Connolly: Kay-Z zeroes in on starting role

[cpwilson80]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=312515&cc=5901

Good read from Connolly -- talks about Zavagnins transition over the past few years and the midfield situation for the US.

[stinky]

the fact that zavagnin has a good shot at starting highlights arena's inability to move our team forward. why do we want a safe player only. z-man passes the ball square and back 99% of the time; not unlike richie wiliiams.

time to move the team to the next level, and leave players like kerry behind.

[awparcell]

the fact that zavagnin has a good shot at starting highlights arena's inability to move our team forward. why do we want a safe player only. z-man passes the ball square and back 99% of the time; not unlike richie wiliiams.

time to move the team to the next level, and leave players like kerry behind.

Unfortunately we don't have a plethora of creative midfielders like other countrys have. Kerry isn't sexy, he does make the obvious pass often but it beats the creative pass that doesn't work. He is very reliable, a good defender and there are worse things to be during qualifying.....especially when you are just filling in for the injured reyna. That said, kz won't put the team on his back and lead them to glory, i agree.

[HartwickFan]

the fact that zavagnin has a good shot at starting highlights arena's inability to move our team forward. why do we want a safe player only. z-man passes the ball square and back 99% of the time; not unlike richie wiliiams.

time to move the team to the next level, and leave players like kerry behind.

Which d-mid would you replace Zavagnin with on the roster?

[Wahoo]

You don't want sexy as a defensive midfielder.
You want someone that is going to thwart the opposition and can then start the attack going back the other way.

Sexy at this position can get you killed.

Give me a solid and physical guy who can recognize where to pass when he has the ball... and can actually get it to his teammates. Armas did fine with the first part, but not the 2nd on the international stage. Pablo was better but is now playing as a defender.

Kerry is fine for now. I don't see anyone else with those skills right now...
Though I wouldn't mind seeing if Gooch can do it if Bruce decides he's ready for the team.

[drew_VT_6]

You don't want sexy as a defensive midfielder.
You want someone that is going to thwart the opposition and can then start the attack going back the other way.

Sexy at this position can get you killed.

Give me a solid and physical guy who can recognize where to pass when he has the ball... and can actually get it to his teammates. Armas did fine with the first part, but not the 2nd on the international stage. Pablo was better but is now playing as a defender.

Kerry is fine for now. I don't see anyone else with those skills right now...
Though I wouldn't mind seeing if Gooch can do it if Bruce decides he's ready for the team.

Edgar Davids is pretty sexy.

[bshredder]

Edgar Davids is pretty sexy.

And if we had him, I'd start him. But we don't

[andrewt14]

So is Makelele

[Brushes Sand]

Zav doesn't have Reyna's field vision.
But Reyan rarely uses to full effect his field vision.

Zav is not an "Armas in his prime" destroyer,
but he is almost as good as Armas was in his prime,
and is equal in form with where Armas is now.

What Zav has is a combination of Reyna's horse-sense,
and Armas' destroying powers.

He simply looks calm, collected, and he never makes
bad decisions. He makes the smart decision. Every time.

The Dallas game where we finally got to see "All Landon
All the Time" was possible because Zav vacuumed the
Tri midfield spotless.

As Ching has understanding with Lando when they are
up front, so Zav has understanding if Lando takes Reyna's
spot.

-bs

[numerista]

You don't want sexy as a defensive midfielder.
http://www.wsoccer.com/leagues/mls/dcunited/williams.jpg
Come on over here, let me nibble on your ankles ...

[Mr Martin]

You don't want sexy as a defensive midfielder.
You want someone that is going to thwart the opposition and can then start the attack going back the other way.

Sexy at this position can get you killed.

Give me a solid and physical guy who can recognize where to pass when he has the ball... and can actually get it to his teammates. Armas did fine with the first part, but not the 2nd on the international stage. Pablo was better but is now playing as a defender.

Kerry is fine for now. I don't see anyone else with those skills right now...
Though I wouldn't mind seeing if Gooch can do it if Bruce decides he's ready for the team.

Well, I don't think it is necessarily that you don't "want" a "sexy" defensive midfielder. Davids or Makelele might look great in the US lineup, except for some sticky little nationality issues. ;) I'd enjoy a sexy defensive mid if we had one.

But really, Wahoo's point about what a defensive mid's primary role/responsibility is, does hit the nail on the head. The US's recent history is full of non-sexy defensive mids. Bora and Sampson liked Sorber, a classic square-pass kind of player. Arena likes Armas and recently Zavagnin. This isn't an accident. These kind of players serve a useful role, which is why they end up playing that role.

Proclaiming that we would like a more dynamic defensive mid like Edgar Davids doesn't mean we have anyone like that just sitting around waiting for a call. John O'Brien comes closest to a US sexy defensive mid. Well, his injury saga just goes on and on.

And it isn't like Arena is unwilling to try a more skillful defensive mid. When O'Brien was healthy in 2002, he played regularly and played very well. This year Arena has experimented with Reyna in that role, with some success in the friendly win in Poland, and some struggles in the Panama road qualifier.

But the primary role of that position needs to be addressed first. The availability of talent comes next. Wishing doesn't make it so.

[appoo]

Kerry Zevagnin should not starting for a country with aims at a World Cup semi-final. We've aways to go

[diablodelsol]

Kerry Zevagnin should not starting for a country with aims at a World Cup semi-final. We've aways to go

Neither should Bobby Convey

[appoo]

Neither should Bobby Convey
nice try

[diablodelsol]

nice try

you teed it up....:D

[Wahoo]

I agree with all of you who mentioned Edgar Davids and Makelele as "sexy" defensive mids. Actually when I wrote my original message, I almost mentioned Davids (forgot Makelele).

Edgar is one of my favorite players in the world and for years, if I had to build a team from scratch and could select 1 player to build it around, it would have been him. The rest of you can fight over Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, etc... as Edgar is almost a singularity in the sport. He is the perfect defensive mid to me: tough as nails, fast, a smart defender, very good with the ball at his feet, passes well, reads the game, and has a commanding presence.

Too bad, we don't have anyone close to the complete package that is Davids.
Brazil doesn't have a player with his total game... and it's the one position on the Brazilian team where they typically DONT have a sexy player.

[awparcell]

Zags filling in due to injury at d-mid probably isn't the biggest problem for the nats right now. If JOB were healthy he can be pretty good there and gooch has certainly shown potential for the future and may get in this week. Obvious, Spector has shown potential to fill this role in the near future but not just yet. Zags is safe with the ball and very very rarely makes bad decisions. He probably isn't going to perform surgery on the opposing defense on a counter attack but he will be fine in the interim. The d-mid isn't the first place to rush in a younger guy for a qualifier. I wouldn't call giving Gooch a look there this week rushing though. I honestly don't see him as one of BA's pets like some others have been recently and like Sorber was for Sampson.

[drew_VT_6]

Kerry Zevagnin should not starting for a country with aims at a World Cup semi-final. We've aways to go

Or Frankie Hejduk and Conor Casey...


Ya know what's funny though, when I looked through the first XI, there aren't too many weak links who I think don't belong on a WC Final 4 roster.

[drew_VT_6]

You don't want sexy as a defensive midfielder.


That's why Mulrooney doesn't get called in! Maybe if he got a buzz cut and a few scars Bruce would start him right away.

[stinky]

i read the replies...and it seems that "safe" seems to be the reason for z-man being included. i'm friggin sick and tired of watching safe soccer. late a nd lucky equalizing goals handed to us by the soccer gods against countries we should be beating is what you get with safe soccer.

give me martino, mulrooney, pablo, anyone who can bring something more to the table then safe and "probably won't make a mistake".

we are not at the top level of soccer, nor will we ever be if we count on safe and conservative players.

arena is annoying in that regard, from the playing time z-man gets to his reluctance to give mathis the nod.

nothing ventured, nothing gained.