Ralston to RB?

[dncm]

Cross posted from Revs boards courtesy of john00 - with all the Revs injuries, Steve has had to play right back. I'm not sure he is serious contender for the Nats - but just thought I'd throw this out there, since the RB is always a hot topic. Feel free to rip it apart.

Has anyone started a Ralston for RB thread yet in the USMNT forum? He looks real good back there. I think he's wasted there for the Revs... well not really wasted, it's just he's such a good attacking midfielder you hate to see him so far from goal....but I would love to see him get a look there with the national team. His distribution is excellent, he's dangerous going forward, and he's a pretty solid 1v1 defender. He's a little weak in the air, but no worse then Cherundolo.

Lee

[futbol2ot]

He's better as a RB than Convey is as a LB. I think he might fit well into Bruce's plans. Bruce seems to like overlapping fullbacks who can get into the attack. Ralston is very composed on the ball and has good skill. He makes good passes and crosses the ball as well as anyone in MLS. That said, he only has a few games under his belt as a RB. I think it's too early for Arena to put him out on the backline for the Nats. But, if Ralston continues to play well in this position, I'd love to see him get some time as an outside back in a friendly. If Albright can go from subpar MLS forward to National Team RB candidate, I so no reason why Ralston couldn't go from good solid MLS mid to RB candidate for the Nats. Albright has more experience as a defender, though. It will be interesting to see how things move along.

[Jasonisimo]

Could be worth trying during one of his minicamps with the Nats. I am not sold that he has the pace to play there as an international - pace being the primary reason Hejduk has an international career at RB.

[futbol2ot]

Could be worth trying during one of his minicamps with the Nats. I am not sold that he has the pace to play there as an international - pace being the primary reason Hejduk has an international career at RB.

I thought Frankie's silky-smooth step overs were the primary reason he has an international career at RB. ;)

[Bruce S]

I thought Frankie's silky-smooth step overs were the primary reason he has an international career at RB. ;)
I am a big Rev fan, but he is just not good enough. Not particularly speedy, plus it is a new position for him. I would forget this one ASAP.

[WishHoustonHAdATeam]

Isn't Ralston like 35

[Wahoo]

I can't see anything in Ralston's game that would make him a better choice at right back than Steve Cherundolo.

Heck I don't know if it would make him a better option than Albright and I don't even Chris has a ways to go until he may be ready for the national team.

I don't think this would be a bad move for Ralston as the Revolution are concerned, but it would be very suprising if it improved his odds on the National team front.

At 30 years of age, I don't think a move to a new position will suddenly get him playing time.

[dfb547490]

Chris freakin' Klein to RB, kids. Chris freakin' Klein.

[Manchester Unizzle]

I say Chris Klein to RB is the best choice.

[soccerreb]

I say you put your 4 best defenders on the field -- Pope, Berhalter, Boca and Vanney. Three subs would be Gibbs, Frankie and RALSTON ahead of Dolo and Chris.

Pablo in the diamond, over Armas and Richie.

Stevie is composed, likes to go forward and will fight for the ball.

Frankie and Stevie are great subs when looking to attack, ala Roberto C.

Besides, how have the Revolution fared since Ralston moved to the back line?

[futbol2ot]

I think Cherundolo is our best current option. I was just saying that if Ralston continues doing really well at RB, he could maybe get a call up for a friendly. I wasn't suggesting that Ralson should start at RB for the Nats or even be on the roster for a WCQ match. I said it was too early to bring him up. I wish Tony Sanneh was in his WC'02 form. He was dominant on that right flank in Korea. Dolo's only weakness is his lack of aerial prowess. He's good at everything else. It's not as important for a RB to have a good air game as it is for a CB. Not to digress too much, but is Onyewu a RB? I wonder if he'll get a call up anytime in the next couple of years.

[Jasonisimo]

Frankie and Stevie are great subs when looking to attack, ala Roberto C.

Whoa... WHOA!

[Deuteriumoxide]

could ralston play left back?

Steve Cherundolo is the man to beat. He's only going to get better.

[babytiger2001]

Isn't Ralston like 35

Nope, turned 31 last month, with his birthdate listed as 6/14/74.

Or, as we say over here, "the 14th of the sixth, 1974." ;)

Steve Ralston bio -- revolutionsoccer.net (http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/bio/bio.sps?iBiographyID=9369)

I like the idea of Ralston at right back... can't possibly be any worse than what's already been tried, and we get his attacking abilities on the field.

Some big up-sides there.

[geordienation]

There's a reason why "The Ralson Line" exists . . .

[Sandon Mibut]

Nope, turned 31 last month, with his birthdate listed as 6/14/74.

Or, as we say over here, "the 14th of the sixth, 1974." ;)Uh... Over there, do you know how to count?

[babytiger2001]

Uh... Over there, do you know how to count?

OK, that's 31 next year. :p

He's 30 now, but nowhere near the 35 years of age the previous poster had assumed.

I hope that wouldn't be considered as too old, but even as a worst-case scenario, the argument can be made that he can provide a stop-gap measure until an adequate long-term player who can occupy that position can be found.

[lurking]

Ill agree that Ralston is too old to be "experimenting" with. He might make a serviceable right back, but why spend time blooding and experiencing a guy whos already 30?

I mean, Im not totally opposed to the idea, I just dont see it happening.

[DaMa]

In all fairness to Ralston, contrary to the existence of his line he performed admirably well in service to the Nats in his most recent call ups. While I think Ralston and Klein are interesting options at right back, the only advantage either of them would have over dolo is Klein's size.

And while I agree that we should play our best 4 in the back... I heartily argue the fact that berhalter and vanney would be included in that set up. Berhalter has serious speed issues and vanney has.... issues.

[Casper]

could ralston play left back?

Steve Cherundolo is the man to beat. He's only going to get better.
He actually started a game at left back this year for the Revs. He's started at LB, RB, RM, LM, and a-mid. Pretty damn impressive.

In other words, as much as Clint Dempsey has been carrying the Revs and keeping them in the hunt, Ralston has been the ultimate versatile team player thus far this year as well.

Ralston has played very well on the left this year for the Revs. But I think you've got to give, in addition to Vanney/Convey/Boca/JOB at LB, look at guys like Burciaga, Barrett, "Lefty" Hejduk, and even Dunivant before you got desperate enough to look at Ralston as a LB.

Unfortunately for Steve, he's probably now behind even Mullan and Klein at RM, his best position - plus, those guys are younger and Klein may still be improving, while Mullan is definitely still improving.