Wahl: Revs Are the Least Ambitious Team in MLS

Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl measured the aspirations of all nineteen Major League Team soccer franchises and found the New England Revolution to be the most pathetic:

No fan base sends me more complaints about its own team ownership than New England's. The Revs play in an NFL stadium far from any city, and any hopes for an urban soccer stadium in Boston remain talk and little more. Spending some money to make Shalrie Joseph a DP has been the exception to the rule in New England. Winning seems terribly important to the Kraft family when it comes to the New England Patriots, but how much do the Krafts care about the Revolution?

- John C.L. Morgan

Update: Revs Should Complement New Uniforms with Throwbacks (December 6, 2011)

The Geography of Talent: Top Youth Soccer Clubs in the U.S.

(Editor's Note: Click on map to enlarge)

Soccer America recently published its annual ranking of the best 30 boys' and girls' youth soccer clubs in the United States (here and here). The image above is a geographical representation of the results that I put together. Of course, the blue pins represent the boys' clubs, and the pink pins reprsent the girls' clubs.

John C.L. Morgan

Related: An In-Depth Look at Region I: Wealth (April 1, 2010)

Westbrook Soccer Alumni Collegiate Report: 2011 Edition

Below are the Westbrook soccer alumni who played collegiate soccer this past fall:

Peter Dore (WHS '05)

Dore, a sophomore at Southern Maine Community College, started 19 games, had 7 assists, and scored 4 goals for the SeaWolves.

Lindsay Driscoll (WHS '11)

Driscoll, a freshman at Johnson & Wales University, appeared in 6 games for the Div. III Wildcats.

Zach Johnson (WHS '08)
Johnson, a sophomore at St. Joseph's College, set a school record for goals scored in a season (17) for the Div. III Monks.

Layne Kearney-Graffam

Kearney-Graffam, a freshman at Southern Maine Community College, started 16 games and had 2 assists for the SeaWolves.

Galen Perkins (WHS '09)

Perkins, a redshirt sophomore at Stanford University, did not appear in a game for the Div. I Cardinal.

Jarrick Russo (WHS '11)

Russo, a freshman at St. Joseph's College, appeared in seven games for the Div. III Monks.

Andrew Sousa (WHS '11)

Sousa, a freshman at Daniel Webster College, played in one game for the Div. II Eagles.

Brenden Walden (WHS '10)

Walden, a sophomore at Roger Williams University, appeared in three games for the Div. III Hawks.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Westbrook Soccer Alumni Collegiate Report: 2009 (January 20, 2010)

Recommended Reading: Tom Howe

Tom Howe, one of the founders of the illustrious youth club Scott Gallagher SC in 1976, spoke to Soccer America's Mike Woitalla in March 2011. Among other topics (long-term player development vs. short-term results and the inceasing youth soccer industrial complex), Howe addresses style of play for young soccer players:

I wish everybody would try and play like Barcelona. If all
the clubs across the country did that you’d have some pretty smart players when they hit the ages of 18, 19, 20. And there’d be more people wanting to watch soccer in this country. Barcelona’s the best team I’ve ever seen. They’re just fun to watch.

Update: Though Howe summarizes the Barcelona style of soccer he'd like to see more American youth coaches employ, Michael Cox of Zonal Marking just published an in-depth look at the ten principles of Barcelona's success, nine of which have to do with their style of play. Even though the article looks at those principles through the lens of former Barcelona youth coach Luis Enrique's implementation of those styles of play at AS Roma, it complements today's recommended article perfectly.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Recommended Reading: De Toekomst (December 7, 2011)

Vid of the Week: Panyee FC

We're at that time of year when the number of playing surfaces will begin to narrow (theoretically, at least), but I think it's fair to say Mainers still have an advantage over the players in the non-fictional re-creation above.

- John C.L. Morgan

Seacoast May Take Field Complex Elsewhere

The Forecaster:

Michael Healy, a spokesman for Seacoast United, said the Topsham-based nonprofit is still looking for ways to make the project fit in Freeport, but has also started to look for another host. "We will look to relocate in Freeport or outside Freeport," Healy said. After the Planning Board decision, which was an advisory vote, Healy met with the Town Planner, town councilors and the town attorney to discuss options that would make the project fit, including amending the zoning ordinance to establish an overlay district, creating a new recreational zone, or adding an additional permitted use to the zone.

- John C.L. Morgan

Related: Seacoast United and the Town of Freeport: A Timeline (December 3, 2011)

5 Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas

Bumpy Pitch

A California-based online retailer of hipster t-shirts with soccer themes.

Cruyff Classics

A collection of fashion and soccer footwear inspired by the former Dutch star and coach Johan Cruyff. If for no other reason, go to this site to check out the Cinema section.

Ruffneck Scarves

A Seattle-based retailer of a wide selection of soccer scarves at some of the best prices you'll find. The site has multiple scarves for each MLS team and features the scarves of the usual suspects across the Atlantic and elsewhere.

Ultras

Another California-based online retailer of hipster t-shirts with soccer themes. All shirts are manufactured by American Apparel.

Zonal Marking
Though primarily a tactical analysis Web site, ZM has a rich bibliography of recommended reading for the aspiring tacticians and soccerheads on your gift list. I've read about ten of the books, and I'd say the list is a good one so far--with the exception of Rinus Michels's Teambuilding. Don't buy that; I'll give that one to you for free if only to open a slot on my bookcase.

- John C.L. Morgan