Rev Call-Up for Gold Cup

[Soccer Doc]

Brown, Ralston and TnT have been called to report 7 July for the Gold Cup camp.

Brown will be fighting both Keller and Howard for playing time.

TnT will be fighting the lingering effects of Viral Pneumonia

Ralstons form has been off a bit this year but is clearly deserving of a Cap

How will the Revcs cope with these playres gone?
Noonan was drafted as a backup for Ralston.
Hopefully JMM will be healthy as a replacement for TnT
Reise should jump at the chance to get a few starts.

[mosler]

I'm really happy for Twellman, Brown and Ralston to get called in for this.

It's good to know that Adin is firmly in the pool for the goalies and will have an extended visit with the National team to impress the coaches. Something I'm confident he can do.

I read Ralston's invite as a reward for the past year of play. I wouldn't think that he'd ever be a regular up there but maybe after Klein's horrible showing at Confed Cup....

Like many Rev fans I would love nothing more than to see Twellman perform well and earn a regular spot on the National team. And his showings so far have been relatively poor, but each time with a decent excuse (heavy rain, sinusitus, playing next to Kirovski). One is curious if Bruce feels he's been able to evaluate Twellman fully yet despite the extenuating circumstances around each of his appearances. This call up for the Gold Cup indicates that Bruce still thinks Twellman has something to offer, and would like to give him a few chances under "normal" conditions. Hooray for Twellman (better make it count this time!) and kudos/thanks to Bruce for not ending the TNT experiment yet.

[Bill Duggan]

I have a feeling that these players will play for the Revs on July 12 as the US and Revs games are both in Foxboro. Brown will most likely not play for the nats that day, and TNT and Ralston will have to fight to play.
What do you think.

[Soccer Doc]

I just noted that the final roster for the Gold Cup is limited to 18 players---ergo 7 of those called up will go to the alternate list. I suspect Brown will become an alternate to Keller and Howard. I suspect Ralston will also end up an alternate unless he can recaputure the spark he had in previous seasons. Frankly his form this year hasn't been up to his usual standard.

The big question is TnT. I frankly think the Viral Pneumonia he's recovering from will hinder his playing ability for the next month. IF-- and it's a HUGE--IF-- he's fully recovered he will make the final roster over Josh Wolf.

An Aside: If I were Rat Boy Razoff I would be wondering what I had to do to get another call-up.

[mpruitt]

Originally posted by Soccer Doc

Reise should jump at the chance to get a few starts.

How many of us thought about these situations when the Revs got Reise, i for one really didn't. Maybe Nicol was privy to, or had expectations that Brown would begin to see a lot of call ups, and went out and got a keeper explicitly because of that?

[Soccer Doc]

Originally posted by maxim-1
How many of us thought about these situations when the Revs got Reise, i for one really didn't. Maybe Nicol was privy to, or had expectations that Brown would begin to see a lot of call ups, and went out and got a keeper explicitly because of that?

I think it's been clear for a number of years that Brown, if he could get over his injury problems, would become a dominent keeper and not only get USMNT call-ups but also get invites to play in Europe. He's now healthy and starting to live up to his potential. Trading for Reise wasn't going after a back up Keeper. I think it was salting away the Revs future starting Keeper when Brown is sold abroad. Brown is huge, has great reflexes and the instincts and fire to play at the highest level. I think MLS will be getting offers for his services within the year.

George

[RevsRule]

Good for the boys but I can't understand the Keller selection. WIth zero minutes played in the last WC and with Friedel and surely Howard ahead of him, why waste a spot on Keller? Makes no sense at all.

[ToMhIlL]

Originally posted by Soccer Doc
An Aside: If I were Rat Boy Razoff I would be wondering what I had to do to get another call-up. Here's a guess: Maybe keep your cool in a bad (losing) situation and suck it up like a man, be proud that you gave it your best, even if it wasn't enough. That is as opposed to stopmping on the nuts of the defender who wrapped you up like a Christmas present the whole game.

No doubt Rat-boy is talented, but given the "gamesmanship" at the international level, I would imagine Arena doesn't want to see Razov getting sent off for a stupid retaliation from a cheap shot in a must-win game vs a desperate, crap side like the Lost Trees.

Tom

[saabrian]

Originally posted by RevsRule
Good for the boys but I can't understand the Keller selection. WIth zero minutes played in the last WC and with Friedel and surely Howard ahead of him, why waste a spot on Keller? Makes no sense at all.

Because at 32 (?), he's still an international class keeper with World Cup experience. Surely Bruce wants to keep him in the mix until it's obvious he's not at that level anymore. He still has it. Remember, he and Friedel were a toss-up going into WC02 and Keller was only hindered at the start by that slight knock he took in one of those tuneup matches. Friedel's form made it impossible to yank him once the tournament got started. So it's not like Keller is worthless quite yet.

[Dr Jay]

The three Revs are all alternates so far

[soccertim]

Originally posted by RevsRule
Good for the boys but I can't understand the Keller selection. WIth zero minutes played in the last WC and with Friedel and surely Howard ahead of him, why waste a spot on Keller? Makes no sense at all.

Why would Howard be rated above Keller? If, when he goes to ManU, he ends up starting, and after he's seen as one of the best keepers in the EPL, you could make an argument for him. I don't think it's that clear he's the best MLS keeper. Most people expect to see Keller and Friedel in Germany in 2006.

[RevsRule]

Originally posted by soccertim
Why would Howard be rated above Keller? If, when he goes to ManU, he ends up starting, and after he's seen as one of the best keepers in the EPL, you could make an argument for him. I don't think it's that clear he's the best MLS keeper. Most people expect to see Keller and Friedel in Germany in 2006.

You only have to watch Howard for a short while to know he's already passed keller and may be better then Friedel. WHere he plays doesn't matter, blocking shots is what counts. He's the most athletic, of the bunch and he will be the started in the next WC. My opinion.

[RevsRule]

Originally posted by Dr Jay
The three Revs are all alternates so far

Where does this alternate business come from? Is this because there's a cut down to the final 18 man roster?

I expect TnT to make the cut if he's healthy nbut am not so sure about the other two.

[mosler]

http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/soccer/revs07022003.htm

"Though Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and Adin Brown have all been named to the Gold Cup roster, Twellman said all three players are listed as alternates and are unlikely to see playing time unless someone on the 18-man roster is injured. Training camp begins next week in Providence"

[soccertim]

Originally posted by RevsRule
You only have to watch Howard for a short while to know he's already passed keller and may be better then Friedel. WHere he plays doesn't matter, blocking shots is what counts. He's the most athletic, of the bunch and he will be the started in the next WC. My opinion.

I don't know that he's been significantly better than Brown or Hartman this year. And you can say that it doesn't matter where you play, but there's a difference between stopping shots by Twellman and Ruiz and Kries and stopping shots by Henry or Van Nistelroy or Owen or Shearer.

[BrianLBI]

I wonder if Howard might be out of the mix for the GC if the Man Utd transfer goest through....

Keller is supposedly fully recovered from (elbow?) surgery.

Brian

[firstshirt]

Originally posted by RevsRule
You only have to watch Howard for a short while to know he's already passed keller and may be better then Friedel. WHere he plays doesn't matter, blocking shots is what counts. He's the most athletic, of the bunch and he will be the started in the next WC. My opinion.

Not quite,,,,he may be in 2006 but as of now,,,,he is still number three behind Friedel and Keller. I would be the house that at this time 9 of 10 coaches would take Keller/Friedel over Howard. I know I would.

[Craig P]

According to U.S. Soccer, Brown is on the roster and Howard is an alternate.