Josh vs Sanneh [Archive]

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movie77

20 Jun 2005, 02:25 PM

gocaps

20 Jun 2005, 02:38 PM

After watch Josh patrol the flanks for a season and half how does everyone think he compares to the big cat? He really reminds me of Sanneh with his size, speed, and athleticism. In fact, I think Josh is ahead of Sanneh from his early time with United.
But Sanneh was better in the air and faster than Gros is now, and by the middle of his second season, Sanneh had really worked out his crossing difficulties from the first season (he was one of the worst crossers of all time when he first came to DC) to make that part of his game equal with Gros'. Both of them suck at shooting, so that's a wash too.

Gros has become a nice player and will continue to develop. But let's not get it twisted just because Sanneh is crap now. Sanneh was a very very good player at DC, better in his second season than Gros is in his.

movie77

20 Jun 2005, 02:43 PM

better in the air I will give you, but Sanneh faster?, not from what I've seen.

Dave Marino-Nachison

20 Jun 2005, 02:54 PM

Just wanted to point out that in June of 1996 Tony was 25 and in his third pro season. Josh turns just 23 later this month in his second year as a pro. That said, Tony's improvement over the length of his career has been beyond remarkable. If Josh can develop half as much he'll wear the U.S. colors for sure before his career is over. And I would not be surprised if Josh, like Tony, moves even further back in the lineup (both were college forwards I believe) before all is said and done.

fatbastard

20 Jun 2005, 03:13 PM

It would take two of Josh to make a Tony Sanneh, just in bulk :) I have never liked Tony "feet of stone" Sanneh, but what he did well was hang on the other team's wide/wing player with one arm as he ran up and down the sidelines and wear him out. Josh just runs them to death, so it's a different style :) Neither can cross all that well before the 18-yard-box, both are decent crossers between there and the end-line, but Tony's were high, Josh's are low balls. Tony was much beter heading a corner kick into the goal. But if Tony ran like Josh did, he'd have to come out at halftime - Josh is still fast at the end of games.

xboxmaddplaya

20 Jun 2005, 04:12 PM

But Sanneh was better in the air and faster than Gros is now, and by the middle of his second season, Sanneh had really worked out his crossing difficulties from the first season (he was one of the worst crossers of all time when he first came to DC) to make that part of his game equal with Gros'. Both of them suck at shooting, so that's a wash too.

Gros has become a nice player and will continue to develop. But let's not get it twisted just because Sanneh is crap now. Sanneh was a very very good player at DC, better in his second season than Gros is in his.

What about that beautiful goal vs. the Columbus Crew in week 6 that went right into the top right hand corner.....that was a great header.

Sachin

20 Jun 2005, 04:13 PM

Do you remember Sanneh in 1997? He had feet of stone, but he could run like a rolling stone.

Sachin

Th4119

20 Jun 2005, 04:15 PM

I don't know. Tony Sanneh did a lot more on Wednesday to help United win that Josh did, and I thought Gros had a good game.

gocaps

20 Jun 2005, 04:25 PM

better in the air I will give you, but Sanneh faster?, not from what I've seen.
He was very fast back then. Very. One of the fastest players in the league.

movie77

20 Jun 2005, 04:28 PM

I think Josh will fill out over time and get stronger in the air and be in the national pool before too long as an outside back

Gmore

20 Jun 2005, 04:37 PM

I think Josh will fill out over time and get stronger in the air and be in the national pool before too long as an outside back

Josh is my dark horse pick to make the WC 06 roster. With no clearcut starter at right mid and only Steve Cherundolo at right back, I like his chances.

Th4119

20 Jun 2005, 04:50 PM

Josh is my dark horse pick to make the WC 06 roster. With no clearcut starter at right mid and only Steve Cherundolo at right back, I like his chances.

You haven't been catching the U-20 US games it seems.

I'd say Marlon Wynne has to be very heavily considered on Bruce's radar, and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him on the Gold Cup team soon.

Wynne is exactly the type of player that Arena wants out there, with great speed and athleticism, the ability to go forward, as well as rugged defensive play. If he works his way into a starting role in the next year, I wouldn't be one bit surprised.

Gmore

20 Jun 2005, 05:19 PM

You haven't been catching the U-20 US games it seems.

I'd say Marlon Wynne has to be very heavily considered on Bruce's radar, and I really wouldn't be surprised to see him on the Gold Cup team soon.

Wynne is exactly the type of player that Arena wants out there, with great speed and athleticism, the ability to go forward, as well as rugged defensive play. If he works his way into a starting role in the next year, I wouldn't be one bit surprised.

Actually, I have been catching the U20 US games and Marvell (not Marlon) Wynne has been impressive, to say the least. His athleticism and energy make him a fun player to watch. And I agree, the Man Child as he is called, has a shot at making the 06 roster. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, Wynne is playing for UCLA. Josh Gros is starting for DC United every weekend. You tell me who Bruce is more likely to take a chance on next summer.

Th4119

20 Jun 2005, 05:24 PM

Actually, I have been catching the U20 US games and Marvell (not Marlon) Wynne has been impressive, to say the least. His athleticism and energy make him a fun player to watch. And I agree, the Man Child as he is called, has a shot at making the 06 roster. But, and correct me if I'm wrong, Wynne is playing for UCLA. Josh Gros is starting for DC United every weekend. You tell me who Bruce is more likely to take a chance on next summer.

Ah, I knew I was spelling it wrong. Thanks for correcting me, dial-up inhibits me digging around the US Soccer site. :)

Wynne is currently playing for UCLA. However, I'd say it's up to him right now if he wants to go start in MLS or field some smaller division European offers. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got a bunch of potential deals after the completion of this tournament, and there's no way that he couldn't get regular PT on an MLS side from what I've seen.

He's got a long time to get some regular minutes, and he is already looking like one of the best U-20 players in the entire tournament, regardless of where he's playing now.

And don't you think that's even more indicative of how good this kid is? He plays for UCLA and he's looking like a man among a bunch of guys who play professionally already.

Gmore

20 Jun 2005, 05:36 PM

Ah, I knew I was spelling it wrong. Thanks for correcting me, dial-up inhibits me digging around the US Soccer site. :)

Wynne is currently playing for UCLA. However, I'd say it's up to him right now if he wants to go start in MLS or field some smaller division European offers. I wouldn't be shocked at all if he got a bunch of potential deals after the completion of this tournament, and there's no way that he couldn't get regular PT on an MLS side from what I've seen.

He's got a long time to get some regular minutes, and he is already looking like one of the best U-20 players in the entire tournament, regardless of where he's playing now.

And don't you think that's even more indicative of how good this kid is? He plays for UCLA and he's looking like a man among a bunch of guys who play professionally already.

For his own sake, this kid needs to go pro. It is obvious, at times, that he is not a professional. His 1v1 defending, crossing, and tactical awareness all need to improve for him to get a look from Bruce Arena. I hope he plays in MLS next year, he has the physical attributes to start right away for most of the teams in the league. I think it would be much better for him than playing reserve matches for a European club.

griffin1108

20 Jun 2005, 09:34 PM

JoeW

20 Jun 2005, 10:32 PM

I like Josh Gros--alot! He works hard, never stops, puts his heart out there on the field and has a real future with MLS and hopefully the National team. And it's really unfair to Gros to compare him to Sanneh.

Sanneh was by some accounts, one of the top backliners in the 2002 WC. His play in the WC was sublime. With DCU, he played every field position except: A-mid, goal and central defense. The earlier post was right--in his prime Tony Sanneh was one of the fastest players in MLS.

They're different players. Sanneh was a good field player who happened to reside at the wing. Gros is a winger. Sanneh was already a pro when he came here. Gros was an unheralded rookie.

One can be enthusiastic about Gros but also keep in perspective. And to compare him to Sanneh in his DCU days is to be unfair to Gros.

Gmore

21 Jun 2005, 09:53 AM

They're different players. Sanneh was a good field player who happened to reside at the wing. Gros is a winger.

I disagree. I think we could see Josh play a number of positions before he leaves DC. He can play as a forward, like he did for Rutgers, and he can play as an outside back in a flat back four, which requires a similar set of attributes that outside mid requires.

Just for the record, I think Sanneh was better in his prime than Josh. However, I expect Josh to become a better player than Tony over time.

neilgrossman

21 Jun 2005, 02:48 PM

He was very fast back then. Very. One of the fastest players in the league.

Sanneh was fast, but not one of the fastest two on the team. In a race, he would have been toasted by Moreno or Maessner. Gros is probably DC's fastest now.

gocaps

21 Jun 2005, 03:00 PM

Sanneh was fast, but not one of the fastest two on the team. In a race, he would have been toasted by Moreno or Maessner
...who were also two of the fastest players in the league. In 1997, you could be slower than those two and still be faster than almost anyone in MLS.

Maessner had really lost a step by the time he returned to DC in 1999, but in those first two years...wow. He was like a damn rocket.