Q&A with Grant Wahl

[sprintjeløy1926]

Grant Wahl XI Questions (http://www.madisonsoccercentral.com/XIquestions/XIwahl.html) -- MadisonSoccerCentral.com

[Shibb]

Interesting interview. A bit surprised that he had Altidore in his best USA eleven already. Hopefully Wahl's got a good vision of the future, although I wouldn't have put Convey in my best XI at a defensive position.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I like his first choice USMNT XI:
XI What's your best American starting XI right now?

Goalkeeper: Brad Friedel, Blackburn Rovers (England).

Defenders: Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96 (Germany); Oguchi Onyewu, Standard Liege (Belgium); Jay DeMerit, Watford (England); Bobby Convey, Reading (England).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, on loan to Manchester City (England); Pablo Mastroeni, Colorado Rapids (MLS); Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS); Clint Dempsey, New England Revolution (MLS).

Forwards: Brian McBride, Fulham (England); Josmer Altidore, New York Red Bulls (MLS).


I question Demerit over Gibbs (despite injury), and also Convey's lack of defensive ability. Perhaps Gibbs could be left back, and Convey could fight Beasley for left mid. Who knows.

I applaud Altidore over EJ, but isn't it amazing how quickly hype builds in soccer? How many MLS games has Altidore played in, 5? How many did he start? And despite not yet even being in a USMNT camp, he is a first choice XI starter? And the craziest thing is, I completely agree with Wahl.

[Tony in Quakeland]

I like his first choice USMNT XI:
XI What's your best American starting XI right now?

Goalkeeper: Brad Friedel, Blackburn Rovers (England).

Defenders: Steve Cherundolo, Hannover 96 (Germany); Oguchi Onyewu, Standard Liege (Belgium); Jay DeMerit, Watford (England); Bobby Convey, Reading (England).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley, on loan to Manchester City (England); Pablo Mastroeni, Colorado Rapids (MLS); Landon Donovan, Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS); Clint Dempsey, New England Revolution (MLS).

Forwards: Brian McBride, Fulham (England); Josmer Altidore, New York Red Bulls (MLS).


I question Demerit over Gibbs (despite injury), and also Convey's lack of defensive ability. Perhaps Gibbs could be left back, and Convey could fight Beasley for left mid. Who knows.

I applaud Altidore over EJ, but isn't it amazing how quickly hype builds in soccer? How many MLS games has Altidore played in, 5? How many did he start? And despite not yet even being in a USMNT camp, he is a first choice XI starter? And the craziest thing is, I completely agree with Wahl.

I was going to post this too - I'm guessing he listed Convey on defense because he had too many midfielders he wanted to include. Listing Altidore just kindles that excitement that I have been trying real hard to ignore.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

Now if he was required to include only players who haven't retired from the USMNT...I wonder what he'd do.

Personally, I always harbor the hope that if asked, Friedel would come back to the USMNT. I don't know if this is true, but if he were handed the starting job in WC 2010, I'd have to think he'd take it.

But if not Friedel, then who? Howard and Hahnemann are both the clear options, but I think there's a chance that Guzan or someone else could emerge by then. Of course, the keeper would probably have to have at least a season in a top flight Euro league prior to WC 2010 to win the spot, but who knows.

And I wonder if Wahl would replace McBride with Cooper straight up, or if he'd do some mixing and matching and squeeze someone like Rolfe or Johann Smith in there. My guess is Cooper.

[appoo]

Interesting interview. A bit surprised that he had Altidore in his best USA eleven already. Hopefully Wahl's got a good vision of the future, although I wouldn't have put Convey in my best XI at a defensive position.

he's got an even better vision of the current striker pool beyond McBride. Forget the future, Jozy might be better than Ching, Twellman, or Cooper right now.

[Ghost]

I take it Grant didn't learn the Eddie Lewis lesson about converting midfielder into left backs.

[TimB4Last]

I take it Grant didn't learn the Eddie Lewis lesson about converting midfielder into left backs.

I'll have to write and thank him for throwing me a bone:

IV Who do you think is the most important figure in U.S. Soccer?

"I'm looking forward to the day when that's a player, and I don't think that's the case right now. Whenever there is a U.S. player that becomes the first big international superstar, that person will be it. But for right now, because it's so dependent on the business being grown, that's why Don Garber, the MLS commissioner, is paid more than any player in the league. You could make an argument that Sunil Gulati, the president of the U.S. Soccer Federation, is that guy. He's got to be shaping so much of what happens with the development of young players in the country and what the Federation does. But in all honesty, it would be a better situation if he weren't that guy. You know, it could've been Jürgen Klinsmann."

Well, Grant, you just helped explain why it couldn't have been Klinsmann, now didn't you?

***********

I agree on Altidore. He could be the guy we've been waiting for, and I'm not inclined to wait any longer (than absolutely necessary).

[FC Uptown]

No Klinsmann because of USSF politico's.....

....Let that sink in....


:mad:

[LORDEYE]

Quote: Re: Wahl on Klinsmann, Gulati, Bradley and the ongoing search for a permanent USMNT coach
"For better or worse, Bradley must have a decent shot at the permanent job right now, even if SG would rather hire a foreign coach.

I knew CQ was a 1998 favorite of SG; I didn't know about Houllier - I thought he was of more recent (SG) acquaintance.

And SGE is expressing a revived interest in the job. Didn't he read all the BS threads that ruled him out almost unanimously? The nerve of that guy!"


Houllier is interesting, but Carlos Queiroz is as dull and bookbound in his approach to the game as Jose Mourinho is sharp and idiosyncratic. CQ would make Bradley look hot-blooded, and Arena 2006 an audacious genius, by comparison. Fuggedabouthim, unless SG is some sort of arrogant elitist who must construe anyone he personally likes as a man above we common dung. And SG shows no signs of that, eh?

As for SGE, he would be a nightmare of Sampsonesque proportions. And would do to our beloved USMNT exactly what he would do to his comely secretaries [his choice in secretaries is his one point of excellence, I must admit].

[sidefootsitter]

SGE already got himself a job (and no, he wouldn't have been the worst choice ... though may not have been worth the money either), so strike him off that list.

BTW, Wahl is a Princeton guy ... now wonder he likes Bob Bradley.

[IndividualEleven]

Funny he mentions Dempsey as a player who could break through as a potential international star but not Adu.

Placing Altidore in a best American XI is curious to say the least. Talk about hype.

[BED-STYPUNDIT]

Wahl is sport for sport, one of the finest journlaist in the country, we know that, and his inclusion of Altidore shows his boldness and all.

Would I have put him up there, nah, but it does raise eyebrows.

[appoo]

Placing Altidore in a best American XI is curious to say the least. Talk about hype.

not about hype at all. It just says everything you need to know about Ching and Twellman and maybe even Johnson. Altidore is there by default.

[IndividualEleven]

not about hype at all. It just says everything you need to know about Ching and Twellman and maybe even Johnson. Altidore is there by default.

Calling a 17 y/o the best after 4 games of pro ball is pure hype. Hell, Eddie Gaven put together a more extensive run.

[Martin Fischer]

Calling a 17 y/o the best after 4 games of pro ball is pure hype. Hell, Eddie Gaven put together a more extensive run.

You can talk about statistics all you want, but determining who is the best player is a matter of judgement -- not quantifiable. Wahl thinks he has seen enough of Altidore to make that call -- it's risky but since we are dealing with opinion, you certainly can't disprove this claim. Time will tell.

[KALM]

Well since the question asked for the Best XI right now, and all of his other choices seem to be based on current ability rather than potential, it would appear that if the World Cup were held at this very moment, Grant Wahl would put Altidore in his starting XI.

[Motterman]

it would appear that if the World Cup were held at this very moment, Grant Wahl would put Altidore in his starting XI.

Which says more about the lack of proven quality in the current pool of US forwards more than anything else....

[IndividualEleven]

Convey at left back gives the game away.

[LeperKhan]

You guys all missed the best quote in the article:

VII What’s the best goal you’ve seen by an American or MLS player?

... [a]nd John Wolyniec's goal against the Crew late in the game, that was unbelieveable. Made even more remarkable by the fact that it was John Wolyniec.


Good stuff.