I haven't seen many updates on the two members of the "old guard' over at 1860 Munich. Today I wandered over to 1860's website and tracked down their season stats thus far. Both Berhalter & Wolff appear to be in great form for the club, and what's also important is that they're both starting. Berhalter is a bit old, but I would not count out Josh Wolff just yet from continuing in the national team picture. 1860 is atop the Bundesliga 2, and if they continue to play well, it's going to look very impressive seeing a Yank starting for a Bundesliga side. Josh Wolff has appeared in all 4 matches this season (all or most of them starts), with 0 goals but 3 assists. Gregg Berhalter has started all 4 matches and shockingly has 3 goals to his account. Great start for both players, and personally, I hope to see Wolff get back into the National Team picture.
Back in the day the likes of Berhalter and Eddie Pope, along with Bocanegra and Co. meant a National Team that could bring some serious firepower on set pieces. Its one of the few areas that our boys have always been especially strong, internationally. I wonder where the team is "headed" now?
Still a little shocking that Berhalter is taking PKs and that the team has already gotten two of them. Cap him now! I also think its funny that the poster thinks it would be so "impressive" to see a Yank starting in the BL as if its hardly ever happened. I'd put it on par with a Yank starting in the Premiership... certainly a great accomplishment, but nothing more.
I guess my point was I was surprised there wasn't a forward or midfielder who takes them since that's what happens on most teams.
I find it hard to believe that a USMNT soccer fan is not familiar with the virtues of Berhalter's left foot.
Right. While one could always debate the various virtues/flaws of Greg -- size, speed, athleticism, smarts, technical skill, etc. -- there was never any doubt that he could kick dead balls REALLY hard...and far. I remember seeing him in one game suffer a foul deep in a defensive corner, roll the ball down to take the kick, and strike it cross field almost to the other side's penalty area. It might have been the longest kick in mankind's history.
I am familiar with it, but I didn't know he's the best PK taker on a team yet again. You don't often see defenders as the first choice for PKs. Its nothing against Gregg. Being able to kick hard and far does not always mean you are a good PK taker.
Sorry to dig up one of my old threads, but I'm just curious why we don't see much coverage of our 1860 Munchen boys here on the YA board? I just wanted to point out to the Big Soccer community that Americans who are over 30 and no longer considered MNT prospects are still Yanks Abroad. TSV 1860 Munich is currently 5th in the Bundesliga 2 table with 28 points from 17 matches (7-3-7 W-L-T). They're 8 points off the lead, and 3 points off 2nd place, so promotion is a real possibility. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=ger.2&cc=5901 I sifted through some German websites and think I found some statistics for Wolff and Berhalter. My very limited knowledge of the German language may cause some inaccuracies, but barring those, here's what I dug up: After 17 league matches this season: Berhalter: 16 appearances, 4 goals. Wolff: 14 appearances, 0 goals, 4 assists. Here's the website: http://www.tsv1860.de/de/saison/profis/bundesliga/statistik/2007/ I know "punkte" means points, and "gelb" means yellow. You can somewhat infer the rest: "spiele" = plays or games, "tore" = goals (right?) and vorl. = assists (right?). This is where you need btleo! Anyway, why so little coverage of Greggory and Joshy on this board? Have we all seriously lost interest? Let's try to give these guys their due.
Kicker's profiles: Gregg is at 3.19. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/spielersteckbrief/object/27791/saison/2007-08 Josh is at 3.82 and without a single goal (is credited with 4 "assists") and in and out of the starting rotation lately. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/2bundesliga/vereine/spielersteckbrief/object/27852/saison/2007-08
^^^^Ah, thanks. So a 3.82 rating for Wolffy is pretty good then, no? That would figure to about a 6.4 rating on a 10 point scale. (3.82/6 * 10) = 6.36
For a forward who hasn't actually scored, it doesn't seem bad. But I'm not super familiar with Kicker ratings...
Well, here's a list of all Bundesliga II defenders, Greg is actually rated 6th best (Subotic 13th best): http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...-08/topspieler_position/2/topspieler_verein/0 Just change the field *Position* to Mittelfeld (midfielder) or Angriff (forwards) to get the grades for the other top-players to see where Josh stands.
That's not correct. Your formula would make worse scores (6) get you all the way to 10, and the best scores (1) get you to 1. I'd say a 3.5 is your average score, but Kicker gives more 4s than 3s.
Ya, 3.5-3.65 is probably an average for the league. Steve Cherundolo was 3.52 last season for Hannover. That means Gregg is having a great year and Josh ... uh, not so great. His recent performances are 4's and lower. I think it'd be fair to say that he's been struggling.
Woops, my mistake. I was under the impression that a higher score was better. Goes to show my ignorance when it comes to Kicker's ratings system. Hasn't Josh Wolff been playing on the wing for 1860? If so, that would explain his lower goal tally.
Ah, we were having a nice thread and then someone brings up Subotic. No, but seriously that's a good perspective on Neven.