Review: The case for Kenny Cooper

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by EL MONO MARIO, Oct 20, 2011.

  1. EL MONO MARIO Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Location:
    Montevideo, Uruguay
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Country:
    United States
    Under JK's new fluid attacking system, and the US inability to find a real forward, maybe its time we brought back a prime Target forward.

    Kenny Cooper who has 4 goals in 10 caps, not a bad number is only 26 and well seasoned... Never really given the chance on the USMNT to be the US forward maybe it Kenny Cooper can be the new Brian McBride...

    This given Jozy's new troubles at his club, also he has 12 goals in 42 caps. And Juan Agudelo really still not being there...

    So what do ya guys say: Kenny Cooper, should get another look...
          
  2. AutoPenalti BigSoccer Supporter

    Member Since:
    Sep 26, 2011
    Location:
    Coconut Creek
    Country:
    United States
    Wondo, Davies, Gomez, Ching, and now Cooper? I feel like this is turning into an "Advertising Players" board.
  3. dsirias Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 26, 2007
    As a big Coop fan, mid-year this year I would have said no. But Kenny seems to have found his form again. ( Remember he has had at least two goals disallowed this year that should not have--one was a bad offsides call and the other was a goal disallowed because the corner kick ball ostensiblyswung over the end line.)

    And the service to him has been pretty bad in Portland. I think he would score for the USA is limited minutes, Heck, Hercules Gomez would score MORE in limited minutes. I think it's a waste to call Agudelo and Bunbury. They have talent but are so not ready. Kenny and Herc are seasoned pros with demonstable skills that show when surrounded by good players.

    Kenny is no longer playing like a little guy. So Yes, he should be called. Herc too. They are not old, and will not be old during qualifying
  4. xbhaskarx Member+

    Member Since:
    Feb 13, 2010
    Location:
    NorCal
    Club:
    Fulham FC
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    United States
  5. EL MONO MARIO Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Location:
    Montevideo, Uruguay
    Club:
    CA River Plate
    Country:
    United States
    Agudelo and Bunbury suffer from if you can't start for your club how can you start for your national team. With Teal being the ONLY young forward out there who after 2 caps and 1 goal deserves another look....

    Cooper is strong in the air and not bad with his foot....

    Gomez is a sub, but a super sub for his team he could do that role for the US....

    There are many players I'd like to see and we'd all like to see for the US... But again the US is a work in progress.... A work in progress where our forwards Jozy and Juan are also works in progress...

    It could be a LONG WCQ term for the US....
  6. Skevin Member+

    Member Since:
    Aug 9, 2009
    Location:
    Texas
    Club:
    Aston Villa FC
    Country:
    Czechia
    I actually really like Cooper because for a big man he seems to be a great poacher. He could be like our Miroslav Klose, only really excelling for the national team. I wouldn't be opposed to him getting a call-up.
  7. clashcityrocker Member

    Member Since:
    Mar 12, 1999
    Location:
    In the shadow of RFK
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    So has Cooper finally started playing like a target forward? Because for years the knock on him was that he was a 5-8 skill forward playing in a target forward's body. Everybody looked at him and expected him to be the next Brian McBride, but he played like he wanted to be the next Earnie Stewart.

    Not that that's bad. He seems to be on form and god knows we need a forward who can put the ball in the net. I just have doubts that he's going to be the 'target forward' the OP is implying he could be.
  8. Fanatical Monk Member+

    Member Since:
    Jun 14, 2011
    Location:
    Fantasyland
    I don't know if he's become a the target forward he should be and we need, but he had a hell of a nice finish off a header last night. I love Franken Cooper when he's playing like he should. He's hard to watch when he's doing his winger impression though.

    Agree totally on Gomez, Cooper, Wondo over guys like Agudelo, Bunbury and even Jozy. They put it in the net consistently. You cannot say that about the young en vogue guys yet.
  9. irish56 Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 30, 2006
    Location:
    indy
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Country:
    United States
  10. irish56 Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 30, 2006
    Location:
    indy
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Country:
    United States
    When a forward hasn't scored a goal in the last 9 matches, it is understandable.
  11. Scotty Member+

    Member Since:
    Dec 15, 1999
    Location:
    Romagna, Italia
    And an average of a goal every 85 minutes.
  12. FakeFlopper Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2005
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    I thought he should have had a larger role last cycle. The guy is very skilled for a big man, and really does has that knack for goal. I think what hurt him some the last cycle was that there was a lot of pressure for him to put in goals in a relatively short time to make his case, which didn't allow him much time to play/learn that target forward role for the USMNT.
  13. dcole Member

    Member Since:
    May 27, 2005
    I thought what hurt him at least as much as that was the 2007 broken leg and the 2009-2010 journey to Europe where he hardly saw the field.
  14. swedust Member

    Member Since:
    Aug 30, 2004
    I will be interested to read people's impressions here.

    When it looked like BB was moving the team more toward a 4-5-1 I brought his name as someone whom such a tactical shift would favor and quite a few posters, even some Timbers supporters, dismissed the idea of him in a USMNT kit.

    Has his form changed that much since then? (I don't doubt that, I'm honestly asking the question)

    In terms of what I saw as his set of skills / attributes, I think he'd be a fine fit.
  15. FakeFlopper Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2005
    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    I use to think the broken leg prevented him from Copa and the Olympics, but I don't think Bob would have selected him for either anyways. I just don't think he was what Bob wanted, and that's why I think him scoring in limited playing time was very important to him continually getting called up. His Euro stint was just a terrible setback all together, but Bob didn't always stick to his motto of 'not playing those that are not getting first team minutes' but that's another thread alltogether...
  16. bostonsoccermdl Moderator

    Member Since:
    Apr 3, 2002
    Location:
    Connecticut
    The fact that its a different style of play under JK could drastically reduce any importance of this stat. Then again, maybe not.

    The point is, looking at fringe players that are semi-in-form isnt a bad idea since we are struggling with goals.
  17. irish56 Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 30, 2006
    Location:
    indy
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Country:
    United States
    He saw the field quite a bit when he first went 1860, got hurt. Then struggled to get his career on track.
  18. manq360 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Country:
    United States
    Mid-season Cooper looked bad and was benched for some games. He seemed to get his act together and has been playing well since. I have been impressed by his recent hustle. And since I (and his coach) are not impressed by Jozy's form, I think Cooper might be an alternative. I think it is something that a coach benched Jozy despite the fact he was scoring. That's a ballsy move.

    Anyway we have discussed the Jozy situation forever it seems. He just does not get it that at the level he is playing he has to be fit. I don't think we can blame it on youth any longer. The guy seems to be lazy or maybe he has a physical problem not yet diagnosed.
  19. irish56 Member

    Member Since:
    Oct 30, 2006
    Location:
    indy
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Country:
    United States
    I think the interest has risen due to him scoring goals four out of the last six matches.
  20. Marakesh Express New Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 21, 2011
    Bigsoccer is an amazing place, where you can go from a thread discussing how the U.S. looked poor in the attack against Brazil, Argentina and Spain to one calling for Kenny Cooper to get the call at striker.

    All with the click of a mouse.
  21. ttrevett Member

    Member Since:
    Apr 2, 2002
    Location:
    Atlanta, GA
    Country:
    United States
    I knew when I saw KC's picture yesterday that I would find a thread on why KC should get another look at the USMNT. I'm not saying he shouldn't, but the has how many goals this year for Portland? He's not a target man, or at least he doesn't play like one, has average skill on the ball, and ain't all that fast. He makes a solid choice for Portland at this level, but he just is not a NT level striker. If he wants to turn his back to goal, work on his hops and hold up play, maybe he can develop into one, but I can't imagine that he would risk his day job and pay check to do that.
  22. kokoplus10 Moderator

    Member Since:
    Feb 5, 2008
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
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    United States
  23. manq360 Member

    Member Since:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Country:
    United States
    Sounds a lot like Jozy to me. I don't know what his goal ratio to caps is (I am sure someone will inform me), but we seem to have glommed onto him as if he is the only one who can score. He has not impressed me that much. He has moved from club to club, with his fitness always being in question.

    I did not see any pictures of KC, but I have watched him all year as a Portland fan. He did have a bad spell, but seems to have worked his way out of it. I am not saying he is national team fodder, but, whereas Jozy had such potential, I don't see him living up to it.
  24. CommonSense Member

    Member Since:
    Jul 12, 2006
    Location:
    Portland
    The problem with Kenny Cooper is (still) he doesn't know that he's a target forward. He spent much of the season with us floating around outside of the box, falling down easily, and generally avoiding tough target forward play.

    He's not that good, regardless. He's had a good late run but needs a full year of consistent play before he's even on a Camp Cupcake callup sheet.
  25. Marko72 Member+

    Member Since:
    Aug 30, 2005
    Location:
    New York
    The primary case for Kenny Cooper: he's not the one currently in there.

    :rolleyes:

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