Popular Topic Here - Winning vs Development: Eric Wynalda Calls Out MLS NEXT’s Broken Vision

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wynalda’s latest Unleashed YouTube series is a tiresome ‘angry parent’ troupe where he angrily bashes every aspect of US soccer.

Tournaments=Bad
MLSNext=Bad
US Soccer=Bad
US Commentators=Bad

His angle is to bash everything and rarely does he put forth much to try to fix issues he is ranting on about.

I’ve watched several of his videos. I find them tiresome. Most of his topics have already been discussed on a majority of the forums. And unless you can create overriding regulation, all the leagues and clubs are free to continue to operate without changing course.

And funny thing is he currently has his daughter in the system that he believes is so messed up lol. If he "cared" so much he'd go the route of Eddie Johnson by creating his own environment for development. It's just easier to rant and tell other people to fix the broken system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without promotion/relegation and a compensation system similar to how things are in other countries there is simply zero incentive for clubs to 'develop' players.

Winning is what matters because that's what sells.

That will never work here.

Also the rest of the world will become more like the US not the other way around. Europe in particular. Money is key and there is never enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I don't have a network telling me what to say anymore. God it feels good!...

That player played bad...

[network] Choose your words a little differently because we don't want to lose that partnership."

Replace partnership with paying families with two or three siblings at the club. Club directors telling coaches:

Choose your words a little differently because we don't want to lose that family's $$$. Don't move that player down. Give that player lots of playing time or he will complain to us...etc.

This is exactly what is wrong with soccer clubs, at least here in the DMV. You have clubs who have inept players in U10 - U18 who are not supposed to be in those top teams (MLS, ENCL or GA). But since their parents have two or three kids paying $3k+ a pop you have directors telling coaches not to let them go or move them down because that would mean money out the door. And so you have the great players with committed parents carrying the team and oftentimes losing games because of weak players.

Usually, excellent coaches have no saying as to who they get to pick for a top team. These coaches are the Wynalda's of network tv. You can't say anything truthful or you are out of a job. Directors will fire you.

Unless we have a true academy that covers 100% the cost of development as an investment then we are fooling ourselves. This is a lucrative business, end of story.

You also have these MLS Next - GA - ECNL monopolizing the market and so superior local teams/players are left out because they cannot afford or are blocked by these organizations.

Wynalda speaks with authority and speaks the truth that everyone else is afraid to speak because they have a vested intere$t.

Keep creating videos like these Wynalda. That is the only way our country can change the way we develop our players. Hopefully it changes in the future so we can put our country on the as a leader in creating world class soccer players.

The truth hurts.

Thanks for expanding this. But still, this is not a new take. And unless there is regulation to allow for Free Academies (Bolded Above), this cannot be 'wished' into existence.

There are literally thousands of posts on why we have too many kids playing to have Free Academies. We do have DC United... but it's only for a few boys age 13 and up and according to the other DC Academy thread, it is rife with problems.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Eric! Stick to your YouTube channel.

[Anonymous]

Does he have an opinion on how well MYS's JH develops talent?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wynalda’s latest Unleashed YouTube series is a tiresome ‘angry parent’ troupe where he angrily bashes every aspect of US soccer.

Tournaments=Bad
MLSNext=Bad
US Soccer=Bad
US Commentators=Bad

His angle is to bash everything and rarely does he put forth much to try to fix issues he is ranting on about.

I’ve watched several of his videos. I find them tiresome. Most of his topics have already been discussed on a majority of the forums. And unless you can create overriding regulation, all the leagues and clubs are free to continue to operate without changing course.

And funny thing is he currently has his daughter in the system that he believes is so messed up lol. If he "cared" so much he'd go the route of Eddie Johnson by creating his own environment for development. It's just easier to rant and tell other people to fix the broken system.

LOL!

Eddie Johnson is following the $$$$$$$

His environment is

A.) not ideal for holistic player development. He develops robotic players.

B.) private training is THE most lucrative avenue for a coach to go down

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fact that Eric Wynalda is saying all this is actually is pretty significant which is why we are all talking about. I doubt many of you can name 5 controversial USNMT team players. Notable players, not Herc Gomez (love Herc but he wasn't a star) 100 caps or more type players who publicly criticize USMNT, US Soccer, and youth soccer development as a whole, can you name 5?

Probably not. Wynalda was a star and a first class striker for his era, I didn't say world class, produced in and by the US infrastructure. So when he criticizes it, it has weight. Reality also is he is a soccer dad too, absorbing all the same bull shit we do, so yes its not new, but its certainly notable. Let's see what if any impact voices like him have especially if more players were as emboldedned like Waldo are to actually speak up and make change with their actions and resources. Less Lando's and Lalas more Waldo's and Deuces

Maybe for an American player but far from "first class" or world class next to other players from other countries in that era. Being "first class" for the USMNT isn't usually saying a lot, especially from that time period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wynalda’s latest Unleashed YouTube series is a tiresome ‘angry parent’ troupe where he angrily bashes every aspect of US soccer.

Tournaments=Bad
MLSNext=Bad
US Soccer=Bad
US Commentators=Bad

His angle is to bash everything and rarely does he put forth much to try to fix issues he is ranting on about.

I’ve watched several of his videos. I find them tiresome. Most of his topics have already been discussed on a majority of the forums. And unless you can create overriding regulation, all the leagues and clubs are free to continue to operate without changing course.

And funny thing is he currently has his daughter in the system that he believes is so messed up lol. If he "cared" so much he'd go the route of Eddie Johnson by creating his own environment for development. It's just easier to rant and tell other people to fix the broken system.

LOL!

Eddie Johnson is following the $$$$$$$

His environment is

A.) not ideal for holistic player development. He develops robotic players.

B.) private training is THE most lucrative avenue for a coach to go down

I didn't say follow the same model as Eddie, I said create his own developmental environment since he has so many issues with the current. Why complain so passionately about something and then put your kid in it? Thats like me complaining about a club and then sticking my kid in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MLSNext has implemented quality of play rankings at U13 and U14 but I can see that there are many families (of winning teams especially) who absolutely hate it. Says it makes players “soft” when you discount wins and losses. 🤷‍♂️

They must be the parents of 6ft strikers that play kickball instead of football…

[Anonymous]

Please tell me about these local superior teams …

[Anonymous]

US clubs are pros at making money in the system we have. Customers pay for plastic medals, cheap trophies and patches on jerseys.

Other countries are pros in making money from the soccer business. They need to develop world class players to see their rights.

Both systems make the most possible money they can. They simply have different goals from the game of soccer/football.

[Anonymous]

We need to retain our better athletes/ players from dropping the sport at 12 yrs old. Maybe going back to SY will help a touch (so to speak); and the focus on development and playing more quality football vs winning will help as well. I think Eric wants his glory days back and that clouds his judgement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without promotion/relegation and a compensation system similar to how things are in other countries there is simply zero incentive for clubs to 'develop' players.

Winning is what matters because that's what sells.

That will never work here.

Also the rest of the world will become more like the US not the other way around. Europe in particular. Money is key and there is never enough.

Oh, I'm sure it won't work here since the system we have basically is in line with how America runs the rest of their professional sports systems. Just pointing out that development in other countries works because of how their systems are built and won't work here.

As far as the rest of the world moving to closed systems? Did nobody remember the super league situation? There are way more complex articles covering it but if you want a short summary https://soccerwizdom.com/2025/02/19/the-super-league-debacle-a-failed-revolution-in-soccer/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to retain our better athletes/ players from dropping the sport at 12 yrs old. Maybe going back to SY will help a touch (so to speak); and the focus on development and playing more quality football vs winning will help as well. I think Eric wants his glory days back and that clouds his judgement.

I find it hard to believe that a player dropping soccer at 12 was ever going to have it in them to be a great player.

And the mention of SY is weird. No top 12 yr old player is affected by BY v. SY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wynalda’s latest Unleashed YouTube series is a tiresome ‘angry parent’ troupe where he angrily bashes every aspect of US soccer.

Tournaments=Bad
MLSNext=Bad
US Soccer=Bad
US Commentators=Bad

His angle is to bash everything and rarely does he put forth much to try to fix issues he is ranting on about.

I’ve watched several of his videos. I find them tiresome. Most of his topics have already been discussed on a majority of the forums. And unless you can create overriding regulation, all the leagues and clubs are free to continue to operate without changing course.

And funny thing is he currently has his daughter in the system that he believes is so messed up lol. If he "cared" so much he'd go the route of Eddie Johnson by creating his own environment for development. It's just easier to rant and tell other people to fix the broken system.

LOL!

Eddie Johnson is following the $$$$$$$

His environment is

A.) not ideal for holistic player development. He develops robotic players.

B.) private training is THE most lucrative avenue for a coach to go down

No one has it figured out, but at least EJ is trying. Of course hes making money this is his business, his friggin name is on it. Build the hype on socials, charge whatever you want. Don't hate the player, hate the game. EJ is trying too, to build technique specifically. Is it perfect. No! Do his players lack soccer IQ. Yes! But the technique is everything with u-littles. He should focus his bussiness on being the best MLSN/ECNL prep program out there. Give me your kid until ther 15 and they will be a tek monster. ECNL white american male joystick coach can now scream soccer IQ into them