Wahl on Tino

[DaMa]

Was reading Grant Wahl's column and found

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/02/15/soccer/index.html

there and noticed his last little blurb about Quaranta tucked away at the end. I had, of course, noted the lack of play he was getting over the last few matches and had sort of pegged it as "let's see if Dempsey has this right wing thing figured out."

Now I have to wonder, has there been some noise about Tino in the doghouse and has he basically taken as big a fall as Twellman/Dempsey have jumped?

I had assumed that Tino was going to make it and Ralston would be in for a battle. Now I have to wonder if Dempsey has gone beyond booking his ticket and staked his case for starting right mid.

[PaulGascoigne]

Was reading Grant Wahl's column and found

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/02/15/soccer/index.html


I had assumed that Tino was going to make it.

Based on what sign in the last 6 months did you think SQ was going to make the WC team? What tiny shred of evidence could you possibly have had?

[QuakeAttack]

"Biggest move by a U.S. player to make the World Cup roster: Taylor Twellman (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jonah_freedman/02/13/twellman/index.html) (no surprise). Biggest disappointment: Santino Quaranta, who came into camp in woeful condition and promptly put himself in manager Bruce Arena's doghouse."

Is this a surprise based upon his past? Yes, he has appeared tp mature in the last two years and has played some good soccer, but I just don't understand why people had him on the short list to make the WC. He is not better than Klein and scores less. Like Bosewell, I hope that he was only practice fodder. Of course, if Brian Mullan didn't have an up and down year in 2005, I would have been pushing for his inclusion...

[DaMa]

Tino was pretty dangerous in the last year, whereas Ralston, other than a lucky goal was incredibly uninspiring.

That being said, the real answer is: who else? Bruce obviously likes to maintain a certain amount of width to the field and the only other real option at right wing for nigh on a year has been Ralston. Has there really been any indication that Ralston was favored? Chris Klein been on fire? Yes, Ralston probably had a slight edge still. But as I said, given his obvious advantage over Ralston in pure athletic ability and recent run of play I felt coming into camp Tino had a pretty good shot to secure himself a spot if he was just consistent.

[Bigrose30]

Based on what sign in the last 6 months did you think SQ was going to make the WC team? What tiny shred of evidence could you possibly have had?


How about when he came on in the 2nd half of the Mexico game in Columbus with our full European and Domestic contingents available?

[Zeppelin]

Was reading Grant Wahl's column and found

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/02/15/soccer/index.html

there and noticed his last little blurb about Quaranta tucked away at the end. I had, of course, noted the lack of play he was getting over the last few matches and had sort of pegged it as "let's see if Dempsey has this right wing thing figured out."

Now I have to wonder, has there been some noise about Tino in the doghouse and has he basically taken as big a fall as Twellman/Dempsey have jumped?

I had assumed that Tino was going to make it and Ralston would be in for a battle. Now I have to wonder if Dempsey has gone beyond booking his ticket and staked his case for starting right mid.

Whal is taling about jersey here...

[lurking]

Tino was pretty dangerous in the last year, whereas Ralston, other than a lucky goal was incredibly uninspiring.

That being said, the real answer is: who else? Bruce obviously likes to maintain a certain amount of width to the field and the only other real option at right wing for nigh on a year has been Ralston. Has there really been any indication that Ralston was favored? Chris Klein been on fire? Yes, Ralston probably had a slight edge still. But as I said, given his obvious advantage over Ralston in pure athletic ability and recent run of play I felt coming into camp Tino had a pretty good shot to secure himself a spot if he was just consistent.

Actually, Noonan is more threatening to Tino then Klein and probably Ralston. Noonan is a natural righty, and Im pretty sure he could play on the right.

[CbR]

tino had his chance and then some. Too inconsistant and let me be the first to say this in this tread before someone else does.... The guy isnt a lock to even start on his MLS team.

[Bruce S]

I think Dempsey will be on the field to start at RM against Czech.I really believe that Arena has found his natural international position.

[Aquarius21]

tino had his chance and then some. Too inconsistant and let me be the first to say this in this tread before someone else does.... The guy isnt a lock to even start on his MLS team.

Not only inconsistant but made a horrible decision to show up in bad shape to this camp. It is well known how rigorous the camp is, with the beep test as the first thing that happens. It's obvious that fitness is a crucial aspect to staying on the team, and if someone decides to show up not ready to compete, of course they're going to the doghouse. Tino blew his chance and no one else is to blame

[braun]

Actually, Noonan is more threatening to Tino then Klein and probably Ralston. Noonan is a natural righty, and Im pretty sure he could play on the right.

Well put! And Noonan may play RM sometime, when he is not needed at LM.

[Khan]

Given what club he plays for, I can't imagine Quaranta ever running out of chances with this national team manager, though many of us think he should.

But talk about a waste of talent: Here's a formerly much-heralded phenom, whose had a lot of time to figure it out, who has a chance to play vs. Italy, and he continues to shyte himself.

I for one have wanted and cheered for Quaranta to take that step up in class, but he remains apparently unwilling to do so.

[scarshins]

I didn't see enough from him last year to suggest National Team- but it's always good to play young guys in friendles and camps, help them understand where they need to go, what they need to improve.

This is speculation, but ultimately I think his best position will be withdrawn forward. He makes nice short passes- has good vision and sees options better than many other players- he is comfortable shielding and with ball possession. He's a Jaime Moreno protege, not as fast as young Moreno was, but a little bigger and more powerful.

[superdave]

I think Dempsey will be on the field to start at RM against Czech.I really believe that Arena has found his natural international position.
I hope I'm not getting tedious, but I don't think so, because I don't think Bruce is gonna play with 3 in the back, or 1 up top, and I think he'll put Landon in the midfield. Which means, Dempsey only starts if Reyna is the DM.

Alot *might* change. Someone might get hurt, esp. Reyna. Bruce might see Reyna as a DM, or a late game sub to compose the team. He might pair Landon with McBride.

But either Bruce goes with a box 4, or he goes 4-1-3-2, with Landon playing the Earnie.

[the Next Level]

I think Dempsey will be on the field to start at RM against Czech.I really believe that Arena has found his natural international position.

And Reyna moves another step closer to the bench.

Oh, to be present for the May for the ensuing holding midfielder war! JOB, CR, Mastro, KZ in a cage match.

[DaMa]

I think Dempsey will be on the field to start at RM against Czech.I really believe that Arena has found his natural international position.

I tend to agree. Dempsey's problems seemed to be related to some combination of an uncertainty as to what his role in the middle of the pitch is, lack of confidence in his abiliy to run at people and overcrowding when he did.

Out right he seems to be more aware that his role is "beat someone down the flanks or into the box, give up the ball and put yourself in position to use your scoring touch and then run your behind back". His type of moves seem also to rely more on cutbacks which seemed to be getting him clogged up in the middle.

Given the current dearth of other options, I wouldn't be surprised for Clint to be this cycle's right sided DMB.

[goussoccer]

It was interesting listening to Pope's interview on USSoccer - in that he said they all received a very detailed, daily set of exercises to do to prepare themselves for the camp. If the players all received that and someone decided they didn't need to do it, man what a stupid move; even beyond not getting prepared on your own. WOW, for that mental and attitudanal mistake alone SQ may have utterly blown his chances this go 'round: it just shows an immaturity, arrogance, mental softness whatever that you don't want on the field (or on the team) at the WC.

While I love Clint, I don't think he has moved ahead of Landon, DMB, Reyna, Mastro or JOB in the midfield and Lewis and Convey are in the discussion for sure. The odd thing is, I could actually see Ralston for his defensive prowess starting ahead of Clint, given BA's focus on defense. OTOH...in reviewing the Japan game, the tide turned when Clint came out. Once that happened, Alex Santos, Japan's left defender who everyone was worried about before the game, started to make forays down the left with impunity. With Clint on the field, I think he played much more conservatively and hadn't made many runs at all, so in that game the best defense was a strong offense. Pick your poison I guess. (Maybe Japan going to a 4-4-2 also gave Santos some freedom...but I thought they had moved to that lineup earlier than Clint's removal.) Just to show you how strange this discussion is, I do see Clint going to the WC ahead of Ralston. I just think that the 'ability to go back' weighs much more heavily as an asset than the ability to go forward in BA's mind.

In regards to Noonan - it has been interesting to me that Noonan plays a LOT more left midfield than right midfield, even with the Revs. Now some might say it is because the Revs have Ralston at right midfield and we had Dempsey at right midfield against Japan. My conspiracy sense says there is more to it than that. While he is a very strong crosser, he seems to be even better at being able to get by the defender, where the defender winds up on his goalside rather than on midfield side; so,if he is on the left then the foot away from the defender is his right foot. I haven't done a lot of tape analysis on this, but if he keeps on ending up as a left midfielder as a right footed player (who can open a can of soup with his right foot as Kyle Martino said), then there has to be a reason for it.

[tkgunn]

Well put! And Noonan may play RM sometime, when he is not needed at LM.

Noonan will NEVER be needed to play LM in any meaningful games. What makes you think he would play ahead of Beasely, Convey or Lewis?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Noonan will NEVER be needed to play LM in any meaningful games. What makes you think he would play ahead of Beasely, Convey or Lewis?

Further, Noonan plays VERY right-footed with lots of cutting back against the grain -- which is why I think he has been getting looks out wide left. He almost reminds me of Preki in that regard: You know the cutback move is coming, but he times it so well you can't do anything about it.

But if you put that sort of player out wide right, you have someone who keeps coming into the middle. That's the same kind of thing Quaranta does. I don't think that's what Arena wants from his wingers.

Now, Dempsey also likes to cut across, but has more moves -- including moves to his right with the outside of the foot, which he uses better than just about every American player -- and is a bigger threat to get to the endline (or a number of other things) then almost everyone we have save perhaps Donovan.

[scarshins]

Maybe Quaranta isn't quite as naturally fit as the rest of the guys.