View Full Version : MLS Stretch Run - Who to watch? [R]
appoo
31 Jul 2006, 02:21 PM
so who should we look out for in the stretch run of the season?
Dann Szetela appears set to come back from injury, and sigi thinks he's gonna be pretty good. For a kid of his talent, he's coming along nicely and this could possibly be his break out.
swedust
01 Aug 2006, 08:16 AM
Well, I'll probably get tagged for being too flavor-of-the-week, but I love watching CDC USA these days w/Bornstein and Kleijtan (sp?) -- if they could just lose Christian Miles and Thomas Rongen from the booth!
NBlue
01 Aug 2006, 09:07 AM
Despite the likely talk of kitten mortality, I'm going to come right out with it:
I'm watching Freddy. Sure, its cliche, I suppose, but the kid is playing some beautiful soccer and seems to be improving in every match (when he gets to play past the 55th minute) despite being switched about between midfield and forward (though I assume that was only a temporary thing). Its very nice to see his decision making and physical ability to improving to match his god-given vision and all-around talent. He is certainly a key component to what is undoubtebly the class of the league.
dabes2
01 Aug 2006, 09:15 AM
I'll take a Chicago centric view, but I'm watching Chris Rolfe and Dasan Robinson.
Rolfe had a great start to the season, but has been out for most of the season and has played his first 2 games back. We haven't seen the style in front of net that got him into the picture during his rookie season, but I think it's still there.
Dasan Robinson looks like he might be a surprise tallent. Obviously nowhere near ready for national team consideration, but a kid to watch.
In addition to the guys mentioned, I also have my eyes on Esky and Kenny Cooper. I'm focussed on strikers because it's clearly our weak spot right now.
Hed7181
01 Aug 2006, 09:26 AM
In addition to the guys mentioned, I also have my eyes on Esky and Kenny Cooper. I'm focussed on strikers because it's clearly our weak spot right now.
This is where my attention is drawn. True, all the players listed above are important players to watch, but I'm gonna be looking at our forwards to see who can finish strong. Cooper, Ching, Esky, Gomez, Rolfe, anybody. The USMNT is in a precarious position with forwards, so we need some to step it up.
IndividualEleven
01 Aug 2006, 09:50 AM
so who should we look out for in the stretch run of the season?
Dann Szetela appears set to come back from injury, and sigi thinks he's gonna be pretty good. For a kid of his talent, he's coming along nicely and this could possibly be his break out.
Could you be more specific?
Are you referring to:
Uncapped players:
Players with serious Nats potential:
Current Nats players?
Hed7181
01 Aug 2006, 09:59 AM
Could you be more specific?
Are you referring to:
Uncapped players:
Players with serious Nats potential:
Current Nats players?
Yes
MLS SupaStr3
01 Aug 2006, 10:22 AM
I suppose I'll do everyone I can think of at the moment!
Revs - I'd check out Demps and Noonan. Demps had a really good assist through traffic for the game tying goal in their last game against KC. I just plain like Noonan unless he's playing against my team. He always seems to score then. I'm not much of a Twellman fan though.
NYRB - Wynne, Dunivant, Magee. Well, our 2 outside backs are pretty good. One's a little more polished than the other though. I've liked Magee and I think it'd be cool if he could get consistant enough to maybe get a shot at the national team. Maybe not though.
Columbus - Gaven, Szetela, maybe Ward. Young talent who really haven't lived up to their billing yet.
DC - Adu, Carroll, Quaranta. Maybe how part of our midfield will look in the upcoming years?
KC - EJ, Conrad. I guess we can watch EJ suck it up a bit more? See how Conrad looks, maybe he'll be a part of qualifying but I can't see him making the WC roster again.
Chicago - Rolfe, Mapp, Jaqua. Still not a finished product! Could develop into good players though with the right coaching and with a bit of luck.
Chivas - Bornstein. Been on some sort of streak lately.
LA - Donovan, Herculez. Well, Landon is exciting to watch for the moment. Maybe see if Herc starts scoring goals again.
Houston - Ching, Davis. Have had some caps before. May be needed to score some goals in the next couple years.
Dallas - Cooper. Big. Scoring goals. Still young.
Colorado - Mastro. I really think he plays very well.
RSL - Besagno. Player of the far future. Still awfully young and getting some PT.
StillKickin
01 Aug 2006, 10:34 AM
What about Medi Ballouchy (sp?) - is he elligible for US Nats?
MLS SupaStr3
01 Aug 2006, 10:38 AM
What about Medi Ballouchy (sp?) - is he elligible for US Nats?
Not as far as I know. I think he is for Morrocco (sp).
sidefootsitter
01 Aug 2006, 11:51 AM
Brian Mullan is still the best right winger in MLS (and would have been for the USMNT). He's 28 but is a great athlete and can still play well into his 30s a la Cobi Jones.
Brian Ching - off his goal-a-game pace (hitting the crossbar from 3 yards will do that to you) but is still the best penalty box striker currently in the US.
Dax McCarty ... well, at least, you could see him at the Milk Cup and he's a delight.
Marvell Wynne - coming along very fast, kudos to AMBOD.
Edson Buddle - can do things that Josh Wolff can't.
appoo
01 Aug 2006, 12:00 PM
Ward, to me, is a frustration./ Not really his fault though. IMO he's proved to be better than Lietch, but Sigi doesn't play him consistently.
In the first quarter of his rookie year with the Metros, before getting injured, he was the best LB in MLS. He showed a ton of skill of skill on the ball, some decent pace, and the mental aptitude to know when and when not to get forward. His technical was damn good to.
I'm positive he just needs a bit of playing time, and he'll easily become the best American fullback in MLS.
appoo
01 Aug 2006, 12:01 PM
Not as far as I know. I think he is for Morrocco (sp).
he played for their youth team, while having only a Moroccon passport. So he's definatly out.*
*Fid posted this in another thread.
Maximum Optimal
01 Aug 2006, 12:09 PM
he played for their youth team, while having only a Moroccon passport. So he's definatly out.*
*Fid posted this in another thread.
Did Superdave help you out with this one?
appoo
01 Aug 2006, 01:19 PM
Did Superdave help you out with this one?
nope, my mama taught me how to read :)
bltleo
01 Aug 2006, 01:22 PM
nope, my mama taught me how to read :)
don´t listen to Maximum Optimal:)..he always tease everyone:)...me too!.
the only player in MLS I watch intensively is still Landon:)
P.S hm..you still keep me in your signature:)....Danke.
EEUU
01 Aug 2006, 04:13 PM
I suppose I'll do everyone I can think of at the moment!
DC - Adu, Carroll, Quaranta. Maybe how part of our midfield will look in the upcoming years?
How can you forget Eskandarian? He's having a great year and is tenacious as hell.
What, you're not looking for Mathis on Colorado? :p
MLS SupaStr3
01 Aug 2006, 05:23 PM
How can you forget Eskandarian? He's having a great year and is tenacious as hell.
What, you're not looking for Mathis on Colorado? :p
O wow! How could i forget that? I shop at his Dad's place all the time. Ye, definitly watch for Eski.:)
Naco
01 Aug 2006, 06:15 PM
Edson Buddle - can do things that Josh Wolff can't.
So can I, and no one has brought my name up.
Fulhamfc3
01 Aug 2006, 06:20 PM
Alecko Eskandarian- He has shown glimpes of the 2004 season. I like him as he's a tricky player something none of our current forwards are right now.
Edson Buddle- Dammit this guy is pissing me off. One moment he's skipping past 3 or 4 defenders and scoring a brilliant goal then next very next 70 or so minutes he looks like rubbish. He has the talent now's the time to produce. If he would ever realise his potential he would be a lock starter for the USMNT above Ching.
Eddie Johnson- Another player with huge talent yet doesnt seem to want to take that next step. He's starting to look complete rubbish. That foot injury sure did take alot out of his game.