Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] I was not a big fan of Jaime Moreno or Marco Etcheverry. But Eddie Pope is one of my favorite USMNT/MLS players of all time.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] Harkes, Agoos, Etcheverry, and Barthez. * Etcheverry was the #10 and starter for Bolivians at age 24. He was joint top scorer for the Bolivian NT in 1994 CONMEBOL qualifying with 5. He scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over the US in the 95 Copa America. * Agoos was 28, in his prime, a veteran of the US futsal team, and playing abroad in Germany. * Harkes was Captain America, 28. * Suarez scored 29 goals in the Bolivian national league in 1995. A little bit better than Roy Wegerle, Brian Bliss, Klopas, Mike Burns, Cle Kooiman, Jim St. Andre, John Doyle, Mike Sorber. The only teams with better allocations were LA (Cienfuegos, Campos, Hurtado and later Cobi Jones was given to them) and NY/NJ (Ramos, Meola, Donadoni).
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] For an American, in the American league, he was fantastic. Look at the other defenders. Balboa, Lalas, Vasquez. Why do you think Pope was a revelation as a draft pick? Tony Sanneh rose to prominence in that void as well.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] 29 goals in the Bolivian League you didn't just write that did you?
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] 29 goals in any professional league makes him a little bit better than an "overweight Bolivian" - especially since he was coming to one of the worst leagues in the world. No matter how much you deny it, your club was given a distinct advantage over more than half the clubs in the league based on its location in the nation's capital. The same thing happened in the WUSA and WPS.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] You surely never saw him play. Lets see --- Tampa for one got got Valderama and Lassiter and I think Wegerle as well. But I could be wrong.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] I've seen the whole list. DCU, LA, and NY were above the others. Tampa (Lassiter, Valderamma, Vasquez) and Colorado (Wegerle, Bartlett, Balboa) ended up with decent allocations. Columbus and KC (bar Preki) were not given much, but made up for it w/ great 1st round draft picks in McBride and Chung Dallas was given junk, but luckily drafted Kreis in the 5th rd. NE got Lalas. SJ got Wynalda. ----- The league has tried over and over again to make the marquee franchises the most competitive. DC, CHI, LA, NY.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] Lalas was a showman and really entertaining back there, but not a good defender. However, coming off the World Cup Lalas and Burns were considered "bigtime" allocations then, I remember being psyched to know we had them. That '96 DC Championship in Foxboro was in an absolute monsoon - great game though. I think DC won another one in Foxboro. Oh man, just remembering the MLS shootout and the countdown clock to "Americanize" soccer when MLS first started just cracks me up.
Re: Internationals Thread 2009 [R] OK FWIW, I'll offer an opinion of the MLS refs, in particular Toledo last night during the Revs @ Seattle game. He was awful, gave Seattle a bad pk (which Montero missed) and handed out 7 cards over the course of the game. MLS can not be looked upon as a maturing lead until they get refs that aren't attempting to become the center of attention. Last night was ridiculous and I'm sure anyone who supports a MLS team has had this guy call their game at some point or another and probably agrees he's absolute garbage. The Revs' coach Steve Nicol had already been suspended after the Toronto game on August 1, so he was already out, then Paul Mariner got ejected for dissent. The Revs were left to be coached by their GK coach, Gwynne Williams and somehow pulled it out and walked out of Seattle with a 1-0 win.
Hey Hey. TFC just signed Julian deGuzman from Deportivo in spain. Hes not that well known but hes played as a CDM in Germany and Spain for the last 7-8 years and hes probably Canadas best player, full stop. Bayern looked him over at the start of the sumer but that never went anywhere. Nice. He'll rock at mls level. Then they offered City Hall a Winter Bubble on one local stadium and Turf-Field on another local stadium for the right to lay down Real Grass next year. (they had to put in field turf for year round access to get public money when they built the place in the first place. Really nice. Best trade ever. GRASS. woo hoo. Big Day in TFC land.
Glad to see TFC is getting some quality outside DeRo at last. You guys are loud and loyal fans and it's great for the league overall to get someone of deGuzman's class. Now if my Revs would follow suit and buy a legitimate attacking mid....[crickets]
LB - what's the latest with DC's stadium situation? I read the Mayor of B'more is making overtures to bring United there. Is this realistically going to happen? I can read up but figured I'd get your take on it as a sth.
1 game left. 7 teams within 3 points of the last spot. Most of em tied at 39 points. All of the tied teams playing away on the last weekend. Not enough parity in this league. How the hell did Chicago get 3 points up on everyone else? If only T.O. had not blown a win in the last min of extra time last week. Say what you want about the skill level, its been a real barnburner coming down the stretch.
Yes, it's been a real breath of fresh air to see FC Dallas win 4 straight and be a completely different team that the sh!t pile I was watching back in May. Now, we have a tall order ahead of us in Seattle. Hopefully the combination of our outstanding play, Seattle already in the playoffs, and Seattle's total lack of scoring at home will see us win.
Yeah, credit to Dallas for turning it on down the stretch. Cunningham played out of his mind and your offense was prolific to say the least. Especially surprising sans Cooper who I'd say is very well respected league wide as a class player. Just wish the Revs could get a little of your finishing touch because currently we can't score to save our life .
Dear FC Dallas, Toronto FC, DC United and Colorado: THANK YOU FOR CHOKING!! One champion fell today, time for another! Best regards, New England Revolution
