Eric Wynalda hating on Bruce Arena

[SkinsRaj28]

One of the funniest things I've ever heard:

Arena, answering when asked about the criticism he has received over the U.S. team's showing in this year's World Cup and how it has affected him.

"Most of the guys who are criticizing me were part of the '98 team that was the biggest disgrace in the history of U.S. soccer. So what they say really doesn't affect me.

 

[cincy_]

One of the funniest things I've ever heard:

Arena, answering when asked about the criticism he has received over the U.S. team's showing in this year's World Cup and how it has affected him.

"Most of the guys who are criticizing me were part of the '98 team that was the biggest disgrace in the history of U.S. soccer. So what they say really doesn't affect me.

I heard that too. I think it was on ESPNNEWS.

My view is:

If you pissed your pants, you pissed your pants - it doesn't matter who points it out.

 

[charleslanger]

I think Arena deserves some criticism for leaving Twellman off the team. He could have helped out up front. The 4-5-1 formation didn't work.

I agree that '98 was a bigger disaster. Sampson cuts team captain John Harkes and brings in David Regis, who hadn't played in any qualifying games. There was nearly a team mutiny. Lalas doesn't see a minute of playing time and Balboa played the last 10 minutes of the 3rd game. That was a debacle.

He played too many veterans that were not at 100% fitness, like Wynalda...then hopes were raised by decent performances in totally meaningless friendlies...

 

[quantumleap]

Youth Soccer is still growing very rapidly in the US. I don't think most realize this but youth football,Basketball and Baseball are all on a decline on a % bases in the US. Soccer is still a very young sport here, but expert instruction at the youth level has increased dramatically. Give the 10 year olds of today 12 years of experience and see where the US is in 2018. And yes you have to look out that far.

The problem with developing good soccer talent in the US is making it more popular once kids get out of Youth Soccer. How many schools have a high school soccer team that the students attend the games? Our media popularize baseball and football so much that the kids in high school want to play those sports more to make it to the higher leagues.

 

[SunDodger]

He played too many veterans that were not at 100% fitness, like Wynalda...then hopes were raised by decent performances in totally meaningless friendlies...

I don't disagree with you, but cutting Harkes right before the World Cup killed team morale. Lalas and Balboa were benched because they told Sampson how they felt about that decision, not because they were old and slow.

 

[charleslanger]

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06-27-2006, 11:55 PM <!-- / status icon and date --></TD><TD class=thead style="FONT-WEIGHT: normal" align=right> #25 </TD></TR><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt2 width=175>Sun Dodger<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_2983639", true); </SCRIPT>
RX Junior

Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 243


</TD><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_2983639><!-- icon and title -->

<HR style="COLOR: #fdde82" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by charleslanger
He played too many veterans that were not at 100% fitness, like Wynalda...then hopes were raised by decent performances in totally meaningless friendlies...
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I don't disagree with you, but cutting Harkes right before the World Cup killed team morale. Lalas and Balboa were benched because they told Sampson how they felt about that decision, not because they were old and slow.
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</TD><TD class=alt1 align=right><!-- controls --></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Agree with you on both. And heck, even if, old and slow is a lot better than playing considerably injured.
Also agree re cutting someone who demonstrates leadership & initiatitve-- something sorely lacking this year. Well, they did demonstrate some initiative re dirty play.....

 

[jwunderdog]

The problem with developing good soccer talent in the US is making it more popular once kids get out of Youth Soccer. How many schools have a high school soccer team that the students attend the games? Our media popularize baseball and football so much that the kids in high school want to play those sports more to make it to the higher leagues.

It's getting there, I know when I was a high school kid in Va in the early 1980's very few High Schools had Soccer teams. Today don't know of any schools at the AA level or higher that don't have teams. If you don't have kids in soccer you don't see it but the real coaching is being done at the CLub and Travel level with euro players from minor league soccer coaching the players.

THe US is nowhere near Europe when it comes to soccer, but it's getting better, and the combination of more kids playing it and the increase in hispanics as a % of the population will only serve to increase the sports popularity in the US.

 

[cincy_]

the increase in hispanics as a % of the population will only serve to increase the sports popularity in the US.

Great point.

 

[Bennyshoe]

One of the funniest things I've ever heard:

Arena, answering when asked about the criticism he has received over the U.S. team's showing in this year's World Cup and how it has affected him.

"Most of the guys who are criticizing me were part of the '98 team that was the biggest disgrace in the history of U.S. soccer. So what they say really doesn't affect me.

That is awesome. But I'll say that the criticism he's received has been fair and right on.

At least that 98 team wasn't expected to do anything. This one was expected to be competitive and they performed about the same.

 

[TTinCO]

At least that 98 team wasn't expected to do anything. This one was expected to be competitive and they performed about the same.

I think this team just got a heavy dose of US media hype. I have a few friends who are religious soccer fans, and they made it real clear to me going in that this was going to be another quick exit.

 

[zee]

I think this team just got a heavy dose of US media hype. I have a few friends who are religious soccer fans, and they made it real clear to me going in that this was going to be another quick exit.

You don't need to be a religious soccer fan to predict it. I don't know a person even remotely interested in soccer that didn't say the States are gone immediatly after the draw.
Have to say tho, journos looking at the STATISTICAL Fifa rankings which don't give points on a seeded teams basis and making a big deal of how the team is in the top 10 was way too annoying.

 

[VOLTITAN]

O.K., I was just talking about Wynalda and the 98 team with someone and they said Wynalda was doing Harkes' wife and that was a major cause of the disruption on the team. Harkes apparently wanted Wynalda booted off the team, but Sampson sided with Wyanlda (I guess because he was a decent goal scorer) and that pissed Harkes off. Lalas and Balboa were also apparently mad at Sampson for kicking Harkes off and siding with EW. Somebody tell me if this is all off base.

 

[TTinCO]

journos looking at the STATISTICAL Fifa rankings which don't give points on a seeded teams basis and making a big deal of how the team is in the top 10 was way too annoying.

You're right....that's probably what started the big false hope. Put them in a Euro league, let's see how they do.

(Joke-We don't want to see that, trust me.)

 

[WildBill]

O.K., I was just talking about Wynalda and the 98 team with someone and they said Wynalda was doing Harkes' wife and that was a major cause of the disruption on the team. Harkes apparently wanted Wynalda booted off the team, but Sampson sided with Wyanlda (I guess because he was a decent goal scorer) and that pissed Harkes off. Lalas and Balboa were also apparently mad at Sampson for kicking Harkes off and siding with EW. Somebody tell me if this is all off base.

It's off base. Steve Sampson is just an idiot who always gets shown the door eventually. He continually plays favorites and it ends up pissing off the rest of the team. He has tried his act in a number of jobs and it always ends the same. He's lucky he got out of Costa Rica alive after the utter mess he left them in this time around.

The comments about who was doing who and all was just rumored. Maybe it happened, maybe it didn't. Doesn't change the fact Sampson was lousy at creating team morale. No team should leave a WC with everyone pissed off at each other and the coach, but that has been the hallmark of Sampson's career.

FWIW I wish Bruce would stick around. He has made the program far better than it ever was before. If you all think national team coaches only responsibility is to win games in WCs, your way off base. Bruce has built up a stable of talent that is uncomparable to anything the country has had in the past. Whoever is the coach in the future is going to have a tough time deciding who should be playing, a problem the US never had in the past.

 

[VOLTITAN]

WildBill,
Thanks for chiming in...I figured it may just be rumor or speculation and I don't want to add to the chorus of internet rumors about people's personal lives. I actually found an interview with EW right before the 2002 cup he only had good things to say about Harkes. I think you are right about Arena...but it is precisely because he has brought the program along so far and fans expected much more that they are disappointed in this WC. (point taken that a national side is not just built for the latest WC) Just my opinion, but I would have like to have seen more offense...going forward...shots on goal etc. Also, when the players come out after the C.Republic game and say, "We weren't prepared" and "people didn't know their roles" that goes right back to the coaching staff. It sounds like he is going to still be involved with U.S. soccer, but not be the head coach. Basically, I just want us to play to our full potential and then if we lose...so be it.

 

[Richard@Cascade]

When MLS opened, players were getting offered 22, 25k for a season. Athletes who are looking toward a professional career are not moved by that. Why go try out, witers make more $$.

I have played small level pro soccer for fun in the states. Got to play against Lalas and Galaxy crew. They are real good, But lack intricacies. I also got to play with a guy from Africa that had spent years playing in Europe D2 (Germany and Holland). Amazingly enough Galaxy coach wanted to sign him off my little fun D3 team at halftime of that game we played. Why, because there are just some differences in coaching players get over there, and the athletes that are playing for us. It has gotten better, but a long way to go.

I think the US should get a European Coach and promote arena to an administrative position out of respect. Then do what Miami did in College Football years ago to end the wishbone era. Go out and recruit speed and size and develop it young. Time to get some Bo Jacksons, and Michael Jordans to play soccer. See how that goes. What is there to lose. We are decent now, but now time to think outside the box.

Start by offering your pro players more dough. German D2 and D3 players make more than our "non star MLS" players.

 

[charleslanger]

For the short term / quick fix, we should liberalize completely substitutions-- get more experience for everyone..ditto offsides for attracting more fans...let FIFA throw a fit...we can play by their rules during international games.
Maybe borrow a page from hockey and encourage goalies to come out, but not just in dire situations...do like Campos & Iquita....