Despite weaknesses in his technical skills, you could always count on Frankie to play with a lot of heart and athletic ability. Today he had neither. When this is the case, he doesn't belong at this level. Frankie may need to be phased out for 2006. Frankie played like a p*ss today. Stick your leg across the attacker's path and make the tackle or give the professional foul *before* the player reaches the penalty area. One shouldn't judge a player based on one game, but Frankie hasn't played well since the World Cup and may be past his sell by date. Time will tell. P.S. He played a great World Cup, but we can't live in the past.
Sure Frakie got his ass handed to him today, and maybe you're right about his position with the national team, but you've got to give credit to the guy who was eating him alive all game, Arjen Robben. That guy is an absolutely incredible player.
Robben did look fantastic but at the same time I can 't help but say Frankie looked horrible. I was wondering how soon they would sub him out during the first half. I love Frankie and what he brings to the game. Hopefully, this is as bad as we'll see him.
The goal was Frankie's fault and had a lot more to do with what Frankie didn't do than what Robben did do.
Frankie's Fault?! Where the hell was Berhalter to cover Frankie. That's why Frankie got burned so badly! That being said he had a pretty poor game.
I admire Frankie, bur he has been on the US team because that is a very weak position for us.He is not a very good player.Great guy but a pretty lousy player.
No one is going to argue that Heydude didn't have a bad game, but everyone seems to be forgetting that he had to play with NO right midfielder in front of him. That certainly didn't help him any, and that was Bruce's fault.
We don't have an outside right defender worth dam.n... At all. And that's a problem. Who, among the young up-and-comers, can potentially develop into that spot? I can't see anyone right now.
Given the slim pickings Arena has at right back, we may continue to see Hejduk during qualifying. But for those of us who value real soccer skills, this would be a disappointment. Hejduk may be just about the fittest player around, hell, he could play a doubleheader without tiring. However, hustle will only get you so far. Maybe one day we'll start producing fit, swift athletes who also have real soccer skills and soccer brains.
I grew to admire Frankie for his effort and heart (and cringe at the at least one stupid foul he'd commit a game) but it's over. He was pretty poor today.
Let me first say that I have not watched the match yet. Wasn't Convey supposed to be playing right mid? Did he not defend or simply not defending on the right side? This reminds me of all the criticism that Regis received during many WCQ matches, when a lot of fans failed to realize that Stewart, the listed left mid, really did not play on the left side for much of these matches.
Convey for being a right midfielder, spent more time on the left side of the field than he did the right.
Re: Frankie's Fault?! I wonder the same thing. We saw Gibbs dealing well with RvV. We saw Armas breaking up attacks up the middle (yet typically giving the ball away). Where was Berhalter, especially at the time of the goal?
Re: Frankie's Fault?! That's the nicest thing anyone's said about the dude tonight. Berhalter covered for Frankie all night as did Reyna, Armas, Gibbs. At one point there were at least 4 nats within 3 yards of each other in Frankies area, RB. Berhalter put at least 3 balls out for Dutch corners in an effort to keep Robben from walking into goal.
Yes they mentioned it at the start of the telecast. They announced the lineup as: Code: -------McBride--------Donovan------- Lewis------------------------------- Convey---------Reyna---------------- ---------------Armas---------------- Bocanegra--Gibbs--Berhalter--Frankie ---------------Keller--------------- What it looked more like in practice was: Code: --------------McBride--------------- Lewis------------------Donovan------ -------Convey------------------Reyna ---------------Armas---------------- Bocanegra--Gibbs--Berhalter--Frankie ---------------Keller---------------
Whats everyones opinion on LEwis's play? I agree about your lineup...but CR10 did not play as wide right as you have it noted up top. ..which left ALOT of ground for heydude to cover, not too mention the fantastic Robben
Left much to be desired. Robben's very good. Hejduk turned him into the best baller in the world. You didn't see that replicated by a player just as talented in Andy Van Der Meyde on the right side.
Frankie did have a poor game, but I wouldn't say it sounds the death knell on his nats career. As was mentioned, he was playing with zero defensive help from the midfield. He was playing against a very good player, and a superior team was directing all of their attacks right down his (unprotected) side. Armas and Reyna were both (rightly) concerned with attacks in the center, and it really left Frankie out to dry. On the goal, Berhalter jumps a crossing run, leaving Frankie exposed. I saw it as it happened and I knew it was a goal. Great off the ball run, and Berhalter guessed wrong for the first time of the night. Unfortunate but not undeserved. The Dutch are an amazing team and they were very close to losing that match. I think the defense was a bright spot.
Robben was the bus driver in that match-up. In his defense, Frankie is in pre-season form, and Robben is in mid-season form. Still, when I saw his face in the huddle just before kick-off, I asked what the hell he was doing out there.
I completely agree, I think any team in the world that goes to Amsterdam to play the Dutch team would be happy coming away with only 1 goal scored on them. We just need to start scoring some goals, and by the look of it we have the players to do that. If Sanneh can get healthy, here's my optimal starting 11: ----------Howard---------- Dolo--Pope--Gibbs--Boca ----------Reyna------------ Donovan-----------O'Brien ---------Convey------------ -----McBride-Mathis------- I think that's a solid line, one that could play with anyone. Dolo will hopefully not make those critical mistakes that tend to happen once or twice a game. By '06 all of those guys are playing in Europe except for Pope. Ages: Howard 27 Dolo 27 Pope 33 Gibbs 26 Bocanegra 27 Reyna 33 Donovan 24 O'Brien 29 Convey 23 McBride 34 Mathis 30 Average age of the starting 11 is 28.45 years, which is about right. Pope, Reyna, and McBride kind of stand out as the oldest players, and most vulnerable to replacement next to Dolo IMO.
Garcia may be sufficient defensively as a right back, but we would really have problems possessing the ball with him playing there. We'd pretty much have to avoid the right side entirely. I would like to see how Mastroeni would play in that role.
True Frankie did not have a midfielder directly infront of him. However most of his problems did not stem from having to deal with two onrushing players with no support, but instead simply dealing with a player one on one. Simply put, his defending was bad. But as bad as his defending is, his offense was even worse. Combine this with the simple fact that as fast as he is/was, he is still darn small, will be 31 in 2006 and it really begs the question of why he should get any more playing time? In 98 Frankie's athleticism and passion made him one of the bright spots. However, 2006 is a long way from 1998 and unfortunately while his athletic ability has started trending down, his skills have not risen seemingly at all. Arena has got to start looking at other options for right back. Cherundolo might be ok against CONCACAF teams (although even this is a question mark given his recent play and even how he looked in his few minutes last night), but will not stand up to European teams. Maestro, Mulrooney, Klein and Albright are at least four guys who should be looked at in this position before qualifying starts.