Odvan Gomes - Brazilian Defender on Trial

[Colonial717]

Per Behind the Badge

http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20050305&content_id=23530&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=dcu

"Joining United on trial beginning today is Odvan Gomez. The Brazilian defender has a distinguished playing career, which includes stints with legendary Brazilian clubs such as Vasco de Gama, Santos, Botafogo, Coritiba and Fluminense. He has also been capped 11 times with the Brazilian National Team and was a member of the 1999 Copa America championship side."

[Ombak]

Trying to look up his age and more info. Odvan played for Brazil in 1998/99 including some starts in the Copa America in 1999 which we won.

This site gives some info in Portuguese on his early career (it's about the club he started at). He's 31 (born March 26, 1974 - will be 31 in 3 weeks).

http://futebol.bol.com.br/times/americano_craques.jhtm

[Knave]

http://www.sambafoot.com/datas/personnes/431/joueur.jpg

http://www.sambafoot.com/en/players/431_Odvan.html

Born: 3/26/74

By my math that's less than 33 years old.

Alternative spelling of his name - for Googling purposes: Odvan Gomes Silva

(In fact, from Googling now, I think GomeS - not GomeZ - is the correct spelling.)

[Section106]

Any chance we'll see either trialist on Wednesday? I doubt that the rules would allow it but I thought I'd ask anyway. While I'm warming up to Stokes due to the good reports of him from pre-season, I hope that one of these two can play and get signed.

[Winoman]

It appears from this info (1997-2001: Vasco-RJ) that he was with Vasco da Gama when DCU beat them in the Inter-American Cup in 1998!

[Knave]

Any chance we'll see either trialist on Wednesday?
What Kasper said:
Kasper said it's possible United will sign a central defender in time for Wednesday's game, which will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel. United's regular season begins April 2 at Chivas USA in Los Angeles.

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20050304-115217-2130r.htm

It appears from this info (1997-2001: Vasco-RJ) that he was with Vasco da Gama when DCU beat them in the Inter-American Cup in 1998!
He played in both games:
Game 1: DC United 0, Vasco Da Gama 1
15.11.98, Washington, DC Att: 26,216.

DCU: Preshus, Pope, Llamosa, Agoos, Olsen, Harkes, Williams, Sanneh, Etcheverry, Moreno, Lassiter.

VDG: Carlos Germano, Flavinho, Odvan, Henrique, Luizinho, Nasa, Felipe, Donizete, Gian, Guilherme, Luizao.

Scorers: 0-1 69' Felipe

Game 2: DC United 2, Vasco Da Gama 0
05.12.98, Ft Lauderdale, FL.Att: 7,283.

DCU: Scott Garlick, Eddie Pope, Carlos Llamosa, Jeff Agoos, Ben Olsen, John Harkes, Richie Williams, Tony Sanneh, Marco Etcheverry, Jaime Moreno, Roy Lassiter.

VDG: Carlos Germano, Flavinho, Odvan, Mauro Galvao, Luizinho, Felipe, Donizete, Juninho, Luizao, Vagner, Nasa

Scorers: 0-1 34' Sanneh, 0-2 77' Pope.

[Section106]

It looks like I need to break out the tapes of those games to see what we're working with.

[garbaggio]

Here's another pic from Knave's link (sorry, I don't know how to put him directly into the post):

http://www.sambafoot.com/en/players/431_Odvan_Picture_335.html

... you can see he's the greatest nemesis of the orange traffic cone!



Just from Odvan's age and recent playing history, he would seem a more promising addition than Kobistyj. Of course, someone who has actually seen both of them play will be able to make a more significant judgment.

[Ombak]

Here's another pic from Knave's link (sorry, I don't know how to put him directly into the post):

http://www.sambafoot.com/en/players/431_Odvan_Picture_335.html

... you can see he's the greatest nemesis of the orange traffic cone!



Just from Odvan's age and recent playing history, he would seem a more promising addition than Kobistyj. Of course, someone who has actually seen both of them play will be able to make a more significant judgment.

Except if they don't rememebr that well. Actually, I think Odvan is a great addition, and considering he played DCU before I think it's likely he'll take this league seriously. Not sure he'll be the leader Nelsen was, in fact I don't think he will, but will be a great presence in the middle and I'd love to see him stay for a while.

[Keenan]

Let's be realistic about this folks... neither trialist currently with United to fill Nellie's vacancy are going to be positive. I think we're in trouble and feel that the staff of D.C. United are really reaching to find a replacement. I hope I'm wrong on this, but when you try to fill a whole left by the caliber of player that Nellie was is impossible. I read an article on ESPNsoccernet today about the coach of Blackburn saying that Nellie has been his best signing ever... do you think Nowak is going to be saying that about either one of these two trialists if we do keep one of them? I don't think so...Let's just hope we score a bunch of goals this year because the defense looked disorganized last year when Nelsen was not in the lineup

[GrillMaster]

A defender from Brasil. Will wonders never cease? ;)

I like the guy's big game experience. I hope he's minded his nutrition and physical fitness throughout his career. Since he's from some Rio clubs, I hope he wore protection, too! :D

5'11" and 168 lbs -- In Nowak we trust.

GM

[Ombak]

Let's be realistic about this folks... neither trialist currently with United to fill Nellie's vacancy are going to be positive. I think we're in trouble and feel that the staff of D.C. United are really reaching to find a replacement. I hope I'm wrong on this, but when you try to fill a whole left by the caliber of player that Nellie was is impossible. I read an article on ESPNsoccernet today about the coach of Blackburn saying that Nellie has been his best signing ever... do you think Nowak is going to be saying that about either one of these two trialists if we do keep one of them? I don't think so...Let's just hope we score a bunch of goals this year because the defense looked disorganized last year when Nelsen was not in the lineup

I don't think anyone expects us to find Nellie 2, but the idea that we won't find something positive? That's a little over the top especially when you look at Odvan's profile.

[Ombak]

A defender from Brasil. Will wonders never cease? ;)

Come on, that's a myth, Brazilian defenders are among the world's best.

I like the guy's big game experience. I hope he's minded his nutrition and physical fitness throughout his career. Since he's from some Rio clubs, I hope he wore protection, too! :D

Don't worry, Rio is not half as bad as Santos, and I don't think he played there. :p

[Keenan]

I don't think anyone expects us to find Nellie 2, but the idea that we won't find something positive? That's a little over the top especially when you look at Odvan's profile.


Like I said, I do hope that I'm wrong... it would have been nice if we could have gotten Eddie Pope or Greg Vanney though :rolleyes:

[GrillMaster]

Come on, that's a myth, Brazilian defenders are among the world's best.[snip] :pThe best what, exactly?? ;)

I just saw Dida completely missjudge a ball, almost allowing a goal were it not for the post. We're talking Atalanta here, too!

Yeah, I know there are some special players from Brasil, but defenders?

Relax, just giving you some stick. Hopefully the guy can pass extraordinarily well for MLS!

In Nowak we trust.

GM

[Ombak]

The best what, exactly?? ;)

I just saw Dida completely missjudge a ball, almost allowing a goal were it not for the post. We're talking Atalanta here, too!

Yeah, I know there are some special players from Brasil, but defenders?

Relax, just giving you some stick. Hopefully the guy can pass extraordinarily well for MLS!

In Nowak we trust.

GM

I know you're just giving me some stick but you're tempting me to lecture you on our past greats and our current outstanding crop of defenders.

Keenan: LOL pope for Nellie? Would be nice but...

Anyways, Nelsen is great but I don't think we could ever expect to get someone world-class just because he was the cream of the MLS crop when he left and has proven he can do just as well in the EPL.

[Keenan]

Has Greg Vanny fallen off the radar and going to be staying with lowly Bastia?

[Knave]

Has Greg Vanny fallen off the radar and going to be staying with lowly Bastia?
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: there are several MLS teams ahead of us in line for Vanney. Our chances of signing him are basically zero.

...


For those groaning about this guy not replacing Nelsen - THERE'S NO WAY WE CAN REPLACE NELSEN. It's just not going to happen. It never was going to happen. The only way to get Ryan Nelsen The Sequel is to make him ourselves, just like we did with Ryan Nelsen The Original. You want another Nelsen caliber defender, then draft someone with potential and wait several years for him to develop.

[NGV]

Odvan also played against the US in the 1999 Confederations Cup. He was the one who fouled Cobi to create the penalty that JMM failed to convert.

[jason1551]

Has Greg Vanny fallen off the radar and going to be staying with lowly Bastia?
No. In fact, he's pretty close to signing with the League. My guess is either LA or FCD will pick him up with an allocation. Now trading for him after he's signed with another team is a whole other beast.

As for Odvan, he seems like another solid trialist that could fill in at the back. Better question is what happens if both defensive trialists impress to the point that we would want to acquire one versus the other or possibly both. Do we have the cap space and/or SI spots for that?