Here's a Q&A with Arsene Wenger. They talked about soccer in the US. Here's my favorite quote from him. here's the link: http://foxsportsworld.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=928636
Glad you enjoyed the Interview Glad you enjoyed the interview. You can listen to it on our website at www.worldsoccerweekly.com. Stay tuned, we just did a fantastic intetview with David Moyes that we'll be airing on Saturday and then Monday before we release it to the press. Nick.
Not just because of these comments, but Arsene Wenger is pure class. I find it particularly funny that he's ruling the roost in the Premiership with half of the French National Team.
In the article he mentions something about the US needing a bonafide superstar to hasten the growth of the sport(sorry if I am reading a little bit much into the article). Could that superstar be none other than a 13 year old phenom from the D.C. area? I wonder if he has heard the stories about Adu. Anyway, the article is a good read. Many soccer experts which Wenger is, are beginning to acknowledge the US is really starting to develop as a soccer nation.
I will agree that US Soccer lacks a bonafide superstar. I know there are the "Landon-ites" out there that would say he is, but he's too shy to be a "superstar." I hope Adu pans out just as much as the next guy, but he's 13 years old! He could conceivably not hit his peak for well over a decade! We need to look elsewhere for the superstar.
the way people talk about him on bigsoccer and the numer of article about him in the mainstream media he might as well be a superstar right now
Well, U17 qualifying is coming up on March 5th, I guess we'll find out if the kid has the goods or not.
I disagree. I think that Adu will be a superstar (if he lives up to his expectations.) He seems to be a nice, gentle, but amazingly talented guy. Americans love a winner. If Adu could score four or give goals in a world cup, Americans would love him. He and Landon, personality wise, have a lot in common, both have that teamwork/whatever it takes to win attitude, but Adu's talent could take that to the next level...
When given the opportunity to comment on Frankie Simek's progress, Wenger replied with a generalization of American trialists. Maybe he's not real high on Frankie, doesn't want to create a premature buzz about a player in the youth system, or just eager to comment on Americans. Anyway, I thought it was interesting. Oh well, we've heard coaches rave about players coming through the ranks who never seem to pan out, so we should see a few that become big-time players without much fanfare.
You never want kids to get the big head and think that there's not something they can do better. Praise is fine when deserved, but gushing all over a kid can do him more harm than good IMHO. Wenger seems to be very level headed about his own players, so I would suspect he's the same way with the youth team. Besides, its not like many of them have a snowball's chance in hell of breaking through on a buying team like Arsenal is.
Unlike Jermaine Pennant, Jeremie Alidieire or Moritz Voltz who are all Arsenal youth players pushing for first team PT. Two of who actually got in an EPL game each at the beginning of the season before being injured. They are 20, 19 and 20 respectively and have each been playing in the Arsenal Youth squad for the last 3 years.
BTW, if I start a band they'll be called the Second Coming of MATHIS. Or maybe just 'MATHIS' and the album will be titled 'the Second Coming of MATHIS' Whaddya think? Should I start a new thread?