Holden Discussion [R]

[SamsArmySam]

Just really saw him play last night against Panama and was impressed. Recognizing that one game against Panama's U23s does not seal the deal, but...

What do those of you who know more about his game think? What does he bring uniquely? How could he be used in the senior side? Not ready? Very curious from those who have watched more of his play and development over the past 12 months.

I'll throw the [R] up there just because you know someone will spill a result at some point.

[Borrachin]

This kid is the real deal. Not only should he be starting for U-23, but should be the starter in the USNT. We didn't see much of his powerful shots, but he can score from anywhere within 25-30 yards. He is very technical and will outwork anybody including all the losers that played last game against Mexico. Unbelievable he sat on the bench with the crap of players playing.

[Adam Zebrowski]

ah, it's the u-23 level and it's panama...

right now, we need to see what he could do versus mexico at the u-23 level..

say usa and mexico match up in the semis, will be be a difference maker versus them...

plus, is he better than beasley, and convey....i suspect not the 1st, and the 2nd is still a huge question...

and it's possible beasley nor convey would NOT start for the best usa 11, nor holden neither

[MLSNHTOWN]

Just really saw him play last night against Panama and was impressed. Recognizing that one game against Panama's U23s does not seal the deal, but...

What do those of you who know more about his game think? What does he bring uniquely? How could he be used in the senior side? Not ready? Very curious from those who have watched more of his play and development over the past 12 months.

I'll throw the [R] up there just because you know someone will spill a result at some point.

I think he is going to end up being the offensive version of Jonathan Spector. His ability to play RM, LM, CM makes him much more valuable than other players who are more limited. The downside is that like Spector he has played several different positions in part because he hasn't dominated and mastered one of them also IMHO.

What does he bring - He is a young player so what he brings I don't believe is written in stone yet. Over the last year for Houston he brought a very good shot from distance, good possession/dribbling, he is not the fastest guy on the team but he is definitely fast enough to play wing internationally I believe, he is very good on serving in set pieces and is a good crosser. You won't see him do something Adu or DeRosario like in terms of creativity but he usually makes a good decision with the ball.

He lacked last year defensively but that may more be a comparison to the person starting ahead of him in Houston (Mullan) who is awesome defensively. He showed a ton of hustle and heart in the PPC and last night so this might be something that Dom Kinnear and/or others talked to him about.

Houston has Mullan, Davis, DeRosario and Clark and when Davis was injured last year, Holden came in and played great on the left. When all four are healthy, Holden came off the bench and provided a lift most of the time. When Holden started, he was definitely solid. His worst performance though might have been in his biggest game (first leg Dallas playoffs) when he was chosen to start over Brad Davis who was coming back from injury and seemed healthy enough to start himself.

Ultimately, he is young and will look to develop more this year with Kinnear and Spencer. I think he has great potential, but is still too green for the USMNT right now. After this year where hopefully he will have the experience of the Olympics and the experience of another MLS season he will be truly ready for the full team. That being said, it is not like we have a ton of options on the right other than Dempsey/Donovan out of position....so he might come along quicker than I am expecting.

[Marko72]

For the time being, with the senior team, he'd be the "does the little things right" kinda guy. Not really a featured attacker against stronger opposition. A younger Steve Ralston-ish guy with more spark, and versatility.

No real threat to an in-form Beasley or Donovan or Dempsey at all, but a good guy to have around as depth who I believe is capable of filling in nicely. A probable 20th-23rd guy on the final WC roster, possibly a little more, possibly just misses the cut, and will prove useful in qualifying, particularly in '09. That's my assessment at this time.

[Adam Zebrowski]

usa should be looking for guys who are difference makers, guys who raise the level of american play...

holden is a nice player, but isn't the exceptional guy....

perhaps an olympic tourney versus better squads than panama will show us the true nature of his skill and limitations...

home fans tend to overrate their own players.

and then blame the coach when said player fails to perform at a higher level

[Marko72]

usa should be looking for guys who are difference makers, guys who raise the level of american play...

holden is a nice player, but isn't the exceptional guy....


I tend to agree. To my thinking, he'll be a good place-holder, a hold-down-the-fort, team-player guy, with his versatility complementing this aspect. I don't project him as a major difference-maker. That said, we've got a number of young-ish wingers who are pretty good but with flaws, and I see him as being the most versatile and polished of the bunch, hence him probably winning a back-up spot on the WC roster and proving himself useful in qualification.

Should one of our other young-ish guys prove himself a difference-maker (Rogers? Alvarez? Will Smith or White EVER show the real goods? Will Mapp EVER show some defense and workrate on the left?), they go ahead of Holden, but I'm not holding my breath.

[MLSNHTOWN]

usa should be looking for guys who are difference makers, guys who raise the level of american play...

holden is a nice player, but isn't the exceptional guy....

perhaps an olympic tourney versus better squads than panama will show us the true nature of his skill and limitations...

home fans tend to overrate their own players.

and then blame the coach when said player fails to perform at a higher level

I don't overrate Holden at all. I don't think he is ready and he should be reevaluated after another year (hopefully with the Olympics).

Perhaps you can list me the right midfielder that you have in the USMNT pool that are exceptional? Did I miss CR getting a green card?

Even if I stretch and include Donovan or Dempsey whose best positions are probably #2 forward or attacking mid...who do you have after that?

[FC Tallavana]

usa should be looking for guys who are difference makers,


Where would you suggest we look, because such sightings have been pretty rare.

[IndividualEleven]

If one is thinking in terms of 23 man roster of healthy players to take to a competition, Holden's talents and play would def merit a seat on the plane. Smart player with excellent ball skills, shooting ability, and good speed. Can play play left or right midfield.

In terms of a 'unique' quality he brings, I would say that he is a player who does not drift out of games. He knows how to stay involved and around the flow of play.

In terms of healthy USNT flankers I would use the following ranking:

1. Donovan
2. Rogers
3. Holden
4. Davis
5. Arnaud
6. Mapp

He would push Rogers for a starting berth.

[Borrachin]

Where would you suggest we look, because such sightings have been pretty rare.


Let's just go pickup somebody from Brazil, oh wait he can't play for the USNT. Holden can easily be playing for Scotland in the future, either use him or he will be gone. Simple as that. :rolleyes:

[MLSNHTOWN]

Let's just go pickup somebody from Brazil, oh wait he can't play for the USNT. Holden can easily be playing for Scotland in the future, either use him or he will be gone. Simple as that. :rolleyes:

I actually believe the Olympics cap tied him. He is older than 21 from my understanding so his cap in the game v. Panama (an official FIFA competition) ties him to the US .................

FOR LIFE

That being said, he still has his scottish passport from my understanding and that will come in well if he tries to play in Europe ever.

[FirstStar]

Let's just go pickup somebody from Brazil, oh wait he can't play for the USNT. Holden can easily be playing for Scotland in the future, either use him or he will be gone. Simple as that. :rolleyes:

He's cap tied. Oly qualifiers are official FIFA competitions.

[sidefootsitter]

Stu got a raw deal with that crime in Sunderland. In retrospect, he may have bene playing in the Prem now. He's got enough athleticism in him to do so.

He's 22 now and will probably end up in Europe somewhere within the next 12-18 months.

That will define his career. He's already got the Euro style game - not afraid to dribble, not afraid to shoot.

If he improves those skills further, he could be a decent rotation guy to have.

He may not have the upside of Mapp but he should be a competent addition to a squad that currently has plenty of holes.

[TabLalas]

I watched a lot of Dynamo games last year and Holden was a guy who always stood out because of his comfort with the ball in traffic and his ability to put some "stank" on the ball. When the guy gets his whole body into a shot, look out! His knuckle-ball in one of the Thursday Night contests last year when he pitched right off of his man and really got ahold of it. I'd really like to see him get some quality time with the "A-team" but I'm not real sure what position he'd play.

[hoya]

Stu got a raw deal with that crime in Sunderland. In retrospect, he may have bene playing in the Prem now. He's got enough athleticism in him to do so.

Would you mind explaining what you are refering too? I have not been following Holden for very long and would like to know more.

[Nutmeg]

Would you mind explaining what you are refering too? I have not been following Holden for very long and would like to know more.
http://static.sky.com/images/pictures/1284055.jpg

[dynamofan]

Here's the link (http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-13315084,00.html) to an article from 2005 when it happened. He was playing for Sunderland reserves at the time, was out at night with friends and got attacked/mugged.

I believe he came back to the US after that and did not play the rest of 2005. He was signed by Houston in 2006.

[cyberthoth]

Personally I holding out hope he has the ability to be a pre-injury Bennie Olsen type player.

A winger with good speed who seems to be in the right place at the right time. Holden showed a lot of that the other day.

[Ghost]

What I've noticed about Stu is that he has an excellent soccer mind. He is athletic, but not quite as much so as some of the other young wingers. But he makes up for it by being a step ahead mentally. THe plays where I've really noticed him are those where he out=thought his mark and had the athleticism to make it pay. That's what I really like about him.