I like Hejduk for all the reasons so many posters mention: work rate, speed (although not asfast as he used to be), and adaptability as an right-footed, outside back (playing on the left instead of Regis in the WC '02 was really impressive), but what is up with his crossing? He was really not so good today vs. the Galaxy. For a guy that spent so much time in Germany, his crossing is very wanting.
Hejduk is the stereotypical American soccer player: athletic, lacking tactical knowledge, and basically devoid of real soccer skills.
Re: Re: Hejduk's Crossing Tell us what you really think of him. . But seriosuly what kind of player would you rather have, one who has great athleitc ability or one who has a great amount of tactical knowledge?
Re: Re: Re: Hejduk's Crossing I'd rather have a player with great athletic ability, tactical knowledge, and skill.
Re: Re: Re: Hejduk's Crossing Obviously, there is a point where great athletic ability supercedes tactical knowledge, and vice versa. I suppose it would depend on how much athletic ability the 'tactical' player has.
I sort of like Frankie, but our need for him on the USA team is not evidence for the arrival of the USA as a world soccer power!
I'm sure the Germans thought they could enlighten this highly athletic American. Well, 4 years of employment and this is the result.
Hejduk will improve as the season goes on. He hasn't been a regular at the club level for any extented period of time. Add in the US Nat games because of availability and Frankie should be very sharp assuming he stays healthy.
hedjuk i liked hedjuk's performance a lot besides being fast confident and agressive he made at least six strong runs out of the backfield culminating with crossess in or near the box - two completed to buddle, both scoring chances he fired four more crosses in - but no teammember made the run - andrulis's system needes to get more guys into space quicker on defense hedjuk stole a ball from elliot who would have scored if frankie wasn't there - he also made a good tackle on jones, which was another scoring chance stop i thought hedjuk was among the best four players on his side imo - here they are - buddle, martino, garcia - buddle
I thought Heyduk was very good on the defensive end, but his crosses were pathetic. Freddy Garcia was awful. He plays no defense, and gets knocked over by the least touch. Buddle was impressive. I like his sturdiness -- i.e., he can take a bump and stay upright with the ball. Reminds me of Twellman in that regard. They are not out to flop (like someone on LA that I could name), but are determined to keep going.
I thought the main weakness in today's game for everyone was the crossing. It was absolutely horrendous. Whether it was Eliot trying to spin it in near post (did it ever get past the first defender behind the wall?) to Hejduk launching dirt rockets. That was the weak point. Cobi sent two nice corners in with Lalas missing he headers. That was about it.
He didn't have a particularly great game for him - he was stellar in last year's playoffs and Open Cup final. But, he is less than 100% - he's got some kind of knee problem right now - which is why he was substituted off. Of course, Denton isn't at 100% either, because he's our first-choice left back. Hedjuk played very well. He combined well with Paule, was very alert defensively, and had some good forays forward. His crossing was spotty, but Hejduk looks good enough to still be a All-Star caliber player.
Frankie is still a great athlete. He is much more disciplined than he used to be before going to Germany. However, he is still lacking in basic soccer skills, but hey, you can't have everything. I would say he has improved in some areas and gotten worse in others.
Must we exaggerate on everything? I thought Hejduk's crossing was decent. Should have seen his crosses 2 years ago.
Frankie Yep, that's Frankie. Like Cobi (although it seems to me that Cobi has notched up his skills a bit as his speed as declined), he has his limits. One of those guys who sometimes make you wince. But due to his speed, energy, and enthusiasm, he can be an effective USA player if used correctly. Which Arena knows how to do. Hey, I remember holding my head watching Tony Sanneh botch things up trying to play the ball out of defense for Nurnberg. That guy has his deficiencies, too. But he came in handy this past summer, didn't he?
I think Frankie has developed a lot in the past few years and is a great asset to the MLS now. HE just has to find his nitch there.
Who are you chuckleheads? It was the first match of the season. It was freaking cold there too!!!! Looked like everyone had their moment of sliding around too from the turfs conditions. Keep digging your holes with your insightful posts. Were you the same guys that though David Regis was good too? Because I can recall posting how Sanneh was good as was Hejduk only to be laughed at by others saying Regis was better. Frankie did fine. Things will only improve for him this season.
Kyle Martino's crosses weren't much better, his corners didn't reach the box, and that Freddy Garcia guy is like 2 feet tall and can't seem to do much when he gets the ball. He did make up for it with one cross to Buddle, but really throughout the game he really stunk it up. So Frankie's not the only one out there lacking of skills. But yes it is the first game and it was cold and the earth was moving and the wind was blowing and blah blah blah. Lets face it it was a lack luster performance from both teams with a few sparks of brilliance here and there.