Brian McBride

[Smithsoccer1721]

I was thinking about his career with club teams and with the national team. McBride goes down as the best U.S forward of all-time in my book but what I was thinking is there anyone else who even comes close?? Eric Wynalda has the most goals scored but I dont think anyone else can even make the argument for anyone else. Landon Donovan is getting there but right now he hasnt had a better career.So basically I am wondering does anyone else feel different about this?

[idrinkgoodcoffee]

I would say simply compare the season he's having in the EPL to anything another American forward has done in a major world league.

His career has been steady progress. Read the latest from the Fulham coaches...

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/02/23/SOCCER_Fulham_McBride.html

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,123745,00.html

Think back to him playing his a*s off, a man down to Italy, with a bandaged head. He's a great player.

Wynalda and Donovan deserve their praise, but they don't have a track recored like Brian McBride.

[Bruce S]

Landon is so much younger that it is unfair to compare a 33 year old Mac to a 25 Landon. Still Mac has to be top of the heap for now.

[DestroyerDaMarc]

Bertrand "Bert" A. Patenaude

read about him.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Patenaude (Someone better than McBride)

[Supersuperman99]

I would say simply compare the season he's having in the EPL to anything another American forward has done in a major world league.

His career has been steady progress. Read the latest from the Fulham coaches...

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=soccer/07/02/23/SOCCER_Fulham_McBride.html

http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/sports/story/0,4136,123745,00.html

Think back to him playing his a*s off, a man down to Italy, with a bandaged head. He's a great player.

Wynalda and Donovan deserve their praise, but they don't have a track recored like Brian McBride.

He's Pure class too bad he went to Europe so late but his professionalism makes up for it, I cant wait until he starts coaching and maybe some day our nats. team

[m vann]

No. How could anyone disagree? While, obviously there have been a number of Americans in the EPL before Brian, I think his play, his professionalism, and his grit and hardwork have opened the door for clubs to actively seek American field players. Brian's national team contributions are unquestioned. How many Americans can clain to have scored in two World Cups? None. 95 caps, 30 goals. Say no more. He has been the ultimate leader on and off the pitch. Looking back, I take for granted how many goals for both club and country he has created. He may not have created them with his feet or head but from shear respect and the fact defenders mark him, creating space for others. I can not say enough about the respect I have for Brian. We may not realize it now but McBride (and Reyna) has broken barriers and stereotypes of American field players. Brian is becoming the best player we've ever produced. The best part is he's not done. At 34 Brian, quite possibly, is having his finest season as a professional. I would love to see Brian break our international scoring mark but I love the fact he went out on his terms, on the greatest stage in the world.

[Smithsoccer1721]

Bertrand "Bert" A. Patenaude

read about him.....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Patenaude


Ya I thought about him but he didnt have the same type of career as McBride. He did have the first ever hat trick in a world cup and scored 114 goals in 158 games in the American Soccer League. Those are great numbers but he didnt have as much international success with goals.

[IndividualEleven]

Per his accomplishments at youth international level, international level, WC level, and club level Landon Donovan is the best US forward. I'd rank McBride second or so.

I've been following threads on McBride in the YA. The man does engender a kind of fanboydom not just with BSers but with coaches that is a bit outsized compared to his scoring record. Not saying he's shite, fanboys so don't start.

And 30 goals in 95 matches is errrrmmm meh.

[Smithsoccer1721]

Per his accomplishments at youth international level, international level, WC level, and club level Landon Donovan is the best US forward. I'd rank McBride second or so.

I've been following threads on McBride in the YA. The man does engender a kind of fanboydom not just with BSers but with coaches that is a bit outsized compared to his scoring record. Not saying he's shite, fanboys so don't start.

And 30 goals in 95 matches is errrrmmm meh.


I dont know how you can say with his accomplishments at the club level I mean he is a great player and in the long run may past McBride but when you compare McBrides club career to Landon I think its easly in favor of McBride. I dont know about McBrides youth career or anything but when it comes to WC I would say its a wash between the two.

[DestroyerDaMarc]

Ya I thought about him but he didnt have the same type of career as McBride. He did have the first ever hat trick in a world cup and scored 114 goals in 158 games in the American Soccer League. Those are great numbers but he didnt have as much international success with goals.

He only had 6 caps with 4 goals. Again I'm more of a historian so one can hope we return to that previous semi-final. One can hope.

[Ronaldo's Idol]

I bet there are respectable EPL coaches who would rate McBride in the top 20 forwards in the world right now, perhaps a coach or two might even say top 10. This is unprecedented and you'll never find a person with the respect and knowledge of an EPL coach who'd dare say the same about another American, past or present.

Far and away the best. Donovan has time to catch up though, can't deny that.

[MarioKempes]

Wynalda's 34 goals in 107 games is actually slightly better than McBride's strike rate with the Nats. Also Wynalda was the first American to play in the Bundesliga (Caligiuri signed with Hamburg before Waldo, but never played for them). Wynalda had more success at a younger age than McBride. I think Waldo in his prime was the best US striker ever, however, McBride has had more longevity. McBride's exploits at Fulham, though, have eclipsed Waldo's Bundesliga success. It's a tough call.

Also, Wynalda got dicked over by Bochum. If you're reading this Klaus Hilpert, you are a lying, worthless pile of feces. :mad:

[IndividualEleven]

I dont know how you can say with his accomplishments at the club level I mean he is a great player and in the long run may past McBride but when you compare McBrides club career to Landon I think its easly in favor of McBride. I dont know about McBrides youth career or anything but when it comes to WC I would say its a wash between the two.

LD has three MLS Cups to go with his dominant scoring prowess in the regular season and especially the post season.

His international record is superior to McBride's as well especially considering Arena sticking LD at the a-mid spot a few too many times.

[IndividualEleven]

I bet there are respectable EPL coaches who would rate McBride in the top 20 forwards in the world right now, perhaps a coach or two might even say top 10.

I don't these who these coaches are but McBride's on a great run right now and having an excellent season. Doesn't make him the best US forward ever however.

[IndividualEleven]

Why not just say that McBride has had the best European career of any US forward? That's a more tenable position than having to bring his MLS and international record into the equation.

[westcoast ape]

I think this thread is a little over the top for McBride and a little bit neglectful toward Wynalda. I am a big fan of both, but I do feel actually that Wynalda contributed more to our national team. It is also a bit unfortunate that Wynalda was abandoned by Chicago when he had been playing so well for them, and that he shortly thereafter suffered a career ending injury in the A-League.

But as for an American Ambassador, a lot of players owe something to McBride. Absolute top class, a consummate professional, and during those stretches when he isn't scoring, Coleman would still rave about him. I don't know if there is any other player who has done more to improve the reputation of American soccer players in England.

[BackOtheNet!]

How many of Waldo's goals were PK's? Although I always liked Waldo he had an arogance about him that was needed at that time. McBride is a true professional. Mcbride is a man's man on the pitch. Lando is not. Lando doesn't go into tackles at all. Brian has an erector set in his face and still plays every game like it was his last. Lando probably gets breast fed at halftime. It is not even close.

[IndividualEleven]

How many of Waldo's goals were PK's? Although I always liked Waldo he had an arogance about him that was needed at that time. McBride is a true professional. Mcbride is a man's man on the pitch. Lando is not. Lando doesn't go into tackles at all. Brian has an erector set in his face and still plays every game like it was his last. Lando probably gets breast fed at halftime. It is not even close.

There is this homoerotic subtext in praise singing McBride and excoriating LD.

[S.J. Jim]

I don't know if there's really a correct answer here, but it's fun to toss it back and forth. :)

I always admired McBride despite my west coast leanings and preferences in terms of favorite players. The thing that really put him over the top for me (yeah, I would take him over any other US forward) was the Portugal match in '02. Not just the goal, but the way he dealt with Couto throughout the entire match. A bigger man just abusing him, constantly trying to break his spirit... and there was just no way it was going to happen. I learned to appreciate him more after that, and watching him since then has only solidified my respect. That's my kind of athlete.

[former baller]

:eek: Landon Donovan is hands down and demonstrably a better soccer player, a better finisher/goal scorer, a better goal creator, equal or better game breaking player, has more ability to be dangerous from all aparts of the field. Donovan has a superior strike rate(goals per minutes played). Other than these factors...

McBride is without question an important center forward to his teams. He is a successfull limited hold the ball up, win head balls, convert balls to goals sort of way. He is smart, he is hard working which makes up for limitations. He is a very good contributor to the team effort, running, working hard, winning balls, laying them off for players with more talent his effort is well utilized on the field. McBride is a player that compensated for his limitations with the smart hardworking play that would be indispensible to a coach. Landon Donovan is a far better talent and results provider. Landon Donovan wins Championships in the same league as McBride and even with diferent teams.

Now with all of that said. McBride can probably survive playing at a higher level. Due to playing within his limitations and his work utilized to provide for the really talented players around him. He can be utilized at a higher level do the same things as now and could stay on the field in the center forward spot. But even at a high level such as say Italy he could easily, just as Landon in the same scenario, be benched in place of a really well rounded fully talented striker a boat load of which already exists in the highest level clubs. But he is compartmentalized player with a compartmentalized game that could keep him on the field in many cases.