Bruce Arena and Eric Wynalda Square Off

[AreliusIV]

Meet Eric Wynalda. He’s the pretty-boy soccer analyst who has been absolutely killing US National team coach Bruce Arena on a daily basis for ESPN. It’s a bludgeoning, really. [Brief Wynalda history lesson: He scored against Switzerland in the 1994 World Cup, but was an absolute waste of space in two games during the 1998 Cup, when the US finished 32nd out of 32 teams.]

Moments after the US was eliminated from the 2006 World Cup following a 2-1 loss to Ghana Thursday, Wynalda (aka Waldo), famously ranted ”Bruce Arena Screwed Up the World Cup for the US”. Harsh? Sure. Accurate? That’s debatable.

Late last night on ESPN’s ‘World Cup Live’ (or whatever it’s called), we caught Rece Davis grilling Arena. Davis said something to the effect of, “our analysts have been critical of you and the team.” Clearly, he was talking about Waldo, though no names were mentioned.

With his trademark ****-eating grin, Arena fired this opening salvo: “Your analyst … they should know that these competitions are difficult … the 1998 team that many of your analysts participated on, fell apart. On the field and off the field. Our team is a strong team.” Then came this: “Over the eight years I’ve been with the US team, we’ve advanced considerably. I had to take over a program in 1998 that really was at the bottom, because of really, the antics of a lot of players.”

Yee-haw! Rece then turned to a fiery-red Waldo, who appeared flustered and embarrassed. “Maybe [Bruce] didn’t elevate soccer in this country, maybe he took it where it should be. I don’t think he’s the guy to take it to the next level, and he proved that.” Then came the personal digs: “…He’s an arrogant guy … He’s never played in a World Cup, he doesn’t know what that’s like.”

We’re shocked Wynalda didn’t just scream, “I’m the leading goal-scorer in US history, Bruce. You coached lacrosse!”

And now, the “antics” Arena was referring to. Less than two weeks ago, an anonymous poster on the Big Soccer forum found this Waldo quote:

“The difference is that this is a real team. Regardless of the game against Italy, I guarantee that the veteran players will not be sitting in the lawn chairs in the middle of the night throwing wine bottles at the coaches’ suite — like we did in France.”

Oh, look. Wynalda did say it. In USA Today, no less.

[clarette]

I saw part of Arena's interview from the ESPNZone in DC yesterday... he was seriously pissing me off with all of his "we have a ways to go" and "our younger players need better competition" BS.

Waldo said of Bruce, "It's like me saying, 'hey, buy stock in my company, but I'm planning to fail'".

Pretty funny stuff, really.

[fuegote]

Hate Waldo when he is broadcasting games but his studio analysis has been fantastic.

[Aero]

Waldo is both brilliant and an idiot all at the same time. It's a rare talent he should be proud of.

And quite entertaining. Most of the time.

[SoccerPrime]

While I find myself in the pro-Arena corner, I cannot support most of what he is saying. I can only say that he is suffering from some post-traumatic issues following the WC fiasco. I love Waldo, on ESPN2 and as a WC analyst. He is arrogant and proud of US Soccer, as we all should. I find myself grudgly agreeing with him in regards to Arena.

How about we focus on building up MLS instead of just throwing our best talent As Soon As Possible to Europe?

[dysko]

Originally Posted by Aero

Waldo is both brilliant and an idiot all at the same time. It's a rare talent he should be proud of.

And quite entertaining. Most of the time.

This is so true... half the time I am thinking... "Waldo you are right on!" the rest of the time I am thinking..."To bad you don't step out of the TV so I can knock some sense into your arrogant little (no wait make that over inflated... like your ego) head."

[Dadof3]

Certainly better than Marcello...who, despite all the years he played, has no clue tactically, doesn't know the laws of the game, and fully supports the negative tactics that FIFA is trying to eradicate from the game. I'll take Waldo over the brainless one any day...

[prk166]

Originally Posted by clarette

I saw part of Arena's interview from the ESPNZone in DC yesterday... he was seriously pissing me off with all of his "we have a ways to go" and "our younger players need better competition" BS.

Why? Do you think Damarcus and Landon, probably the only 2 US players capable of producing the kind of offensive creativty the US needed and overall is sorely lacking did well? And at that I suspect it was really directed at guys like Landon. A Damarcus going into the cup showing poor form, a head in a another place (he got DUI a lil' while ago) and such did more than Landon. Landon was lost the minute he was playing against something more than Mexico or an MLS team. I have a hard time seeing how Bruce is wrong with that assesment. The US still needs more players that can understand the tactics of the game and EXECUTE them. A coach can only implement what the players can actually do. And the US showed as a whoel they're still not comfortable on the ball, still not comfortable with quick 1-2 touch passing, still not good at executing a fast counter attack that knocks the other team on it's heals and to show some sort of creativity in the offensive third. The US defense is there but until they can do these things, tehy will not consistently be able to beat other teams in the world.

As for building on the MLS, that's a very sweet gesture. But, to be blunt, it won't work. Landon's the poster child for why. Look at how much better of a player Convey is. At the national team level what you need is not 40 pretty good but great players. What you need are those rare players that can change a game. And they don't have to push they're skills if they remain in the regular classes. They need to take those advanced placement courses. When they're in the regular courses, they can get As without studying. In the MLS, Landon can score goals cuz he's going up against guys like Matt Behnke or Mark Schulte. He can do amazing things cuz some fo the best mdifelders in the league whether it's Richard Mulrooney or Ricardo Clark or Chris Arams aren't good enough to play for their national team (or at least not any more). For guys like Landon, playing in the MLs lets him get that A without studying. And it's guy like Landon that are what the US is lacking, at least ones that can perform offensively on the world stage. The US showed against Italy that in any given game they can play pretty darn good defense as it is. They just need players that are comfrotable on the ball and holding on to it to take some pressure of the defense.

Is BA responsible for some of the problems? Sure. But if you gave Picasso kid's finger paint to work with, don't critize him for not being able to produce a classic painting. Coaches can only do so much in soccer.

[clarette]

You think I seriously want to read all of that? :wine:

The condescension in the Bruce's voice when making said comments made me think that he was pretty much trying to blame MLS for the US' weak showing, when there was plenty of blame to go around.

Which is what pissed me off. Because we all know that the European-based players just tore up the pitch out there and all...

Originally Posted by prk166

Why? Do you think Damarcus and Landon, probably the only 2 US players capable of producing the kind of offensive creativty the US needed and overall is sorely lacking did well? And at that I suspect it was really directed at guys like Landon. A Damarcus going into the cup showing poor form, a head in a another place (he got DUI a lil' while ago) and such did more than Landon. Landon was lost the minute he was playing against something more than Mexico or an MLS team. I have a hard time seeing how Bruce is wrong with that assesment. The US still needs more players that can understand the tactics of the game and EXECUTE them. A coach can only implement what the players can actually do. And the US showed as a whoel they're still not comfortable on the ball, still not comfortable with quick 1-2 touch passing, still not good at executing a fast counter attack that knocks the other team on it's heals and to show some sort of creativity in the offensive third. The US defense is there but until they can do these things, tehy will not consistently be able to beat other teams in the world.

As for building on the MLS, that's a very sweet gesture. But, to be blunt, it won't work. Landon's the poster child for why. Look at how much better of a player Convey is. At the national team level what you need is not 40 pretty good but great players. What you need are those rare players that can change a game. And they don't have to push they're skills if they remain in the regular classes. They need to take those advanced placement courses. When they're in the regular courses, they can get As without studying. In the MLS, Landon can score goals cuz he's going up against guys like Matt Behnke or Mark Schulte. He can do amazing things cuz some fo the best mdifelders in the league whether it's Richard Mulrooney or Ricardo Clark or Chris Arams aren't good enough to play for their national team (or at least not any more). For guys like Landon, playing in the MLs lets him get that A without studying. And it's guy like Landon that are what the US is lacking, at least ones that can perform offensively on the world stage. The US showed against Italy that in any given game they can play pretty darn good defense as it is. They just need players that are comfrotable on the ball and holding on to it to take some pressure of the defense.

Is BA responsible for some of the problems? Sure. But if you gave Picasso kid's finger paint to work with, don't critize him for not being able to produce a classic painting. Coaches can only do so much in soccer.

[dysko]

Originally Posted by clarette

Which is what pissed me off. Because we all know that the European-based players just tore up the pitch out there and all...

As a matter of fact, I am watching some Euro based players do that right now... the problem is that none of them are american, only spaniards and frenchies. 👍