I figure we need to resurrect a thread to talk about in-form/out of form MLS players who happen to be eligible to play for the US. Here's the thread from last season: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1474970 MLS finally kicks off the 2011 season tomorrow as Seattle hosts Los Angeles, while Real Salt Lake have a huge match against Saprissa in the CONCACAF Champions League.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Preseason Flavors ****this is simply based on what i speculate the BigSoccer community feels about American players in MLS. this is NOT a post stating who i favor and who i do not.**** In the "cool club" now: GK Johnson, Rimando, Hartman DF Shea, Gonzo, Loyd, Ream, Anibaba*, Kitchen*, Sarkodie*, Valentin* MF Donovan, Najar FW Agudelo, Mwanga, Bunbury, Salgado*, Nagbe* Doghouse: GK Seitz, Hesmer, Perkins DF Marshall, Ward, Cameron, Alston, Wynne, Davies, Ianni MF Rogers, Gaven, Pontius, Zizzo, Quaranta, Mapp FW Casey, Wondolowski (strange considering he's the Golden Boot winner), Lenhart, Cristman, Barrett *to be on the doghouse list there has to have been some bashing of the player or in the case of players like Cameron and Marshall has to have radically fallen off the radar of most BS posters for unknown reasons. basically, the belief that the player either is the worst soccer player ever &/or is not living up to their potential. Indifferent but notabale: GK Hamid, Pickens DF Opara, Pearce, Wallace, Hall, Harrington, Freeman, John, Franklin, Borchers, Veeder, Moor, S. Williams, De la Garza, Purdy, White*, Soares* MF Convey, McCarty, Tchani, Avila, Alexander, Smith, Salinas, Larentowicz, Carroll, Pause, Beckerman, Cronin, Sturgis, McDonald, Okugo, Stephens, Gavin, Cruz, Duka, Gil, Navas, Nanchoff* FW Cooper, Magee, Davies, Schilawski, McInerney, Bowen, Braun, Agorsor*, Bruin*, Hertzog*, Meram*
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition the big reason guys like Perkins, Seitz, and Hesmer fell off the map is because they well.....sucked. Really....really bad last year
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition So, if Josh Saunders could deal with crosses, he may warrant a call-up. Big guy, great reflexes. Bruce probably won't play him enough though. Sean Franklin did OK. Chad Barrett is a really poor version of Wayne Rooney ... you know, like a flophouse type.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition What's the name of the guy who was a rookie midfielder for the Gals last season who had a good 1st half of the season?
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Stephens, who is only 21. He came on in the 2nd half for LA today.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition I thought Franklin played pretty well. Probably my pick for MOTM. Saunders had a couple nice saves, but also got bailed out a few times. He would've looked VERY foolish for coming off his line to complain while play was still live if the Swede's goal had gone in on that great chance in the first half. Seattle was a bit unlucky not to score a goal or two. They had chances.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Michael Stephens. He came on as a sub near the end. Got the ball in a one-on-one situation and showed that he's still not fast . He may get more playing time if Arena decides to play Donovan up top, which looks like a good option, especially when Angel doesn't play. Franklin played fine in this game, but it's going to be tough for him to compete with the younger, more technical rb's abroad. At this point, I would still rate him the best American right back in MLS (narrowly over Loyd), but I'm looking forward to seeing more of Sheanon Williams as well as the debuts of Sarkodie and Valentin. Not only did Seattle play poorly, they managed to do so with no American players who could possibly be of interest to the national team. Keller has a better chance of becoming USSF president than any Sounder who played tonight has of getting a US national team call-up. [FONT="][/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="][/FONT][FONT="][/FONT]
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition BTW, to cross this with the "possession" thread - tonight both teams were awful with it. There was no combination play to speak off - just boot it to anyone and run.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition All I'm going to say is I TOLD YOU SO with Chris Seitz. I saw him at UMD about 5 years ago and was not impressed he was just a big body with a D in front of him.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Yeah... I was in class but was able to watch it in mute on the computer... didn't seem impressive to me. BUT it is the first week of games, hopefully that tactical awareness picks up later (I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of play last year)
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Man Barrett really sucked last night i think Dunivant did well as LB Flankin did good also
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition individual eleven, why would you say Franklin is a CB at the international level? i like him at RB. he's quick, fast, and covers a lot of ground on the wing, but what he's not is big and strong which is normally (not always) needed at the international level.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Barrett played? lol. the only play i remember from him is when he shanked a pass to beckham.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition this is true you didnt. thats fair, completely deserved too . crow humbly consumed. Hopefully MacMath proves to be better
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition CB is where he won rookie of the year. And he was phenomenal. His strength, pace, passing, and tactical awareness were outstanding. He did make MLS Best XI as a fullback but his play outside was not as impressive imo, certainly not from the standpoint of international play. He didn't impress in his cap at fullback either.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition If Saunders could deal with crosses, maybe he would start for an MLS team.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Seitz took sucking to another level, Perkins and Hesmer were just ordinarily bad.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Wow, what a zing there. He's capped tied to Puerto Rico however, so he is our's.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition That's what happens when you play on a giant green slip & slide. I'll reserve judgements on certain players until I see them play an actual soccer game........and not pinball. The most interesting game of the MLS weekend for me will be in Dallas. It looks like they'll indeed be starting Brek Shea at centerback against Chicago. Going into the season that's one of the more intruiging stories from a USMNT perspective. He'll be playing in the backline with two other guys that were called into camp cupcake: George John at CB, and Loyd at LB. As for Chicago........I'm really interested to see what Anibaba can do. It looks like he's gonna start right out of the shoot.
Re: MLS flavors of the week: 2011 Edition Josh Saunders reminds me of brad guzan. He is an excellent shot stopper but his weakness is corners. He tends to go after every ball played in which almost cost LA a goal in Seattle. The guy deserves his own team though. Also Omar Gonzalez will be playing his first game for the galaxy Sunday.