BlackLotus
03 Jun 2005, 09:36 AM
earlier this year, i think most fans of US soccer were not only hit with a slap in the face when the players started to strike for more money, but appalled that they chose RIGHT before the beginning of World Cup Qualifying games to do it. i was almost thinking that in the end, the players we all support and talk about on this board would not all play together again the same as they had before, the strike would prevent us from qualifying in the WC '06 all that happened with soccer in America would be flushed down the toilet forever and we'd have to start over at square 1 as if WC '02 never even happened.
anyway...
whether the players were right and justified to strike for more money for playing international games, or if they were complete idiots for deliberately sacrificing the American soccer team (and all who follow it and invest themselves in it for the last x years) for unworthy reasons, the strike is still an unresolved matter that is going to come back later.
for now, both sides have agreed on a no-strike, no-lockout clause until the end of this year. however, what happens when that expires? since the U.S. team had the bright idea of waiting until RIGHT before they are needed most, to go on strike, would they do it again and call a strike RIGHT before they step on the plane to go to Germany for 2006 World Cup?
Or, would an agreement be made faster if USA has EARNED its bargaining stance by successfully qualifying for the World Cup?
Or, would the U.S. team even wait all the way through playing in the world cup, and THEN go back to negotiations (i doubt that will happen since if money is their complaint, they probably eye WC '06 as the main place for any successful negotiations to pay off)?
In any case, although it's something I really dread thinking about, it's still something that's been in the back of my mind recently, and can't help but ask what you guys think, because the problem is a big one that is still unresolved, the problem will come back (so it HAS to be dealt with), and it has the potential be be a disaster to all of American soccer.
anyway...
whether the players were right and justified to strike for more money for playing international games, or if they were complete idiots for deliberately sacrificing the American soccer team (and all who follow it and invest themselves in it for the last x years) for unworthy reasons, the strike is still an unresolved matter that is going to come back later.
for now, both sides have agreed on a no-strike, no-lockout clause until the end of this year. however, what happens when that expires? since the U.S. team had the bright idea of waiting until RIGHT before they are needed most, to go on strike, would they do it again and call a strike RIGHT before they step on the plane to go to Germany for 2006 World Cup?
Or, would an agreement be made faster if USA has EARNED its bargaining stance by successfully qualifying for the World Cup?
Or, would the U.S. team even wait all the way through playing in the world cup, and THEN go back to negotiations (i doubt that will happen since if money is their complaint, they probably eye WC '06 as the main place for any successful negotiations to pay off)?
In any case, although it's something I really dread thinking about, it's still something that's been in the back of my mind recently, and can't help but ask what you guys think, because the problem is a big one that is still unresolved, the problem will come back (so it HAS to be dealt with), and it has the potential be be a disaster to all of American soccer.