Has Eddie Gaven grown 2 or 3 inches in the last year? I noticed during the national anthems at the USA v. Scotland game that Gaven is noticeably taller than Ching or Berhalter, both of whom are listed at 6'1". Gaven is listed at 6'0" but, I would estimate he now is somewhere between 6'2" and 6'3". Teenagers often struggle immediately following growth spurts as they often temporarily lose some coordination. Not saying this is the explanation of Gaven's poor play in the last year, its just a possibility. Can any Metros fans confirm he has grown that much?
did he really look taller than berhalter and ching? that surprises me. i hope so. then gaven would even more closely resemble a slower and crappier version of kaka.
you might have a point there with the coordination idea,i really havent noticed the growth thing,,but then again i watch every game he plays in. i'll contiue to cut him some slack,,but if he keeps on cookiepussing it at age 21 then im kicking him out of the circle of trust
I didnt notice the height, but he seems like he has filled out a little. Probably due to weight training, and general development. Good to see.
It took 2 pints of Guiness, and 2 shots of Vat 69 (aka the Pope's telehone number) but I figured it out. It's not that Eddie got taller, it's just that everyone else got shorter.
Good observation. I was thinking hte same thing - but lost hte train of thought in the sea of crazy things popping in my head until you brought this up again. Gaven looks like the tallest dude on the team when the players came out of the tunnel. USSoccer.com has some highlights that show this. If Gaven has grown 2 inches and add a bit more muscle that could be the answer we are looking for.
Um, could it be the angle in which you were viewing changed over the course of the libations? Slowly drifting down until your eyes were almost level with the floorboards, thereby causing everyone to appear taller and in triplicate?
I'm sick of the excuses everyone is making here. Growth spurt? That's the best we got for defending a guy who turned 19 over three weeks ago. if he can't be a refined, developed player at this point in his career and be a star every time he puts on the US jersey, then I don't want him even in camp. honestly, where does Bruce even get off giving guys who aren't even done growing a chance to play in a friendly? if Gaven doesn't go on to score a handful of goals in WCs 2010 and 2014, this will truly be a wasted opportunity that would have been much better served by giving Mullan 45 minutes or Quaranta the full 90. frankly, I'm surprised Gaven even got as many minutes as he did this season for the Metrostars. I mean look at Beasley, when Arena gave that guy some playing time in the lead-up to WC2002, at least Beasley had the decency as a player to not go through a growth spurt and instead he worked his ass off to be a factor in the WC at age 20.
Yep,Quaranta has also done nothing to nail the RM spot,,and he's been given alot more chances against weaker competition.
I had the chance to see Eddie Gaven & Tim Regan Friday night. Regan is listed at 6-1 and Gaven was taller than Regan. Both great guys by the way...
That's why they call it a "growth Spurt" I saw him Friday, and you saw him when? My son grew 2 inches in 3 months, it happens
This was in July. It's November. No one grows that fast. Not possible to grow 2 inches in 3 months. (Just to be sure I called my inlaws, both of whom are doctors, they said it's impossible for someone to grow 2 inches that fast. They said the bones themselves couldn't adjust.)
July to November isn't three months, but five so for Eddie its possible I grew 5 inches in less than a year around 8th grade. In a five month period it is possible
I'm 6'3" and took a picture with him in August and was still a good two inches taller than him. (I'm taller than Ching as well, who is generously 6'1", and likely more like 6'0"). It is possible that he's grown 2 inches in 3 months, though, as it happened both to my and to my step-brother (who is 17, 6'4", and lanky) at times in our lives; I guess we'll find out when next season starts. The one thing is that he's a bit of a sloucher who tends to hang his head a bit. And, height or growth spurt or not, he needs to play better & tougher, regardless of how tall he is or isn't. He's got skill, not doubt. My one question with him is the fight. He seems to play soft, to fall down, and to get out muscled with frequency. I would like to see him become a more physical player in the future. He doesn't have to be Roy Keane or even Michael Ballack- level tough, but to play a bit tougher would be nice. I say we get him an apartment in Newark...