Brian Ching is not ready. Maybe next year, but I doubt it. The year after that? I doubt it. Scoring big in the MLS does not guarantee US Nats time (see Jason Kreis).
Well his last two goals have been a bit dicey. Last week he brought the ball down wtih his arm and scored, and this week he had a header that was cleared by the defender into his own net, but since Chings header was technically on target, Ching gets credit for the goal. Anyway, here's the goals per 90 minutes the last three years for US eligible forwards in MLS (min 1000 minutes): Taylor Twellman - 0.65 Brian Ching - 0.61 Edson Buddle - 0.56 Pat Noonan* - 0.51 Jason Kreis - 0.44 Jeff Cunningham - 0.44 Alecko Eskandarian - 0.43 Ante Razov - 0.41 Landon Donovan* - 0.41 Mike Magee - 0.40 Guys with asterisks have played significant time in the midfield. Here's goals plus assists over the same time period (assists from 2002 are adjusted to reflect new assist rules): Joe-Max Moore - 0.82 Taylor Twellman - 0.81 Pat Noonan* - 0.79 Edson Buddle - 0.77 Brian Ching - 0.75 Landon Donovan* - 0.66 Jeff Cunningham - 0.66 Ante Razov - 0.65 Alecko Eskandarian - 0.58 Brian McBride - 0.54 Pop quiz! Only one player on either list has never been capped. Who is he?
Yes, along with Mullen. They are both in form and performing. Success in MLS does not necessarily translate to success at the international level (as clever and witty posters have already pointed out for the 1,000,000'th time, but it's an obvious indication that a player is worth a look.
Problem here... I could care less what a player did 3 years ago... at most I care about the whole season last year. But any further than that has no bearing on their current form. Also, if we could take penalty kicks out of there it helps...
with the shortage of fowards for the us right now, its painfully obvious everyone who cheers their fav mls team will throw their foward at us aksing for a call up. i mean, ching...and before him EJ for some time now. i dont think either are really ready per say. if i had to choose id say EJ, but ya know... itd be nice to get them both to a camp just to see how they interact no? chemistry is a big issue to me personally. and as for mullen, isnt he a right mid? i think he could use a lok. his form is great now and we are shallow there are well- that is if landon isnt playing there. forza inter
Mullen looks like an international player.He is fast, very intense and has good skill.I would bet on that guy-and I am not a Quakes fan.
Mullan is great! And he really fits in well with the Quakes. But until he finds a consistently good cross, I don't see him playing for the nats UNLESS it's playing up top as a forward - not where he usually plays for the Quakes, but (I believe) historically it's his favored position. So. Mullan to forward?
crossing is just one aspect of a wide-midfielder's play.I am not sure why everyone here obsesses on that.Robert Pires is considered the best wide-midfielder in the world, and he NEVER hits big crosses.He attacks the goal area with the ball or plays combinations.The way people obsess with crosses you would think this was 1955.it is just one way to play that position and a very old fashioned way at that.
Ok. Fine. As long as that role is made clear to him. Thing is, Mullan consistently gets himself into a great position to cross. (1955 or not, if that's your best option, you're going to let fly with one. And if you happen to cross well, good things WILL happen.) Right now, it's not Brian's strength - if he could add a solid cross to his game, I think he would offer us a really complete package as a midfielder. ...and he could get back to work on his finishing. ...what? Still too "1955" for you? You know, wanting a midfielder to have a good cross does not mean that we want him to cross every time.
it is one aspect of the game.It is better to be a good crosser than not- but if you have other good things-like can attack the box with the ball, good passer, good at combinations,then you can be effective.
See Beasley, DaMarcus. BTW, Mullan does put in good crosses.. and very poor ones. Hes just wildly inconsistent.
Penalty kicks are taken out. And I would guess that 2002 performances would be still be applicable. Sample Size helps immensely.
To be honest, I want to see Taylor Twellman get more chance before Ching. The whole reason we beat Mexico was because Twellman headed the ball and almost scored. And then Pope got the rebound. Also earlier in the game he headed one and it just missed to the left. I think he can finish well. He just need more time to prove himself. But to give ching a chance, I think he deserves a look also, but not before twellman gets more.
Ching for Nats Well with Brian Ching now holding the udisputed MLS goal scoring lead, does anyone still doubt that Bruce should at least give the guy a shot in WCQ? I thought he should have been called up for the second leg against Grenada, but I'm a bit happy he didn't considering I'm a quakes supporter and he was our only source of offense last weekend. So does he get a shot or not? Yes he could be the next Ante Razov, but he could also be a solid player for the nats. To this point, Ching has had one half of international play given to him.