Colin Clark's chances at USMNT?

My gut reaction is that he won't be in the picture any time soon if at all. You have DMB and Convey as left wingers. Before getting hurt DMB was getting good playing time with a team in the CL and Convey has been able to get back into the lineup at Reading. Clark would have to have one hell of season to start getting noticed. 2 goals and 2 assists in 18 games won't cut it.

 

Dead on. He'd have to really take it to the next level - to the point where you'd say - holy sheet - that guy is the real deal - to get noticed. He could have it in him though. I haven't been this excited about a young Rapids player since Ross Paule <-- But that didn't work out so well in the end. Certainly the odds aren't with him - USMNT not an easy feet for sure.

 

This time last year I'd have agreed with ManU62880, but we've yet to see what Beasley can do post injury. Convey doesn't seem to have come all the way back, and even then he seemed to have a mental block with the national team.

Even then, Beasley has always been the guy criticized for the appearance of lacking skill, but he gets it done. Convey's just the opposite, he seems to have the appearance of technical skills, but doesn't deliver.

Clark would have to turn heads this season to make it happen. It's mostly about beating out the second level competition. I don't think it's out of the question. Clark plays both sides of the ball better than all of the second level competition, he got better pace than any others, and he can't ever be accused of disappearing.

Here's the current establishment competition:
Mapp - slow, doesn't play both sides of the ball well, disappears.
Davis - same as above
Beasley - injured
Convey - Recovered, but needs to translate Europe into performance.

 

Also missing from that list: Stuart Holden's on the final roster for the game against Mexico. Clark's gotta pass him up too before he starts getting consideration, and considering how much Houston as a team elevates Holden's profile, it could be hard to do.

If Clark keeps improving at the same pace he did from last season, I bet he gets capped eventually. But the odds of him becoming a mainstay are pretty slim.

 

Yeah, I didn't even notice Holden on there, which goes to show the value of playing a role for a champion v. a loser.

I think you're right though a cap seems possible, mainstay seems slim. I do feel that the only real mainstay is Beasley, and it all rests on his recovery. Clark may be one of the few with the potential to start peaking when the team needs him.

 

i think he could if your playing well bradley reconizes it being he took gome n beckermen last year he will be looking at the rapids. If our left side in team usa fails they will be looking for that spark plug. 2 years he should have a spot on team usa tho

 

First, Clark should secure regular 1st choice selection to the Rapids!!!

 

Cap tie him now! Ohh wait, he's American.

 

It seems to me that Clark is first choice. Who else is gonna start? Niko? Did anyone not notice that he started for half the season at left mid with abysmal results? Burciaga, a defender or Hildensomething, another defender?

It seems that people think Clavijo's choice of first team players and starters is at best, enigmatic. If that's the case does it make sense to handicap a player, because he spent half the season waiting for Niko to finally be pulled?

 

I would say he has the physical skills to compete with a lot of the guys on the nats, but that's not everything in soccer.

 

It would seem that with Beasley injured, the left side of the Nats is wide open. Convey looked pretty lost last night, Eddie Lewis is old, and Mapp hasn't lived up to his hype yet. There is young competition with Holden, Arturo Alvarez, and I think Robbie Rogers can play on the left wing as well.

But somebody's got to step up, and why not Colin Clark?

 

The 2008 season begins anew. He will now have competition from Ballouchy, Colaluca and perhaps Hercules, Hilgenbrinck &/or Burciaga. It is Clark's time to win consistent 1st choice selection. IMO, this step preceeds selection to USMNT!!!

 

I think everyone in MLS can look at the selection of Drew Moor and say -

"Hey, even I've got a shot."

 

I think he will. I will trust my perception of his play rather than Clavijo's choice of his starting position on the team, in any case. I've seen little evidence of a correlation between quality and starting when it comes to Clavijo's team.

I note that today Alain Nkong, has recently been part of a championship team in Mexico, and today scored a goal for his homeland. Am I to assume that he's not really very good, because he was waived by Clavijo, rather than trust the evidence and my perception that Clavijo made a very bad choice by waiving him?

 

I am re-invigorated. At 67 y/o I haven't played for 17 years but Moor's performance makes me wish I were younger. I think I may have had a chance.

 

I was thinking that while watching the game. I'm only 34 and I could have stayed that close to the attacker on a set piece. Or at least know not to let him between you and the goal.

 

I was thinking, if you're going to grab the guys shirt, grab the damn shirt and prevent him from scoring, what's the point of fouling if you're not going to impact the play

 

Last night should be Moor's last CAP. He sucked.

 

So did a few other players from last night, especially number 12. Can't remember his name....

 

That would have been Corrales. I liked what saw of him against Sweden but the other night he looked beyond lost out there.

 

# 12 Ramiro Corrales

Clearly both fullbacks, Moor & Corrales, were well beyond their quality, bit there are several others ahead of them in the pecking order. Nither of them will be seen in qualification.

More disturbing was Convey. With Beaseley out this summer recuperating from surgery for a severe knee injury Convey was expected to carry the load. Unfortunately, what he brought with him from Reading was a load of crap. Whose up for L. Wing, Davis, Mapp, Alvarez, or ???

 

Which, brings us back to this thread....

The team misses Beasley's pace, tenacity, concentration, the engine, and defensive work.

Convey, Lewis, Mapp, and Davis all add some quality, but none bring a great deal of pace, tenacity, or defense.

The opportunity is there for the player who performs this season. Clark's young and in many ways his game most resembles the Beasley mold - with the same complaints: over-runs the play, goes down easily, not a classic crosser of the ball, finishing.... His big challenge is all those things, and his temper.

 

I don't think that Clark is ready to play in the NATS, would I love to see him there? Yes, but he needs more improvment....

 

I'm not sure he's ready either, but I don't think much of the competition is all that formidable.

What do you want to see out of him?