In the last couple of games, we have seen wide variation in the quality of our set pieces (reyna's were pretty bad, donovan's were decent and clint's were good). However, a few threads around here are discussing how difficult it might be to get Clint and Donovan on the field at the same time in Arena's system. And, though Reyna hasn't always been as bad (his free kicks I mean -- count me in as a big claudio fan) as he was against Grenada, he's not going to strike fear into the hearts of anyone in dead ball situations. So, sports fans, I'm wondering -- can anyone else take free kicks? Or are we just left with Donovan/Mathis/Reyna. Last cycle, Agoos took a large number of our kicks and was quite good. Lewis too. But neither of them looks like they are going to get much playing time (maybe lewis will -- but it doesn't seem that way). Is there anyone else in the pool who takes free kicks for his club side? And if not, isn't slightly worrying that, despite our increase in talent, no one can take a decent free kick.....
what always makes me mad is that we have several guys who can strike very good free kicks for their club teams but they always look crappy when they take them for the nats. they call eddie lewis the american beckham at preston but he never even takes them for usa.
as far as corners and free kicks, not shots, convey is really good for dc and can strike a ball very well.
Agreed. Watch the game against Los Sombreros Verdes in Dallas. Convey struck the ball quite well on numerous occasions.
Chris Armas taking our free kicks? I hope that you were only kidding around and forgot to include the !!!!
Agreed. And not just on the game winner. Seem like our free kick placement for set pieces was markedly improved when Cletus came on Sunday. And (from another post) Lewis does do quite well on free kicks, I also find it odd that he doesn't take many for the Nats.
The answer is clearly JOB. I have seen him take excellent free kicks on many occasions and assuming he can regain his health (a big IF, no doubt) he will provide additional punch to our set pieces. How quickly he has been forgotten . . .
Jovan won't play for the Nats in a meaningful match unless McBride, Mathis, Wolff and Conor Casey are all out injured/suspended! JK can't seem to score a goal when he pulls on that US jersey! Reminds me of Roy Lassiter who scored a ton of goals in MLS but could not score consistently for the US.
I agree with a previous post that John O'Brien would likely be the best free-kick taker for us. He usually weights his passes fairly nice. I just wish he was healthy for even 50% of the year.
Agreed, but isn't the question asking for anyone who can take free's at an international level. To me that would mean anyone currently in the nat pool. Being so, there's Mathis, Lewis, Donovan, Convey, Dolo, Kirovski, O'brien. But how about guys like Gaven, Mapp, Dempsey, Ralston, Clark maybe. Victorine??? (I don't know). Neddy Grabavoy can service well can't he? Barrett? Can Boca rip the outside shot, maybe from 30? I don't think I've ever seen him try, but something tells me he wouldn't be that bad. Just throwing some names out there for discussion.
Mathis, Lewis, Donovan, Convey, Berhalter, Vanney. Those are the only ones I'd trust with a free kick at the international level (penalties are not included in the discussion).
Reyna isn't too good at free kicks and we need to find other options. JOB when healthy... which isn't often. Convey seems to be pretty good in this area. Bend it like Gaven anyone?