Captain America, Terry Malloy and The Mascot

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by Deadtigers, Mar 27, 2020.

  1. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    I use to call this the Patriot, what could have been and stay on the bus. This is a discussion I bgg have with friends ever so often about 3 players in US history.

    1. Captain America - this is the player that epitomizes US soccer. Doesn't have to be a captain or the best player of his generation. Just a guy you felt, that if asked to define what kind of quality players would you say defines US soccer.

    2. The Terry Malloy - goes the "I could have been a contender." This is the guy that was born in a generation where we had too many good plays in one position, like when we had 3 Keepers starting in England and Germany, but only one could start. Or a guy who if not for a run of injuries or one major injury, would have been a star. Or a guy exiled by a coach for personality conflicts but could have been useful contributor.

    3. The Mascot - this is the guy that should have never gotten off the bus, let alone on it. He would have been more useful dressing up as the mascot.

    My picks are

    1. Brian McBride - good athlete but not great. But through grit, hustle and wonderful soccer IQ, he became a star.

    2. I use to say JOB but upon his retirement I will go with Feilhaber. Criminal that we could get him more caps with his attacking ability which was always desperately needed.

    3. So many options, I mean really there have been so pretty poor performers in the US Jersey that make you wonder why was he picked. I will give this to Richie Williams.
     
  2. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1: Frankie Hejduk
    2: Charlie Davies
    3: Jurgen Klinsmann
     
  3. puttputtfc

    puttputtfc Member+

    Sep 7, 1999
    1. Jay DeMerit. Love his story.
    2. Terrence Boyd. Thought he was improving until all the injuries.
    3. Chris Albright. Overhyped but seemed to stick around for some reason.
     
  4. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Jay Demerit is a good one! Didn't come to mind when making my selections, but definitely up there. He was a favorite of mine at the 2010 World Cup. The guy was simply amazing. I loved how adventurous he was in stepping up the defensive field, reading the play so well and hard marking the guy the ball was going to come to. Not to mention his ballsy, well-timed (and hard) tackles. The guy was just ferocious, and I think it's likely that his play spurred the team.
     
  5. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Why those 3 and Jurgen at 3 is a stretch as he was a coach. He did pick plenty of terrible players though so just pick one of them.
     
  6. tomásbernal

    tomásbernal Member+

    Sep 4, 2007
    Club:
    Portland Timbers
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hejduk because he was a massive motivator, even if a mediocre player. Davies because he had speed, power and a great ability to create space for himself (via his wrestling days and huge legs). Further, he was just coming into his own and, at the time, looked like the exact player that we needed to really push the envelope. Klinsmann because the question was "The Mascot - this is the guy that should have never gotten off the bus, let alone on it. He would have been more useful dressing up as the mascot." He was a great "motivator", but little more. Would have made a great mascot. If it weren't for his ability to affect the game by his hard-nosed and inspiring play, Hejduk would have also been a solid choice for mascot.
     
  7. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Clint Mathis
    Giuseppe Rossi
    Chris Wondolowski
     
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  8. Bajoro

    Bajoro Member+

    Sep 10, 2000
    The Inland Empire
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    1) Dempsey (loved the Demerit pick!)
    2) Holden (loved the Davies pick!)
    3) Can't pick anyone for this, because, hell, I'd have gone if chosen :ROFLMAO:
     
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  9. Bajoro

    Bajoro Member+

    Sep 10, 2000
    The Inland Empire
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    ... knew this was coming :ROFLMAO:
     
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  10. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    To keep the thread a little lively please explain why you choose Mathis over Dempsey and etc.
     
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  11. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Mathis lacked a lot of tangibles, and his career arc was brief and scattered with potholes and bud light kegs, but at his 2000-2003 peak, even after doing an ACL, he was the type of player that could put us over the top.

    For the 2002 team’s talent, Reyna controlling things, Donovan and Beasley emerging, JOB and Mastro in midfield outplaying Germans, McBride scoring goals and Sanneh marking Figo out of the match, Friedel standing on his head, there was something next level about the Mohawk. I went the Chula Vista to watch us train in December 2001 and remember coming away from the practice thinking Mathis made us, already a solid team, dangerous.

    When I thought about the OP’s “define what quality players the US has” our really quality players as I hope toward the future will have a hard edge of arrogance like Clint Mathis. Auspicious talent yes, but an elite confidence and aura of disrespect.

    Dempsey had that attitude, pre-injury Charlie Davies had it, maybe Gio Reyna does too. I’ve never seen as bright a comet as prime time Clint Mathis.
     
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  12. Pegasus

    Pegasus Member+

    Apr 20, 1999
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I remember a game at the Cotton Bowl where I think Mathis scored 3 or 5 goals. I guess he so abused Dallas that I can't even remember exactly what happened. I do remember a weaving run he made the length of the field where Burn players were traffic cones. Didn't know whether to be more mad at him or my team.
     
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  13. Bajoro

    Bajoro Member+

    Sep 10, 2000
    The Inland Empire
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He was the American Maradonna after that particular goal.
     
  14. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas


    August 2000, he scored 5 in a game for the MetroStars.
     
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  15. Bajoro

    Bajoro Member+

    Sep 10, 2000
    The Inland Empire
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  16. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Shout out to Tab Ramos, my fave US player of all time.
     
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  17. Three and Three

    Three and Three Member+

    Sep 13, 2015
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    1. McBride
    2. Ralston
    3. Agoos
     
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  18. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    Ralston was overrated and Agoos was a rock.
     
  19. yurch10

    yurch10 Member+

    Feb 13, 2004
    1. MB - the Lion himself. MB90. The Big Gun.
    2. Obrien - these next two come from the days I was too young to know much. He always seemed to be that guy who was our "first big star" if he wasn't injured.
    3. Agoos - don't remember specifics (except maybe one back pass directly to an opponent leading to a goal I think). But I still remember watching games with my dad, me as a youngster, my dad as a football guy just getting into soccer because I played. We both would just rip on him nonstop, and had so many laughs watching his game. Just terrible. A 10 year old and a 40 year old who never watched soccer before both knew immediately.
     
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  20. Rahbiefowlah

    Rahbiefowlah Member+

    Oct 22, 2001
    Las Vegas
    Ah yes, the Ralston Line. Many have come close, more have come closer.
     
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  21. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    The Jeff Cunningham of midfielders.
     
  22. Three and Three

    Three and Three Member+

    Sep 13, 2015
    Club:
    New England Revolution
  23. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    You are a Revs fan huh?
     
  24. Deadtigers

    Deadtigers Member+

    Jul 23, 2015
    Independent Republic of the Bronx, NY
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ghana
    1. Which version of MB90? Up to 2014 maybe 2016
    2. JoB was so talented but his body gave out on him at such a young age. I mean he was an Ajax grad at a time when Americans abroad was finite.
    3. I just never thought Goose was that bad.
     
  25. Three and Three

    Three and Three Member+

    Sep 13, 2015
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Noonan was awesome. I admire the St. Louis footy scene. Always have.
     
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