Sanneh/Pope, Can we fill their shoes?

[WarriorSoccer]

I haven't been a member of this board for very long, so if this topic has already been covered, please just provide a link and have it closed, I looked back, but couldn't find one on it.

I think our biggest strength in WC2002, besides Freidle was the play of Sanneh and Pope(let's forget about Poland for now). They both were very good in the air and also did great jobs of creating counter attack. I know that Gooch and Gibbs are very talented defenders and should be better than Agoos/Pope, but does anyone here think that either will play as well as Eddie did in Japorea?

Also, Sanneh's size came in handy many times while playing D for us 4 years ago. And I worry about how Cherundolo's deficiency in that aspect of the game could hurt us. I believe that Stevie should be able to get up the wing as well or better than Tony did, but still it worries me that we won't have another 6'3" guy in the back line if we are to go up against another Klose(who could have put the quarters away if he didnt hit the post) and Ballack type duo. This time around we may have short guys on both sides (Lewis Heyduk Cherundolo are all probabld for at least some the backline minutes) and that may come back to bit us in the arse.

What do you guys think on the subject?

[Asprilla9]

well, for starters, you're not going to fill Sanneh's shoes. he played out of his ass in WC '02 -- he was named to the all-tournament First XI IIRC. but Cherundolo can be solid, and bring an element of offense that Sanneh didn't bring. but as far as straight D ... no one will bring it over 5 games like Sanneh did, repeating that performance is virtually impossible.

as far as Pope ... Gooch can be close. but he won't be as seasoned as far as stopping elite strikers. Gooch has got Borgetti under his belt ... but he has a LONG way to go to equal Eddie. he certainly has the potential to be as good or better though.

[ncguy]

This is joke right?

[ugaaccountant]

If we play a tall team we will probably use Spector to provide height on the wings. He is a very tall and talented youngster who is playing in the EPL right now. That should cover the height loss of Sanneh. Gibbs/Gooch can definitley hang on the inside with any big team.

[freisland]

Sanneh was amazing in JK. Dolo will not be able to match is two way play. But two of Gooch/Gibbs/Boca/Berhalter in the middle is a very solid CD combo and we will not have the pace issues of Agoos (even Beerholder is faster). Heydude maybe on the left, in which case will have the same frisbee dog tenacity and elegance, or we may get Boca or Lewis, each of which have issues, but none insurmountable. If we have Boca on the left, we slide to a three with gooch going right and Dolo doing the overlapping (which is in some ways the best option as we can play without a winger RM that way - say Reyna/Pablo/Bease/Lewis with Lewis as a Neil McCann style LM, Bease as an inside L A-mid, Pablo a DCM, Reyna inside R "2-way" mid. Dolo can then overlap with LD as a right side forward who can come back and play some RAM (and bump into McBride who his laying back to flick on...)

The most interesting, but trickiest back four is Dolo and Lewis as both will want to get forward and neither is a great man-marking, set piece monster (although it was Sanneh, normally very strong in set piece marking, that got beat Ballack, wasn't it?). Still, with Dolo and Lewis we can still play with Reyna as an inside RM, pull LD back to true AM in a diamond (or put Convey there) and still have Pablo and Bease on the pitch. Either Boca or Lewis is more interesting than Heydude in my book, but neither is likely as safe, unless we play Holland.

[Dr.Phil]

Gooch brings the size and Gibbs will me just as good as POPe

[WarriorSoccer]

it was Sanneh, normally very strong in set piece marking, that got beat Ballack, wasn't it?

Yeah, Tony got beat, but each time I see it I think it looks like he slipped on his first step.

[Shaydee]

Remember why Gibbs is at Feyenoord?? Because of the way he made RVN his bitch way more than Gooch made Borgetti his bitch. I think people forget how good Gibbs can be because they haven't seen a lot of him lately.

[freisland]

The problem with Gibbs is simply fitness. Hard to be as good or better than Pope on the physio table. I, for one, can't wait to see him back, but I also think we have to imagine this team with two of Gooch, Boca, Pope or Berhalter at CD.

[The Big Ticket]

I think Cherundolo is a better player than Sanneh, but Sanneh had a great tournament in 2002. I don't think Dolo will be much of a step down.

A potential CB partnership of Gibbs and Gooch will be a major improvement. These are two great athletes. Gooch is 6'4 and 200 pounds, Gibbs is 6'2 and 180 pounds. They're both fast for their size. They're both strong in the air (especially Gooch). They're two very good players who play for two very respectable European teams.

The only defensive position we need to worry about is left back.

[Scarecrow]

I think Cherundolo is a better player than Sanneh, but Sanneh had a great tournament in 2002. I don't think Dolo will be much of a step down.

A potential CB partnership of Gibbs and Gooch will be a major improvement. These are two great athletes. Gooch is 6'4 and 200 pounds, Gibbs is 6'2 and 180 pounds. They're both fast for their size. They're both strong in the air (especially Gooch). They're two very good players who play for two very respectable European teams.

The only defensive position we need to worry about is left back.

I have to agree with this. I also think that while Big Cash, er Sanneh, had a great run in 02, it is not beyond the realm of possiblity that Gibbs or Gooch could match that run of play. I also think that Gibbs, Gooch, Boca, Dolo are more versatile as a group then what we had in 02, plus our mids are more exp. with more exp having been earned by playing in Europe with better clubs.

[ChelseaMatt]

Remember why Gibbs is at Feyenoord?? Because of the way he made RVN his bitch way more than Gooch made Borgetti his bitch. I think people forget how good Gibbs can be because they haven't seen a lot of him lately.
Are you referring to the Holland game a couple of years back?

[Shaydee]

Are you referring to the Holland game a couple of years back?


yes

[mattjo]

This is joke right?

Not at all. While I believe Gibbs and Gooch have matched the top performances of Pope in certain matches, neither have yet shown the consistency that Pope brought in the years 1998-2002. I believe the main difference is experience, but that is important in international matches. Pope was incredibly solid, and I hope they match his performance. That said, the duo should be an improvement over Agoos in the WC, altough Berhalter did well in the last cup when he came in.

As for Sanneh, I believe Cherundelo is a better professional player in 2005 than Sanneh was in 2001. However, Sanneh was incredible in the Cup and that performance will be hard to match. I think it can be said that Sanneh played his greatest football on that stage. Sanneh's greatest football is probably better than Cherundelo's current form (which is very good).

The challenge with this question is judging a player's performance based solely on the World Cup, rather than qualifiers or professional matches. Are we better talent-wise than in 2001? I think undoubtedly. However, some of our "marginal" players (Sanneh and Hejduk among others) really stepped it up in J/K and showed definite class. I just hope our current crop of players turn it up a knotch as well in the upcoming cup.

[cpwilson80]

well, for starters, you're not going to fill Sanneh's shoes. he played out of his ass in WC '02 -- he was named to the all-tournament First XI IIRC.

Sanneh played well, but was not on the all-tourny team. Reyna made the first team, while Donovan was named as an alternate. Friedel and McBride also made the shortlist of the 53 players considered for the All-Star team.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/world/2002/world_cup/news/2002/06/28/all_stars_ap/

I'm not worried about Cherundolo...I think he's been our best defender over the past few years, and while he may not provide the flash of brilliance that Sanneh did, his consistency will help the team.

I'm also confident in Onyewu and Gibbs. Both are strong man-markers, and should hold down the fort well enough to allow Cherundolo and Lewis/Spector to venture forward more frequently than Sanneh/Hejduk did in '02.

[Eleven Bravo]

what about Mastroeni?? he played some back for us in 02 and he did really well. if O' Brien and Reyna are healthy we don't need another DM sitting on the bench if we can plug him in some where needed. but however, i am concerned about Gooch and Gibbs. they can be very skilled but will that be good to put two new WC newbies at the center back position? i have been gone for a year so i don't know, but is eddie pope that washed up?

[The Big Ticket]

I have to agree with this. I also think that while Big Cash, er Sanneh
Haha, I was waiting for another Fire fan to bring up Sanneh's new nickname. :D

[Scarecrow]

Haha, I was waiting for another Fire fan to bring up Sanneh's new nickname. :D
Hard not too huh?

[swedust]

Filling Pope's shoes in WC06: Partially. I like our CD overall but nobody combines athleticism with experience and savvy like WC02-era Pope. Lacking that experience, Keller will be an asset here in terms of organization and preparation.

Filling Sanneh's shoes in WC06: Moot point. As has been noted in this thread and elsewhere, Tony rose to the occasion in WC02, exceeding all reasonable expectation. It goes without saying that we will need several players to have a fantastic tournament if we're going to be as successful as we were before (as Freidel, DMB, Maestro, LD, Sanneh did in WC02). It doesn't need to be the right back who overachieves, however, it just needs to be somebody.

I must say I do feel that our team's coaching led to the preparation that made such exceptional performances possible. I have faith.