This has probably been here before, but I haven't seen it at least recently. Who has played the most games in MLS (USA eligible only) without ever being capped? I'm curious to know if anyone is inclined to do a little research.
I suspect Mike Clark is probably high on such a list, if not at the top. He appeared in over 220 league matches - I think - for Columbus and I think his only national team appearances were of the "B team" variety.
I did some research on my own... point out any errors that you find. Game totals are regular season games played entering the 2004 season according to MLSnet. Mike Clark- 221 Steve Jolley- 170 Ross Paule- 167 Scott Garlick- 166 Brian Kamler- 164 Richard Farrer- 158 Carey Talley- 154 John Maessner- 151 David Vaudreuil- 151 Brian Dunseth- 147 Richie Kotschau- 142 (will he play Wed. and drop out?) Jay Heaps- 141 Todd Yeagley- 138 Chris Brown- 126 Mike Ammann- 125 Brandon Prideaux- 124 A.J. Wood- 124 (did he play a US game?) Mark Dougherty- 122 Mike Duhaney- 121 Mark Semioli- 121 Miles Joseph- 120 Eric Quill- 118 Dema Kovalenko- 116 (US Eligible?) Jim Rooney- 116 Jimmy Conrad- 114 Jeff Baicher- 112 Eric Dade- 111 Sean Bowers- 111 Danny Pena- 109 Bobby Rhine- 109 Chris Martinez- 108 Troy Dayak-106 Brandon Pollard- 106 David Kramer- 106 Matt Kmosko- 103 Daniel Hernandez- 101 Pete Marino- 100
Dema is not US-eligible. I thought Talley got called up for a game, but maybe he just got called into camp. Sachin
There are actually a bunch of guys on that list who have been in camp - Paule, Garlick, Talley, Vaudreuil, Dunseth, Kotschau, Prideaux, Quill, Duhaney, Hernandez. My only real comment on this list is: CAP SNEAKY PETE NOW! This has got to be one of those stomach-punch lists to be on. However, it's hard to argue that any of these guys would have transformed the national team if given the opportunity.
Firefan: thanks for compiling that list. It's interesting. You've got to take Troy Dayak off that list. He played for the US National Team several times at the very beginning of his career, in the early 90s. Dave Brett
Finding info on caps was incredibly difficult, I'm not sure if that should surprise me or not. I also thought Talley had a cap as well as AJ Wood, but it didn't show up the places that I looked.
Especially if you try USSoccer.com, but here is a great link posted in the Stats and Analysis forum the other day. The National Soccer Hall of Fame has a great database of all players for the national team and lineups for most games. This may help out this thread.
Below is my updated list based on suggestions and further research... the National Soccer Hall of Fame site was helpful. Names that were removed include... Kovalenko, apparently not US eligible; Jeff Baicher (Feb 1, 1991 vs Switzerland); Troy Dayak did indeed make a number appearances; Matt Kmosko (Feb 12, 1992 vs Costa Rica); Miles Joseph (Aug 30, 1996 vs El Salvador) Mike Clark- 221 Steve Jolley- 170 Ross Paule- 167 Scott Garlick- 166 Brian Kamler- 164 Richard Farrer- 158 Carey Talley- 154 John Maessner- 151 David Vaudreuil- 151 Brian Dunseth- 147 Richie Kotschau- 142 (will he play Wed. and drop out?) Jay Heaps- 141 Todd Yeagley- 138 Chris Brown- 126 Mike Ammann- 125 Brandon Prideaux- 124 A.J. Wood- 124 Mark Dougherty- 122 Mike Duhaney- 121 Mark Semioli- 121 Eric Quill- 118 Jim Rooney- 116 Jimmy Conrad- 114 Eric Dade- 111 Sean Bowers- 111 Danny Pena- 109 Bobby Rhine- 109 Chris Martinez- 108 Brandon Pollard- 106 David Kramer- 106 Daniel Hernandez- 101 Pete Marino- 100 This list seems lopsided towards defensive type players and/or goalies. This leads me to theorize that if you are American and can score a goal or two in MLS you'll be given a look with the Nats unless you're named Pete Marino, Bobby Rhine, Chris Brown or AJ Wood- the only ones on the list to see significant time as forwards. Interestingly, a few guys that didn't have 100 MLS games played (but did play in MLS) and had caps include: John DeBrito a Vargas is listed...Nelson Vargas? Ian Feuer Jean Harbor Alan Prampin Lawrence Lozzano Jorge Salcedo David Quesada- was playing in Costa Rica only 9 minutes ever in MLS several from the infamous 1996 Peru game- Tim Martin, Paul Holocher, Scott Benedetti, Tayt Ianni, Jorge Flores, and Ramiro Corrales
Kamler got a cap aginst Chile in Florida in 99. Talley almost got a cap vs Chile the next year in Chile- he was on the sideline waiting for the ref to let him in the game when the game ended.
The fact that A.J. Wood made 124 MLS appearances should give hope to every American suffering from the tragedy of rigor mortis.
Are you sure? The USSoccer stats for 1999 do not show him having a cap. Also the National Soccer Hall of Fame lineup for that game does not show him in it. Also, their is not mention of a cap in his Revs bio, though it does mention several camp callups.
Mark Lisi is another guy that could be considered for this list. I don't think he has quite enough MLS games yet, but he is getting there.
The "normal players" of that era- Harkes, Meola, Ramos, Cobi, Joe-Max, Claudio, Stewart, Lalas etc... went on strike to protest their wages received for national team appearances. The US had committed to the game so a replacement team, outside of the normal US national team pool, was selected. This was in the fall immediately after the first year of MLS play so borderline MLSers were drafted into the team. Many MLSers did not want to go for fear of future US call-ups and the potential to be branded as scabs. So... with possibly one exception the team was journeymen- the exception- Eddie Lewis who has gone on to consistently play for the US. Mark Dodd Tim Martin Lawrence Lozzano Tayt Ianni Zak Ibsen Eddie Lewis Jorge Flores (??? Leonetti) Dario Brose-scored the goal in the 4-1 loss Scott Benedetti (Ramior Corrales) Jean Harbor (Mac Cozier) Ted Eck (Paul Holocher)
Lisi had 72 regular season MLS games played entering this season. I stopped my list at 100 but Lisi is a candidate to be added after this season.
I doubt Lisi will play every game (which is what it would take to reach 100), because he's had a history of minor injuries, and he's playing behind Guevara and Clark. If Ricardo was fully healthy, he might not have seen all of the playing time he's gotten thus far this year. Lisi has some potential to make it off of this list for the other reason (getting a cap) - Bruce has mentioned his name a couple of times as one of the best uncapped players (other than guys who are still youth prospects). I wouldn't put great odds on this, though.