appoo
17 Oct 2005, 12:28 PM
This is as close to international soccer as MLS can get so it's especially worthwhile to see which players rasie their play
San Jose vs LA
1. All eyes will be on LA's #10. traditionally Landon has played his best soccer during the playoffs - but he's been weird this season. Not playing poorly by any stretch of the imagination....but not playing nearly to his abilities. How he responds here is going to be very interesting since USA desperaratly needs a fully in form Landon Donovan in the World Cup. Landon needs to show he he can play well in the clutch.
2. Herculez Gomez - is perhaps coming into his own at exactly the right moment. however, this is a pretty good litmus test. San Jose have the best backline in MLS and the steadiest keeper, so if he shows well here, he'll have earned it. It's especially important to see how he plays becaise of the razor thin depth we have at forward.
3. Ricardo Clark - a long shot for the world cup, but he's a dynamic player and my personal choice for MVP along with Shalrie Joseph. He's a classic box-to-box midfielder and he'll be in the spotlight of the playoffs in the HDC, the leg which will be nationally televised.
FC Dallas vs Colorado
1. Ramon Nunez is the 2nd brightest star in MLS behind Fredd.....oh wait. never mind. USA fans have no real reason to watch FCD here. Unless you like saying the name Wagonfuer, which is actually pretty fun. Almost as fun as repeating Fecundo Erpen.
2. Kyle Beckerman - just keep an eye out on the central midfielder. He graduated in the same Bradenton class as Landon and he's got some talent.
3. Pablo - if only to make sure he doesn't get hurt. Pablo doesn't have a thing more to prove and he's got his ticket to Germany booked. Then again, he'll have to battle Armas for #1 destroyer.
New England - Metros
#1 - Clint. Clint. Clint. for a month, this guy looked like the best player in MLS. He's an All XI player but he's got some issues out there. In the playoffs, one has to play smarter than he normally does. Let's see how intelligently he plays. Also be interesting to track risky chances taken and number of turnovers. He thinks he is better than he actually is, and that kills his game sometimes IMHO. If he can show he can play within himself here, I like his chances for USA.
#2 - Taylor Twellman. I don't want him to finish chances. I want to see him create chances. for either himself or his teamates.
#3 - Mike Parkhurst. He's a very good defender. just watch how good he is against a decent Metro strike force.
#4 - Eddie Gaven - it's his last chance to shine. He better take it. He's been a dissapointment this season and I don't even know if a great playoff run will be enough to get him noticed again by Bruce. He's tentative, he lost his aggression...he's just a different player this year. Eddie, go back to your all XI form and you have an arguement for making your way into the Jan camp.
#5 - Youri Djorkaeff - to see how this game is supposed to be played. what a joy to watch. If his team didn't suck, he'd be getting MVP votes.
DCU - Chicago
#1 - Freddy. When he's one his game, there isn't a single player in MLS who comes even close to him other than Ramon Nunez or Landon Donovan when they play well. He is a complete attacking player. He can shoot from distance, he can bury em up close. He can dribble past a defender, or he blow past him with his pace. He's got extraordinary vision and the passing abiliti to go with it. If he raises his game, and he gets the opputunity, DCU will win MLS Cup with ease. He's that talented and at times, has been that good this year.
#2 - Santino Quaranta - He's played all over the attacking 3rd for Novak. In another pressure situation for the kid, he'll get another shot to impress the National team coaches. While he plays 3rd fiddle to Moreno and Gomez, he's possibly the most purely talented starter and will need to step up if DCU wants to get past NE and Freddy doesn't take over.
#3 - Justin Mapp - For the national team, he was over aggressive. Let's see what he can do in another pressure situation, and plays smarter, knowing that Arena and Co. will be watching. He has the ability to take this match up with DCU over and turn this into a HIGHLY entertaining 2 games.
#4 - Chris Armas - for obvious reasons. He's played well this season IMHO, and he's tied neck and neck with Pablo for #1 destroyer.
San Jose vs LA
1. All eyes will be on LA's #10. traditionally Landon has played his best soccer during the playoffs - but he's been weird this season. Not playing poorly by any stretch of the imagination....but not playing nearly to his abilities. How he responds here is going to be very interesting since USA desperaratly needs a fully in form Landon Donovan in the World Cup. Landon needs to show he he can play well in the clutch.
2. Herculez Gomez - is perhaps coming into his own at exactly the right moment. however, this is a pretty good litmus test. San Jose have the best backline in MLS and the steadiest keeper, so if he shows well here, he'll have earned it. It's especially important to see how he plays becaise of the razor thin depth we have at forward.
3. Ricardo Clark - a long shot for the world cup, but he's a dynamic player and my personal choice for MVP along with Shalrie Joseph. He's a classic box-to-box midfielder and he'll be in the spotlight of the playoffs in the HDC, the leg which will be nationally televised.
FC Dallas vs Colorado
1. Ramon Nunez is the 2nd brightest star in MLS behind Fredd.....oh wait. never mind. USA fans have no real reason to watch FCD here. Unless you like saying the name Wagonfuer, which is actually pretty fun. Almost as fun as repeating Fecundo Erpen.
2. Kyle Beckerman - just keep an eye out on the central midfielder. He graduated in the same Bradenton class as Landon and he's got some talent.
3. Pablo - if only to make sure he doesn't get hurt. Pablo doesn't have a thing more to prove and he's got his ticket to Germany booked. Then again, he'll have to battle Armas for #1 destroyer.
New England - Metros
#1 - Clint. Clint. Clint. for a month, this guy looked like the best player in MLS. He's an All XI player but he's got some issues out there. In the playoffs, one has to play smarter than he normally does. Let's see how intelligently he plays. Also be interesting to track risky chances taken and number of turnovers. He thinks he is better than he actually is, and that kills his game sometimes IMHO. If he can show he can play within himself here, I like his chances for USA.
#2 - Taylor Twellman. I don't want him to finish chances. I want to see him create chances. for either himself or his teamates.
#3 - Mike Parkhurst. He's a very good defender. just watch how good he is against a decent Metro strike force.
#4 - Eddie Gaven - it's his last chance to shine. He better take it. He's been a dissapointment this season and I don't even know if a great playoff run will be enough to get him noticed again by Bruce. He's tentative, he lost his aggression...he's just a different player this year. Eddie, go back to your all XI form and you have an arguement for making your way into the Jan camp.
#5 - Youri Djorkaeff - to see how this game is supposed to be played. what a joy to watch. If his team didn't suck, he'd be getting MVP votes.
DCU - Chicago
#1 - Freddy. When he's one his game, there isn't a single player in MLS who comes even close to him other than Ramon Nunez or Landon Donovan when they play well. He is a complete attacking player. He can shoot from distance, he can bury em up close. He can dribble past a defender, or he blow past him with his pace. He's got extraordinary vision and the passing abiliti to go with it. If he raises his game, and he gets the opputunity, DCU will win MLS Cup with ease. He's that talented and at times, has been that good this year.
#2 - Santino Quaranta - He's played all over the attacking 3rd for Novak. In another pressure situation for the kid, he'll get another shot to impress the National team coaches. While he plays 3rd fiddle to Moreno and Gomez, he's possibly the most purely talented starter and will need to step up if DCU wants to get past NE and Freddy doesn't take over.
#3 - Justin Mapp - For the national team, he was over aggressive. Let's see what he can do in another pressure situation, and plays smarter, knowing that Arena and Co. will be watching. He has the ability to take this match up with DCU over and turn this into a HIGHLY entertaining 2 games.
#4 - Chris Armas - for obvious reasons. He's played well this season IMHO, and he's tied neck and neck with Pablo for #1 destroyer.