Thiago had better numbers in his first year with the Fire in 2005 then Pappa has so far in 2009. 5 goals and 4 assists this year for Pappa in 28 games, Thiago had 6 goals and 7 assists in 27 games.
I was looking for that data milicz, thanks for posting it. Thiago wasn't a huge bust in my mind, he was a good attacking midfiled option IMHO. I still remember him running from midfield darting through traffic and scoring a scorching winner against the Dynamo in Houston . . . the last time we beat the Dynamo IIRC.
Your right, I think bust is too harsh a word for Thiago. But wasn't Thiago hurt like every damn year lol? I remember Thiago having some decent numbers in his first year but he was non existent after his first year.
Your logic is bad, you can’t compare Thiago with Pappa by numbers, age is a big factor, Thiago was born in 1982 and Pappa was born in 1987, he is only 22 years of age right now, so for his age and experience he is doing pretty good, imagine what he can do in 3 or 4 years from now. That’s why he is being notice in Europe, age is a big factor, I think Fire could see him like an investment, in a couple of years, they could sell him to a middle table club in Europe or to an Mexican team.
The same thing was said about Mapp a couple years ago when he was 22 and LOOK NOW! Milicz's logic isn't bad, it's just fine. stats are a very useful way to evaluate a player's value. Now I will say there's definitely a point to be made based on a player's youth and potential . . . . but we've choked on that youth and potential before.
Thiago's big problem was his switch to the #10. After Nowak, that was a hard jersey to wear. Kropolski, maybe that's the root cause of this curse!
Pappa is 21 at the moment and turns 22 in 40 days. Thiago was 22 at the start of his 2005 campaign. I'd say my comparison is spot on.
Pappa never played of the 1st team of Municipal when he came to the US, he had like two games that were not official in the Guatemalan league. Look at the experience now, I bet he is better than the players that are in the 1st team of municipal, that says a lot of his potential.
Or that could say a lot about Municipal. Could we interest you in a left footed play maker with national team experience and a thinning hair line? He's only 24 and LOADED with potential. See him in the middle wearing the US National jersey. "What do we have to do to get you to drive off the lot with this player in your possession today sir?"
Isn't that amazing when you think about it? MLS best XI a few years ago for a guy coming into his prime... who knows.
To those folks saying take the money, you realize it will most likely be an inconsequential amount the Fire receives, right?
Isn't Marco's loan up at the end of the season? If so, the Fire have no say in what happens to him in the off season. They can try to extend the deal with Mun, but they can't top any offer from any real team (1st or 2nd division in Europe, or 3rd division in england). While it isn't totally out of reason that Xercez might be interested in him, he surely wouldn't get on the field often. If Jozy can't even make the bench for them when they were a D2 team, Marco will have a hard time.
I believe the trade was essentially invalidated when Nowak decided to retire not long afterward. Anyway, yeah. Interesting how that was the season we very nearly won everything we entered, though.
I dont know if it's reality or just a rumor but i do hope Big Pappa gets a chance to play in Spain, he deserves it. He has pottential to be in a European team. Now Marco Pappa wearing the U.S. colors, well i dont want to burst your bubble guys but he already wears the white and blue Los mediocampistas Patrick Howell, Ricardo Ozaeta, Cristian Noriega, Manuel León y Marco Pappa son las opciones de Guatemala en este sector. Foto Prensa Libre: César Pér
Interesting to see all the Guates come out of the wood work. Do any of you follow the Fire or y'all just keeping tabs on your fellow paisanos? 1) "he deserves it" - I love when this line makes its appearance anywhere in BigSoccer. It never gets old . . . hell, we deserve it! 2) Now Marco Pappa wearing the U.S. colors = What??? This is my second favorite kind of BigSoccer post, someone making up an issue in order to make a baseless point. This is what keeps me coming back.
I clicked right to the last page after a few days away, and read that post first... Almost made me want to click back a few pages to see what the hell he was talking about.
I dont think this rumor is true La Liga is to much for Pappa I hear on the Radio that a team from Chile is also looking at him
Are you talking about Stewart "I've rejected all contract offers from MLS because I'm obviously going to make a boatload of money in Europe very very soon" Holden?
It's defeatist to think that we won't get good talent back in. Soccer teams bring in new players, develop them, sell them, and start the process again. It's foolish to think we should keep all our players around, only to see them leave when their contracts are up. In Frank we trust.
Read what Peter Wilt wrote last week, the way you build a good team is by keeping your core players together for a long time, this is Pappa's 2nd year with us and the 1st with real playing time. If we can keep him we should, if we can't then we can't, but to sell or lose him just because we think we can get someone just as good makes little sense to me as a motivation when you are running a club.
Well, this is the key for sure. The problem facing Frank is that Marco has levelled off or even regressed a tiny bit as the year has ground on. He is a young talented player, but how talented? If the Fire want to keep him, the need to commit to paying him a pretty high number between now and when he turns 26 or so. That is when his big payday will be. So, do you splash the cash for him? If he showed a little more over the last month or two, it might be an easier decision.
I don't know....he actually took a shot with his right foot last week. I might have taken a better shot with my nose, but that honestly is a step forward. (Hell, Razov, and even Preki, went to the right once in a while)