Buddle

[cyberthoth]

This has come up before but after his brace last weekend I think it deserves to be revisited. Why doesn't Buddle at least get called into camp???

He has size, speed, ball skills and has consistently scored in MLS. Naturally injuries have prevented some call-ups but surely not all...including this recent one.

What does he lack that Bruce wants to see?? Can anyone name a single good reason other than he's been injured frequently??

[USvsIRELAND]

This has come up before but after his brace last weekend I think it deserves to be revisited. Why doesn't Buddle at least get called into camp???

He has size, speed, ball skills and has consistently scored in MLS. Naturally injuries have prevented some call-ups but surely not all...including this recent one.

What does he lack that Bruce wants to see?? Can anyone name a single good reason other than he's been injured frequently??

Theres been at least 5 threads where all these thigns have been mentioned.

But, usually when he plays well he is called into camp. Although Bruce Arena did watch him score 4 goals live and not call him up.....

People say he doesnt have enough off the ball movement.

If he keeps scoring he'll get a look.

[Ringo]

well, every time somebody scores two goals in a game there's a thread like this.

but question: since Eddie seems to have claimed one forward spot, how would Buddle play with him? it would seem most things have to be placed into that context. how would their games work/not work?

[Ghost]

well, every time somebody scores two goals in a game there's a thread like this.

but question: since Eddie seems to have claimed one forward spot, how would Buddle play with him? it would seem most things have to be placed into that context. how would their games work/not work?

Well, we can sit here and guess or we can invite him to camp/play him in a game and see. As we have done with every other potential striker. Except of course this particular one that arguably has been the most dangerous for the longest. This isn't a case of someone getting a brace and a thread showing up. When Buddle has been healthym, he has scored.

[buckeye5]

I don't know how their games would mesh. BUT, I was looking at the personal profile of EJ on mlsnet.com and he considers Edson Buddle his best friend in soccer.

[IMOX77]

I don't know how their games would mesh. BUT, I was looking at the personal profile of EJ on mlsnet.com and he considers Edson Buddle his best friend in soccer.
Thats intresting i wonder where there paths have crossed?

[Bluecat82]

Hasn't Buddle had some injury issues that have prevented him from getting to a few camps?

[deejay]

After seeing EJ in so many games I am less concerned about his heading and passing ability. Maybe it is time to put aside the McB/Ching/Conner target forward solution.

Buddle seems to have all around qualities as a forward. Maybe two all-around forwards is the way to go. Especially if they have an afinity on the field.

[Indiana Jones]

Buddle was injured last season at a critical time for him. Its my guess that if it were not for that injury it would be Buddle we would be ooo-ing and aah-ing about and not EJ. That said, it is pretty obvious to the casual observer like me that Arena has his favorites and his "no-ways". Players like Mathis and Buddle can't get a look while players like Convey can do no wrong. Neither approach is useful to the team.

[USA4Life]

Playing next to a big guy takes a lot of pressure off of Johnson. It give the keeper or defender a long option on goal kicks, free kicks etc.

Johnson has the speed to get onto flicks etc.

The target forward (McBride, Ching, Buddle, Casey, etc) Draw a lot of attention during the run of play often drawing one of the center backs towards them. This creates more space for a guys like Johnson, Donovan, Beasley etc.

McBride always draws a mark when he makes runs in the box and is very good at creating space for the other forward.

The other way to look at it is a speedster streches the defense long and creates more room for the target to check back in front of the defense.

Therefore, guys like Wolff and Johnson create more room for McBride or Ching to get the ball at their feet.

The combination of Wolff and Donovan up front never worked at the youth or senior national team level.

The combination of Ching and Casey didn't look too good either.

I like Buddle. He is a big guy with some mobility. He and Ching are somewhat similiar and it would be nice to have two options up front. Then Arena can pick the hot foot to go with to plau next to Johnson.

I am not too impressed with Casey as he lacks agility and flexibity.

[Ringo]

Players like Mathis and Buddle can't get a look

really? mathis has never got a look? really? that's what the problem is? huh.

[USvsIRELAND]

Considers Edson Buddle of Columbus as his best friend in soccer, excluding his FC Dallas teammates

http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/bio.jsp?team=fcd&player=johnson_e&playerId=joh437318

[RevsRule]

I'm offering no personal opinion on Buddle but Arena has looked at him on several occasions. He must have decided that he is not currently ready because he hasn't looked lately. I'm sure he'll get more looks in the future if he does well in MLS.

[Indiana Jones]

Buddle was injured last season at a critical time for him. Its my guess that if it were not for that injury it would be Buddle we would be ooo-ing and aah-ing about and not EJ. That said, it is pretty obvious to the casual observer like me that Arena has his favorites and his "no-ways". Players like Mathis and Buddle can't get a look while players like Convey can do no wrong. Neither approach is useful to the team.


What I am trying to say OBVIOUSLY (Ringo and RevsRule :rolleyes: ) with "cant get a look" is THEY ARENT PLAYING WITH THE TEAM. :rolleyes:

[myshap]

Consistancy Consistancy Consistancy. That's the name of game for Buddle.

It's not out of place for Buddle to have a a good game like against LA, then disappear for a month, hit 3 or 4 goals, disappear for a few months, get injuried, come back hit 2 or 3 more and then you guessed it disappear. If he's going to earn a callup then he needs to have an even keeled season. That's not to say he has to score in every game, but he has to continue to be a threat and not disappear for streatches of a season.

Last Saturday was a good day for him, let's see how he does in NE.

[Indiana Jones]

Consistancy Consistancy Consistancy. That's the name of game for Buddle.

It's not out of place for Buddle to have a a good game like against LA, then disappear for a month, hit 3 or 4 goals, disappear for a few months, get injuried, come back hit 2 or 3 more and then you guessed it disappear. If he's going to earn a callup then he needs to have an even keeled season. That's not to say he has to score in every game, but he has to continue to be a threat and not disappear for streatches of a season.

Last Saturday was a good day for him, let's see how he does in NE.

If he disappears its because of injury, when he isnt carrying a knock or out injured he is actually very consistent. Just look at his goal production and games played last season...only two players scored more goals in the league! How bad is that? And yet Twellman was way down on production but is playing in the Arena setup.

[myshap]

No not really. Buddle was for the most part healthy last year. He played in 28 of the 30 games and started 23. A few games in the start of the year was about it as far as injuries were concerned for him. Buddle had a 4 goal game and two 2 goal games last year, for 8 of his 11 goals, that's 72% of his production in 3 games.

But like I said earlier, it's not so much about his goals scored. If you only looked at that you would see in each of his four years he's gotten statistically better every year. Which would be great, if he didn't disappear for long streatches during the year. Honestly after the 4 goal game, it was where's Buddle again. In the seven remaining games he only scored once. It's about being a consistant threat and then how many goals did you score.

As for Twellman, he didn't hit as many goals as he had, however, when he was available he made himself dangerous. Twellman had a complete nightmare last year in the finishing department.

[helmzgk]

No not really. Buddle was for the most part healthy last year. He played in 28 of the 30 games and started 23. A few games in the start of the year was about it as far as injuries were concerned for him. Buddle had a 4 goal game and two 2 goal games last year, for 8 of his 11 goals, that's 72% of his production in 3 games.

But like I said earlier, it's not so much about his goals scored. If you only looked at that you would see in each of his four years he's gotten statistically better every year. Which would be great, if he didn't disappear for long streatches during the year. Honestly after the 4 goal game, it was where's Buddle again. In the seven remaining games he only scored once. It's about being a consistant threat and then how many goals did you score.

As for Twellman, he didn't hit as many goals as he had, however, when he was available he made himself dangerous. Twellman had a complete nightmare last year in the finishing department.

There must have been a ten game stretch where Twellman would put in a decent shot, have the keeper rebound right back to him, then he'd hit a better shot, and the keeper would make some unbelievable save to stop that one too. Busch did this to him a couple of times I think.

As for Buddle, I like what I've seen, and I have a feeling that this will be a breakout year for him. I think he's motivated, seeing Johnson, and withhis play last year. I hope Razov can provide important tips so that Buddle stays consistent. I can't imagine Ante letting Buddle get soft in his game.

[Ringo]

What I am trying to say OBVIOUSLY (Ringo and RevsRule :rolleyes: ) with "cant get a look" is THEY ARENT PLAYING WITH THE TEAM. :rolleyes:


wasn't mathis just called in, and played, during the friendlies before these last WCQ? IS THAT PLAYING WITH THE TEAM?

and let's be honest hear ... Bruce knows exactly what he gets, and doesn't get, with Mathis. He hasn't been a stranger around the national team program, you know.

[ChelseaMatt]

Is Edson even American?