Arena on new MNT candidates

[NoSix]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/writers/grant_wahl/11/10/mls.classic/index.html


All that said, Arena couldn't help but be impressed by what happened Sunday night. And the fact is, he has been able to identify some new national team prospects: "I would say [New England's] Pat Noonan, from what I've seen the last month or two. Brian Mullan is an interesting player. And the kid Jamil Walker had a fantastic game last night. He's a walking advertisement for the league. We're often critical of the league, but you look at this kid who came in at the beginning of the year and was really raw, inexperienced and not ready to play, and he got a goal last night and was dangerous. It's pretty noticeable that he's made considerable improvements throughout the year."

[GoDC]

Brian Mullan was very good on Sunday night. The second half he looked like he knew he could beat Sasha everytime he got the ball down on the wing.

[onefineesq]

Originally posted by GoDC
Brian Mullan was very good on Sunday night. The second half he looked like he knew he could beat Sasha everytime he got the ball down on the wing.

That makes it quite scary that Bruce has been toying with Sasha on the national team since the last WC. I hope that he loses that notion in the VERY near future!

[Dan Roudebush]

I had seen Walker play as a sub before, and he showed me a few things. The header he made against LA was a beaut on MLS wrap highlights. I wish I had been able to see the game.

But the thing that impresses me about Arena singling him out is the coach seems to have retained his own admitted lesson from Korea. about the WC being a young man's game.

I hope the Bruce continues to experiment. God knows at forward we need all the exprimenting we can get.

[Davids26]

Originally posted by onefineesq
That makes it quite scary that Bruce has been toying with Sasha on the national team since the last WC. I hope that he loses that notion in the VERY near future!

Hes been 'toying' with Sasha since the last World Cup? Sasha played in three friendlies after the World Cup against El Salvador, Canada, and Argentina. He hasn't suited up for the nats since then. Thats hardly toying. Bruce knows Sasha isn't cut out for the national team. He gave him his chance and proved that he isn't ready for the nats.

[PumaJohnny]

I didn't think he looked bad. It seemed like he had a goal or two in the few matches.

[FlashMan]

I don't think Walker has a good enough touch to play at the international level (sort of like a younger Carrieri), but he sure is fast and whenever he's played in MLS has looked dangerous. Maybe down the line.

Mullan has had a breakout year. I don't know if burning Victorine and Albright 100 consecutive times makes one ready to be a Nat, but he is a tireless worker, a pretty good dribbler, has good speed and is a good crosser. A definite possibility at right mid (where we're overall fairly weak).

[str8ruckus]

Originally posted by Davids26
Hes been 'toying' with Sasha since the last World Cup? Sasha played in three friendlies after the World Cup against El Salvador, Canada, and Argentina. He hasn't suited up for the nats since then. Thats hardly toying. Bruce knows Sasha isn't cut out for the national team. He gave him his chance and proved that he isn't ready for the nats.

Sounds like toying to me. The toying is over now, but I'd say that could be called toying.

Toying it is.

[Danks81]

What about Curtin? Does he have a shot at the national team?

[RevPOWA]

Originally posted by Danks81
What about Curtin? Does he have a shot at the national team?

Drugs are dangerous...please seek help.

[Davids26]

Originally posted by str8ruckus
Sounds like toying to me. The toying is over now, but I'd say that could be called toying.

Toying it is.

Guess I was more flustered at the fact that the poster said Bruce had been toying with Sasha since the World Cup. He put him there in the first three friendlies after the World Cup against El Salvador and Canada (not very good teams) and an Argentine C team. Sasha hasn't played a minute for the Nats since February, since then we've played how many friendlies plus two tournaments? Sasha is well out of the national team picture.

[Casper]

Originally posted by RevPOWA
Drugs are dangerous...please seek help.

You think Rusty Pierce is a player Bruce should call up now, but suggest that a Jim Curtin call-up is only possible in the minds of the high? A lot of unbiased fans rate Curtin higher. I rate Curtin much higher.

Not only a cheap shot, but a hypocritical cheap shot.

[Serie Zed]

And it's not like we're deep at central defender either.

[juventino3]

Jim Curtin will definitely get a look in up coming friendlies. The guy deserves it. We all know that he is pretty slow, but you hardly ever see him get burnt by speed because of his excellent positional sense. Plus, with his height, you know that he won't give up any goals in the air.

[Ringo]

Originally posted by juventino3
Plus, with his height, you know that he won't give up any goals in the air.


yes, because tall people never do this. they certainly never do it in the world cup vs. teams like germany. glad we had tall players like pope and sanneh in there. :D:D

but honestly, never hurts to give curtin a look. at least bring him into camp, see what he's got. I'm sure Bruce will do it. I think curtin's earned the chance.

[sregis]

one would hope rico clark is also on the radar screen.

[doneshufflin]

Originally posted by Casper
You think Rusty Pierce is a player Bruce should call up now, but suggest that a Jim Curtin call-up is only possible in the minds of the high? A lot of unbiased fans rate Curtin higher. I rate Curtin much higher.

Not only a cheap shot, but a hypocritical cheap shot.

Although Curtin is probably one of the better defenders in MLS, I don't see him with the Nats for a couple reasons. One his distribution from the back is questionable and two he is a slow footed big ogor of a defender. Also Pierce doesn't even belong in the A-League. He is a two bit hack.

[denver_mugwamp]

Originally posted by Danks81
What about Curtin? Does he have a shot at the national team?

I've watched Curtin play a lot and the guy seems to always be in position and makes very few mistakes. You don't need a lot of speed for his position. I would think a 6'4" central defender would be an asset to the USMNT.

[red&black1]

I believe Ricardo Clark definatly needs to be looked at as i think he will become our #1 def/mid for the years to come.

[Saeyddthe]

If you'd seen much of Jim Curtain, you wouldn't be laughing, the guy's a machine...He may not be a burner, but we're not talking LB here either are we? He'd be a very strong choice to back up Papa Pope, next to Boca (and Grey...In front of Armas, Beasley, Mapp, and Razov...JK...barely).

And Walker has definitely improved over the course of the season (I seem to remember a Jamil shaped hole in the turf...hehe). And I think he (among many others) deserves a good look, but let's not put him in any quallies just yet.

Who else, who else...I think Armas is in again, and Razov should be...But I'm not going to be objective here, am I? And yes, for the sake of argument, Noonan...

Alotta guys are gonna get camps, at least...So I don't think anyone's gonna get left out...