Pearce compares up-and-comer to Reyna . . .

[Beadling Boy]

When English coaches start to compare young English players, who show promise, to American players, it's another sign that we are taking steps forward as a soccer nation, and some of the rest of the world is taking note.

"Those are the two main criteria that I was brought up on as a Nottingham Forest player. He has a good eye for a pass. He is a young Claudio Reyna, and if he turns out half as good as Claudio then he has a chance." - Stuart Pearce about Stephen Ireland.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=216654&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=6&fromyear=2005&tomonth=8&toyear=2005

Article Title: "Ireland on the Ball" dated August 10, 2005. This was gleaned from Soccer America's news.

[CarlosE]

"Those are the two main criteria that I was brought up on as a Nottingham Forest player. He has a good eye for a pass. He is a young Claudio Reyna, and if he turns out half as good as Claudio then he has a chance." - Stuart Pearce about Stephen Ireland.


Interesting and nice to see.

The link didn't work, though. Can anyone post an unbroken link?

[appoo]

Claudio has always gotten a ton of respect in England and in Europe

[appoo]

he's captaining the Manchester City squad today

[Scotty]

If Stuart Pearce read BigSoccer and knew anything about the game he would see that Reyna is a useless player who is past his prime and only slows down our attack.

[Daren Spencer]

If Stuart Pearce read BigSoccer and knew anything about the game he would see that Reyna is a useless player who is past his prime and only slows down our attack.

Yer killin' me smalls........

:D

[USvsIRELAND]

When English coaches start to compare young English players, who show promise, to American players, it's another sign that we are taking steps forward as a soccer nation, and some of the rest of the world is taking note.

"Those are the two main criteria that I was brought up on as a Nottingham Forest player. He has a good eye for a pass. He is a young Claudio Reyna, and if he turns out half as good as Claudio then he has a chance." - Stuart Pearce about Stephen Ireland.

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid={DBD12D53-8346-431D-A04F-5D0F8664DE80}&newsid=216654&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=1051&frommonth=6&fromyear=2005&tomonth=8&toyear=2005

Article Title: "Ireland on the Ball" dated August 10, 2005. This was gleaned from Soccer America's news.

Stephen Ireland is Irish.

[USvsIRELAND]

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?syndicatorguid={7EB24EFC-E397-48B3-977A-BC40E4795300}&rmasiteinstanceguid={5B147D34-2BCF-448D-976C-AE1944ED09F5}&pagegid={439A001B-9F18-408E-BD8E-8466AB3C97FD}&bioid=12809&siteid=502

[Captain10]

If Stuart Pearce read BigSoccer and knew anything about the game he would see that Reyna is a useless player who is past his prime and only slows down our attack.
You've got to admit that the contributions and play for his club and play for the USMNT is like night and day. Whereas he's played relatively well for his club (when available), he has not done much for the USMNT (when available) in a long, long time.

[MikeLastort2]

You've got to admit that the contributions and play for his club and play for the USMNT is like night and day. Whereas he's played relatively well for his club (when available), he has not done much for the USMNT (when available) in a long, long time.

I think we should somehow blame Arena, don't you?

[Shark]

You've got to admit that the contributions and play for his club and play for the USMNT is like night and day. Whereas he's played relatively well for his club (when available), he has not done much for the USMNT (when available) in a long, long time.

I think focusing on the club that signs his paychecks while Bruce tries out flesh blood for the US is something to respect. Man must get his while he can for the long years to come afterward.... Good on ya lad.

The WC is a year away and Cladio needs to stay healthy and put in a solid year and hit top form towards the end of the Spring right into the run up to Germany. Him and Kellers last Cup possibly (maybe not Keller). Will Reyna start? We won't know that until next year, but he can be one hell of a role player and BA knows and trusts him. Heydude won't be there IMHO.

[asdf2]

You've got to admit that the contributions and play for his club and play for the USMNT is like night and day. Whereas he's played relatively well for his club (when available), he has not done much for the USMNT (when available) in a long, long time.

It depends on what you mean by a long time. Check out his player ratings at the bottom of the page:

http://www.sams-army.com/index.php?Mlist=player&Pid=46

These ratings get a lot of votes so are a good proxy for the public's perception of performance. Per these, he's had 2 bad games for the US in a row, but his previous 4 (all qualifiers last summer) he averaged about 5.5-5.6 which, while below his scores in the past, is still very solid.

[uniteo]

You've got to admit that the contributions and play for his club and play for the USMNT is like night and day. Whereas he's played relatively well for his club (when available), he has not done much for the USMNT (when available) in a long, long time.

or maybe BS posters just think they know a lot more about the game than they actually do?

[JohnR]

I think we should somehow blame Arena, don't you?

That approach has always worked for me.

[JohnR]

or maybe BS posters just think they know a lot more about the game than they actually do?

Nah. Seeing what occurs on the field is pretty easy. I'm sure if you fed him truth serum that Bruce Arena would tell you that Claudio Reyna hasn't done the USMNT much good over the past 3 years. That's been obvious.

On the other hand, anticipating what will happen is hard. Does this mean that Reyna should be a bench player in '06? Or a starter but more of a role player? Or should Reyna be considered an absolutely core element of the attack? That ain't easy to answer. And all jokes aside, I have pretty good confidence in Bruce Arena to make the right call - much more than I would in my own ability, for example.

[Beadling Boy]

Nah. Seeing what occurs on the field is pretty easy. I'm sure if you fed him truth serum that Bruce Arena would tell you that Claudio Reyna hasn't done the USMNT much good over the past 3 years. That's been obvious.

On the other hand, anticipating what will happen is hard. Does this mean that Reyna should be a bench player in '06? Or a starter but more of a role player? Or should Reyna be considered an absolutely core element of the attack? That ain't easy to answer. And all jokes aside, I have pretty good confidence in Bruce Arena to make the right call - much more than I would in my own ability, for example.

I'm sure, though, with that truth serum, Arena would also explain that Reyna has had a string of injuries during the past few years which has prevented him from playing at his full capabilities. Starting with his ACL injury which wiped out 2003, to his ankle and two quadricep injuries in 2004, which pretty much wiped out those seasons, he has not had too much luck since his very good performances in 2002.

With that same truth serum, Arena would also admit that it was not very bright of him to bring back Reyna, after he had been out of competitive soccer for 1/2 year since his first quad injury in September '04, through his reinjury in November '04, which only saw him trying to play reserve games in February '05. To then call an out-of-competitive-shape Reyna in to play at altitude, in pollution in Azteca as a first game is a pretty silly move on BA's part.

Maybe it makes sense to see how he does over the next few quallies, now that he seems healthy and eager to play, before condemning him to the old fogies retirement home.

Anywhoooo, here's more more info on Reyna gleaned from Soccer America's e-mail service:

"Looking at him, it was probably a good decision. He looks fresh, pretty fit. And I think he wants to be here. In the end, it shows it was a wise decision on his part and Man City."
-- U.S. coach Bruce Arena on Claudio Reyna, who's in camp for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago, having skipped two U.S. qualifiers in June and the Gold Cup in July to focus on preseason training with Manchester City.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--wcup-us-trinidad0815aug15%2C0%2C1908677.story?coll=ny-region-apconnecticut

"CLAUDIO REYNA served as Manchester City captain in its English Premier League opener, a 0-0 tie with West Brom Albion during which he was twice denied by keeper Chris Kirkland's excellent saves. Reyna has now worn the captain's armband of four top-tier European clubs following captaincy stints at Manchester City, Sunderland, Glasgow Rangers and VfL Wolfsburg."

I, for one, am really looking forward to seeing Captain America, live, in two days!

http://enquirer.com/editions/2002/06/22/usa_zoom.jpg

[macheath]

or maybe BS posters just think they know a lot more about the game than they actually do?


Didn't you mean BS posers? Obviously, English Premiership managers need to read BS boards more often, so they can learn how bad Reyna is...its a pathetic tendency in these boards to trash Reyna.

[due time]

Stephen Ireland is Irish.

You jacking us?? Who woulda guessed.