Scabs? How much would you support them?

[stinky]

there was an interesting and potentiall good lineup posted on a different thread. but regardless, would anyone pull for these guys?

i'd probably support them just as much as an underdog and has players having the balls big enough to not jeopardize or WC chances by playing for their country.

i'll tell you one thing, any player, veteran or not, that is willing to sit by while scrubs head down to T&T for a WCQ game is more in love with himself, then he is with his country.

[MightyMouse]

Everytime I think of Scabs I think of the year the NFL had replacement players and my dear Dallas Cowboys were going through the motions. Now I could care less about the NFL or the Cowboys and its the US national team that I follow through thick and thin.

I'll tell you what, anyone who puts on our nations uniform is not only getting a shot at representing themselves but is also representing the nation. If scabs is what we put out then scabs are what I will support. It will be unfortunate if this stunt bites us in the ass at a later time though. Such as missing out on the World Cup because of not playing your best players.

I am not sure 100% what the problem is but I pray that both ends don't pull an NHL on us and that WC2006 is going to be our 2004 Olympics...

[chad]

Since I supported ABMOD when he put on the uniform, I guess I'll support anyone who puts it on. That of course doesn't mean I am happy with the situation - but if someone is willing to help us attempt to qualify while this mess is going on, they deserve all our support, IMHO. I'm on the supporters' side, not the players', not the USSF's.

[stinky]

It will be unfortunate if this stunt bites us in the ass at a later time though. Such as missing out on the World Cup because of not playing your best players.



or our best players not playing.

[stinky]

I'm on the supporters' side, not the players', not the USSF's.


wow. great line.

[dfb547490]

I'll support any team wearing the uniform, and I'd have great respect for anyone who crossed the picket line to play in T&T if it comes to that. If the A team misses a WCQ then later comes back I'll again support the team, regardless of who is playing on it, but I'll lose all respect for those individual players.

Country over club, country over union.

[petersoccer]

Shame it has to come to this. I thought the NHLPA had a lock on stupidity.

[Scr4Lyf25]

I for one would never support a scab. That is supporting USSF and a slap in the face to the other players who have gotten us to where we are with US soccer.

Any player who crosses that line is essentially screwing themselves and their colleagues. They will only get what they deserve by staying unified.

Forget all the country crap you guys keep throwing out there! This is their JOB! Risking career ending injury for the pure joy of representing your country? Gimme a break??? I don't see the honchos with USSF out there busting their butts they are counting their money. Cough it up fellas! The players are the most important piece to this puzzle and the USSF better recognize.

[dfb547490]

I for one would never support a scab. That is supporting USSF and a slap in the face to the other players who have gotten us to where we are with US soccer.

You can support the badge without supporting the individual players.

Forget all the country crap you guys keep throwing out there! This is their JOB!

Playing club ball is their job.

Risking career ending injury for the pure joy of representing your country? Gimme a break??? I don't see the honchos with USSF out there busting their butts they are counting their money. Cough it up fellas! The players are the most important piece to this puzzle and the USSF better recognize.

And playing for the national team raises the visibility of the players, gives them a better chance to get a lucrative contract in Europe, makes them a much more valuable commodity to their MLS team (in terms of marketing) and thus gives them much more negotiating power with their MLS club. Even if the USSF doesn't pay them a dime beyond room and board, it's absolutely in a player's financial best interest to play international ball.

[Gar7]

If they wear the Red, White, and Blue, i'll support them. However, if the USSF stands by this then they are truly abunch of morons to risk qualifying for the World Cup over money(in which they get money for participating!). One day the US will not qualify for the World Cup, but it should be because the best the US has did not get it done, not because the Federation barred the best US players in the world from playing because of a dispute over cash. That just shows that the USSF does not truly care about the pro game in this country and the fans that support it. They are willing to throw away the strides and gains made by this country domestically and internationaly over the last 15 years fro greed.

The players are as culpabale wanting more. They are paid fairly well(most of them) by their respective MLS or international clubs. The money they receive per diema nd per match is nothing to sneeze at and should cover some if not most of the expense for travelling with the US squad. But then, theplayers have no control over a "lockout". Both sides should put aside their differences and their pride and do the right thing...play and qualify this US team, probably the best ever, for the Cup. Wait for all this money crap until the World Cup in Germany is over.

[stinky]

You can support the badge without supporting the individual players.



Playing club ball is their job.



And playing for the national team raises the visibility of the players, gives them a better chance to get a lucrative contract in Europe, makes them a much more valuable commodity to their MLS team (in terms of marketing) and thus gives them much more negotiating power with their MLS club. Even if the USSF doesn't pay them a dime beyond room and board, it's absolutely in a player's financial best interest to play international ball.


as i've posted in different a different thread, i agree with this 100%. as the US produces more beasley and donovans, i wonder what beasley would say if you asked him:

"If the USSF only gave you $100 for playing for the national team and playing in Korea, would you still have played?" Likely, his answer would be yes. without his play, he wouldn't be at PSV earning multiples of his MLS pay.

[Scr4Lyf25]

If the USSF cared for us (the fans) they could at least show some good faith and offer the players something temporary until a negotiated contract is in place.

It would appear that no attempt has been made. It's simply continue playing with an old contract or don't play at all. Who wins there???

That along with the lack of marketing, etc. shows that we as fans are not a priority of the USSF and apparently their players are not either.

If we don't mean anything to them, why continue to $upport the USSF? Where's the reciprocity?

[stinky]

The money they receive per diema nd per match is nothing to sneeze at and should cover some if not most of the expense for travelling with the US squad. But then, theplayers have no control over a "lockout". Both sides should put aside their differences and their pride and do the right thing...play and qualify this US team, probably the best ever, for the Cup. Wait for all this money crap until the World Cup in Germany is over.


i'm sure 100% of their expenses is covered. then they get the 2-5K per game.

if the US makes it to germany, then yes, hand out bonuses to those players. if we advance, give them more.

but if a player decides to play for the nats and cross lines, then actually, i'd prob. support them more (if that's possible).

[Scr4Lyf25]

Playing club ball is their job.



You can call it a 2nd job if you like but it is still a JOB!

They get paid, they are told when to go to practice, when they get a day off, what they can eat, when and where they HAVE to make appearances, etc. It is a JOB.

[stinky]

i'd give my left nut to have a second job like that. :D

[Scr4Lyf25]

i'd give my left nut to have a second job like that. :D


That was a good one!

If you want to give them both you could possibly get a JOB on the Women's team....hahaha... I think they need a couple players now. ;)

[StillKickin]

i'll tell you one thing, any player, veteran or not, that is willing to sit by while scrubs head down to T&T for a WCQ game is more in love with himself, then he is with his country.
But that's not what the players are doing. They are NOT refusing to play T&T. What they did was not show up for a DECEMBER camp that they were not officially notified of. USSF then took that to mean they're on strike, we'll lock them out of January camp, then we'll field a scab team vs. T&T. Nowhere did the current USMNT say they would not play in this qualifier. It's USSF locking them out because they won't do what USSF wants them to do.

Plus, I think USSF put that Feb. 1 deadline there because they suspected that the players would show up to play T&T regardless of if there was a January camp or not. Just my own speculation on that last part.

[SoccerFreak]

But that's not what the players are doing. They are NOT refusing to play T&T. What they did was not show up for a DECEMBER camp that they were not officially notified of. USSF then took that to mean they're on strike, we'll lock them out of January camp, then we'll field a scab team vs. T&T. Nowhere did the current USMNT say they would not play in this qualifier. It's USSF locking them out because they won't do what USSF wants them to do.

Plus, I think USSF put that Feb. 1 deadline there because they suspected that the players would show up to play T&T regardless of if there was a January camp or not. Just my own speculation on that last part.

No one knows for sure if they were notified or not. The players are saying they weren't notified, while the USSF is saying that they were formally told about the December training camp.

[spot]

Scabs are the guys who make $5.00/hour to help management defeat a union who wants the employees make $8.00/hour.

If these guys strike I'll support whoever plays.

Maybe they ought to offer a promise to pay part of their transfer fees to the USSF in return to higher per game pay.

[terp fan]

Hopefully all of this gets resolved within the next few days and we can start talking about the T&T game. If not, I will support whoever put on the USA shirt because each WCQ game is so important to soccer's survival in this country. If we don't qualify then MLS takes a hit along with all levels of soccer in our country. Don't hate the players that play, question those that don't and ask why all of this is an issue NOW?