The (hopefully) impending transfer of young Bobby Convey has led to an outpouring of emotions about such a good young player. It got me to thinking that Bobby might be one of the most simultaneously loved and - hated isn't the right word, but some DC sure were awfully frustrated with him. So, I wanted to put together an all-time MLS team of players who, from fans of their own team, produced the strongest emotions, but not overwhelmingly positive ones. It's almost a given that they are good players, or at least viewed as people who should have been good or had/have lots of potential, but with whom some fans are frustrated. Some initial suggestions off the top of my head, please add your own examples and improve the list: GK: Jorge Campos D: Steve Jolley D: Hong-Myung Bo D: Alexi Lalas M: Tab Ramos M: Richie Williams M: Freddy Adu M: Bobby Convey F: Mamadou Diallo F: John Wolyniec F: Josh Wolff (Fire vintage)
Beat me to it -- he constantly frustrated me during his time with the Quakes. DeRosario does the same thing now. Steve Ralston is also frustrating because he'll either have a solid game or go 85 minutes without a touch. Judging from reactions around here, I suppose you could say Beasley with his club play this year, but I'll leave that one to a Fire fan.
Luis Hernandez, hands down, if the issue is strong emotions from "his own" fans. Can't think of a player (except maybe Campos) that comes anywhere close to generating the loathing that El Spitador does.
I'd put my team members in two categories 1. The True Love-Hates (LH) 2. The Can't You See The Next Level It's Right THERE!!! (NL) GK: Nick Rimando (NL) - Hello Bruce, Goodbye Bruce D: Steve Jolley (LH) - Winner Rivaldo Acting Award D: Joey Franchino (LH) - The Ray Liotta of MLS D: Mike Petke (NL) - I'm as good as everyone in NY says I am, I swear! M: Marco Antonio "El Diablo" Etcheverry (LH) - Just pure fire M: Kyle Martino (NL) - Can I get a Flight to France? I left something there. M: Hristo Stoitchkov (LH) - Ever trick in the book and all the skill M: Justin Mapp (NL) - What Wynalda said "Figure out if you want to be a soccer player." F: Chris Carreri (NL and LH) - Mouth v. Skill, Mouth v. Skill...and the winner is F: Ante Razov (LH) - If you could bottle anti-Razov, you'd have the cure for hair loss. F: Carlos Ruiz (LH) - Cheat, Scum, Flopper....Please come to my team... This team could go out in MLS today and win or lose by 10 goals.
For the Fire, I would vote for Roman Kosecki. The first year he made a tremendous impact on the team and the league. The next year, he turned into a diving, whining, screaming waste of space.
And a new entrant - Danny Szetela of the Crew, for asking to be traded in his first sentence after the lottery.