OK, I have been one of many people w/ some harsh criticisms of Edson Buddle, but yesterday I decided to look at his stats for 2007 and found them to be pretty interesting. (Forgive some of the descriptions of the players, I sent this to a buddy of mine who doesn't know as much about other teams' guys as BS posters do.) Maybe Buddle is pretty good after all. Last year in league play he scored 5 G in 770 minutes - one goal per 154 minutes. Compare that to some heralded MLS forwards: Ngwenya, Houston: 7 G in 1944 minutes = 277.7 min/G Ching, Houston: 7 G / 1590 = 227.1 Cooper, FC Dallas: 4 G / 1068 = 267 Ruiz, FC Dallas: 7 G / 1722 = 246 Johnson, Kansas City, who an EPL club just paid $4M to 6M for,15 G / 2149 = 143.3 Findley, RSL, 6 G / 974 = 162.3 Galindo, Shitvas, 12 G / 2021 = 168.4 Razov, Shitvas, 11 G / 2041 = 185.5. What does this all mean? Only Eddie Johnson - a guy I saw score a hat trick in a World Cup Qualifier at RFK Stadium in October 2004 - had a better strike rate than Buddle. Buddle had a significantly better strike rate than Ngwenya, Ching (national team player and known as a tremendous MLS player), Cooper (who I worship), and Razov (3rd all-time leading scorer in MLS history). He was better than Findley (RSL numbers only, it's even more profound when you consider Galaxy numbers too) and Cuban sensation Galindo. And keep in mind that this was getting NO service because we had no width and only Donovan was capable of playing a guy in on goal from central midfield. AND his strike partners were Gordon or Pavon, who don't draw any defenders because they suck. Conclusion: Buddle is at worst an above-average MLS striker, when healthy. He has a hard time staying healthy, and is supposedly a real headcase who will frequently end up in a coach's "doghouse", but he could be a very valuable member of this squad. Secondary conclusion: Perhaps this just shows that Ruiz sucks?
it's interesting that Buddle and Johnson are both attacked for being lazy and "unmotivated" yet they both have near league leading minutes per goal stats. Imagine how many goals they would get if they were motivated
Agree with you Mbar. I think the pairing of Ruiz and Buddle will be formidable. We will score alot of goals. I also think that Donovan is going to have a break out year and put up 20 goals. I just have this feeling about him this year. Buddle is expensive, but he will and should be the strike partner with Ruiz.
So Something like: buddle-ruiz martino-beckham-donovan harmse So, something that rellys more on speed and creativity up the wings to take the attack inside with a ground game, rather than crosses. Then you have beckham hanging a bit further back in the center driving the whole thing, and providing the arial service when needed. harmse plays the d-mid role.
Buddle is a good player, but he's cocky. Seems to me like he's upset about being a talented player and not making DP $$$. If he would just play the damn game and enjoy it while it lasts, he'd be great (He is named after Pele after all)
I only saw Buddle once in the exhibition game against Sydney, but I thought he was one of your more talented players, technically. He was a bit of a threat, made some run, has some pace. He's a talent who's worth investing in. He's a decent guy to have on the end of those precision passes of Beckham's.
Who could get motivated when you have the likes of Alan "The Flash" Gordon and Pete Vagenas playing around you.