Whats Arena thinking on defense?

[United20]

These selections do not make any sense

Defenders: Danny Califf (Los Angeles), Brian Dunseth (Columbus), Chad McCarty (Columbus)

Is he serious about developing these players who will never amount to anything on the international level?

Califf? The guy would rather surf than play soccer, and his skills are below college level. He consistently makes bad decisions, and gets beat since he is never in pro-shape....flabb-a-lanche

Dunseth? The pretty boy is a constant hacker, and s#@s the bed too much. I have yet to see him pick up his game since he came to the MLS. Couldn't even make Canada's team.

McCarty? The right-footed Jeff Agoos. They are almost clones in style of play - they love to pass side-to-side, backwards, and are slow, slow, slow. He brings nothing to the table.

... These 3 have got to go.... but

these 3 have potential and deserve a chance
Bring on Gibbs, bring on Gooch, give Brad Davis a chance, hell give Chris Gbandi a shot. Come on Bruce, get with it.

[United20]

"these 4 deserve a chance " is what I meant to say

[prk166]

these 3 have potential and deserve a chance
Bring on Gibbs, bring on Gooch, give Brad Davis a chance, hell give Chris Gbandi a shot. Come on Bruce, get with it. [/B]

Gibbs plays in Europe and is injured right now.

Who is Gooch?

Davis still hasn't shown that he can make in the MLS. At least Dunseth, McCarthy, and Calliff have doen that. The same goes fro Gbandi.

[Bluecat82]

Is Gbandi US-eligible yet?

[fidlerre]

Originally posted by Bluecat82
Is Gbandi US-eligible yet?

i dont think so...but i think he is close...

gooch is oguchi onyewu, a longtime us youth team player who is playing for metz in the french first division <one level below le championat> and started his first full-squad match the other day after a long and drawn out contractual problem...

see here: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=29658

[kevbrunton]

As to the answer of the original question, this camp was about 2 criteria:

1) YOUNG
2) IN MLS (or at least not in Season).

So, based upon #2, lets look at the MLS Defenders available...

Based upon #1, you can eliminate the following:

CJ Brown from the Fire, Mike Clark from the Crew, Balboa from the Metros, Brian Kamler from the Revs, Robin Fraser, Steve Herdsman & Ritchie Kotschau from the Rapids, Mike Burns, Matt McKeon, Peter Vermes & Kerry Zavagnin from the Wizards, Adam Frye, Ezra Hendrickson & Alexi Lalas from the Gals, Jeff Agoos from the Quakes

You can also eliminate the following who are pretty much at the age if you're not a proven commodity at the National Level you're not going to get included:

Mike Petke & Brandon Prideaux from DCU, Leo Cullen, Joey Franchino & Daniel Hernandez from the Revs, Carey Talley from the Wizards, Ramiro Corrales & Troy Dayak from the Quakes


That leaves the following to choose from:

Jim Curtin, Orlando Perez & Evan Whitfield from the Fire
Nelson Akwari, Eric Denton & Chris Leitch from the Crew
Rusty Pierce from the Revs
Steve Shak, Billy Sleeth & Jeff Stewart from the Rapids
Chris Gbandi & Lee Morrison from the Burn
Chris Brunt, Jose Burciaga & Jimmy Conrad from the Wizards
Eddie Robinson from the Quakes

So who would you rather have over Califf, Dunseth & McCarthy? Most importantly, who among those above have started and excelled in the MLS that have shown that perhaps they should get a chance to see if they can do it at the next level?

[TRC Real Sociedad]

Califf played for the MLS Champions last year, he played in mostly a three back set with Lalas and Marshall, I would have agreed with you a year or two ago, but not now. Danny didn't make the mistakes last year like he had done in previous years, and I think he learned alot with Marshall and Lalas. He works hard, he is a good target for set pieces and he can obviously play the physical game when he needs to, I forget, how many goals did Twellmen have during the Cup Final, hell did he even get any looks?

[lurking]

Regardless of how Califf has played this year, I dont think he will ever be the kind of player that I would like to see in the back for qualifying

On the other hand, it appears that some of the guys that are likely to replace him havent reached their potential just yet. Hopefully they do and he is eased down the depth chart. Better yet, hopefully he improves beyond where I see his level of play ultimately stalling.

[The Wanderer]

Originally posted by United20
These selections do not make any sense

Defenders: Danny Califf (Los Angeles), Brian Dunseth (Columbus), Chad McCarty (Columbus)

Is he serious about developing these players who will never amount to anything on the international level?

Califf? The guy would rather surf than play soccer, and his skills are below college level. He consistently makes bad decisions, and gets beat since he is never in pro-shape....flabb-a-lanche

Dunseth? The pretty boy is a constant hacker, and s#@s the bed too much. I have yet to see him pick up his game since he came to the MLS. Couldn't even make Canada's team.

McCarty? The right-footed Jeff Agoos. They are almost clones in style of play - they love to pass side-to-side, backwards, and are slow, slow, slow. He brings nothing to the table.

... These 3 have got to go.... but

these 3 have potential and deserve a chance
Bring on Gibbs, bring on Gooch, give Brad Davis a chance, hell give Chris Gbandi a shot. Come on Bruce, get with it.

Your post had some good humor in it. However, don't suggest guys that have never played in MLS who are coming of ACL sugery(Gbandi).

BTW, Gibbs isn't injured anymore, he was called into the national team camp for Canada but left because his club needs him.

[United20]

Many good points by you all.

Forgot about Arena's all-MLS squad for these games.

As for - would I choose E.Robinson, N. Akwari, L. Morrison, and R.Pierce over Dunseth, McCarty, and Califf?... Most definitely.

I rather give these guys a chance, than three who have had a chance (not produced either) & will never make it.

[FlashMan]

I'm still trying to figure out the experiment of Victorine at right back, but that's probably for another thread.

[TheSlipperyOne]

Originally posted by The Wanderer

BTW, Gibbs isn't injured anymore, he was called into the national team camp for Canada but left because his club needs him.

He left the camp early because of club needs and then got injured again:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=29785

[stopper4]

I see Califf as sorta the next Carlos Ilamosa. Big, strong, physical, man-marker type used occasionaly to match up with the opposition's target forward (Lowe, Borgetti, Wanchope).

I'm hoping Garcia beats him out for the starting spot.


As for Victorine, well, I really don't know. I don't understand what he brings to the table that Suarez doesn't. My only explanation is that he's been to a few more camps and probably knows more about what Bruce expects than Suarez does.

[kasai]

Defense will be the USNT weakness in 2003. Unless guys like Sanneh decide to work this summer, I feel the USNT will struggle to stop teams from scoring in the Confederation Cup.

[Elninho]

Originally posted by United20
Many good points by you all.

Forgot about Arena's all-MLS squad for these games.

As for - would I choose E.Robinson, N. Akwari, L. Morrison, and R.Pierce over Dunseth, McCarty, and Califf?... Most definitely.

I rather give these guys a chance, than three who have had a chance (not produced either) & will never make it.

Robinson, maybe, but he plays outside back. Pierce... possibly. I do think he's better than McCarty. But Lee Morrison??? Did he play at all last season? And if Akwari couldn't start over Dunseth and McCarty for the Crew, how is he supposed to be better with the nats?

The only center back that I might take over Dunseth/McCarty/Califf is Jim Curtin.

[Chester FC]

Viva Eddie Robinson!

(and yes, he did play in the center of defense for San Jose last season)

Don't know why he hasn't had a further look from Bruce, but if given the chance this season with the Quakes, he'll get another chance.

[Libero6]

Originally posted by stopper4
I see Califf as sorta the next Carlos Ilamosa. Big, strong, physical, man-marker type used occasionaly to match up with the opposition's target forward (Lowe, Borgetti, Wanchope).

I'm hoping Garcia beats him out for the starting spot.


As for Victorine, well, I really don't know. I don't understand what he brings to the table that Suarez doesn't. My only explanation is that he's been to a few more camps and probably knows more about what Bruce expects than Suarez does.
Add to that that Victorine traditionally plays midfield for L.A. and bruce is looking for a replacement for Sanneh

[Bajoro]

One thing Bruce is probably thinking:

In their development, the best American players almost always become midfielders or attackers. It's rare for an elite American player in youth or college ball to play outside back.

So it makes sense that a second-string USMNT midfielder or forward may have enough of what it takes to start for the US as an outside back. The assignments are relatively simple and can be learned. If a midfileder or forward has speed, a high work rate and can win the ball, he might end up contributing at outside back for the US.

Like Sanneh, or Heyduk, or Lewis.

Don't look for your next USMNT starter at outside back, right or left, to play outside back for his MLS club.

At least, that what I think Bruce thinks.

[Go2NY]

of the new mls players i like on defense


current starters

victorine - bocanegra - pope - suarez

backups - curtin - robinson - gooch - stokes

when available starters - barrett

more callups - gibbs

more mls experience - akwari

too slow for high level international play - callif and most of the rest you've named

[geddy]

Like international soccer requires center backs to be super speedy. Some of the best center backs of all time weren't that fast. Baresi, Adams, Moore, Koeman, and that German guy. The list goes on for ever. Is speed important? Sure. But being able to read the game is much more important internationally