A little mention about McBride from my favorite soccer writer, John Nicholson of football365.com. The article is about the lack of hard men in today's game and he mentions a few, past and present. I don't know what the rules are around here about posting excerpts but the McBride mention is about 2/3 through the article. The Best Modern-Day Hard Man Is...
Great read. I like how he disassociated Brian from the hardmen, who have been labled dirty more than a time or two. I like how Brian was more talked of a steal curtain in that he takes a licking and keeps on about his business. I checked out went to youtube(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlGHw4S7IMc) to Brian's infamous elbow he took and sure enough if didn't look like it fazed him despite the gash and the blood streaming down. For a second he looks like he trying to pull away to get back onto the pitch. He has that "patch me up and I'm ready" attitude. Brian's demenor and profesionalism as certianly opened more doors for Yanks in the EPL.
I like this line Not exactly how I remember instant Karma, but a good application none the less. Personally, I'm glad the hardman is gone. I think what did it is the increase in television coverage. With more games covered, and more cameras at a game, it was easier to catch the most offensive moments and play them over and over again. I like Brian McBride, but sometimes I think too much is made of this toughness thing. Personally, I'd rather have had a forward that whined and moaned about being elbowed in the face but managed to put away the shot on the breakaway.
What he does can't be shown on at stat sheet. His ambition going up to head a ball or bodying up a defender in situations when few would, has directly led to opportunities, maybe not for himself but for others. All strikers miss some breakaways and i really can't think of many times when Brian has blown a breakaway especially since they a few and far between based on the style he plays.
And yet he has played,and with honor,and the moment he retires should have a high -level US coaching job awaiting him. He is the quintessential Yank Abroad. Swear to God,I don't know what gets into you sometimes.
McBride's header that set up JOB's goal against Portugal in 2002 is a perfect example of his play throughout his career. He went up against a bigger defender and still won the header. He not only won it, he powered that sucker so it almost went right through the goalkeeper. JOB was there to clean it up. Or how about against Latvia, where he receives a goose egg the size of a tennis ball on his forehead after going head to head against a defender, then powers in a header with the damn bump on his head! I'd rather have a guy go all out for the team than a whiny forward who puts away a breakaway but is too dumb to know when to stay on his feet and when to dive.
I agree with all that, but I was thinking of a particular game not unrelated to the elbow event. But I do think McBride is good, its just I think toughness is overvalued.
It's not a "steal" (sic) curtain, but the metal plate in McBride's face probably does take a licking.
Ryan Nelson should have gotten a mention. That bastard is tough as shit. Few players get the armband within 10 games of arriving on a team.
When McBride first started in MLS, he was just a pure athlete, somewhat unrefined, but was good in the air especially and just ok with his feet. But a very dangerous young forward. But fast forward to where he is now, he is a very refined player who has magically managed to keep his edge and physical play despite developing a very admirable touch on the ball and ability to finish with his feet, as well as of course his head. McBride is looked at as a rarity in the EPL, and the EPL is where you'd expect to find a hard man like McBride. He is unequivocally a world class header of the ball, you just can't argue with that. Other teams really respect him in the EPL...and that would make him the first and only yank to EVER garner this level of respect. Do you think anyone worried about double teaming Reyna? I think not. McBride is IMO the #1 most influential American soccer player in history. At a position which is highly respected and sought after, forward, he has carved out respect for what Americans are capable of in a league like the EPL. Not John Harkes, not Claudio Reyna, not John O'Brien, no one else has come close to McBride's influence. He has my vote for future USMNT coach without a doubt, if he is interested.
Repped. I second that! My wishful thinking is that when Brian signs an extension with Fulham he also takes a player/coach role. I really see him in the management side and I would love for him to get that chance, if he wants it.
I also think McBride is more likely than anyone else to be the first American EPL manager - not least because he is one of the few traditional target forwards still playing in the league.
What a coincidence. I was just about to start a thread on this as i saw this thread on a separate forum - http://www.footballforums.net/forums/premiership/121978-hardest-dirtiest-player-premiership.html