View Full Version : Who is the best player in CONCACAF not going to the World Cup (outside of Friedel)?
superdave
21 Jan 2006, 11:50 PM
I'm excluding Brad Friedel and anyone else who has retired from international duty. I'm just looking at players from the nations that missed out.
Anyway, for me, it comes down to Stalteri and Joseph. I'm somewhat of a Joseph fanboy, but Stalteri was outstanding in the BL and has played well for Tottenham. He gets my nod.
Guatefc
21 Jan 2006, 11:55 PM
3rd best scorer in concacaf qualifying
Carlos ruiz
abother George weah
roro10
22 Jan 2006, 01:13 AM
cuah blanco is probably not going to go so him
ZeekLTK
22 Jan 2006, 02:13 AM
David Suazo
jared9999
22 Jan 2006, 01:11 PM
Originally Posted by Guatefc
3rd best scorer in concacaf qualifying
Carlos ruiz
abother George weah
he was the 4th best goalscorer. jaime lozano scored one more goal than him. and i agree its either ruiz or that honduran forward that plays in italy.
MoRado
22 Jan 2006, 05:43 PM
suazo should be one option.... then ruiz
LORDEYE
22 Jan 2006, 09:44 PM
I'm excluding Brad Friedel and anyone else who has retired from international duty. I'm just looking at players from the nations that missed out.
Anyway, for me, it comes down to Stalteri and Joseph. I'm somewhat of a Joseph fanboy, but Stalteri was outstanding in the BL and has played well for Tottenham. He gets my nod.
But Joseph is a far more complete player than Stalteri. For example, he would have been a far better addition to the US squad than Stalteri, were they both eligible. Joseph's play can make a team, that of Stalteri only add to it...Same limitation applies to Ruiz, by the way...Joseph is it [now, if Blanco ends up not going to Germany for Mexico, then he would have to get the edge. For the full history of his play, if nothing else]
Guatefc
22 Jan 2006, 09:56 PM
But Joseph is a far more complete player than Stalteri. For example, he would have been a far better addition to the US squad than Stalteri, were they both eligible. Joseph's play can make a team, that of Stalteri only add to it...Same limitation applies to Ruiz, by the way...Joseph is it [now, if Blanco ends up not going to Germany for Mexico, then he would have to get the edge. For the full history of his play, if nothing else]
to bad Grenada caped him b4 U.S. did
leg_breaker
23 Jan 2006, 03:35 AM
Landon Donovan.
DCatracho17
23 Jan 2006, 04:34 AM
UMMMM Donovan is going to the World CUP
DCatracho17
23 Jan 2006, 04:37 AM
Honduras had a hand full of great players ,but injuries were a mmajor setback in the campaign.
Suazo defitnetly belongs on that list. He has 11 goals in SERIE A in Italy.
superdave
23 Jan 2006, 08:32 AM
I just didn't think of Suazo...I knew there'd be somebody obvious I missed.
For example, he would have been a far better addition to the US squad than Stalteri, were they both eligible.
I see your point. I may have overcompensated due to my being such a big Shalrie fan.
But part of why what you wrote is true is because Steve C. is a step above Pablo Mastroenni, so I don't think it's a fair point to bring up. Of course, another part of why what you wrote is true is because Joseph plays a position around which the whole team can pivot, which inherently is more valuable than a fullback. But I weighed that, and for my money, Stalteri's quality still gives him the edge.
As for Ruiz...surprised to see him getting so much love. I almost limited the poll to the guys *I* thought were serious candidates, and I would have dropped him and DeRo.
IMO Jason Roberts is better than Ruiz. Not downplaying Ruiz, who I think is a fine, fine player. Roberts is just a touch better to me.
Guatefc
23 Jan 2006, 12:20 PM
I just didn't think of Suazo...I knew there'd be somebody obvious I missed.
I see your point. I may have overcompensated due to my being such a big Shalrie fan.
But part of why what you wrote is true is because Steve C. is a step above Pablo Mastroenni, so I don't think it's a fair point to bring up. Of course, another part of why what you wrote is true is because Joseph plays a position around which the whole team can pivot, which inherently is more valuable than a fullback. But I weighed that, and for my money, Stalteri's quality still gives him the edge.
As for Ruiz...surprised to see him getting so much love. I almost limited the poll to the guys *I* thought were serious candidates, and I would have dropped him and DeRo.
IMO Jason Roberts is better than Ruiz. Not downplaying Ruiz, who I think is a fine, fine player. Roberts is just a touch better to me.
how many goals did jason roberts score in qualifying
:rolleyes:
Carlos ruiz averaged a goal a game in the Semis 6 goals and 4 in the hex
Sean Donahue
23 Jan 2006, 01:32 PM
how many goals did jason roberts score in qualifying
:rolleyes:
Carlos ruiz averaged a goal a game in the Semis 6 goals and 4 in the hex
Jon Barry Nusum had by far the highest goals per game average in qualifying, doesn't make him better than Roberts.
And look at what Roberts has done in England, plus Grenada wasn't in it long enough for Roberts to score as many as Ruiz.
superdave
23 Jan 2006, 02:05 PM
What he said.
midknight
23 Jan 2006, 02:48 PM
to bad Grenada caped him b4 U.S. did
The day a Grenadian plays for the US, if the two teams meet in St. George's, there's gonna be a lynching I think...
Crazy_Yank
24 Jan 2006, 12:07 PM
how many goals did jason roberts score in qualifying
:rolleyes:
Carlos ruiz averaged a goal a game in the Semis 6 goals and 4 in the hex
How many premiership goals has Ruiz scored? Zero, and I think that total will remain zero. I remember a few years back he trialed with Wolverhampton and Leceister City, 2 of the worst premiership teams around and was found lacking. Jason Roberts is bigger, faster, stronger, and all around a better player than Ruiz.
Crazy_Yank
24 Jan 2006, 12:10 PM
For the record I don't think any MLS players should make this list. The standard just isn't good enough to compare them to players from the top European leagues. For me it's a toss up between Jason Roberts and Paul Stalteri.
Crazy_Yank
24 Jan 2006, 12:11 PM
[QUOTE=LORDEYE]But Joseph is a far more complete player than Stalteri. For example, he would have been a far better addition to the US squad than Stalteri, were they both eligible.QUOTE]
I think Stalteri would be a better addition. He have a glaring need at right mid, a spot Stalteri could play. We have some quality central mid options.
jpg75
24 Jan 2006, 03:08 PM
And the winner is...
1)David Suazo, Cagliari/Serie A
Yes, i went with the Honduran. And some of the Jamaican fans would probably argue that some of their EPL guys are deserving too...and they'd be right.
But, #2 is Jonathan De Guzman, Feyenoord/Eredivisie
thank you to feyenoordfan:
The Dutch sportsmagazine "Sportweek" evaluated the first half of the dutch soccer season. They gave ratings for the best team, top scorer etc.
The meteoric rise of Jonathan de Guzman was expressed in the table with the rating for the best 15 players of the first half.
Number 1 and 2 were Cocu and Farfan, both with PSV and with a rating of 6.94 out of a (im)possible 10.
Jonathan was 3rd, rated 6.92, leaving behind him Dirk Kuyt at number 4, rated 6.83 and also leaving behind him the topscorer for the moment, the 10million euro signing of Ajax, Huntelaar.
You might think that is not a high rating, 6.92. But the Dutch and in particular the Dutch press are hard to please. He just played a limited number of games (13/4 goals), but managed to put all the soccer power houses on alert.