Wynalda video interview on USA vs. Mexico

[Scotty]

Just found this two-part interview with Eric Wynalda conducted by the Mexican sports website Medio Tiempo. Very interesting.

YouTube - Medio Tiempo.com - Eric Winalda, entrevista exclusiva

YouTube - Medio Tiempo.com - Eric Wynalda, entrevista exclusiva 2da Parte

[Bolo]

The US is 10x more corrupt than Mexico when it comes to national team selection.

"They are playing the game the right way"

Very respectful of Mexico, good interview.

[Blustar]

Hmmmm. .. The USMNT is ten times more corrupt than Mexico in their selection process??? I wish the reporter would've pursued this angle... too bad.:(

[SCBozeman]

I wonder what EW means by "10% times more corrupt."

Perhaps he's implying that Nike essentially picks who gets called up and he's focusing on cases like Twellman. I find that hard to believe, since it's clear that Arena had his favorites that were called up regardless of form (the old UVa/DCU jokes), and Bradley seems to have continued that tradition. Perhaps he's meaning that since there's no oversight from the media, any shenanigans will go un-checked.

[STpassion]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92rjMAg7mZg&eurl=http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/football-banter/2009/02/note-to-sven-goran-eriksson-yo.html

[Bigrose30]

The US is 10x more corrupt than Mexico when it comes to national team selection.


He is completely talking out of your a**.

Oops, sorry, I thought that was your quote at first!

[FCmagic01]

Wynalda is slanting his views to the mexican public, thats all.

[SCBozeman]

I once worked at a law firm that was heavily involved in the original MLS players dispute.

Someone on the case told me what a treasure trove Wynalda was in depositions. In other words, he shoots his mouth off repeatedly, spinning theories and spewing facts that may or may not be accurate. (That's what you want on the other side of you in a lawsuit, because the person will eventually prove themselves to be inaccurate or generally full of it.) That may be instructive here -- makes interesting journalism and analysis, but may not be all that insightful.

Eddie Pope, on the other hand, was a model client -- lots of one word answers.

[USvsIRELAND]

Seriously that "10%" comment is BS. Our team basically picks itself (If you disagree you are not paying attention). Maybe 3-4 places in the first 11 are up for contest, but thats it.

It's not like we have a plethora of talented players to choose from that we can just ignore one or two for political reasons. :rolleyes:

[pettyfog]

Everything Waldo says on US Soccer is colored by his Steve Sampson/ Bruce Arena views. I understand that but it's time he got over it.

[SCBozeman]

His statements about MLS shooting itself in the foot by tying up use of team names through licensing (i.e., youth teams can't freely steal the names like they can in other sports), were interesting. So I wonder if he actually has a point to make.

[Max Zorin]

Sorry, but I don't believe anything that Wynalda says regarding player selection. I wonder about the biases of a guy who hasn't seemed to get along with anyone he's worked with in his career.

Eric, we know you love Taylor Twellman. We're sorry he hasn't been more successful at the international level. He's had his chances. But please. Drop it.

[FC Funkotron]

Maybe Eric was referring to youth-national team selection. It's not necessarily corrupt, however, as noted in a few cases it matters who you know to get involved. By result, alot of the products from these youth teams get drafted into the pros, or get picked up by some European scout and make a career out of it.

What happens to the kid who didn't know the right people, but had all the talent in the world? He never gets selected to a team, thus, never makes the national team...and so it goes, "corruption" starts from the youth game.

Obviously it's not that bad, but Eric could have a point.

[mattjo]

But not as corrupt as selecting overage players

[USvsIRELAND]

Maybe Eric was referring to youth-national team selection. It's not necessarily corrupt, however, as noted in a few cases it matters who you know to get involved. By result, alot of the products from these youth teams get drafted into the pros, or get picked up by some European scout and make a career out of it.

What happens to the kid who didn't know the right people, but had all the talent in the world? He never gets selected to a team, thus, never makes the national team...and so it goes, "corruption" starts from the youth game.

Obviously it's not that bad, but Eric could have a point.

How would Wynalda know enough about current Youth National team selection policies to make a comment like that?

And what you are describing happens everywhere in the world. The more MLS teams we have, the more pro youth setups we have, the less players we will miss. These things take time, they don't change overnight.

[Scotty]

Maybe Eric was referring to youth-national team selection.

I believe this is right. I can remember hearing him bitching about ODP player selection in the past.

[Lord15]

How would Wynalda know enough about current Youth National team selection policies to make a comment like that?

I'm sure he is talking about the kids, and he's been involved in Socal youth teams.

Our youth setup is corrupt.

[Max Zorin]

Maybe Eric was referring to youth-national team selection.

That makes a lot more sense. Hadn't thought of that.

For those in the know (I'm a relatively recent soccer fan, and don't know much about ODP, youth national teams, etc.), Is this genuine corruption, i.e., coaches couldn't care less about skill, selection is based on connections and money alone, or this due to a lack of resources and an enormous country with tons of kids playing soccer?

Meaning, are certain "connected" kids bound to get selected by the pure fact that coaches literally can't see as many kids as they need to see to make a better selection?

[DaPrince84]

His statements about MLS shooting itself in the foot by tying up use of team names through licensing (i.e., youth teams can't freely steal the names like they can in other sports), were interesting. So I wonder if he actually has a point to make.
the most interesting thing he said

[miked9]

Maybe Eric was referring to youth-national team selection. It's not necessarily corrupt, however, as noted in a few cases it matters who you know to get involved. By result, alot of the products from these youth teams get drafted into the pros, or get picked up by some European scout and make a career out of it.

What happens to the kid who didn't know the right people, but had all the talent in the world? He never gets selected to a team, thus, never makes the national team...and so it goes, "corruption" starts from the youth game.

Obviously it's not that bad, but Eric could have a point.

I actually thought the same thing. And didn't Wynalda have some run-ins with regional team coaches and whatnot? I mean, obviously Wynalda is his own thing, but I do think there are definitely plenty of inequities in the youth setup we have here.