I also saw MLS commissioner Don Garber and former U.S. national team star Claudio Reyna at tonight’s gala. (I saw the MLS Players Union’s Eddie Pope, but he was the epitome of tight-lipped.)
I asked Garber about the CBA negotiations and the comments he made last week in Manchester. His response: “I don’t think it’s positive or negative, per se. It’s just that we’re very committed to try to get a deal done. I know the players are as well. We’re going to work hard to try to reach an agreement. But I know we’re not going to do a deal that doesn’t make sense for the owners, and I know the players aren’t going to do a deal that doesn’t make sense for them… Listen, these processes are difficult. They take a lot of time, and there’s going to a lot of working commitment on either side to try to get something done.”
Garber said talks will resume next week.
As for Reyna, I bother him for analysis of the U.S./Netherlands match.
“Playing Holland in Holland is always difficult. But i think it was a great game because I think coach Bradley will be able to see, your deficiencies are highlighted more when you play the Dutch. Still some positions are up in the air. I think we did okay in the beginning, but it’s difficult…
“You can see some of the guys that possibly aren’t ready to start or to be in that position because the way I look it, when I’m watching the game yesterday, it’s not so much the result because it’s not easy to play Holland. But you try to look at our players and see who can handle this pressure because the game against Holland, there is really no pressure.
“If a player can’t handle the pressure of a friendly in Amsterdam, it makes me wonder if they can handle the pressure in a real critical game in the World Cup because I know from experience, it’s a whole different level of pressure and nerves. For me, that’s what I look at because you see a lot of good players, but when the pressure’s there, how they react. That’s what I think, more than anything, the coach is looking at. The players you can count on when there’s pressure.”
It’s amazing to think that for the first time in nearly two decades, Reyna isn’t in the mix for the U.S. World Cup roster. He’s just fine with that:
“For me, it’s very casual. I’m an observer and a fan, to be honest. I want them to do well. But you see how quickly the team cycles. With each year, there’s fewer and fewer guys that I’ve played with. I’m getting older, and new guys are coming through. It’s good though. All those guys have kind of risen to be the leaders, they came in as young guys. It’s really nice to see that cycle kick around.”
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