* 2006 Bobby Boswell (D.C.) * 2005 Jimmy Conrad (K.C.) * 2004 Robin Fraser (CLB) * 2003 Carlos Bocanegra (CHI) * 2002 Carlos Bocanegra (CHI) * 2001 Jeff Agoos (S.J.) * 2000 Peter Vermes (K.C.) * 1999 Robin Fraser (L.A.) * 1998 Lubos Kubik (CHI) * 1997 Eddie Pope (D.C.) * 1996 John Doyle (S.J.) from http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/events/mls_cup/2007/awards/. 2007 was Parkhurst and 2008 Marshall.
I doubt Adu would do any better at Villareal than he is at Monaco. You're forgetting something -- Altidore is simply a better player than Adu.
Higlights, Interviews, etc are now up @ http://www.villarrealcf.es/principal.php?nombreModulo=programaTV&idmenu=76
Well, this is Danny Califf, so I'm not sure "running" deserves to be in the same line. Can you have a long stationary USMNT joke?
Yes it does. As in "Paulo Wanchope is running some easy scoring drills around a traffic cone, named Danny Califf." I've never seen a traffic cone with better sideburns.
I stand corrected. He was not the defender of the year: Califf joined the Earthquakes prior to the start of the 2005 campaign and went on to have one of his best professional seasons. After anchoring the defense for a San Jose team that only lost four games during the MLS regular season and went undefeated at home to win the MLS Supporters' Shield, Califf was named a finalist for the MLS Defender of the Year. Califf was also a member of the 2005 MLS RadioShack Best XI. http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20051209&content_id=49338&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp
Not only that, but from the highlights he looked good out there. After a few years where the USA has built a lot of depth of talent abroad but not a lot of high visibility attacking players in top leagues (ok, basically none at the moment), we really need Jozy to emerge. Especially if his striking partner is also born in the US.
I still make fun of him, but he's been a decent regional player for the Nats. He's not close to being a major tournament player for us though. (Hex, CC, WC, etc)
I will always make fun of Califf - and I like him a lot. Loved watching him crash the goal at the depot. He's just not fast enough for the top level. It happens. And he's a bit reckless with his fouls. And has odd hair sometimes. A great player to watch who is also the perfect butt of snide, snarky ribbing. The perfect player! Heydude falls into this category, although due to his speed and meth habit, he is actually closer to a major tournament player. He is equally "fun" - like a runaway train - to watch and is easily the butt of a full set of material. Unlike, say, Aldark, who is the perfect butt of snide, snarky ribbing, but you can't watch defend without nitro and seditives.
John Terry could not beat an old lady in a foot race. Speed is the most over-rated asset on these boards. How fast is Cannivara? Puyot? Many top defenders are not particularly fast.
I see your point -- if EJ wasn't really fast, Dirty Sanchez would have definitely taken him out after Donovan's goal.
The best central defenders read the game so well that they rarely have to win a footrace, or at least are able to give themselves a few steps headstart. Speed sure does help if you have other shortcomings though.