Quaranta

[Sachin]

It's Tino's third season. Time for him to step into a consistent force. We need him to make The Leap and really show off what he's only shown in occasional flashes.

My guess is if he struggles after coming back from UAE (U-20 World Cup), Hudson will bench him the way he benched Convey.

Sachin

[Jose L. Couso]

It's Convey's fourth season, we really really need him to STEP UP and be a consistent force.

[greatscott]

This is Petke's first season
its time for him to STEP UP, and show what He has shown in inconsistant times...

[pething101]

After missing the playoffs for the last three years, it is time for _________________, to stand up. (Fill in the blank with pretty much anyone on United)

[Knave]

It's Etcheverry's eighth season. Time for him to step down and stop being a consistent drag. We need him to take a hike and admit that all he's got left are occasional flashes.

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by Jose L. Couso
It's Convey's fourth season, we really really need him to STEP UP and be a consistent force.
It's already happened. Convey was probably our best player not named Nick Rimando over the last half of the season. 5 goals from midfield is pretty good for a guy who's not even 20 yet.

Quaranta does need to step up this year. Last season was kind of a wash with his long term injury, but I agree that this year he has to be more imposing. No more playing for 30 minutes out of 90, no more getting pissed off and fading out, etc.

[DigitalTron]

Much of Santino's success in 2003 will be determined by the #1 forward that Ray brings in, and the health of both he and Santino.

Often times failure help an athlete focus and make the jump to a higher level of play. I can see Santino stumbling early in 2003 for a variety of reasons, but if he learns from it, re-focuses, and concentrates on being the team member which he is capable of being, he'll be fine by playoff time.

-Tron

[elconejito]

there won't be a playoff time unless DC's young guns step up. That includes Q1, Q2, and Convey. We also need Olsen to get back to his old form so we can lean on him for a while...

[greatscott]

BLARG!

[baltosoccerfan]

there will be great deal of pressure on this 18year striker, but by years end and dcu go deep into the playoffs, santino will be spoke in the same breath as LANDON AND DEMARCAS, BELIEVE.......

[chayes]

Nobody can expect an 18 yr old forward not named Rooney or Owen to be the primary offensive threat from a team.

Quaranta is good, but he's nowhere near that level.

For him to have a successful year, it is absolutely imperative to have a strong force at the other forward spot.

Quaranta has thrived when he has been the man "ignored" up top, with defenses focusing double teams on Moreno or Etch.

When Quaranta was the focus of other team's defense, he got frustrated and lost focus.

He's not ready to be a commanding forward, but as a complementary forward who will capitalize on chances created, he will thrive.

Last year teams didn't have to worry about MAE or Moreno so they focused more on Tino, taking him out of his element.

Lets just remember that he is only 18. He's not Michael Owen. He's not Landon Donovan.

[Cweedchop]

Originally posted by chayes
Nobody can expect an 18 yr old forward not named Rooney or Owen to be the primary offensive threat from a team.

Quaranta is good, but he's nowhere near that level.

For him to have a successful year, it is absolutely imperative to have a strong force at the other forward spot.

Quaranta has thrived when he has been the man "ignored" up top, with defenses focusing double teams on Moreno or Etch.

When Quaranta was the focus of other team's defense, he got frustrated and lost focus.

He's not ready to be a commanding forward, but as a complementary forward who will capitalize on chances created, he will thrive.

Last year teams didn't have to worry about MAE or Moreno so they focused more on Tino, taking him out of his element.

Lets just remember that he is only 18. He's not Michael Owen. He's not Landon Donovan.

Amen brother amen...


Quaranta did play well at times last season but he was saddled with either Lassiter or Curtis for the bulk of his time before the injury.. It's no coincidence that the few games that Tino and Jaime played up top together we either won or tied..

It's inherently unfair to expect the major offensive output to come from what will be an 18 year old this season..

Just think if we land a Josh Wolff or Tyson Nunez how much more effective Tino can be before he matures to an age where he can in fact take over some games...

Patience people, patience.....

[BBRovers]

My take on Tino is that Jaime seemed to be his #1 mentor on the team, and that he was not a good role model for the youngster. Jaime plays when he wants to, and that rarely involves any forays into the defensive half. Convey is better than Tino now because of his hunger to play. If Tino can find that, with the help of someone like Olsen or Kovalenko or Reyes, then he's got a chance to be a great player.

[Anthony]

I think its time for the beer guy with the cool gizmo to step up.

[doctorjim]

Convey, even before Ray trashed him, was playing well. His game continues to improve. He showed last year improved defensive abilities. He has always been a consummate team player, almost too willing to pass, rather than have a try himself.

Tino proved himself a versatile player in 2002. His future may not be as a striker, but as a winger or a withdrawn forward. His ability to create is probably greater than his ability to finish. During most games, he was the forward that created chances for his partner up top.

Both Tino and Bobby have room for improvement. What they need more than anything is a supportive environment -- one that surrounds them with at least competent players, that is organized, that is committed to high quality soccer, and that understands that all players, but particularly young ones, make mistakes or have off days.

That environment was missing last year. It remains to be seen whether DC can create it in 2003.

[detter7]

Convey and Quaranta have exceptional raw talent. I wanted to get of Convey at the beginning of last year, but he really picked it up. He wasn't the kid on the team anymore, he was much more mature. I think that will happen with Quaranta this year. He was kinda hampered with injuries last season, but I think now he'll see the need to pick it up with the loss of Moreno. The addition of a healthy Olsen to a Convey/Quaranta attack will be awesome.

baltosoccerfan, I believe.

[Z010 Union]

Originally posted by Anthony
I think its time for the beer guy with the cool gizmo to step up.

Yeah that jackass only had one or two good games at the pro level last year. I don't remember seeing him much after April.

[chivas]

I love the differing opinions on games we all attend. I seem to be off in the fringe (lunatic). I think Convey had a horrible season last year. He was constantly bodied off of balls, that only one year before, he was motoring past defenders on. Nicky was clearly our player of the year. If it were not for him, we would not have looked so solid on defense from a statistical point of view. I'm still guessing that Santino will be traded or warming the bench next year. I expect Bobby to get back into form, and I expect Olsen to sprint by Santino in practices, with his usual hunger for the goal. Hudson will continue to see this, and Santino will lose out to our allocation striker phenoms who are on the way.

[Lowecifer]

Quaranta is certainly one of our starting forwards. We'll see who Hudson scrapes off the garbage heap of foreign talent, but there's no way Eskandarian will unseat Quaranta right away.