Wynalda wrote on MLSNet about the Honda Player of the Year award and had this to say about Borchers. Pretty impressive. Also read what he had to say about the Women's team. Ouch.
I like his opinion that good/great American players are out there and will be found by MLS. As the league expands we will see even more players like Borchers come up through local development channels. This is the same reason why I don't mind the likes of Howard, Convey, Mathis, Donovan being pulled abroad by the "glory" of other leagues. The glory of MLS will pull great American athletes toward the front and give us a great league to root for on home shores. The others who leave will be great money making opportunities for the league as long as they are sold before they are free transfers like Mathis might become.
Plus ... I always like the angle of placing value on the players that do go play in "glory" will bring back experience and understanding of where MLS needs to go to take it to the next level.
Couldn't agree more about the MLS not needing to worry too much about losing guys like Howard, Convey, Donovan, Beasley, Bocanegra, etc.... Eventually these guys are going to have to go abroad if the US National team is to move to another level. And as the US Nats succeed, more attention will be drawn to the MLS. Unlike statements made by one Foudy ("Mia has carried the men's and women's programs on her back for the past 7 years", something to that effect, check the USNATS boards...) no single player is bigger than the league. This is not golf (Tiger Woods) or NASL (Pele). This league is going to grow through quality play and grassroots support. Exactly the way it has for the past 7 years.
Really? I, among others, found it quite amusing. Eric Wynalda lecturing about how coaches should run teams, not players? Shirley he jests.
Re: Re: Wynalda on Borchers I found it amusing as well since it was Wynalda, Balboa, Agoos, Ramos, and Lalas that pretty much pouted throughout WC '98. I just thought his comments on Foudy and Heinrichs were pretty harsh. Correct, but harsh.
hey joeyclams where on mlsnet did you read what wynalda said about bug? i would love to see get a copy of it. thanks. tha cmac
Re: Re: Re: Wynalda on Borchers Actually, Balboa was pretty darn professional during WC98, kept his mouth shut, and in return was "rewarded" with the start in the Yugoslavia game.
isn't it funny that hankinson only started playing borchers b/c stewart tore his knee. He actually brought in Rizo, who is not sweet at all, b/c he didn't think his back 4 or any of the reserves were solid.
Isn't that how it works normally? Stewart had arguably, a rookie of the year season in 2002 so was he going to sit so Borchers, a rookie, could play instead? I don't think so. It's up to players to take their chances, no matter how they get them, when they are presented. Borchers did that, Stewart did that, and Carrieri did that last year with Spenny out injured for most of the year. Now these guys are going to be part of a young foundation for the Rapids over the next few years.
not sure about the rookie of the year comment. why bring in rizzo at a high salary when you're paying borchers the developmental 15g and no health coverage. that's freaking ridiculous.
Ohh Stewart had the Rookie of the Year title going for him last season. If he wasn't injured this season he would have been starting. So Nat stepped up and capitalized on his opportunity. Did Balboa actually get the start against Yugo? I thought he got subbed in late in the game, as his "reward" for keeping his mouth shut.
'Celo was subbed on in the 81st minute for Tom Dooley, Balboa's only appearance in the debacle known as France '98. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/02/en/pf/h/pwc/mr/8768.html