The Official Eskandarian & DC United Thread

[tmas]

i have read that it sounds like some people think that ray will not pick eskandarian. it will happen he has been saying that thats who is going to pick all the way back in mid november.

i know a lot of people dont like the fact but it has to be faced.

also if you look on dcunited.com you will see in hte poll at the opening screen names in the draft adn i have a feeling those 5 are the guys ray is going to try to draft.

[dsheon]

That poll is absurd. It doesn't ask about several players who are said to be better than those listed.
It's a loaded question the way it is asked.

[Topo]

Originally posted by ds39heon
That poll is absurd. It doesn't ask about several players who are said to be better than those listed.
It's a loaded question the way it is asked.
Yes, but it is asked by people who might have some idea of what five people we might want to try to draft.

[ursula]

For folks who are too lazy to look at DCUnited.com, here is the list: Ryan Cockrane, Kenny Arena, Pat Noonan, Brian Carroll, and Aleko Escandarian.

I aghree that this list sure looks like these are the guys who the team a) likes, and b) thinks they can get.

[greatscott]

The order which they are listed would be the exact order i would want them in too....
Esky first etc...

[GrillMaster]

Don't count on it, Topo. The content folks probably have very limited intelligence on player matters until the deals are done and the press reports are being written up. Remember that the organization is trying to plug the leaks that apparently sabotaged or hurt a couple of deals in the past two or three years.

GM

[Sachin]

Welcome to BigSoccer tmas

Sachin

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by tmas
i have read that it sounds like some people think that ray will not pick eskandarian. it will happen he has been saying that thats who is going to pick all the way back in mid november.

i know a lot of people dont like the fact but it has to be faced.

also if you look on dcunited.com you will see in hte poll at the opening screen names in the draft adn i have a feeling those 5 are the guys ray is going to try to draft.
This might be in reference to me, amongst others.

I know full well that Eskandarian will almost certainly be drafted by DC. I don't like it, but I'm not in denial.

[MikeLastort2]

Originally posted by JAnderson14
This might be in reference to me, amongst others.

I know full well that Eskandarian will almost certainly be drafted by DC. I don't like it, but I'm not in denial.

Why don't you like it? What's not to like?

[Lowecifer]

I'm afraid he won't be able to make the jump as quickly as many think he will, if at all. Dribbling around college defenders and scoring against college goalkeepers is nowhere near as difficult as doing the same against the modest professionals in MLS. He also has a temper which could get him in trouble, especially on this team o' thugs.

I know there's a lot of positive buzz on the guy, but here's another article that is slightly more critical:

Smart Alecko (http://www.onetouchfootball.com/usa/alecko.html)

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Why don't you like it? What's not to like?
We already have an average, unremarkable forward who a) doesn't have an attitude and b) is on minimum salary. Plus, Curtis has 2 years in MLS that Eskandarian doesn't. I think Alecko is going to be a very mediocre player in MLS for at least 2 years, and I don't see why we should pay him his likely salary demands for what Curtis can do for less. It's wasteful. I've seen him play, he's not as good as people think.

We have plenty of promising but incomplete players. In the draft we should take players who are ready to contribute right now. I'm not saying Ricardo Clark or Ricky Lewis would walk into our starting lineup, but I do think they would do more this year and next year than Eskandarian would.

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by Lowecifer
I'm afraid he won't be able to make the jump as quickly as many think he will, if at all. Dribbling around college defenders and scoring against college goalkeepers is nowhere near as difficult as doing the same against the modest professionals in MLS. He also has a temper which could get him in trouble, especially on this team o' thugs.

I know there's a lot of positive buzz on the guy, but here's another article that is slightly more critical:

Smart Alecko (http://www.onetouchfootball.com/usa/alecko.html)
Well written article, but when it comes down to it, I'd rather have a player that expects to score and makes no bones about it. Temper can be good at times.

A plus has got to be his old man, who one would expect to help him keep his head screwed on straight.

After three years of seeing some tame futbol up front, I personally would welcome some fire.


BTW....Team o thugs?? I thought that was just in the stands. ;)

[DigitalTron]

I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm not a very big Eskandarian fan. That said, he is good and likely will contribute a good 5 goals as a rookie and eventually become a 10-15 goal a year guy, so he's very likely going to become a solid MLS player.

He isn't a midfielder, and playing him there would not be the best use of his skills. While not blazing fast, he is fast and can counter-attack. But his biggest gifts are 1) his ability to get off a quick and accurate shot in a very tight opening, and 2) very solid dribbling skills and quickness to create that space needed to get off a shot. In that way, he's like a smaller and faster version of Taylor Twellman, but I wouldn't expect similar production.

The problem I have, is that IMHO he'll never be a Donovan or Owen type forward and he's not going to add a whole lot to his game in the future. He's not going to get any stronger, faster, technical or creative. Once he adjusts to the speed of play and gains a little experience, he'll be pretty much at the top of his game. His ceiling isn't as high as I'd like for the top overall pick in the draft. While I'm not a big fan of Carrieri or Curtis, I'd have to say that each of them has a higher ceiling than Eskandarian, but less current skill.

Furthermore, the skill set lacking at United wouldn't be provided by Eskandarian (aerial threat, etc.) and I don't see him meshing favorably with either Santino or Ali. But, if Ray kept the pick and selected Esky, I wouldn't be terribly upset either.

-Tron

[DCU9ted]

Why does everybody dislike Eskandarian on this board?
After reading these boards a newcomer would think that Eskandarian has the attitude of Albert Belle, the future of Chris Albright, the skill of Alavanja, etc.

The kid says he want to play for New York Metrostars. BIG DEAL. If a miracle occured and I went to MLS I would state to the media that I would want to play with DC because Ive lived my whole life in this area.

Someone commented that Alecko is never going to be a Michael Owen or Donovan. Who else in this league is going to be a Michael Owen? I dont know why everyone expects that if Alecko doesnt turn out to be the next Pele then he is a failure but if we pick another person in the draft who goes no where then its alright. Look at Juan Dixon..people were unsure of what he would do in the NBA and he's doing fine.

Another bad point I heard was not to draft Eskandarian because we have back up forwards like Curtis and Quintanilla. The only thing that Eliseo is good for is filling RFK seats with Salvadoreans. I admit, I like the atmosphere when Eliseos name is announced and the place gets loud for a couple seconds but thats it. OK he is OK at passing but what else can he do? He is probably the slowest forward in the league. Curtis on the other hand is big and fast but has no skill or touch. He was the "super sub" last year on the worst team in the league. If you are satisfied with these two players coming off the bench then we shouldnt draft Alecko.

Anyway I hope DC drafts him, he has a good rookie season, and all you haters will be on his bandwagon in a couple years. Just my thoughts..

[Bill-DC]

I hope DC drafts him.

[tmas]

i hope they draft him too and it looks like ray will use him more than curtis (maybe!!!!!!!!) because he has been talking about him a lot. but i'm the worst guesser in the world so.......

[Lowecifer]

I'd say the majority of posters on this board agree with that sentiment. There are a few dissenters, but I wouldn't say "everybody" dislikes him.

Hell, I don't dislike him, I just don't think he's the second coming.

[CHICO13]

I reserve the right to hate his guts if and when he dons a MetroTards kit.

[joe guy]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm not a very big Eskandarian fan. That said, he is good and likely will contribute a good 5 goals as a rookie and eventually become a 10-15 goal a year guy, so he's very likely going to become a solid MLS player.

He isn't a midfielder, and playing him there would not be the best use of his skills. While not blazing fast, he is fast and can counter-attack. But his biggest gifts are 1) his ability to get off a quick and accurate shot in a very tight opening, and 2) very solid dribbling skills and quickness to create that space needed to get off a shot. In that way, he's like a smaller and faster version of Taylor Twellman, but I wouldn't expect similar production.

The problem I have, is that IMHO he'll never be a Donovan or Owen type forward and he's not going to add a whole lot to his game in the future. He's not going to get any stronger, faster, technical or creative. Once he adjusts to the speed of play and gains a little experience, he'll be pretty much at the top of his game. His ceiling isn't as high as I'd like for the top overall pick in the draft. While I'm not a big fan of Carrieri or Curtis, I'd have to say that each of them has a higher ceiling than Eskandarian, but less current skill.

Furthermore, the skill set lacking at United wouldn't be provided by Eskandarian (aerial threat, etc.) and I don't see him meshing favorably with either Santino or Ali. But, if Ray kept the pick and selected Esky, I wouldn't be terribly upset either.

-Tron

Remember A. J. Wood, the college scoring sensation? I'm skeptical of college forwards and I never count on any of them on making any impact at the professional level. Trying to guess the value of a college striker is almost impossible and is basically a crap shoot. Maybe Eskandarian turns out to be a great player, but over the past few years college strikers have rarely shown me much. The Taylor Twellmans are exceedingly rare in the game and the Woods and Albrights are far too common.

[Knave]

I merged the various Eski threads.