I don't know if it's just me (and if it is then you all are blind) but Frankie Hedjuk is far past whatever prime he may have had. If anyone saw the Costa Rica - USA game tonight then you should know what I'm saying. He was woefully out of position all night and his passing and decisions were abysmal at best. He hasn't played inspired soccer for years, if he ever did, and he simply is not a good defender or crosser. The one thing that got him where he is would be his athleticism and guess what, that fades with age. His idea of defense is to stand directly behind someone with both his arms extended and swipe at the ball as the guy makes a move and burns him. His dive at the edge of the penalty box while the ref was RIGHT BEHIND HIM was pathetic and useless. Even the horrible excuse for a ref that always seems to call CONCACAF games couldn't have missed it. Frankie is a useless waste of space on the field and it's past time for him to make his exit from the national team scene. That is all.
Usually, I'm willing to take a swipe at Hejduk. But I think he didn't do too bad at Left-back. I'm not claiming him for a MOTM award, but I didn't expect much from him at Left-back. That's my Frankie Hejduk solution. Lowered expectations. "what do you want? Its Frankie Hejduk."
Wonderful a new Troll, screen name SpeedyOne or is that you David Regis? Still miffed about losing your spot?
Well SpeedyOne, I think you're totally off base on this one. Pointing fingers at players that national team days are numbered should only leave you pointing at Chris Armas, Tony Sanneh and Ben Olsen. Sanneh and Armas were especially woeful tonight; respectively each one looked out of place and a step behind international soccer. Armas, as posted earlier in other threads, effectively killed the attack each time the ball found its way to him. Sanneh lumbered around the field and made terribly poor decisions tonight including playing a ball in the air back to Keller that he had to head out for a corner. Did anyone beat Hejduk down the left wing? No. Having said that, everyone with any common sense knows Hejduk's best position is not left back and he isn't the most skilled on our team. He is a great utility player that can come off the bench and run his ass off and track down opponents. Ferocity and grit will rightly earn Frankie a spot in Germany.
But that's what I'm saying is that with the Gold Cup pretty much a tin can trophy, Bruce should be looking at other options back there. I just don't see why Hedjuk consistently gets a shot. The USA should not be settling with someone who gets a "what do you expect" every time he steps on the field. Likewise with Pat Noonan and Ben Olson, (even as a Revs fan I say this) they did not impress and so should be dropped from consideration while other options are considered. I'm absolutely not saying that there aren't others who are past their prime, but every time Frankie goes out there he is useless. Yes he was beaten several times, conceded many freekicks and earned himself a yellow for blatant diving. I don't call that a successful outing do you? By the way I've been here before so enough with the Newbie bit, thanks.
just for you knowledge because you seem a little confused...Frankie Hedjuk never had a prime....but he is the us national team all time leader in attempted slide tackles
Okay, here's my opinion SpeedyOne, you must have watched a different match than I did. Or perhaps my view from Sam's Army was different from yours on the television. Or perhaps you're completely clueless. You choose. I don't remember Hejduk ever getting beat over the top. Not once. One time in the first half he went for a left footed cross fake that was cut back, but he still beat the Tico to the end line and blocked the right footed cross. He didn't concede any free kicks. Watch the tape, the Tico's set pieces were all about 40 meters out from the goal, about 15 meters in from the sideline. Fouls by midfielders, not backs. Your comment on the yellow card is even more clueless. Hejduk cut into the seam and was clipped from his right about 3 meters outside the 18. A professional foul to keep the attack out of the box in the 88th minute. The Mexican ref, who just gave a well earned yellow for a touchless dive inside the US 18 gets the chance to throw a make-up yellow. We're the only country in CONCACAF who consistently gets homed by the region's refs in our own stadiums. If that happens in any other location the home team gets the set piece. You are right that athleticism fades with age, but it hasn't caught him yet. He is always the last man standing in the beep test in US camps. Maybe I am blind, but my eyes tell me that Frankie plays for the Nats because Arena has complete confidence in what he brings to the field. He brings it for 90 minutes every night. He is relentless defensively. He is willing to play completely out of his natural and club position, because in the words of Arena, "he's our best option at left back." You're again right that he isn't much of an offensive threat up the left side, but he does exactly what the coaching staff asks of him. He's also the only candidate for left back who is able to run with attackers with pace. I see the coaches love him, his teammates on the nats love him, and now after a few years only a few big soccer posters hate him. You're a member of that small and shrinking minority. Enjoy Arena's announcement next spring of the 2006 squad. Look down the alphabetical list, and when you come to H you'll see Hejduk's name. I look forward to your vent.
Speedyone you hit the nail right on the head when you said "I don't know if it's just me (and if it is then you all are blind)" because most people on here are blind. Hejduk is way past his prime, why waste time on someone who's toward the end of his career when we can develop someone like Dempsey there or Dunivant, Bucigra, Garcia, Spector or even Convey there?
I am not blind. I think Frankie has something to offer. He can play both left and right back, he never gets tired. As much as he catches hell for his decision making, if you give the game another look, you'll find he picks and chooses his spots to get forward quite well, and he busts his arse getting back. So he can't cross. Fine. But I'd put him on my 23 man roster, and so will Bruce. Bruce ain't blind either.
Bruce stated before the Gold Cup started that he brought in veteran players to see if they could still bring it and help the US qualify for the World Cup. He used Cuba and Costa Rica to help do this. He is doing what he planned on from the start. Now, if you see a starting midfield with Olsen and Armas and Sanneh on the backline against Mexico in Columbus, then I will agree, he is blind. But you won't.
From post game comments, I'd say Bruce is furious with Frankie for making such a rookie mistake to get that 2nd yellow. I just wonder if it will factor on his decision regarding taking Frankie to Germany. I'd say he obviously values Frankie or he wouldn't be so angry about it.
I doubt it. Seriously, players get cards all the time, and some have suggested that he didn't deserve that yellow. Furthremore, Arenas is enough of a pro to chide him publicly bu to not hold a grudge. Frankie can play several positions, brings much needed energy and has played well in the last world cups (98 where he was maybe our top player along with Regis and 02 where he played an admirable left back, after Regis folded). In fact before the last cup, most BS posters were making the same arguments being made now. It's that time of the year, and it is funny to see the same arguments taking place then and now. So, while I don't know if he starts at LB, his versatility, energy, and experience make him a near lock for a World Cup tournament run.
Frankie deserves call-ups just for that successful stepover he pulled on Mexico in Houston last year. That one had veteran BS posters falling on the floor laughing and cheering.
You people aren't getting it; speed and athleticism may make for a decent back in the MLS but at the national team level how can you possible stand there and say that it's no big deal when he gets beat because he can just run the length of the field, slide tackle and concede a corner? I'm talking about finding a back that doesn't have to scramble back because he's alert to where he is and where others are on the field. Who cares if the guy is rugged, has tenacity, whatever you want to say about him, when he's short on vision and skill? Why do you all think it is OK to settle for someone who's not really what we want but will have to do? Especially at the National Team level. There is a reason why countries like Italy, England, Brazil, Argentina, etc. all have respected national programs and that's because only a certain high measure of talent will get you in. (Timmy Howard is finding out about that in England. He himself has said that he always relied on his athleticism to succeed, but now he has discovered that learning how to play the position is more important. When he does, he'll have all the tools to be a world class keeper but until then...) The point is that the US needs to punish those who perform poorly for long stretches of time, not allow them to finish out their careers in a MNT shirt as the quality of play decreases. Yes, this goes for Armas, Sanneh, Olsen, but most egregious is Hedjuk. And by the way, hedjuk clearly dives on the edge of the box. He steps forward and then flings himself into the box a step before the defender clips his leg. I'm glad you could see so much better than the ref who was three steps away. Maybe you'd like to watch the nice zoomed-in replays that I got sitting watching tv?
Who do suggest, David Regis? And with the diving sh!t you're so convinced about, you must be blind, and I know you admitted it earlier. I was in the second row of Sam's Army last night and that was no dive. If you were that close, you'd see he reflex reaction to the foul, not a diving reaction. Obviously, you haven't seen enough of CONCACAF refs to realize they're always out to screw us.
Frankie would not play on Laos's national team....why not get someone like marvell wynne in there and see what he has, i know hes a right back but at least try it out.
Originally Posted by SpeedyOne I don't know if it's just me (and if it is then you all are blind) Originally Posted by SpeedyOne Even the horrible excuse for a ref that always seems to call CONCACAF games couldn't have missed it. I'm glad you took so much time to accurately quote me Aquarius, it just goes to show how blind you really are. And you really can't possibly believe that a slow motion replay zoomed in directly on the action from 3 angles is less accurate than your view from the stands. The only decent point you made in your entire post is that CONCACAF refereeing is horrific, period. There is no personal vendetta against the United States, they are just terrible referees. Games between other CONCACAF teams are called just as poorly. Please don't give me your ethnocentric bull about the refs targeting the poor US alone.
I'm not blind. I'm just far sighted. SOMEONE GET ME MY GLASSESS! I can't tell if Speedy one looks like a jackass or a horse arse I'm too close up to see. Surfer boy is doing just fine. The only reason why he looks slow is that cast that is wrapped around his right arm.
Your logic is impeccable. Just what I'd expect from someone who understands nothing about soccer but refuses to learn. Sit back while the adults are talking son.