Clint Mathis will regain his 2001 form and become the best player in US Soccer under Bob Bradley. Mathis needs a leader, a people person, a mentor who drives him to be his best. Sigi got it out of him in LA, and Bob will get it out of him in NY. When Bob gets Mathis to the top of his game, watch for NY to reach their first MLS Cup this year. Taylor Twellman’s stock will drop. I hope I am wrong, but I see a Kreis in the making in Twellman. He’s a hard worker. He makes intelligent runs. He checks well, is strong, and tenacious even in defense. But he lacks the explosive first step or athletic ability to elevate his game to the International level. Like I said, I hope I am wrong, but there is no way I start Twellman in front of Donovan-Mathis. Josh Wolff resurrects his career. Not that it is really in the pits, but he’s kind of fallen off the radar due to injuries. I think he will regain health, and then regain form, to become one of the top 4 forwards for the US this year. Edson Buddle will not be denied. The form he showed in August was remarkable. I still believe that if he’s available for the playoffs, it’s the Crew, not the Revs, in MLS Cup. He makes the Confed Cup roster. Conor Casey debuts with the National Team. It’s a long shot, but if he’s healthy, Casey applies for McBride’s position before the year is over. The US finishes in the top 4 of the Confederation’s Cup. Bruce has already begun selling down expectations, saying that he doesn’t expect the US to win as many games this year as they did in the last. If the pattern holds true, that means Arena is prepping his team to win every game they set out to play. Carlos Bocanegra becomes a main-stay on the back line. I know, I’m not exactly going out on a limb here, but just to put it to paper, this year is Boca’s coming out party. Kelly Gray makes his International debut. This is going out on a limb. Arena passed over the young MLS defenders during the last cycle, but I think Gray will force his way into the roster. I don’t think he’ll be a fixture for a couple more years, but I think he’ll get a look in 2003. Pete Vagenas’ stock will rise as he leads LA to a repeat victory in MLS Cup. One of the best and most unsung midfielders in MLS will progress from being a camp regular to a roster regular to a regular game player as he gets a healthy full season in LA and matures into the potential he’s had for the past 3 years. Jeff Cunningham will continue to baffle Columbus fans and detractors and continue to receive regular call-ups to the MNT. Why? Because Bruce Arena loves his athletic upside, and because Bruce Arena is arrogant enough to believe he can coach out the deficiencies in JC’s game. Who knows - Arena just might do it. If he does, look out.
Do I detect some Oregonian bias here?? Anyway, I agree with much of this...to wit: 1. Mathis -- agree. 2. Twellman -- partially agree. the knock on him is his athleticism. But he is so smart, and so hardworking, he may just work his will. He won't start in front of Mathis Donovan, but could he play an important role? He could. 3. Wolff -- agree. But where will he wind up in MLS? 4. Buddle -- agree. Confed cup roster may be a stretch, but possible. Watch the European scouts drool, stutter, and lose motor control when they see him at the Olympics. 5. Casey -- disagree. I will be surprised if he gets a dozen caps in the next cycle. Edson Buddle and Ed Johnson are, or will be, better. 6. Confed Cup finish -- agree. We may even do better. 7. Bocanegra -- agree. If healthy, will play in every qualifier in the next cycle. 8. Gray -- partially agree in that he will get a National team cap, but not next year. I think he needs more seasonsing. Olympics will be important for him. 9. Vagenas -- disagree. We have better options. 10. Cunningham -- agree. Bruce does like him, and will give him his shots, but I daresay he is also highly aware of his limitations, and will tolerate them for only so long. Jeff needs to get his game in gear. I hope he can do it, but doubt it.
Very nice read, but I wish your predictions were a little more self-consistent. You're upbeat about NT prospects for Mathis, Donovan, Wolff, Buddle, Casey, and Cunningham. How can they all succeed at once?
Okay, I'll comment. First of all the predictions look more tough without all the qualifying exposition: 1. Mathis is arguably the best player in US Soccer already. Did Sigi get his best? I thought it was Octavio, clearly. 2. Twellman isn't LIKELY to score so many goals, neither is Ruiz. And life's tougher w/ the Nats. So this is a tame prediction. 3. What you're predicting for Wolff is a season away from injuries. But I don't think we'll see his real form until '04 anyway. 4. Buddle: Confed roster = cool prediction. 5. Casey: Tried out for McBride role? Is real life so facile? You're probably right. 6. Confed top 4? Sure, we're US nerds. 7. Boca: Seems a done deal, though I wouldn't be shocked if he played himself OUT of his reputation for a while. 8. Gray: No idea, no comment. (oops.) 9. Vagenas: Real good player and versatile, but Karl's right if he means we have a better option at every position. My prediction: Camp regular who gets little time. Which leads us to Cunningham. What's your prediction - stasis? A sad but likely scenario. He's my fave Crew player, but after all this BigSoccer debate I'd like to see how he'd do on another team. Have they ever had a good coach?
Your predictions make me think how much talent we have to work with, compared to past cycles. No comment on the individual predictions, all of which have merit (plus are good fun), but here's one observation: With so much young talent, it will be key for Arena to instill the confident swagger that we saw in the first half of the hex, and the underdogs' fire and determiniation we saw in Korea. These mental challenges will be as big through '06 as specific tactical considerations. Luckily, that's where Bruce excels.
Unfortunatly all that abundant talent is a facade. its bunched up in the same place. Its the flanks that I'm worried about. I'd rather pick Cherundolo to replace Sanneh than Casey to replace McBride. Besides, both Eddie Johnson and Edson Buddle are better. I really hope that Wolff can come back full strength. I was one of the few who thought he could be better than Mathis because of his superior speed, athletecism, and consistency. I have no idea what to think about Jeff Cunningham, and actually I don't think the numbers will work out for him.
Re: Re: 10 Predictions for 2003 Bring back Dooley from Germany and have him coach Columbus. Vagenas if I remember got himself noticed during the Olympics by his scoring rate on penalties. Maybe he'll get into the game with the USMNT if we get to penalties like at a Confed Cup. Nah! That would put us in the finals. Casey, again shades of the Olympics, and you know what he managed to do there. Scoring was not his forte, a definite need for the USMNT. My prediction is that Thorrington will recover from his funk albeit it in the English 2nd division and that he will be called in by Arena eventually. Arena can not just depend on Olsen, Klein, and ???!
Agree with much of what you predict. But if Donovan continues to play in the hole, how would he prevent Twellman from playing up top?
no.6, how are you so sure we will be in semi or even better, we will be among giants in that tournament.
Oops! Again, why do you, lasoccervegas2002, disagree on usagoal's disagreement? Give reasons, this is a chat room after all.
My 10 Predictions for 03: 1. The Raelian baby isn't a clone. 2. Jim Rome will say something mean about soccer. 3. I will re-watch the US WC games. 4. I predict that the US will invade Iraq. 5. Landon Donovan will get AT LEAST five caps this year. 6. I predict MLS will sell a player for at least $4 million this year. 7. I predict I will finish my can of Pepsi One. 8. The MLS will make some teams mad for the way they will allocate foreign signings. 9. Clint Mathis will convert to Islam. 10. I will take a dump sometime in 2003.
Agree. Disagree. His stock won't drop because he's not an international caliber player--it might drop because the guys nipping at his heels are just on another level. If Brian McBride can get by at the international level based on hustle, so can Twellman. And Twellman is the BEST pure finisher in the U.S. IMHO. I also disagree on your assessment of him--his first step is explosive. He's not fast like Wolff or Donovan over larger distances. If he hadn't gotten injured I'd agree. However, since he's injured, he won't get called in much at all. This in turn gives life to the other guys. Wolff is in danger of becoming a fringe Nat IMHO. It wouldn't surprise me at all if he doesn't make the 2006 WC squad because there are more complete players out there. Agree. [ Casey-a lock for future national team call-ups IMHO. Basing his current level on what he did at the Olympics nearly 3 years ago is an argument that doesn't belong in the News and Analysis section. Whoever said that evidently didn't watch the mpeg videos I did of Casey last year with Hannover----he was named MOTM more than once and scored some sweet a$$ goals. I disagree that he's a long shot and it's going to be a matter of health only. [ I hope so on this one. Adding him to the backline adds some nice skill. [ I think this is a toss up. It could go either way IMHO. [ My prediction on JC--he replaces Wolff in the slasher role for good this year.
My prediction for 2003--we won't worry about forwards as much. I believe that Twellman, Casey, and Buddle combined with current pool members Wolff, Cunningham, Mathis and Donovan(who is switching to amid evidently) will provide us with plenty of guys who can bulge the onion bag. Providing good service/competent middies, ALL of these guys are capable IMHO.
Posters: read The Wanderer's posts before you toss around "I agree" etc. Taylor Twellman played with injuries toward the end of the playoffs and didn't show his true form. The guy has skills, true soccer ability and he has an EXPLOSIVE first step. I would be very surprised if he doesn't make it on the International level. If McBride can, so can Twellman. As for Wolff, he's injury-prone, plain and simple. Injury-prone players' careers are riddled with slow-healing, nagging knocks that limit their potential. They usually show us a bit of form, enough to tease us, but eventually they end up on the injured list and frustrate us all. Clint Mathis is very close to that catagory as well IMO.
Re: Re: 10 Predictions for 2003 Ouch, Noah Dahl scratches the surface and exposes my predictions for what they are, an attempt at a fun read and a list of a few of the topics that I think will be fun to keep an eye on in the road ahead. Nothing more, nothing less. 2003 will be a fun year - in fact the years after the World Cups are always among my favorites. I'm looking forward to it - especially Japan in the Squawks Stadium, and then a little road trip to France this summer to take in the Confeds Cup. This year is shaping up to be a US Soccer Nerd's (me being one) heaven.
Re: Re: Re: 10 Predictions for 2003 Just wanted to get the replies rolling. At least you'll be going to France -- I'll be right here, hoping you brought your laptop with ya. Triste.
you peeps are fergett'in santino............he's a thinking man's forward also, it dosent hurt that he plays for DC. he get's the nod over EJ and Buddle