According to kicker, Cory Gibbs is in close contact with Bundesliga promoted Eintracht Frankfurt. The team needs some new players in all parts of the team to have a chance to stay in Bundesliga.
He'd be foolish not to take it if offered... What was his final kicker rating for the year and how did he compare within the 2 BL to the top/bottom of the rankings?
3.55 average rating this season. Total no. 37 of the 2.Bundesliga defenders, no. 10 of the bottom 6 defenders (but probably the youngest of the last category).
Olaf (or anyone else who may know): what is the chance that St. Pauli will sell him. My understanding is that Cory is still under contract with St. Pauli even though they've been relegated from B2. Is it as simple as "is the offer good enough" or are there other factors/complications?
ASSUMING Gibbs signs with EF, what are his chances of getting significant playing time (or starting)?
I was really trying to find out about EF's current defenders (i.e., are they weak generally or is it their strong point)?
The most he can ask for is the opportunity to fight for a spot in the starting team. After that, as been said, it's up to Gibbs. If he's good enough he'll play. If not he'll sit.
I haven't seen them play this year (obviously being in Seattle) but I went to Kicker's site to check who played and their ratings. It looks like their primary defenders were: Jens Keller, Jean-Clotaire Tsoumou-Madza, Andree Wiedener and Uwe Bindewald. (ages will be for when the next season starts) Of these, Keller (age 33) and Tsoumou-Madza (age 28) had the better ratings. Wiedener (age 33) and Bindewald (age 35) were respectable but in the 4 range. Now where these players play and their outlook for the future I don't know. However... Eintracht Frankfurt doesn't appear to have been playing any young defenders this past year which could bode well for Gibbs.
Thanks. Has anyone seen these guys play? If you have, can you make any reasonable comparison with Cory?
I assume he has only little chances. Those defenders are made of steel, and I have in mind that Cory was a little bit "soft".
With 3 of those guys being 33 or older, assuming they play 4 in the back, it's highly likely that a) someone will get hurt or b) someone will suddenly grow old. Remember, EF played Cory's team twice this year, right? So they know what they're getting.
So, superdave, you think they'd base a decision on actually seeing him play and considering what he might bring to their team, as opposed to just looking up his kicker ratings? Boy, do you have a lot to learn.
I think YOU are the one who has a lot to learn. We all know that Bundesliga teams base their player evaluations not on seeing a player play and not no Kicker ratings, but on evaluations of players on Big SOccer!!
What all of these four defenders have in common is that they think the ball is just a side effect in the game. They are playing a very old fashioned style, lots of fight, little technical skills. What they have is a huge amount of experience (Bindewald 242, Wiedener 164, Keller 140 Bundesliga games). Difficult to say what they have in mind with Gibbs and how much playing time he'll get. Possibly they also sign Leverkusen's Thomas Kleine.
Olafgb- Is Holzenbein still high up in Eintract management? If so, what is his role? (I seem to recall practically main operational guy?) I got to practice some against him at end of his career (stint in US)...he definently was quicker-minded than anyone on the pitch (he was maybe 34/35?), and had (even at advanced soccer age) very subtle fakes, feigns, shifts...really haven't seen a player in a while who was as equally subtle.. he also had an amazing economy about his game, very simple/VERY little wasted energy), yet when the situation demanded, he was so incredibly quick to the "spot" or recognizing the killer move/pass, etc in the sequence, and executing..he would totally put himself out to get to the (killer) position Oh yeah, and get a couple beers in him, and he'll admit IT was a dive...smile (Us Yanks always hope that the old NASL Euros now in soccer management will look favorably on Yanks Abroad, but there is probably no correlation...witness Trevor Francis w/Berthalter (and Kirovski I think), Trevor had a great time here and yet seems to despise his Yank players..
From olaf's info it sounds like Gibbs could get a pretty regular gig if he just fills in when one of these guys is suspended!! I hope the guy gets it and we get a chance to see him play on FSW here.
Gibbs has had a VERY good couple days here....just listed as an alternate to the Confed Cup team (pretty amazing, since he's only been in a couple camps for the Nats)....obviously, he is on Bruce's radar, and a permanent move to Eintract would be huge for his chances going forward.. Potentially, Gibbs (if he continues to develop), Boca and Pope could be a very solid, athletic backline for Nats....maybe even big enough to allow "der Schrimp" smile Cherundolo to play outside right...although somehow I got a feeling Cherundolo will get squeezed out of next Cup/Cup qualifying by Martino (or some other youngster) at outdifr right mid...and Bruce will prefer 3 in back, 5 in (overtalented) mid... Although I am impressed with Steve's improved crossing (crosses like 1BL player), his occasional height liability (and it is a liability) could be so costly in an important Nat situation....as a defender, he could/can/has been caught matched against a big forward on a move, and you can't teach height on a free ball 8 yards from a goal with a keeper stranded....Personally, I prefer a bigger, atheltic backline, and hope Gibbs can reach his potential and make it into the 3 (and if not Cory, then Spector or Simek, or some other..) Barring injury, I think Pope and Boca are 2 of the for next 4 years...
You're right, I remember him getting burnt by the Germans in the game in Rostock. But you figure in qualifying against CONCACAF teams, his height will not be so much of a liability. It is also amazing that so many U20 from the 1999 team are doing quite well for themselves either in MLS or abroad.
Germany is totally predictable: Go for experience. No wonder it's so hard for young players to break into the Bundesliga. Gibbs' one year of experience in the Bundesliga 1st with St. Pauli is proving to be a life saver....
not really on topic, but this is hilarious http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=268686&cc=5901
I find it hard to believe that anyone who has seen them play would think that Kyle Martino and Dolo are competing in any way, shape or form. Totally different players -- Dolo runs alot and can cross, while Martino is something pretty new for the US, a central midfielder with super control, vision and quickness. Both could theoretically play a position called right midfield (notice Arena has yet to use Dolo in the midifeld, but anyway), but the position and the formation would be so different that the players wouldn't be in competition anyway.