It was just so GD uncalled for, which is the worst part about it. Poorly timed, stupid, unnecessary, and uncalled for. I have to say, he was young, and young kids do foolish things. Heck, older players still head butt opponents when they KNOW it's an immediate sending off. So, begrudgingly, I have to forgive, but I (and most likely WE) will never forget. I love being a sports fan.
Firstly, I agree with you about Davies. Hard to call a guy who nearly died a flop. Plus, he wasn't a highly regarded player as a youth who folks invested years of hope into (like Adu and Szetela among others), largely coming out of the blue in 2009. But primarily your WC 2006 comments took me a bit down memory lane. In addition to JOB and Mathis significantly hurting the potential of that 2006 team, I've also felt that Gibbs' late injury really hurt our back line and that Eddie Johnson's lack of progress from his breakout production in 2004-2005 contributed to the gutting of the US attack. EJ scored 8 international goals between October 2004 and March 2005, and then only 1 more goal in the next 2+ years. I know that in 2005 I was getting my hopes up for O'Brien as the US field "general" feeding Mathis and EJ up top.
I think better. Davies was rounding into real form around that time. He was blazing fast, a real threat that required constant attention from the back four. Gooch is a bit of a question mark. He was a lock starter, and his loss put a lot of doubt in terms of who would replace him as there just wasn't a clear choice, enough so that even in his very limited form after recovering, he played in S. Africa. His health, would have at least made it so we never had to worry about who was starting ni his spot. Whether his play on the field would have been what we would have hoped, no one has any clue. It was a pretty devastating time though for the team, and I'm not sure we have recovered from the loss of Davies. Gooch's loss ultimately and still is allowing others to try and stake their claim.
well maybe he is the biggest flop. some people have these grandiose expectations. Personally he is doing about as well as I thought he could given his average coaching ability. we pay for his pedigree and his fame.
The OP said this: So, obviously this is for players. Thanks. Let's go back to fighting in the Klinsmann thread
Wouldn't apply. Last November he said he was "considering applying for American citizenship at some point in years to come" ( http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/66/u...nn-considering-application-for-us-citizenship ), but so far he has not, so since he's not American, he cannot be a "Great US Flop."
then its definitely Freddy Adu given the hype surrounding him by MLS reporters back in 2003-2006 and such.
I will have to agree with this in terms of recent times. I just remember hearing a ton about him, and he played well in 2011 against Argentina...but that game against Honduras was just plain bad.
MLS first reported on their website that Walker went to NY via lottery. They pulled the story down and introduced this rule when called out that NY had already won a lottery. I know Walker had never played with the US at that time making the story that much more ridiculous. Bending, breaking and making up rules for one team. One of the reasons I view MLS as a corporation as opposed to a sports league. I don't know if Davies is a flop as much as a moron. Staying out past curfew and riding home with a drunk while training is just plain stupid. Not to mention one person in the car is dead, one is in prison and one is playing soccer while suing for damages. He never had the hype of Adu (no American has) but certainly made a poor decision.
Ah yes, this again. Explain to me how the coach that has lead the USMNT to its most successful year (based on winning percentage) and more importantly stole a point in Azteca in WCQ is the biggest flop...