentality is, given the squad and the time the manager had to settle in, a win today against a not so great Hull City squad would've been the start the club wanted to build of off for push towards the top of the division for an automatic promotion. Ever since the birth of the Premier League (1992), AV has been a staple until a year ago where the club made a record, a horrible once, for the least points scored in the history of the top flight: 13. Pride is at stake as well as the manager's job. (In the world of Western soccer/football, managers are fired as frequently as teenagers go through girl/boyfriends -- basically every three to six months. If you last a year consider yourself a rare gem.) Fans want the club out of the second tier and back into the top flight were they think it belongs. They just want to get back "home." I do too. I want AV to be promoted.

Next up is Cardiff the upcoming Saturday. Three points would be great. At least I'm hoping that's the case.

But as a Chicago Cubs fan, I'll say this - "There's always next match."

American soccer fans.

There are many things I admire about my fellow American soccer fans. There are many things I do not like about them as well.

One thing that I don't like is them obsessing over whether a player should play in the Premier League or the Championship, the latter being the second tier of the English soccer/football system. My thinking goes like this -

If the player is a starter in any Premier League team then that's fine. If he isn't and finds himself on the bench more than a season then it's better to move to a club that gets you playing time in order to develop, even if that means going to the Championship.

The Championship is a fun league to fun and it's hard to get promoted from due to there being 40+ games. If it helps, many notable players and managers like the second tier of the English system because they see it as more "pure." Take that as you will. Nonetheless the little brother of the top flight has its fans and it's well-deserved. 

Americans' holding of the mentality of "top flight or nothing" is like a parent obsessing over whether or not his kid will be accepted into a top ranked university. It's understandable but at times it can get very irritating.

If the player is a Championship caliber player, playing in the top half of the table, then so be it. It's better than being an MLS starter and not getting on the national team.

Another thing I don't like their protectiveness over American players. I simply don't give a crap if an American player is trashed if their play is crap. What I don't like is American players being hated simply because they're American when they play overseas or if they're used as a scapegoat for a poor season (see: Brad Guzan when he was at Aston Villa). I'll defend a player if someone says he's shit when he's not, and I'll be nice about as well, not defensive.

There are other things I do not like, but those are for another day if I feel compelled to rant about them.

Note: MLS is slowly getting better; I'm a support of the league.

AC Milan vs FC Bayern

I just purchased my tickets and I'm rather excited for the game.

Which team am I rooting for? AC Milan, of course.

EDIT: (7.29.16)

FC Bayern 3(3), AC Milan 3(5) - penalty

The weather near Lake Michigan was humid. It was a bad day to wear jeans and within five mintues of walking to find food before the game I my back was sweating as if I was in a sauna. As I walked towards Shake Shack I saw various soccer jerseys, ranging from Bayern Munich, Milan, USMNT, a couple of Bundesliga teams, LA Galaxy, Chicago Fire, Arsenal to Manchester United.

The walk towards Soldier Field was even worse, but once inside the stadium the climate dropped significantly. The stadium wasn't packed, just filling out near 40K people, but for an international soccer match in the US it's a good showing.

A vast majority of those who  came for either team were Bayern fans - practically 1 out of 10 were Milan fans as one Milan supporter put it. That was fine with me.

For whatever reason Bayern has a huge following in Chicago. Maybe it's because many in Chicago have German blood in them. Maybe they have family in Munich. Who knows. Whatever the reason, the fact that some woman dressed up as a German Beer Girl made my night (besides being the minority Milan fan surrounded by Bayern fans when the shootout came to an end). Honestly, it was funny, sexy, and a little strange.

Overall it was good game. Milan needs to strengthen their midfield and add some attacking power. I believe the team can finish in the top five since they already have the players to do it. Of course, the roster can be better (especially the reserves). It is what it is. Winter transfer will be crucial.

Besides a Milan win the city of Chicago, the city had much going on. Lollapalooza was starting the next day, so workers were putting any last minute barriers, and Cubs won over the White Sox later that night. As I boarded the train home I saw a sprinkling of Cubs and Sox apparel.

And yes, women who wear sundresses with high heels in the city at night look damn amazing. Don't stop what you're doing. Just don't walk on cobble stone.

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.