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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Started for a Bundesliga team in his prime, that's the definition of first class. When you are frist 11 in a top 5 league. What else you got payaso?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

You have to move the masses and the average parent/kids understanding of the game to increase participation and retention. Would be great players drop out of the sport all the time for others sports, what country are you living in?

[Anonymous]

This whole debate is just lol funny to me. Is there not a pattern between success of US athletes and popularity and revenue of the professional level of those sports? The US has a lot of great football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and [women] soccer players.

Yet people spend every waking moment trying to diagnose why men's soccer is so mediocre. It must be the way youth soccer players train! That must be it! All other sports dont care about winning, only development? I find that damn hard to believe. It can't possibly be that the other sports take priority in our culture.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole debate is just lol funny to me. Is there not a pattern between success of US athletes and popularity and revenue of the professional level of those sports? The US has a lot of great football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and [women] soccer players.

Yet people spend every waking moment trying to diagnose why men's soccer is so mediocre. It must be the way youth soccer players train! That must be it! All other sports dont care about winning, only development? I find that damn hard to believe. It can't possibly be that the other sports take priority in our culture.

Your point is probably the biggest reason why US soccer still lags on the world stage. That said, if we ride the wave of Messi and the World Cup in 2026 to get participation up, that could help some. Like the 1992 dream team in Europe boosted those countries cultural investment in basketball and they became way more competitive and in the coming years .