Most of those guys on the MNT boards don't see him enough to have a real opinion. Some of things they say about him defy logic. I once heard some say say his mental ability was amazing. I gotta tell you whenever I seee eddie dribble himself into a corner with no one to pass to "amazing" is the last thing on my mind. I still think he will be a stud though.
I do; I'll tell you why. He's been there; he's played for clubs abroad and here; he knows MLS; he's been on the field in 3 World Cups -- he knows from experience. If you don't like his style or attitude, you have to cut through that see his point. He knows what to look for, and he knows what he sees.
I'm definetly not a Waldo fan, and like i said its not about agreeing with him or not but i just think you are being a bit to harsh on the guy. He does say a lot of things, and when one talks a lot chances are he will say stupid things and people will disagree with him. I want Walo to speak up, and i want more Waldo's around the radio,TV, reporters, etc. I want a reporter that is a soccer fan, and really cares for the sport, and will follow the coach around ask him questions. I want to see all areas of soccer in this country be in the hands of people who grew up with soccer either as player or coach. The trend has started, more players do commentary, Lalas is manager, Kinner is coach and i look forward to the day when all teams will be lead by those type of people. Some people are to ignorant to recognize Waldo's assets to US Soccer and to all of us, we need him, Trust me.
I agree with what you say the game needs here. But unfortunately Waldo is not it. He doesn't provide insight he provides biased opinions. It would be nice to have someone who speaks out who more often than not has substantive things to say.
Doesn't make him right either. If all moderately successful ex socc jocks were good at assessing talent, they wouldn't be in the booth making immature comments about stuff they can no longer do, they would be in the board room analyzing the superdraft pool. Thankfully, Waldo is right where he belongs, talking jive on one of the most jive-ass produced and dullwittingly directed sports broadcasts ever aired. If you want evidence for why the sport is not taken seriously here I offer ESPN Succer Suckerday as Exhibit A. And after that mouthfull of bees, I have to admit that Waldo taking the time to write down his opinion and post it on MLSNET is a good thing, and for simply making the effort he should be thanked. But it doesn't mean we can't say his opinion smells like ASS, if we disagree. He is a notorious Fire homer, and anything he says about acquiring players from a last place side should be taken with an enormous grain silo of salt.
Look, we have to get older, and more physical. That much was proven true over the past season. Armas is a def. player we should try and get, same with someone like Razov. Is he a Moreno? I don't know, I hope not. But I'd take a gamble on him. As for Magee. Screw him. That freaking mouth, he's probably going to become a cancer anyway eventually. Finally as to Wynalda. Look, he's an ass*, not doubt about it. But I think some of the things in regards to the Metrostars I agree with.