Since JJ return appears to be close I got to thinking who the all time best 11 to ever wear the revs jersey. Thoughts? Mine is: Goal: Reis Defenders: Goncalves, Farrell, Lalas, Parkhurst Midfield: Ralston, Jones, Joseph, Forward: Twellman, Moore, Dempsey,
I would say it would have to be based on their time spent in a Revs uniform. For example, Walter Zenga would win the "lifetime achievement" award for keeper, but that was based on his long career with Inter and Italy. He only played here 2 years, and while he was great, I would have to go with Reis, who did more while wearing a Revs jersey. I'll post my picks a bit later
Just to be clear, are you saying looking at a point in time: Who was the best/most in form player for a season for the Revs ? or Who was the best/most in form player for a season for any team? Who had the best career as Revs? or Who had the best overall career?
Here are mine, with honorable mentions in parentheses: JMM-Twellman (Raul Diaz Arce) Ralston-Kones-Joseph-Dempsey (Hernandez, Naveda) Okaroh-Parkhurst-Wright-Goncalves (Lalas, Calichman) Ries (Zenga)
I gotta think more on 2 additional backs - but I think this aligns with mine too. I will admit it was a toss up between Zenga and Jim St Andre
Schilawski Brettschneider Zerka Niouky Phelan Nyassi Polak Gibbs Badilla Gori Causey Bench: Jamar Beasley, Johnny Torres, Moreno, Nakhid, Coria, Howey, Coufal One hell of a lineup right there. Oh, BEST XI... What Tom said.
Causey wasn't that bad and he was a stud in the shootouts. Coufal easily gets the start in net for me. Zerka and Nyassi on the wings also seems a little unfair. Neither were terrible; I'll go with Richie Baker and Ricardo Phillips. Also, an all-time worst XI doesn't seem complete without Kris "Stumpy" Kelderman.
Here's my underrated best XI Wolde Harris, Charlie Davies Brian Kamler, Jeff Larentowicz, Alberto Naveda, Marko Perovic Ted Chronoplous, Mauricio Wright, Francis Okaroh, Rusty Pierce Adin Brown
This side can't be complete without Tony Frias III, Brandon Manzonelli, Jesse Van Saun, Edgaras Jankowski, and, for your energy super-sub Darren Sawatski
Boy do I miss the days of Sawatski... and how about... the best field goal kicker that the Revs ever had...... Shakar Asad
Haha good call. I actually considered Richie Baker and Kelderman but decided they weren't even good enough to make the bench. Forgot about Phillips. Well played, these are all excellent choices. Almost put Sawatsky on the bench but I let emotion in and got sentimental about the '96 team. Videira hasn't been mentioned and he has a special place in my heart for epic awfulness, even moreso than EJ, who was just an always injured big galoot.
Causey loses ground because of the broadcasting experience. Richie Baker was actually pretty good, when he wasn't operating on a bum ankle. And I don't think Phillips ever really got much of a chance. A total of 4 sub appearances? I chalk him up to another in a long list of failures in utilizing Latin American players. Zerka and Nyassi weren't even close to the worst (or first) - firmly entrenched in the middle.
I couldn't recall Baker doing anything of importance. Cassio is another guy who was a massive disappointment. We were lead to believe that he'd be the answer to our constant issue on the left side.
Since we're way off topic, anyway, how about the most frustrating Rev ever -- the guy with the most potential talent who never made it? My top two (a two way tie for first): Jamar Beasley and Imad Baba.
I don't understand why The General makes these lists every single time. He was solid, but part of some bad rev defenses which gave up 56 and 53 goals. I don't have the same reverence for him in his short rev tenure that others do I guess.
I don't think he belongs in an all-time best XI, but I do think that he was underrated (so much so that we left him exposed for Chicago).
Yeah, the guys who probably were the worst are the fringe reserve guys who never really played. That would be the Sam Brill, Rob Valentino, Beto, Jean-Baptiste Fritzson and Ivan Gvozdenovic (the guys who flew in for the Benfica game), etc.
We should mix up the Best XI list and get creative - Fastest XI Nyassi for sure. Welton had some wheels IIRC. Chiquinho Conde Andy Williams (young) Johnny Torres was pretty quick Angriest/most likely to get a red Best XI Coached by the always brooding Frank Stapleton Psycho Lekic up top Ivy McKinley captains this team... Noonan - always looked angry Gorter - he went hard for everything Dorman - he's a card magnet now Dempsey - Franchino needed a nemesis Franchino- ask Clint Mathis about that Rusty Pierce-never let up with a tackle Heaps - would have the occasional poorly timed challenge Osei- hissing and spitting at people Instead of yelling WIN in unison, you would probably just hear a low growl... Most Distinctive Haircut Best XI Keegs for his mullet Rowe for his man bun Beto Naveda for the long hair Sawatsky's pony tail Shalrie's dreads Mauricio Wright's dreads Lalas for the famous goatee c. '96-'97 Zenga for his hat Reis for lack thereof Who else am I missing? Classiest XI - virtual boy scouts on and off the pitch Ralston captains this one Caldwell Kamler Boggs - did TONS of volunteer work Marshall Leonard - nice guy, coached locally Joe-Max - class, both stints Wolde Harris - just a nice guy Twellman - the anti Jaime Moreno, he never dove to get a call, in fact his ability to stay on his feet was sometimes problematic Reis - met him once, another nice guy, pure class The Forever Injured Best XI, sponsored by Mass General. Jankasaurus Cristman (for awhile) Abundis Twellman (in 2009 - sadly) Ralston (in 2010) Mauricio Castro Badilla (2008) Maybe Calichman? IIRC he struggled,wirh injury Who else?
I forgot a couple additions... Classiest XI Parkhurst, definitely. Forever Injured XI Domi Dabo It would be fun to see who'd win a little tournament. Angriest XI vs Classiest XI Forever Injured XI vs Haircut XI I think the Angriest team would be reduced to 9 men and the Classiest would walk away with that one. Then the Injured vs Haircut, the Haircut guys would win that because the Injured team would lose guys left and right to (you guessed it, injury) and evetually run out of subs. In the final, Team Class wins 2 1 and doesn't celebrate their goals to avoid offending their opponents.
There has been a long long long long list of players signed or drafted that were busts. here are the guys I can think of off the top of my head. Please feel free to add to this list Biggest Busts XI Castillon Abundis Jankasuarus Badilla Domi Dabo Leandro de Oliveira Linck Semedo Coria Jose Luis Morales Bjorn Runstrum