Has it occured to anyone how amazing the turnaround has been in depth/breath of YA defender talent in 2 short years? Anyone remember the hang-over after the great World Cup showing? Remember what an analysis of our YA and potential YA-abroad WC backline yielded? The cupboard looked mighty bare at that point....Agoos (enough said- too old for overseas), Vanney (was bench for strong relegation candidate Bastia), Pope (OK- nothing's changed, except he's older), Sanneh (had the WC of his life- and was not expected to be at BL level for next World Cup), Berthalter (had maintained his nice run of form since early 2002- but still old), and Cherundolo/Gibbs both looked promising, but inconsistent and no sure things. Hejduk was getting summarily dismissed from the BL...Mastro has remained basically the same deal (could be playing overseas at high level). Regis was on his last legs..... Bocanegra was still a "let's see...." Gooch looked like a project, a real project That was basically it. We were thin and old (and not a lot of strong YA prospects). We had to re-tool our entire backline! Look at what we have in the pipeline now....Spector, Cherundolo (Captain), Russell, Bocanegra, Gooch, Simek (showing well in D1)....additionally, we have holderovers O'Brien, Berthalter (captain), Convey (who has played left back), Mastro- all of whom could be/are YAs at a decent level. A guy like Whitbread could turn out to have a Berthalter-like career... Jay DeMerit comes out of nowhere- and shows he can hang in the Coca-Cola. He could still make a Premiership club before his career is out (odds don't favor, but could happen) We have a guy like Chad Marshall who will surely play overseas. Guys like Alex Yi and Ian Joy may turn out to be Hedjuk-level type performers yet.. What an outstanding 2 years (really, the last year more than anything) for YA defenders abroad... Wow.... In summary: We are deeper, and broader with better talent in our YA and potential YA abroad pool then ever before. Not even close. A tremendous turnaround, "filling the pipeline" in just 2 short years.... (This is my partial retort to those whiny, "World Rivalries-inspired" why- aren't-the-Yanks Abroad-doing-better-threads)....
No kidding, it's an embarrassment of riches, really. In the ebbs and flows of development, the lesson to be heeded is this: If a week is a long time in football, then what's two years? Enough time for new players to emerge into focus, that's what.
I forgot to mention- In 2 years, Vanney has gone from a bench warmer on a relegation-threatened team....to basically a solid (but not spectacular) starter on a mid-table French D1 team. That's good improvement, even if he's found the highest water level for his career.
If he stays healthy and he wants to keep playing internationally, I think Reyna will make the 2006 roster. As far as where he might see the field...I think he's the dark horse candidate to move to the right back slot. So that might turn out to add a bit more depth to the list of potential defenders as well. Should be interesting.
Whitbread and Demerit basically kicked ass tonight.......sweeeeeeeetttttt I used to like the Claudio to RB for 06 (was one of my mantra's after 2002). Honestly, I think we will be younger, stronger, faster, and equal or close to equal in skilled by then as Claudio- who was at one time the Nats most skillful player. We've come a Loooooooooong way baby....(especially last couple years). Unbelievable the options that are opening up...
You lost me with this statement. Joy couldn't even hack it in MLS and Yi is still without club. Lets not compare them to a guy who has provided many great years of service to the US national team.
Ian Joy is starting for the top team in D3 Germany (NORTH). For all of Frankie's exploits, his real level (talent) was not much higher then that (club wise). He never stuck at BL level, and spent most his time in reserves. I think Frankie was/is a BL2 defender and a good MLS defender- that's his high water level. Also, wasn't Frankie pretty much an unknown quantity at 23? Didn't he bloom from 23-24? The guys I'm talking about are where Frankie was at at the same age. Of course, Frankie has accomplished more for the Men's Nat (vs. club). And this due to Bruce's emphasis/recognition of workrate and speed as important. Bruce's system plays well into Frankie's strengths, and Frankie's help the Nats. So yes, they may not accomplish Frankie's accomplishments there- I agree. But that is also (due to the fact) that Frankie (if he were the same player/younger) would not be starting on the Nats in a couple years, since we will be so deep and talented (fast, fit, and skillful). Frankie was right place, right time- but Frankie's "type" will not be starting (for the most part) for US Nats after 2006. Alex Yi did well in Belgium. His club wanted him to stay. He's obviously not Gooch, but I could see Yi winding up (peak of career) as either a better- than- good defender in MLS or BL2 type. That was about Frankie's career level, hence the comment. I think the lack of interest in Yi is partly a timing thing...