Props for Frankie Hejduk

[peledre]

He may not the most skillful RB in our pool, but you've got to love the way he plays. Frankie plays with more passion and emotion than anyone in our player pool and always gives 110%. He truly loves this country and loves playing for the USMNT. He had a couple great plays on saturday night and worked well with Gooch and Berhalter shutting down the right side.

After the game was over there wasn't a happier guy on the field than Frankie. You know he wants it when he steps on the field. He may not be Sanneh vs. Germany in J/K '02, but the guy has a lot of heart and will always leave it on the field for us. If every player on our team brought it like Frankie does, we'd walk away with almost every game. He'll be a solid option for us through the WC next year.

I just feel like a lot of the things he does off (and on) the field aren't appreciated enough as some of our other players.

[TheImposter]

Before all the critics get in here, let me be the first to say to you, "Damn straight!"

[Dead Run]

I totally agree. He is one of our few physical players and mentally VERY tough.

He used to play with more skill. WC98 he made a lot of dangerous dribbling runs and even WC02 he was a much more offensive threat than he is now. I wonder what's changed.

[kjksccr]

Absolutely, the Mexicans just hate him and that alone is reason enough to play him. He does hack a lot but he really doesn't get carded that much because he does actually go for the ball. I think his pace is what keeps him on the team. It is just nice having a guy that can get totally burned on speed and can usually get a toe in when he needs to.

Plus, the guy is a surfer so it is hard to dislike him.

[mattjo]

I'll second that. Hejduk receives a lot of criticism, but unlike some of our players who tend to disappear in big matches, Hejduk brings it. Shoot, he was one of the very few to play aggressively against Real Madrid, not to mention he did play well in the past two cups. I also like that he played a bit of the enforcer role after all of the DMB fouls. Hejduk may not have the foot skills we desire from our LB and RBs, but his energey, hustle, and ability to not be intimidated against big clubs is a valuable asset in my opinion.

[dlokteff]

Count me in as well.

Frankie at LB in J/K agaianst Portugal was about my worst nightmare, but damn if he didn't prove me wrong. Since then he's just gotten better and better as a back. Flexibilty to play Left or Right is helpful as well.

Watching him kiss the flag after the match and pumping up the crowd...he's just about my favorite player now. Still can't cross though.

[brianzappa]

110% every time he's wearing a nats jersey.

[Dr.Phil]

i thought he played really good

[Captain10]

Hejduk played very well against Mexico. He played a solid defensive game, and did a very, very good job at it. Good for him!

Not only that, he was one of the few players that didn't take any crap from them either. Once he started tagging some of their players, the Mexicans laid off ours to some extent. I don't think it was a coincidence.

The main difference with this game in regard to Frankie, though, was that his assignment was apparently to *stay at home* on defense. Which he does well. He did not wander too far up the field, did not get burned out of position, and we didn't have to endure any stepovers and bad crosses. ;)

[adamu7777]

110% on the field. Could use some ritalin once the match ends though. :)

[mattjo]

He may not the most skillful RB in our pool, but you've got to love the way he plays. Frankie plays with more passion and emotion than anyone in our player pool and always gives 110%. He truly loves this country and loves playing for the USMNT. He had a couple great plays on saturday night and worked well with Gooch and Berhalter shutting down the right side.

After the game was over there wasn't a happier guy on the field than Frankie. You know he wants it when he steps on the field. He may not be Sanneh vs. Germany in J/K '02, but the guy has a lot of heart and will always leave it on the field for us. If every player on our team brought it like Frankie does, we'd walk away with almost every game. He'll be a solid option for us through the WC next year.

I just feel like a lot of the things he does off (and on) the field aren't appreciated enough as some of our other players.

By the way, rep coming your way for taking a solid position that goes against the "group think" on Big Soccer. I think many BS criticisms are reinforced by volume rather than analysis, and that makes it difficult for many posters (dare I say the majority) to objectively look at a player's performance.

[sidefootsitter]

I love the guy's heart ... but his head I am not that sold on.

Mexico helped him keep within himself, as more of a stay home right side fullback.

Going forward however ...

[Bigdog]

He was also the preference of the Mexican's attacks and probably relieved some much needed potential pressure off Lewis' 2nd ever start at LB. His heart, tenacity and fitness outweigh his negatives in big matches.

[mschofield]

He's great energy, and I loved how hard he went in when he earned the yellow (though a smarter play wouldn't have uselessly stuck out a leg when the ball was coming into his chest). He's a nice option in the pool and solid for teams we're going to dominate (where we often need an energy boost). Against Mex, his balls out of the back were consistently out of bounds, to Mexico or left men in bad positions. He gave away a lot of possession. Watching the game as I'm typing, and in a few seconds he gives the ball away, then follows up by knocking the resulting attack pointlessly out for a corner. But he does run hard, and is fun to watch.

[ttrevett]

I think Arena took a bit of a risk starting the back four that he did. It was a risk out of necessity but a risk nonetheless: Eddie Lewis, a very green left back, much more offensively minded; Berhalter, slow; Gooch might have had a mental problem after the Azteca game; and Frankie, who although incredibly fit, plays with all the heart he has, does have his shaky moments with talented left wingers. Thankfully, the stars were all aligned properly and as a back four, stuffed the Mexican offense on the night. I'm not sure they had any really dangerous non-set piece opportunities.

Frankie had a solid night. I've said it before, no one save maybe McBride wears the US colors with more heart than Hejduk. I think he really understands and appreciates the opportunity to pull on the national team jersey.

At the end of the game, he ripped his jersey off and ran over to the far stands and was pumping his fists. He was so stoked! That was great to see. I just wished he had come over to our side.

[Zathras]

Frankie seems to play better when he's not a total spaz. Saturday he was calmer on and off the ball; not running around like his head was cut off. I think it's a question of focus. He wants to do so much that he just ends up going all over the place, but when he's focused and calmed by a big game where he knows he can't do it all, he plays better.

[IamtheShark]

Love the way he plays. Hope some of it rubs off on the younger guys.

[THOMA GOL]

Frankie's going to be one of those players that I'd actually pay to see in those old-timer all star matches. We all know he'd do his patented two foot slide tackle, tackle the ball away and go nuts with passion. I hope he brings back the Bob Marley dance he used to do. He's came a long way in his career, I'm just thinking about how it seems like yesterday when he was playing in the Bundesliga.

[ChelseaMatt]

He's great energy, and I loved how hard he went in when he earned the yellow (though a smarter play wouldn't have uselessly stuck out a leg when the ball was coming into his chest). He's a nice option in the pool and solid for teams we're going to dominate (where we often need an energy boost). Against Mex, his balls out of the back were consistently out of bounds, to Mexico or left men in bad positions. He gave away a lot of possession. Watching the game as I'm typing, and in a few seconds he gives the ball away, then follows up by knocking the resulting attack pointlessly out for a corner. But he does run hard, and is fun to watch.

I like having Frankie back there at left back--- until Dolo comes back and in the form he was in before the knee injury, I'd like to keep him there. And Hejduk will be a good player to bring to Germany for cover for Dolo. But I have to give Bruce props for his choice of back line: I think Dolo, Onweyu, Berhalter, and Lewis is a dream back line--- and Hejduk played well enough to show me that he's certainly not a defensive liability. And you've got to love his style and passion.

[Bajoro]

I love the guy's heart ... but his head I am not that sold on.

Mexico helped him keep within himself, as more of a stay home right side fullback.

Going forward however ...

Actually...

I don't have a tape to watch it again. But I was impressed that he made at least two overlapping runs in the second half that opened space and took pressure off the midfield. He didn't get the ball, but that's not the point. He knew when to make the run. (Plus he was secure that he had solid cover from Jarad's Daddy.)