What's your opinion of Namoff?

Discussion in 'D.C. United' started by eissman, Feb 10, 2004.

  1. eissman

    eissman Member+

    Feb 5, 2004
    Illinois
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    DC United fans -- Your opinion please

    Bryan Namoff. How is he in your opinion? Where does he best fit in your lineup? Just curious. He is an Illinois boy and I am just following up on how the fans feel he is progressing.
     
  2. Lowecifer

    Lowecifer Member+

    Jan 11, 2000
    Baltimore, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Belgium
    He's been up and down, and back up again. Bryan showed real promise in his Rookie season under Thomas Rongen, but regressed under Hudson. He buckled down and worked hard in that season and found himself in more matches last season. He has really improved, after initially showing very well.

    I think he's a solid player and will only get better.
     
  3. GDopplerXT

    GDopplerXT Member

    Jun 12, 2001
    DC Area
    I think Namoff is a very solid player. As Lowecifer said, he has had his up and down spells, but recently he has been way up as I see it. I think he has shown hiimself to be a hard worker, and really seems determined to earn his spot on the team.

    I think maybe he has suffered a bit, because as a bench player, he has been used in several different positions to fill in the gaps when necessary. This kind of versatility can be a plus, but as a bench player I think it kind of hampers your ability to challenge for a specific starting role.

    However, I saw some very solid defensive performances from him last year, and could see him getting some serious playing time this season if he continues.
     
  4. fatbastard

    fatbastard Member+

    Aug 1, 2003
    Lincoln (ish), Va
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think he's one of the hardest working, smartest players on the team. He pays attention and learns as things happen on the field. He can stay back or go forward. He passes well. He has a great toe-poke at the edge of the box. He seems to be always aware of the ball. And he is one hell of a nice guy.
    He played darn well for both Richmond and DC two seasons ago, mostly for DC last season. He makes my all-heart team for sure.
     
  5. revelation

    revelation Member+

    Dec 17, 1998
    FC St. Pauli
    Club:
    FC Sankt Pauli
    Great journeyman player - able to fulfil several roles and does what is asked of him. Had some really good games last year but it remains to be seen if that was a fluke or signal of a quality player. One of the best value players in MLS with low salary but high output.

    Poor drinker - unable to handle the Guinness. In fact after the first one, I have seen fear in his eyes when I've offered to buy him another one... :)
     
  6. dadman

    dadman Yo soy un papa

    DC United
    United States
    Apr 13, 2001
    Reston, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can only echo the positives here, especially the last two posts--they are spot on. Think of a younger and more mobile Richie Williams with more flexibility and a slightly better touch. He plays intelligently and within himself, and could only do better with some stability of position.
    Not everybody is ready for a beer you can chew. :D
     
  7. MeridianFC

    MeridianFC Member

    Jul 26, 1999
    Washington, DC USA
    Namoff is the *#*#*#*#ing man, full stop. He's the only player I can think of that, without any serious caveats, had a good season last year.

    Pay him at least $50K more, let him play either back of dmid. Bob's yer uncle.

    Chew Guinness? There are some serious Casper Q's here. Suck it down like water man.
     
  8. Th4119

    Th4119 Member

    Jul 26, 2001
    Annandale, VA
    For the league, one of the most valuable players in terms of quality per dollar paid.

    For DC United, in all liklihood second to only Freddy in this category, because he is salary exempt.
     
  9. Red&Black

    Red&Black Member+

    Aug 30, 2001
    Lot 8
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Burkina Faso
    i like namoff, he is a lot like prideaux, workman like and always willing to get stuck in. he plays hard and i think he is becoming a fairly crafty backline player (no doubt drinking with rev contributes to that). he is certainly one of the more improved players of the past couple seasons.
     
  10. Red&Black

    Red&Black Member+

    Aug 30, 2001
    Lot 8
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Burkina Faso
    though i can't disagree with: namoff being the man, paying him more cash, playing him and sucking down guinness like water.

    but i do have to disagree that other players didn't have good years. i think nelsen, petke, dema, prideaux and olsen all had pretty good years last season without any serious cavets. they may have had some bad games--but their overall contribution was positive and they mostly played well and within their abilities.
     
  11. Mountainia

    Mountainia Member

    Jun 19, 2002
    Section 207, Row 7
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I had brought up during the year that I thought Bryan had earned himself a starting spot during the year, certainly he was playing better than Ivanov in the same position, but Hudson kept playing Ivanov. He at least showed some mental toughness putting up with that and still giving it his all. A lot of head cases can't do that. Imagine my surprise when I found out he was only being paid $27K or so.

    He has the foot speed, the head for the game, good positioning, the defensive awareness, and the ability to start attacks from the back. He could be a defensive midfielder, a wing-half, or a wing-back. I'm not sure what his best position would be, but I don't understand why we didn't see him more.

    So far the best one-word description I can use is 'underrated.'
     
  12. DCU

    DCU Member

    Feb 15, 1999
    Bay Area, CA
    I agree with everything in that post.
     
  13. seahawkdad

    seahawkdad Spoon!!!

    Jun 2, 2000
    Lincoln, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Let me put it this way...I was amazed that he was making as little as he is. He's worth much more to us. A solid, gutsy player who didn't disappoint last season.
     
  14. JAnderson14

    JAnderson14 New Member

    Oct 5, 2000
    Crofton, MD
    Before I start, I agree with everything above that had to do with Namoff.

    As a defender, he's very reliable on either side of a back four. He's good enough with the ball to bring it out of the back, and he's very rarely caught out of position. He also has good speed and has a good general concept of keeping shape and covering for others who have been pulled out of position.

    The only downside that I saw (and this may or may not have been coached into him...we'll find out as this season goes on) was that he plays very very conservatively. There are times where that's appropriate, but in a 442 you want your outside backs contributing something more to the attack than getting the ball to the midfielders. You could count the times he overlapped Convey down the left on one hand. For a player with his skill on the ball, I'd like to see him get forward some more. Not to the extent that Reyes does, but not as stay-at-home as Prideaux is either.

    As a defensive midfielder under Rongen, he was still raw but managed to get 7 assists and would fit into an attack where the ball keeps moving pretty well. Hudson barely ever used him in this role, which I think was a definite mistake. He can run forever and has no problem doing the dirty work.

    I think the best thing I can say about him is this: there are few players DC fans agree to like, even on our own team. Besides Ryan Nelsen and Ben Olsen, I'd say Bryan Namoff tops that list.
     
  15. Dave Brother

    Dave Brother New Member

    Jun 10, 2001
    Alexandria
    Namoff has improved every year I've been watching him. He was solid and consistant on the back line last year. The man deserves a raise.
     
  16. Funkfoot

    Funkfoot Member+

    May 18, 2002
    New Orleans, LA
    Seriously - before the A league steals him away.
     
  17. GrillMaster

    GrillMaster Member

    Aug 31, 2000
    Alexandria, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Namoff is a very promising young talent with sufficient pace and growing strength. With growing experience he is getting over his reputation/propensity to make a serious gaffe in every game, Razov's win of the ball in the last RFK game notwithstanding.

    I think he really appreciates the fans, particularly since there was a group of fans that went to Richmond in 2002 expressly to support him. He was then shuttling back and forth between DC and Richmond as both were striving for playoff spots.

    He's not the real outgoing type (he's not a wallflower either) but his eyes are very lively. This attribute is particularly handy at deflecting the appraising eye from raiment when the players must don coat and tie. Somebody please give the younger players a clothing allowance to "suit-up"! :D

    Someone earlier mentioned that the 2003 edition did not come forward on attack much. I think that was a clear instruction from the coaches, especially with Marco in the middle. He has shown the ability to thread a pass -- we just don't want him trying it, yet, in our defensive third.

    He's a fine fellow who, as others have said, deserves his $ more than, say, Quaranta. Keep pumping, Bryan, and run those hills!

    GM
     
  18. eissman

    eissman Member+

    Feb 5, 2004
    Illinois
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I appreciate all your knowledgable responses to this query. I was fortunate enough to be one of Bryan's high school coaches and we I do keep in touch on occasion. He is developing into a true professional, and his game is maturing each season. He has always been a gifted player and is proving to be a student of the game. Anyone who can go from being a goalscoring and assist machine in high school and college, to defensive mid (under Rongen), and later as an outside back (later Rongen, Hudson), needs to be a "spunge" when it comes to learning the game. I am very proud of his accomplishments and am happy to hear he is an endearing asset to the team and most certainly the fans. (Guiness aside of course... something I was unable to legally teach him-For the record, you can live on Guiness and bread... I've heard;)

    I must confess, at the time of his whole Richmond ordeal, Bryan was not happy with how he was being handled by the coach. He even requested he be traded. Hudson would not release him, making his stay miserable that first year after Rongen's departure. To Bryan's credit, he figured if he wasn't in control of the situation, he may as well make the best of a unhappy one. He did and did well in the process. This only shows the character and determination that this valuable player has to any team he is committed to. I think under Peter Nowak, Bryan will truly blossom. He is the type of player Nowak can appreciate. We have much, much respect for Peter in our neck of the woods. You are all fortunate to have him in your organization. I look forward to seeing the both of them develop in 2004. Best of luck to you all and thanks again for your truth and sincerity.

    Cheers
     

Share This Page