The Voice of the Players

[Palmetto Soccer]

If anyone has any info, I'd like to know who's the voice of the players in negotiations? Do they have a player representative such as Reyna or Keller? Or are they represented by an agent or outside source?

[SABuffalo786]

According to our USNTPA rep J in the big thread in USMNT N&A, there are five player reps whose identity is kept secret.

[Delsocfan]

According to our USNTPA rep J in the big thread in USMNT N&A, there are five player reps whose identity is kept secret.

When this whole thing started didn't Bruce travel to England to tell some unamed players that the USSF wasn't bluffing. I'm guessing that this means Keller, McBride, Reyna would be among them.

[Adam Zebrowski]

from the espn article:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=319590&cc=5901

"National team manager Bruce Arena flew to England to speak with some of the team's top senior players to let them know that the USSF wasn't bluffing. At the same time, U.S. assistant coach Glenn Myernick flew to Germany to scout potential replacement players among the several Americans currently playing in Germany's lower divisions. "

[Palmetto Soccer]

from the espn article:

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=319590&cc=5901

"National team manager Bruce Arena flew to England to speak with some of the team's top senior players to let them know that the USSF wasn't bluffing. At the same time, U.S. assistant coach Glenn Myernick flew to Germany to scout potential replacement players among the several Americans currently playing in Germany's lower divisions. "


Thanks for the info. I read an extremely interesting interview with the player's attorney Mark Levenstein (sp). It was on the Fox Sports World website. After reading this, I'm convinced replacement players will take on T &T. Hopefully, for Mexico the issue will be resolved. :confused:

[rkeane15]

I need an option for Clint Mathis. :)

[Palmetto Soccer]

I need an option for Clint Mathis. :)

Had to leave Clint and David Regis off the list. You can only post four choices.

[Chromeknee]

Thanks for the info. I read an extremely interesting interview with the player's attorney Mark Levenstein (sp). It was on the Fox Sports World website. After reading this, I'm convinced replacement players will take on T &T. Hopefully, for Mexico the issue will be resolved. :confused:

Right now it's all posturing; each side is trying to get the other to blink. And Bruce Arena, well, you have to realize who pays his salary. He has to appear neutral to maintain a good relationship with the players, but he is anything but neutral. I don't think either the USSF or the Players Association want to enter into this final stage of qualifying with replacement players, but the players will not be dictated to by the USSF, and if the USSF "...take it or leave it..." attitude continues, I hope the players DO walk out.

[Palmetto Soccer]

Chrome, What do you think will happen? I see us playing with replacement players against T & T and losing 2-0 or similar. I can't imagine playing Mexico with replacements. It would be too embarrassing. I think the USSF will finally negotiate after the loss to T & T. I believe the USSF wants to use replacements against T & T just to prove a point -- that it won't back down. The USSF won't negotiate before the Trinidad game.

[Adam Zebrowski]

Regarding Arena, I would think team unity is his highest priority. While I do believe he'd coach scabs in Trinidad, I do NOT believe he will actively pursue key players to cross into camp, potentially alienating other key members, leading to team disharmony.
My suspicon is USSF is willing to use scabs in T&T because their calculus has the usa being sufficiently strong enough to toss the 3 points there, and still qualify.

Is their enough soccer knowledge within the ussf camp to really know the dynamics of the hex, OR is this the case where the kiddie soccer guys are running the asylum???

If the scabs play against guatemala in birmingham, then forget about getting to germany. The hole will be too enormous to climb out.

and then I'd suspect arena would resign following the guatemala match, and leave the mess to ussf to pick up....

the interesting aspect is the statement from ussf unwillingness to go the u-20 route against t&t....

using u-20's would contaminate adu and gaven and whatever other u-20 emerges as senior team caiber...

so ussf is guarding these guys from the virus, which means they aren't completely stupid in the world of real politik....

my gut feel is the scabs play one match, lose, and saner minds realize what's at stake....

however, NO january camp means the marginal guys don't get a time to show their wares, and that's a huge injustice to them...

so ussf can go manage the developement of the game here in this country, frolic over which kids make which traveling squad...

but they simply prove they don't grasp what it takes to really compete at the highest of levels....

you keep your talented players happy...and motivated...

after all, doesn't ussf have this project 2010 propaganda...