Tim Howard was one of the U.S. Men’s National Team players singled out during Alexi Lalas’ rant on September 10 on Fox Sports 1.
Lalas’ commentary about the “soft-tattooed millionaires” on the USMNT drew responses from some of the team’s stars already, and Howard spoke out to Sports Illustrated on Wednesday.
“He’s been blowing hot air for a long time,” Howard said. “He was an average player. He was a failed GM. And I think he gets the great thing about sports: Now you have an opportunity to get paid for your opinion when you’re finished playing, and it’s a good thing.
“Everyone has an opinion. And I think you have to deal with praise and criticism the same way,” Howard said. “If you deal with praise the wrong way, it can be detrimental. This is my 20th year playing as a professional. I’ve gotten criticized a lot. But I’m still doing something right. If Alexi wants to speak to me personally, he’s always around. He can find me. The likelihood is he won’t speak to me personally. But that’s just who he is. He’s a character.”
After dropping home games to Mexico and Costa Rica earlier in the Hex, the USMNT is in a must-win situation on Friday against Panama at Orlando City Stadium.
Tim didnt slander Lalas, he merely laid out facts… the same as Lalas… no big deal here. USMNT needs to step it up and Lalas wasnt that good, all’s fair there
Just think, if you’re more upset at tim for these comments than Lalas then you should reassess your emotions.
More agreement on these message boards than normal! Alexi said what all fans were thinking, and team needs to man up and play better! Tonight is a huge game!
You played like shit what would you expect from the fans. Can player made millions without fans. Don’t give all BS. Focus on the game and play with your heart. Lalas and fans have good reason to throw “shit back to the players if they bring shit to the game”.
Lalas as a player was a brute, in the most derogatory sense of the term. He had no skill, not much sense of combination or team play and was successful only by his size and hard tackles. The shaggy mane made him recognizable and his big mout got him attention.
When Lalas tries to pass off name-calling ,like soft-tattooed millionaires, as some sort of soccer analysis, it deserves an angry response.
I ask, if someone called you a name in the press and then the press asked you what you thought about him, what would you say? I think most of us would not have been as polite as Howard was.
Lalas was one of the best US defenders of that era. I believe he was the first American to play in the Serie A and an important player fo Padova. He also scored against AC Milan.
What expectation do you have of our defenders regarding skill, combination play or team play. Which defender has those skills today?
Average players don’t make it to Serie A and score.
LOL, Brooks and Cameron are already better than Lalas ever was, CCV, Miazge and EPB look to surpass Lalas’ talent as well (if they haven’t already)
Howard should let his performance on the field do the talking, not trash talking back to criticism.
later on howard went on to say “I don’t think how you go through qualifying over a two-year cycle determines your energy or your performances over a 10-day period [at the World Cup]”
I hope so – because this team has had an absolutely poor attitude during this cycle. all of these superstars coming home to MLS think they can just walk into the World Cup and still play like they did in their younger days. hey fans, media don’t worry about it, of course we will qualify.. and when we don’t its the jurgen klinsmann’s, alexi lalas’ or the lack of home support’s fault..
if we do qualify we need a major shake up asap. coach and at least half of these players must go, those that remain will be reminded what it is like to compete.
Would be great to see at least one of these players or BA ACKNOWLEDGE they’re poor level of play and intensity from the past window which caused Lalas’ and everyone else’s criticism, but instead all I read and hear is excuses and deflection and anger about being criticized. Just something like, “Yeah, we sucked and that’s on us.” Or, “We played tactically into CR’s hands given our formation and tactics and that’s on me as the manager”. All i hear is whining about getting criticized.
I rarely agree with Lalas, but the last 2 qualifiers the US was really bad and deserve all the criticism directed at them. Provide good results on the field and then you can speak out. Otherwise, your comments are meaningless, Tim.
Agreed. Not only Tim the rest of Team as well
Tim Howard talks like he is still a top keeper and hes….not. Whatever happens tomorrow, its time to start turning over this roster. These guys that have been around forever seem too entitled and act like they’ve got their accomplishments to fall back on. What has USMNT ever done besides be completely average and limp to bare minimum accomplishments like qualifying for the WC in the easiest region to do so? The fan support and TV coverage has grown so much over the time the vets have been with the team it has tricked them into thinking they are something they are not (a competitive national side).
All the responses from players have them talking out of both sides of their mouth. They say Lallas is just TV personality who we can’t pay attention to and then throw an insult right back at him. Everyone knows that Lallas is the ‘hot take’ guy for Fox soccer commentating. As much as the players try to claim it doesn’t bother them their responses show otherwise to me.
The more I think about it Lalas just said what most of were already thinking but he said it in over the top tone to get the views since that’s his job. We all are thinking the same thing after the game and the players and manager are basically rejecting the fan’s pov on their play and tactics from the past window. Getting mad at Lalas is childish, they need to man up acknowledge the failure of last window and man up further and put it all on the pitch Friday, it Do or Die Friday.
“Soft-tattooed millionaires” = New band name.
I agree Panda, Lalas is a commentator now & think his motive was to fire them up…Timmy resorts to slander.
As much as Lalas can be a pain, Howard doesn’t look good throwing shade right back at him. It’s childish. Just focus on the match tomorrow instead of stooping to the AL’s level.
What would USMNT expect from the fans + Lalas? Cheer, praise and admire ..what else ?? after they played like shit, no soul, no mind. Tim comments are garbage, what level you are if you were in the US soocer in 90’s. Your comment “level” is absolutely stupid. I was your die hard fan but no more. I don’t give a shit.
Good to see Howard still has that swagger ’cause that’s all he’s got left.
Not shocking thats what you call “swagger” bobby, you little turd.