Connolly: Diego's day might come soon

good article, i think we can use him somewhere...i mean he can play well, esp with the opponents in qualifying. lately bruce has proved nuts enough to hand appearances to people in camps unexpetadly. i mean...hge can play so many positions, like we couldnt use him somewhere to fill a hole? bruce can turn him loose somewhere are do well with him.


forza inter

 

He deserves a look. He has had a great season for KC. You can never have too much depth.

 

My hampster-powered computer doesn't like MLSNet, but I'll assume that we're talking about Diego Gutierrez to play LB for the Nats. This is very simple. If he wasn't good enough at 29-30 years old to win the job from David Regis in 2002, then I doubt he's good enough to win the job now. I would take any of Bocanegra, Gibbs, Convey, Vanney, etc. over him. Jon Spector is a better player at 18 than he ever was or will be. If he's talking about D-mid ..... I would take any of the obvious choices in front, and maybe a couple of not so obvious ones. I can't think of any other position where he could possibly make an impact.This would be "Ramiro Corrales Redux."
My bet is that this is either a) source stroking or b) inside info, or c) both. If it's either of thelatter, I'm scared.

 

Let's see. Three big (if healthy), one player who has had one quality year at International level, and another who played for his club at center defense.

Yes, younger is better, but Ricardo had a poor sophmore year. Not ready for the prime time.

 

"A" is as likely as the others ... Connolly is becoming known for that.

 

I don't think Connolly was talking about the World Cup. He was talking mainly about Trinidad and Mexico - basically trying to get off to a good start in qualifying.

I'm not sure I agree with it, but Bruce does like experience over potential when push comes to shove.

 

All Connolly said was that you should not be surprised if Diego gets a call into the January camp.
Bruce has a month long camp in LA at the HDC that I believe will include MLS players only. That is a looooong camp. I would not be surprised if there were 25-30 players there. (A normal camp is usually 22-24 players, right?)
So why not include a player like Diego who is 1) a proven professional, 2) just had a great year, 3) plays many positions decently well and 4) a great example for younger players who will actually get a chance to play in 2006 and 2010.
I have no problem with this and there really is no reason why anyone else should either.

 

Experience in WC qualifiers, or experience in MLS?

 

So he gets an invite to a camp that is longer and larger than normal pre-game camps...I do not see how that takes up any space.
Pablo, KZ, and Ricardo Clark will all probably be there also, heck Armas will probably be there if he is healthy (does Clint Dempsey fit with this group?) . It will be MLSers only, no YAs.
If there are two games during the camp (Sweden and South Korea) all 25-30 players will be in the stadium, if not on the field or on the bench.
There will be a ton a soccer played during the month long camp and I do not care how young and energetic Clark or Dempsey are they can not play every minute of every activity, especially if they play intersquad games during practice. These guys need a bit of rest after long seasons and training with European clubs, so the more players in camp the merrier. There will be plenty of experience to go around.

 

Who knows if he'll ever contribute in a meaningful match or even make a matchday squad for a qualifier, but increased depth and increased competition in pre-match camps can only be good for the team. He's had a great year and I personally don't have a problem if he gets called in. Plus, I don't see how brining an older guy in for camp has any negative effect at all on the development of younger players. Players get their call-ups when they earn them.

 

There's a player on his own team, Burciaga, who shoudl be getting a LONNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGG look at LB for the WC. That kid can flat out play, and his handle on the ball is fantastic. Bruce should think about him at LB.






Otherwise, I think we should go with 3 in the back. We are loaded with central defenders right now, but as usual our fullbacks blow.

 

Enough with the "build for the future" crap. The Jamaica match is over.

The question is--who helps in the next 10 months? Hell, who helps Feb. 9th?

If the answer is Diego Gutierrez on the bench for one or two games as cover, or picking up some minutes at the end while we're holding a result, good for him, he certainly deserves it.

Diego will press other people to be better in camp. And if Zavagnin sees time in the midfield, then Gutierrez might be a logical choice to have around.

"Oh, he's 32, blah blah.." It's astonishing how many people miss the point that what counts is form and fitness RIGHT NOW. Not eventually, not even in 2006.

 

Everytime I read someone mentioning age my first thought is, "Hmm, how old is that poster?" It's meaningless for the most part. If you can hit the back of the net at 40 through an extra helping of guile better than a young kid can who has potential, in my book hitting the back of the net is the part that counts.

 

1. we're not that stacked at any position that we can afford to not look at players such as this.
2. judging from the article, he can play any number of positions, and while you can argue we're stacked at one of them, we're certainly not stacked at all of them.
3. regardless of nos. 1 and 2, you're probably right. his day is done, but he could turn into a verstaile player to have on the roster. injuries happen and a player like him could be valuable. I have no problem with bruce giving him a look. hell, he gave ramirio corrales a start.

 

Agree - I'd rather see Dempsey, Sanneh, Olsen, etc. than Diego.

 

I agree...I don't think he's got a shot here. He'll never break the first team, but who knows? Maybe if he makes a good impression, we might see him put on a Nats jersey a few more times...

 

Maybe not as emphatically, but I agree with the above post pretty much. I hate Nick Garcia. Hack. Take another guy that is not a total star but is a pretty hard worker with good skill. Diego. He's not my favorite (I'm a quakes fan), but I can respect his ability, durability, and experience.

I can see where BA could use his experience, especially in early qualifiers. I'll curse him when he plays against the quakes, but I'd be for him as a Nat.

 

When I saw the headline I'm thinking, "Diego who? Can't POSSIBLY be Guitierrez."

But then it was. MC has completely lost the plot.

 

How many remember the days (when he played for the Fires) when some here argued for the call-up of Diego as a left back for WC 02 qualifying?