Well OTOH he was playing with a bunch of MLS players, including players like Chofis, all of whom played like crap in the game. Not to mention the MLS players on the other teams that Sac beat. I guess they are all sub-USL players then
Chomofis and the mls players historically dont care about the open cup. If you stopped shagging Thompson and contradicting yourself everywhere and actually talked logical soccer it would eleviate 90% of the problems.
I think that if we had continued to play TT in midfield, probably as a center-mid, that he'd be a better player today. But, we moved him to right back, which improved his defense, but his actual value is as an attacker. Probably his best role is as a sub or spot starter. But to get the most out of him, we need him in midfield. But most of our other midfielders are better than he is now. So, keeping him as a sub is OK, but were we ambitious, we'd dump him and get a better player. But really, we need a lot of improvements in other areas of the team, so arguing about TT is not really where our focus should be. Though, this has been a vocabulary-building exercise for some of us. So, at least some value there. Go Quakesfans!!
What a team player. Even uses himself as fake social media drama when the team has no real exciting news in off-season... Quakes announced he is back for 2023. Ha ha! https://www.sjearthquakes.com/news/news-earthquakes-sign-defender-tommy-thompson-to-new-contract
It's wild to me that Thompson has been with the team the longest now that Wondolowski has retired. Seems like just yesterday when he joined the first team. Glad he is sticking around just from the perspective of not having to uproot his life at this point. I get the sense that he likes being in the area and is happy enough with his role that he'll continue to do what the team asks of him. It's a good attitude, you want players like that around, even if they aren't necessarily the best players from a performance level.
Don't think we'll know that until the player salaries are published for 2023. Looks like we could do this all over again next year if they don't pick up his option.
Actually, it's now that Salinas has retired; not Wondoolowski. Salinas' most recent stint started in 2012. Thompson didn't join until 2014. And as it's been discussed here, it's unlikely he was concerned about uprooting his life and likely would have preferred an opportunity elsewhere if anyone was willing to pay him.
You know who Thompson reminds me of... the bastard child of Dario Brose & Tayt Ianni. 2 Good players, but together made one mediocre player.
As a coach, is it your fault or his if you have him mark up a much taller player on a corner kick and his man heads the ball in? You put him outside to defend a quicker and faster player and he gets burned with speed? You were a player. When you were put into a mis-matched situation and failed, was that on you or your coach for putting you there? Tommy is not a perfect player by any metric. Neither is anyone else really. I’ve always believed you should coach a team that emphasizes your best strengths and doesn’t expose your weaknesses. The Quakes for a long time have not done that. I remember a Quake player by the name of Brad Davis. This guy was not very fast. He couldn’t jump much either. Athletically he was probably not much better than Tommy. If you had played him at right back he would have been ROASTED. Yet Brad was FANTASTIC if you played to his strengths and didn’t ask him to perform in mis-matches and expose his weaknesses. Not saying Tommy is as good as Brad, just saying that good Tommy would be more respected by the fans if he were played to his strengths. Bad Tommy is jeered at because he is constantly playing with his weaknesses exposed. Brad Davis at center back would have been one of the most mediocre players you have ever seen. Just saying…..
Play him as an extra center mid when you need a goal in a sort of 3-4-3. That's what Matias did a few times last year early in the year and it seemed like a good fit. He finds pockets of space to run into, and can use tight control to make a play. And he'll help you win the ball back in midfield. He gets run under the bus for struggling with speedy wingers in the final defensive 3rd as fullback, but he's actually a good midfield ball winner. He's best when he's willing to take chances, which you have a license to do when you're in a "need a goal" situation. When he goes into "safe Tommy" mode it's a lot of back passes and not much upside. This shouldn't be that hard. CL has been the only coach who really knew how to get the best out of him. Hopefully Luchi figures it out but he's got a lot of other things worry about.
FWIW, I blamed myself on a mismatch but i thankfully didnt deal with that often. I always marked their bigger players due to my physicality and strength. Also Brad Davis played left back for Houston more then a few times same with KC. Thompson by all accounts if he hates right back so much then he could have left. Ch4cm you DM im sending you something too.
It's amazing what happens when an intended pass is deflected to your teammate and the defense is still turned around. I will say his hair certainly looks much better than now.
Tommy Thompson.. the blue collar man's representative all middle aged white males identify with and live vicariously through because they represent the hard working ring dong-along good ol boy. I finally understand the obsession and fetish with Thompson, Kip Colvey and Mike Fucito.
Middle aged dudes love to fawn over pro athletes who aren't very talented made it through hard work... maybe they are reminded of themselves or how they fantasize their own careers would've play out if only their high school coach had recognized all the work they put in or whatever... call it The David Eckstein Theorem Inaugural winner of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association's Heart & Hustle Award (2005) They made up a new award just to give it to him! === Crazy how many such awards are there just in pro baseball... The Heart & Hustle Award is given out annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) to a current player who not only excels on the field, but also "best embodies the values, spirits and traditions of baseball." Other baseball awards for spirit The Hutch Award is for the "active player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire to win". Players Choice Awards Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award – given to "the player in either league whose on-field performance and contributions to his community inspire others to higher levels of achievement." Players Choice Awards Majestic Athletic Always Game Award Lou Gehrig Memorial Award – given to a player who best exemplifies his character and integrity both on and off the field. Tony Conigliaro Award – given to a player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage. The San Francisco Giants have given the Willie Mac Award since 1980 to "the player on the San Francisco Giants who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership consistently shown by Willie McCovey throughout his long career." The Oakland Athletics have given the Catfish Hunter Award since 2004 to the "player whose play on the field and conduct in the clubhouse best exemplifies the courageous, competitive and inspirational spirit demonstrated by the late ... pitcher, Jim "Catfish" Hunter." The Los Angeles Dodgers have given the Roy Campanella Award since 2006 to the player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of Roy Campanella.
"on-field performance and contributions to his community", "character and integrity both on and off the field", "spirit and leadership consistently shown by Willie McCovey", "the spirit and leadership of Roy Campanella". Oh no, the horror! Things like contributions to the community, spirit, and leadership! What are we ever going to do!?? And is there any evidence these awards were invented by "middle aged dudes" and that they relate to "middle aged dudes who love to fawn over pro athletes who aren't very talented but made it through hard work"? FWIW, Willie McCovey and Roy Campanella were both great players who evidently also exhibited "spirit and leadership", not necessarily "charlie hustle" types. (In fact, I'm sure I must have seen Willie McCovey not run out groundouts to 2nd at one point or another ). Giants Willie Mac recipients have been players like Joe Morgan, Ellis Burks, Benji Molina, Matt Cain, Hunter Pence, Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey, etc. All good players. Roy Campanella award winners: Matt Kemp, Clayton Kershaw, Justin Turner, Zack Greinke, etc. Again, all good players. And BTW, what does any of this have to do with TT anyway? Any hype that TT had was more for his perceived technical ability than any kind of "charlie hustle" (untalented guy who just works hard) kind of thing.