Richard Mulrooney - epilogue

[voros]

Watching the MLS All-Star Game it was interesting to watch Mulrooney out there. It always mystified me how quickly Arena booted Mulrooney out of the pool in 2004 and never brought him back in, and I always wondered what he saw that Arena disliked so much.

He's always been a very underappreciated MLS player, and ever since the Quakes 2001 Championship, he's been a consistent starter (when healthy) on nothing but excellent MLS teams. He's a two way mid with very good passing skills, an occassional long range goal and excellent work rate and positioning.

He also was used a bunch by Arena in 2003 and then to start 2004 and then after the Denmark game (and a limited sub role in the infamous Haiti draw) that was it. I realize the injury in 2005 got in the way a little, but he had been purged long before then.

He'll be 34 in the next world cup so that's not going to happen, but I still think it's interesting to wonder what happened. I always thought he was a much better player than Ben Olsen and a player on par with Mastroeni though of a different basic type.

I thought he was excellent in the ASG, as was his replacement Rico Clark (who should be in the mix in 2010, buit that's another thread).

Thoughts?

[eric_appleby]

Arena had certain guys etched in stone.
Nothing was going to change that.

[Maximum Optimal]

One of the lessons from the last WC is the need to pay a bit more attention to fluctuations in form. On any given team, there are going to be a few guys that are so good that you want to play them even if their form dips a bit. But a lot of the guys are close enough in talent that it makes sense to keep an open mind about which one to go with. I think the situation at defensive mid was one of those in the last cycle. Lots of guys got looks--Mastroeni, Olsen, Zavagnin, Carroll. More of us were upset about Clark not getting a chance than Mulrooney.

[Elninho]

Mulrooney was never really used in his regular position on the national team. Bruce tried to use him as a right back, and I thought he was decent against CONCACAF opposition. But central midfield was all Reyna's, and when we went with an all-MLS lineup, Bruce preferred to play a more defensive-minded central midfielder behind Donovan (who was almost always taking up the playmaking duties).

Later on, when we went to the box midfield, I think there was again a place for Mulrooney, but at that point I'm pretty sure he had a series of niggling injuries late in the 04 season that didn't keep him out of MLS but ruled him out of the national team.

[russ]

Honestly,he never impressed me in a Nats uniform,but he did have some really badly timed injuries,as did Rico.

[DCSharksFC]

mulrooney's great

[sidefootsitter]

Eddie Robinson has been a far superior MLS defender to Eddie Pope over the last few years, especially in terms of physical contact.

As to Arena, he tried fitting guys into his system no matter what ... that's how he ended up in such a mess and with both the inferior players and the inferior system.

[denver_mugwamp]

Arena had certain guys etched in stone.
Nothing was going to change that.

All coaches fall in love with their favorite players. But I agree that Bruce got a a
little carried away with it in the 2006 WC. Hopefully, he can have the tattoos with the little hearts removed from his chest. It should be really interesting to see the player changes with the new manager--whoever he is.

[aueagle1]

Arena had certain guys etched in stone.
Nothing was going to change that.

Mulrooney's shot at the World Cup was killed by his knee injury that knocked him out from April 2005 until late April 2006. John O'Brien was just about as match fit as Mulrooney at the point in which World Cup selections were made.

[voros]

Mulrooney's shot at the World Cup was killed by his knee injury that knocked him out from April 2005 until late April 2006.
But as I mentioned that's not really how it happened. Arena gave up on Mulrooney early in 2004.

Now the injury may have prevented him from getting another look later on, but what I'm looking for is the explanation as to why he suddenly became persona non grata on the national team after the Haiti game. I suppose there could have been some sort of attitude issue, but from all we generally hear about Mulrooney, that would seem very much out of character for him.

[diablodelsol]

But as I mentioned that's not really how it happened. Arena gave up on Mulrooney early in 2004.

Now the injury may have prevented him from getting another look later on, but what I'm looking for is the explanation as to why he suddenly became persona non grata on the national team after the Haiti game. I suppose there could have been some sort of attitude issue, but from all we generally hear about Mulrooney, that would seem very much out of character for him.

Without looking it up, I'm going to say Mulrooney dropped off the radar at about the time Armas could go 90 minutes.

[ty webb]

BA is just an ass clown who will play his buddies instead of more talented players.

I hope our next coach chooses talent first.

[warmblooded]

Without looking it up, I'm going to say Mulrooney dropped off the radar at about the time Armas could go 90 minutes.

Yup. Denmark friendly. Armas and Mulrooney in the middle. Armas looked like Gerrard, and Mulrooney looked like Zavagnin.

[aueagle1]

But as I mentioned that's not really how it happened. Arena gave up on Mulrooney early in 2004.

Now the injury may have prevented him from getting another look later on, but what I'm looking for is the explanation as to why he suddenly became persona non grata on the national team after the Haiti game. I suppose there could have been some sort of attitude issue, but from all we generally hear about Mulrooney, that would seem very much out of character for him.

Before then, Mulrooney was a good, not great, player. I understand your point, but it could be that he just never showed a whole lot. I thought Mulrooney was very good in MLS Cup 2003, but around that same time there were some good performances by Zavagnin, Arma, and Mastroenni. Zavagrin seemed to take his spot after US v. Mexico game in Dallas. I don't remember Mulrooney being that good in 2004 and that was part of the reason that San Jose was willing to let him go. But, hey, it is cool to see that people still are showing their love for Bruce Arena.

[lurking]

Before then, Mulrooney was a good, not great, player. I understand your point, but it could be that he just never showed a whole lot. I thought Mulrooney was very good in MLS Cup 2003, but around that same time there were some good performances by Zavagnin, Arma, and Mastroenni. Zavagrin seemed to take his spot after US v. Mexico game in Dallas. I don't remember Mulrooney being that good in 2004 and that was part of the reason that San Jose was willing to let him go. But, hey, it is cool to see that people still are showing their love for Bruce Arena.

San Jose wasnt willing to let Mulrooney go. They accomodated him because he wanted to be close to his family, and the team was in ownership related upheavel. That and it probably helped that they could get rico clark for a song.

[lurking]

Later on, when we went to the box midfield, I think there was again a place for Mulrooney, but at that point I'm pretty sure he had a series of niggling injuries late in the 04 season that didn't keep him out of MLS but ruled him out of the national team.

Injuries that Mulrooney and Clark underwent are often used as reasons for them not playing, but it always rings hollows in my ears. Because its not that those players were injured, but when they were injured that people cite. Mulrooney and Clark have played plenty of games the last 3 years. If Bruce wanted them in the US team, he had plenty of opportunities to get them in. Yes they had injuries, but they were available plenty. Arena just wasnt interested in these guys.

[aueagle1]

Injuries that Mulrooney and Clark underwent are often used as reasons for them not playing, but it always rings hollows in my ears. Because its not that those players were injured, but when they were injured that people cite. Mulrooney and Clark have played plenty of games the last 3 years. If Bruce wanted them in the US team, he had plenty of opportunities to get them in. Yes they had injuries, but they were available plenty. Arena just wasnt interested in these guys.

Clark had a subpar 2004 and a very good 2005. Even in 2004 there was a Jack Bell article about how Bruce wanted to bring Clark in but lack of perforamces and field time was a hindrance. Then, when he regained form, he was called into camp but was injured. That pretty much killed it for him. Bruce wasn't going to go the Walcott route and bring in a player who had never been capped. I agree that it was a mistake to not bring Clark in earlier. He is a very good talent who is not afraid of anyone. He should have been brought in at the end of qualifying and to the game in Scotland.

Mulrooney just wasn't terribly great, just good, for a season and then he was injured for another season. When Mulrooney was called in, he did not perform as well as Zavagnin or Armas. In the end, I think that Mulrooney is at the same level as Olsen, Zavagnin, and Armas, but he didn't perform at the right time.

[lurking]

Clark had a subpar 2004 and a very good 2005. Even in 2004 there was a Jack Bell article about how Bruce wanted to bring Clark in but lack of perforamces and field time was a hindrance. Then, when he regained form, he was called into camp but was injured. That pretty much killed it for him. Bruce wasn't going to go the Walcott route and bring in a player who had never been capped. I agree that it was a mistake to not bring Clark in earlier. He is a very good talent who is not afraid of anyone. He should have been brought in at the end of qualifying and to the game in Scotland.

Bobby Convey. Dont tell me that bruce can give minutes galore to Convey when hes playing very unevenly in MLS, and not at all at Reading (before last year) but he cant find time for Clark. And I recall but dont remember the game that he had a chance to play Clark but went with Carrol starting. Im sorry, if Bruce really was bullish on Clark, he would have found minutes for him. He didnt.

And dont make the Wolcott comparison, it rings very very hollow. Wolcott didnt just have no england caps, hed never played first team football. Clark was an experienced MLS player.

Mulrooney just wasn't terribly great, just good, for a season and then he was injured for another season. When Mulrooney was called in, he did not perform as well as Zavagnin or Armas. In the end, I think that Mulrooney is at the same level as Olsen, Zavagnin, and Armas, but he didn't perform at the right time.

I dont think Mulrooney didnt play as well as those guys, but thats just my opinion. Mulrooney to me just wasnt the destroyer Bruce wanted. Mulrooney is a two way guy. He never fit into Arena's conception of the position that he was best suited for, and as a result didnt get much of a runout.

Reasonable people can disagree about players. The fact that Mulrooney and Clark didnt really fit into Arena's plans wasnt suprising. Arena went with a dedicated destroyer for much of his tenure as a Nats coach, and both those players are best when they are free to pick there spots to go forward.

Do I think that Arena was mistaken? Well yes, but those players fit the way I want to see a team play. But my point isnt so much that Arena is wrong, just that I feel these guys could have contributed positively to our team, but just didnt fit into Arena's plans.

[rollo]

You know what guys. Not every player is ever going to get a fair shake and I'm not just talking of replacing a mediocre international player with another. The truth is every and any caoch is going to have to judge the talent and make decisions without giving everyone "enough" caps in everyones view. The next new coach will probably have different choices based on their view of talent and will face the same criticism for not giving a fair chance to someone's favorite player.

I agree with anyone who says that Bruce stayed with out of form players at the end of the day when he could have taken the risk with others at the nth hour. That was his call and he and our team payed the price by what could have been the wrong choice (we do not though that the alternatives might have stunk it up worse now do we?). As far as not trying other players earlier, well thats my point above. Every manager has to make these choices and its a very important part of their job because it will make or break their tenure.

[lurking]

You know what guys. Not every player is ever going to get a fair shake and I'm not just talking of replacing a mediocre international player with another.

First, while I agree with your general point, I feel you are being very dismissive of the importance of these players. Differences between your "mediocre" players can be the difference between between winning and losing.

As far as not trying other players earlier, well thats my point above. Every manager has to make these choices and its a very important part of their job because it will make or break their tenure.

Granted. But look at this thread in two ways. First its for those of us who are fans of they way Mulrooney plays the game to recognize a guy who we felt had to play second fiddle to players he was better than. Second, its a way to look back on the last 4 years and try to understand what other directions we could have gone in.