Richard Mulrooney

[juventino3]

Is this guy the Nats starting d-mid (at least till Ricardo Clark becomes a more seasoned pro)? I've only seen him play a couple of times this year, but he played great on Sunday.

[schmuckatelli]

Up till MLS Cup, I'd have said that Armas would be the leading candidate to play the defensive midfield spot, followed by Mulrooney and then Clark or Mastroeni, but Sunday changed all that. If I were the US National Team coach, I'd be interested in seeing Mulrooney play -- and I think Bruce Arena is, in fact.
Mulrooney did everything (and then some) that you want a central midfielder to do: won balls, ran hard all day, helped change the point of attack, and even showed a scoring touch.

[juventino3]

Originally posted by schmuckatelli
Up till MLS Cup, I'd have said that Armas would be the leading candidate to play the defensive midfield spot, followed by Mulrooney and then Clark or Mastroeni, but Sunday changed all that. If I were the US National Team coach, I'd be interested in seeing Mulrooney play -- and I think Bruce Arena is, in fact.
Mulrooney did everything (and then some) that you want a central midfielder to do: won balls, ran hard all day, helped change the point of attack, and even showed a scoring touch.

He is certainly playing the best out of all of our dmids, but to be honest I don't see much difference between Mulrooney, Armas, and Mastroeni. Mastroeni is probably the most athletic of the three, but also the most tempermental. Clark would be a serious upgrade once he gets more experience. He would give us that little bit of Patrick Vieira like flair at the defensive midfield spot.

[bigdush]

Based upon fairly limited viewing opportunities for mulrooney, I would still take Armas over mulrooney (for right now). Mulrooney had a good game in the final, but I still think that Armas is the better player overall.

Mulrooney seems a little "soft" right now to me.

But again, limited viewings.

[appoo]

just play both Reyna and O'Brien in the middle of the field. Who needs a DMid when you have those two?

[zcgf02]

Originally posted by appooOnU
just play both Reyna and O'Brien in the middle of the field. Who needs a DMid when you have those two?

Because JOB and Reyna will be playing left back and right back in WC 2006. ; )

[juventino3]

Originally posted by appooOnU
just play both Reyna and O'Brien in the middle of the field. Who needs a DMid when you have those two?

First of all, we hardly ever play with only three in the back. Second, having both of these guys healthy and playing together in the same lineup is as common of an occurence as a lunar eclipse. Both class players, but because of their constant injuries, I hardly even think about them.

[appoo]

Originally posted by juventino3
First of all, we hardly ever play with only three in the back. Second, having both of these guys healthy and playing together in the same lineup is as common of an occurence as a lunar eclipse. Both class players, but because of their constant injuries, I hardly even think about them.

it happned in 4 of the 5 WC matches.

[juventino3]

Originally posted by appooOnU
it happned in 4 of the 5 WC matches.

Thats why we played so well ;) We were lucky in that sense. I just don't think that its something we can rely on for the future.

[superdave]

Appoo, when you wrote "4 of 5" did you mean CR and JOB together, or 3 in the back? Cuz we only played 3 in the back the last two matches.
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Mulrooney played right back in one or two pre-WC friendlies. After seeing that amazing cross that got SJ's 4th against LA, I think that's his position for us.

[appoo]

Originally posted by superdave
Appoo, when you wrote "4 of 5" did you mean CR and JOB together, or 3 in the back? Cuz we only played 3 in the back the last two matches.
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Mulrooney played right back in one or two pre-WC friendlies. After seeing that amazing cross that got SJ's 4th against LA, I think that's his position for us.

nah I meant that we played JOB and Reyna together in 4 of the 5 matches.

I don't think Mulrooney would be able to beat Cherundolo at RB...and I thought he played DMid? With CJ Brown at RB? That was the Wales match you were talking about right?

[juventino3]

Originally posted by appooOnU
nah I meant that we played JOB and Reyna together in 4 of the 5 matches.

I don't think Mulrooney would be able to beat Cherundolo at RB...and I thought he played DMid? With CJ Brown at RB? That was the Wales match you were talking about right?

He has played at right back for Bruce Arena before. This was around the same time that people like Sasha Victorine were getting looks at right back. If Mulrooney has a future with the Nats, its at dmid.

[superdave]

No, I'm positive he got a run in the spring '02 friendlies.

[appoo]

Originally posted by superdave
No, I'm positive he got a run in the spring '02 friendlies.

He played against Wales. It was SJ, DCU, plus the Redcarded CJ Brown and Ryan Suarez (i think)

I just thought he played at Dmid in that match thats all.

[superdave]

That's spring '03. I'm talking about spring '02.

Damn, does this mean I'm gonna have to do some work and find it? ;)

[appoo]

Originally posted by superdave
That's spring '03. I'm talking about spring '02.

Damn, does this mean I'm gonna have to do some work and find it? ;)

nope :)

2002 - Played three games; earned his first start with the National Team in a 4-0 win over Honduras.


sorry about that, for some reaosn "2002" didn't make an impression on my brain

[bright]

Originally posted by superdave
No, I'm positive he got a run in the spring '02 friendlies.

I saw Mulrooney play on the backline in the friendly against Honduras in Seattle, which took place in Spring 2002. I can't remember if it was right back or left back, but I think it was on the right. And Convey played on the left later in the game.

- Paul

[Fah Que]

Originally posted by bigdush
Mulrooney seems a little "soft" right now to me.

But again, limited viewings.

Oh man. You're so wrong dude.

[appoo]

Originally posted by bright
I saw Mulrooney play on the backline in the friendly against Honduras in Seattle, which took place in Spring 2002. I can't remember if it was right back or left back, but I think it was on the right. And Convey played on the left later in the game.

- Paul

good memory. We didn't have much to do on defense right? Really what I remember about that much is Donovan making the Houndouran defense look like a bunch of 10 year olds.

[scotto]

Originally posted by bigdush
Based upon fairly limited viewing opportunities for mulrooney, I would still take Armas over mulrooney (for right now). Mulrooney had a good game in the final, but I still think that Armas is the better player overall.

Mulrooney seems a little "soft" right now to me.

But again, limited viewings.

This definitely must be a result of very limited viewings. If you had seen even half of the Quakes games, you would not ever use the word "soft" to characterize Mulrooney. And in terms of who is the better player overall, I give that nod to Mulrooney as well. I think that he and Armas are very even with respect to reading the game, tackling and defensive capability in general. What sets Mulrooney apart is his technical skill. He is very strong with the ball at his feet, and a better dribbler and passer than Armas. Although it was only college, there's still something to be said for the fact that he's one of only 7 NCAA players to record 50 or more assists. (Armas had only 15 assists in his entire NCAA career.) He started his career with the Quakes as a right mid and led the team in assists in 2000. I think he brings that added dimension that Armas doesn't quite have in the same way.