New Grant Wahl-SI 12/02/2005

[westsidepunk]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/grant_wahl/12/02/us.draw/index.html

Sorry if this was already posted, did a search and didn't find it. Some interesting tidbits about the upcoming game schedule, the draw and a DVD about the qualifying campaign. Also gets Bruce's thoughts on Rossi.

[bigtoga]

That guy just sits around, reads Bigsoccer, and re-words the posts...

[Arisrules]

That guy just sits around, reads Bigsoccer, and re-words the posts...


But has quotes from Arena, including the fact that Rossi WILL NOT, I repeat, WILL NOT be on the Us Nats team? Versus Bigsoccer posts asking for Rusty Pierce to be our right back?

get real.


Wahl is by far and away the best soccerwriter in America today. He seems to have an ear with everybody.

[westsidepunk]

That guy just sits around, reads Bigsoccer, and re-words the posts...
This could be true, but would it be that bad? With some of the other writers, a common complaint is that they are idiots, and if they would just spend some time on Bigsoccer they wouldn't get everything in their articles wrong.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Whelp. That's that for Rossi.

Obviously he rubbed Arena the wrong way...

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Wahl is by far and away the best soccerwriter in America today. He seems to have an ear with everybody.

I fully agree. No one else seems to be as in tune with the soccer fans in the US as Wahl. And he seems to have ready access to Arena and other inside sources (like finding out about how Donovan helped resolved the labor dispute etc.). I think he's a top class reporter and I'm very grateful he's out there at such a big, visible sports news source.

[pwip]

Whelp. That's that for Rossi.

Obviously he rubbed Arena the wrong way...


Oh Good! It's over....

[Clint Eastwood]

[Giuseppe Rossi, the 18-year-old New Jersey-born Manchester United striker, has told Arena that he would rather play for his parents' native Italy than for the United States.

"Clearly he's not interested in playing for the U.S. team, and if he's not then we're not interested in having him," says Arena, who says he spoke with Rossi about the possibility of a call-up for the U.S.'s recent friendly against Scotland. "We're not chasing around 18-year-old players that can't get games for their club team and tell me they want to play for Italy. It's a futile exercise."

Rossi, who has scored one goal in two Premier League appearances this season, is considered one of Man U's rising young talents.]

Gotta love Bruce. That's almost right out of a BigSoccer thread.

[Sandon Mibut]

As I said on the other thread, this should pretty much end all the Ross-for-the-USA talk.

I respect his decision but this issue is closed unless there is a major turn of events.

[Clint Eastwood]

"This time around you'd probably say Australia and Trinidad & Tobago are the weak ones."

Who else here thinks Australia aren't the weak ones in the field? Did Bruce get this one wrong? How about Angola, Bruce?

Rossi can go die in a fire for all I care.

[Achtung]

Over/under on length of time before he comes crawling back after getting sick of the Azzuri not returning his phone calls?

[JoeSoccerFan]

Whelp. That's that for Rossi.

Obviously he rubbed Arena the wrong way...

If he came to Arena and stated he wanted to play for the US, I bet Arena would consider it.

But right now, Arena is not going to spend any energy on it. It's a cold water tactic - i.e., inducing an ego-centric (my words) athlete to feel unwanted manipulating him to persue Arena.

Though, I don't care if he plays for us or not. It's not like 1990/1994 where we had no depth and had few world class players.

[Achtung]

If he came to Arena and stated he wanted to play for the US, I bet Arena would consider it.

But right now, Arena is not going to spend any energy on it. It's a cold water tactic - i.e., inducing an ego-centric (my words) athlete to feel unwanted manipulating him to persue Arena.

Though, I don't care if he plays for us or not. It's not like 1990/1994 where we had no depth and had few world class players.

I agree, and I think its basically Arena saying "we're not going to get on our hands and knees and beg him to play unless he really wants it and earns a spot through the camps and friendlies." The door is generally going to be open to eligible players who are performing well enough for their clubs at a high enough level. As long as they haven't formally pissed off Arena.

[Sandon Mibut]

Over/under on length of time before he comes crawling back after getting sick of the Azzuri not returning his phone calls?Well, according to a link SueB posted - and she RELLY KNOWS HER $HIT when it comes to Italy - Rossi is cap-tied to Italy because he played for their U17 team in UEFA qualifying and the UEFA U17 championship.

Under FIFA rules, Rossi has till he's 21 to change his mind and ask to be released to play for the US. I don't know if that means till he turns 21 or till he turns 22 (I'm guessing many here know that one) but the kid is 18 so the clock is ticking.

As I said, I respect his decision but I can't help thinking that in a few years he's gonna really regret it.

[superdave]

Over/under on length of time before he comes crawling back after getting sick of the Azzuri not returning his phone calls?
Well, it's gotta be less than 3 years. Once he turns 21, that's it, he's cap-tied to Italy.

[russ]

If he came to Arena and stated he wanted to play for the US, I bet Arena would consider it.
Not unless he started getting serious time at ManU.

But right now, Arena is not going to spend any energy on it. It's a cold water tactic - i.e., inducing an ego-centric (my words) athlete to feel unwanted manipulating him to persue Arena.

Once again,Bruce uses the media to deliver the message.In about any other US team sport,this is a sure way to make your players hate you.Somehow,it works for Bruce.


Though, I don't care if he plays for us or not. It's not like 1990/1994 where we had no depth and had few world class players.

Not many world class forwards,to be sure,but yeah,this is a sign of maturity in our program.

BTW,it's not over forever-just likely for 2006.There are two years after that where Rossi can change his mind.

[Achtung]

Well, it's gotta be less than 3 years. Once he turns 21, that's it, he's cap-tied to Italy.

I'd seen that elsewhere and wasn't sure about it, but it does seem to be the case.

Of course a lot can happen in three years. If he's scoring loads of goals in the Premiership (obviously a big if, but not altogether unlikely) and still isn't getting called up, well he might have a change of heart. Or something.

[sidefootsitter]

... BTW,it's not over forever-just likely for 2006.There are two years after that where Rossi can change his mind. If the kid isn't tempted by the World Cup, then he isn't tempted by anything.

Close the lid and pull the lever. This one is down the toilet.

[MickeyMoney]

If the kid isn't tempted by the World Cup, then he isn't tempted by anything.

Close the lid and pull the lever. This one is down the toilet.


Yeah I don't get it it's the World Cup and if your as they say on the streets nice as you think you are your agent has to tell you you become a legend by playing in World Cups you don't just pass those by with a whatever shrug when a National Team Manager daggles that carrot in front of you.

[Ghost]

Actually, the ironic twist is that by killing Rossi's ability to play for the US, Bruce actaully has made it more likely that he coudl come begging a couple years from now by preventing him from using the US to leverage Italy. Whether or not Bruce or the future coach would take him up on it,and whether he would want to do so or continue to be lovestruck with Italy, remains to be seen. Scotty posted a story about a Swiss player of Italian heritage who waited until the last minute. We'll see if Rossidoes, and we'll see then.
Until then, I'm glad Bruce went after him. I just hoped it would have worked out better. And I hope Rossi wasn't dumb enough to completely burn the gbridge. He may need it in a couple years.