View Full Version : Dema Kovalenko for the National Team [R]
Ghost
16 Jul 2005, 06:06 PM
For being a bit oblique, the purpose of the thread is pretty obvious. We cannot continue to have the other team take shots at our stars without retaliation. Having Kovalenko sitting on the bench waiting to get out there and injure someone in the 85th minute of a 3-0 game is one way to do it.
I'm not necessarily saying that Kovalenko has to be the guy. It's just a catchy thread title. But someone needs to do it. Like I said on the game thread, I don't like it, but you have to throw the brushback pitch from time to time. Until the other team thinks it's putting its careers on the line, they will keep taking shots at our smaller skillful players. And it bugged the heck out of me that no one got in the guy's face after the first foul and let him know what was coming. That's one reason for the shot on Beasley. Onyewu, you're 6-4 215? Where were you?
UxSxAxfooty
16 Jul 2005, 06:25 PM
He would need to be a citizen first.
And even if he was, no thanks.
Bigrose30
16 Jul 2005, 06:37 PM
Onyewu, you're 6-4 215? Where were you?
As a fellow big dude (I go 6-5 220, pretty big for my rec league...too bad I don't have a fraction of Gooch's athleticism), I think I am qualified to field this question.
When you're the biggest mofo on the field, you might as well already start the game with a yellow card. The officials aren't going to cut you any slack, and you'd better believe that any obvious retaliation is going to get you sent off, and maybe even miss several games after review.
As far as enforcement goes, it's got to be the average size guys who have a bit of a nasty side...Mathis was like this. I think Dempsey has this same streak...Gibbs...although a big guy too, won't back down. Overall, we're a team of pretty mild mannered guys, which usually works to our advantage...I'm not sure retaliating would have done any good out there today though...just a feeling.
Ok I'm done ranting.
uniteo
16 Jul 2005, 06:45 PM
When you're the biggest mofo on the field, you might as well already start the game with a yellow card. The officials aren't going to cut you any slack, and you'd better believe that any obvious retaliation is going to get you sent off, and maybe even miss several games after review.
6' 1", 260, here. Any contact, I get called. I get called for people running into me and bouncing off. What Gooch needs to do is step in front of whoever laying down the payback.
superdave
16 Jul 2005, 06:50 PM
I've been real slow to jump on the "we need to dish out some serious bandwagon, but after today, I'm on it. CONCACAF refs have no clue on PI, so we're gonna have to retaliate against a team that clearly, CLEARLY, has a strategy of hacking down our players when they're beaten.
SgtSchultz
16 Jul 2005, 07:22 PM
I get tired of seeing our skilled players on the receiving end of some horrible tackles. We don't have an enforcer. Boy would I kill for a Roy Keane.
Bigrose30
16 Jul 2005, 08:15 PM
Exactly!!!
Roy Keane isn't the biggest guy in the world. In fact, he's kinda scrawny.
But I'd take that tough Irish mother at my back anyday.
United20
16 Jul 2005, 08:28 PM
this guy is a spaz....I can not believe someone is actually calling for his call-up to the NATS.
MarioKempes
16 Jul 2005, 08:31 PM
6' 1", 260, here.
You fat gob! :)
flanoverseas
16 Jul 2005, 08:49 PM
this guy is a spaz....I can not believe someone is actually calling for his call-up to the NATS.I can't believe two or three people missed this part of his post:
I'm not necessarily saying that Kovalenko has to be the guy. It's just a catchy thread title.
And just to make it a bit more clear, he wasn't saying call DK for his ball skills.
Bigrose30
16 Jul 2005, 09:10 PM
I followed your meaning...any suggestions to who should get this role?
Alex_1
16 Jul 2005, 09:17 PM
USA doesn't need a hack, they need a 'skilled goon'. :cool: A hack will just retaliate for them and get a red card. Who knows, maybe then a ban for the year, indefinitely, etc. and that could possibly effect his club career. Not only that, then the team is down a player on the roster because they had some clown that couldn't do it plausibly.
So if they had a 'skilled goon', someone physical that tackles hard enough, adn sneaky enough not to get carded yet deliver the tough foul... or maybe will still get carded but not red carded, and can also contribute in the match - the USA is better off. You don't need a hack, you need someone ala Jens Jeremies 1998, or Mascherano of Argentina, that can take out the oppositions top creative force. And you need the manager to call it as he sees it when the opposition plays dirty... to just say: "They were trying to injure my players, and we will file an official complaint."
Footer Phooter
16 Jul 2005, 09:24 PM
Didn't Mathis get ejected from a friendly a couple of years ago for a "message foul"?
Ghost
16 Jul 2005, 09:33 PM
USA doesn't need a hack, they need a 'skilled goon'. :cool: A hack will just retaliate for them and get a red card. Who knows, maybe then a ban for the year, indefinitely, etc. and that could possibly effect his club career. Not only that, then the team is down a player on the roster because they had some clown that couldn't do it plausibly.
So if they had a 'skilled goon', someone physical that tackles hard enough, adn sneaky enough not to get carded yet deliver the tough foul... or maybe will still get carded but not red carded, and can also contribute in the match - the USA is better off. You don't need a hack, you need someone ala Jens Jeremies 1998, or Mascherano of Argentina, that can take out the oppositions top creative force. And you need the manager to call it as he sees it when the opposition plays dirty... to just say: "They were trying to injure my players, and we will file an official complaint."
You know who has filled this role for the US in the past sometimes? Claudio Reyna. The first time that .... what's his face, the super small quick winger for Mexico ... touched the ball in the World Cup, Reyna charged in, made it look like he hit the brakes, and stuck his thigh right in his groin. That sent a message. When the game got chippy late, he caught his foot in another guy's groin. Hejduk also can get physical and knows how to do it. ButI don't think he's ever gone for anythign really outlandish.
The bigger thing is that when Cherundolo got hurt, no one stood up for him. I can understand moral qualms about headhunting. But you have to have to at least put a finger in that guy's face and make it sound authentic. If you don't do that, you're way too mild-mannered.
Bigrose30
16 Jul 2005, 09:49 PM
I just watched Jose Burciaga try and elbow jamie watson in the head and get away without being sent off...the announcers said it was "payback" for something...anything else know more about it? Maybe that's what the nats need...
Ombak
16 Jul 2005, 10:18 PM
I just watched Jose Burciaga try and elbow jamie watson in the head and get away without being sent off...the announcers said it was "payback" for something...anything else know more about it? Maybe that's what the nats need...The difference in that situation isn't Burciaga - it's MLS refs.
TheBoz
16 Jul 2005, 10:58 PM
6' 1", 260, here. Any contact, I get called. I get called for people running into me and bouncing off. What Gooch needs to do is step in front of whoever laying down the payback.
No wonder all you guys have some may posts, youre washed up fat soccer players who think they know what they're talking about......
uniteo
16 Jul 2005, 11:11 PM
No wonder all you guys have some may posts, youre washed up fat soccer players who think they know what they're talking about......
ah, good
beergod
16 Jul 2005, 11:46 PM
USA doesn't need a hack, they need a 'skilled goon'. :cool: A hack will just retaliate for them and get a red card. Who knows, maybe then a ban for the year, indefinitely, etc. and that could possibly effect his club career. Not only that, then the team is down a player on the roster because they had some clown that couldn't do it plausibly.
So if they had a 'skilled goon', someone physical that tackles hard enough, adn sneaky enough not to get carded yet deliver the tough foul... or maybe will still get carded but not red carded, and can also contribute in the match - the USA is better off. You don't need a hack, you need someone ala Jens Jeremies 1998, or Mascherano of Argentina, that can take out the oppositions top creative force. And you need the manager to call it as he sees it when the opposition plays dirty... to just say: "They were trying to injure my players, and we will file an official complaint."
how about an american souness
So if they had a 'skilled goon', someone physical that tackles hard enough, adn sneaky enough not to get carded yet deliver the tough foul... or maybe will still get carded but not red carded, and can also contribute in the match - the USA is better off.
We don't really need a guy to contribute to winning the match--most of the problems happen after the match is almost won. We need a guy who comes on in the 75th minute when we're up 2+ goals with instructions to protect the expensive players. We can absorb cards and suspensions in WCQ--in the WC there won't be a need for such a player anyway.