Paulinho said:
Because he was born here? Because he lives here in the off-season? Because he's Canadian? Because he proves that a great football talent can be born in a nation rather indifferent to the sport? Because he could've played for us? Because many Canadian kids will grow up idolizing him regardless of what country he plays for? Because everyone who knows him tells me he's actually quite a nice lad?
Because he was born here?
Ok, we will give his parents credit for that. But I'm sure he regrets not being born in England.
Because he lives here in the off-season? Because he's Canadian?
Off Season! Wow ... which is like what? Two days long? I think it's pretty much safe to say that he will make Europe his new home. Not that there is anything wrong with that, as other players born in Canada have done the same. It's just more logical for some of our top stars to live there.
Canadian? Well what does Owen consider himself? I never really heard him say that he's Canadian lately. I never saw him holding a Canadian flag. He’s really shown more appreciation for the three lions then the maple leaf. Whatever he feels he is, then he is that. But in my eyes he isn't really Canadian.
He's definitely Calgarian though.
Because he proves that a great football talent can be born in a nation rather indifferent to the sport?
There are one million kids playing soccer in Canada. We are only indifferent in the sense that after a certain age limit, it gets tougher for young players to carve out their place on the world football scene.
Because he could've played for us?
Heck yeah. Imagine that ...
Because many Canadian kids will grow up idolizing him regardless of what country he plays for?
Really? To tell you the truth honestly I think he would of made a bigger impact on the youth of this country if he played for Canada. Quite frankly when our national team does better, it raises interest in the game. It's been proven before. WC86, GC2000 even to some lesser extent GC2002. Our failure to qualify for Korea put a dent in the image of Canadian Soccer after the 2000 Gold Cup however.
Honestly, I can see more kids being inspired by the A-League players rather then Owen Hargreaves. Sure he might inspire a few, but you should see how many kids a player like Robbie Aristodemo inspires after a Lynx game.
Because everyone who knows him tells me he's actually quite a nice lad?
I'm sure he is. The Voyageurs sent him a Christmas card back in 1999. He replied on our message boards (I'll try to find the link) and thanked us for the card. He's a nice English lad.
That's why he's a good player? Because of the excellent coaching staff at Calgary Foothills FC? Because our gov't invested loads of cash in him? Please. Had Owen stayed in Canada until now, we'd have another Dasovic or McKenna on our hands. If the kid was to play for the country that actually developed him, he would've played against Argentina today, not Paraguay.
What's wrong with Dasovic and McKenna? IMO, they have a lot more of heart, grit and soul then Hargreaves has.
Player Development is one half of the sandwich. The other is just natural talent. Some players are born with it, some aren't. I'm not about to dwell on the problems of developing a player in Canada - but let's say that there are many and there are a lot of inroads to make. But to say that the German academy should take full responsibility for his stardom is just ... wrong.
Well, if a player of Hargreaves' caliber can be born in Canada, then maybe things aren't as bad as we think.
You're really contradicting yourself in the above statement, or just eating the other half of my sandwich.