...since we've had a U.S. game played here. I understand the odvious disadvantage of most games, but v.s. canada? Come on they should have had it here. Miami drew a pathedic 6 something. At least let us enjoy the Cotton Bowl one more time before we never see her again...
Oh yea and no Suarez at the game tonight, I hope he goes to Uruguay, the U.S. doesn't deserve him. Califf, pllleeeaaassseeeee!
Suarez is my favorite player on the team. He deserves better. I would hate him going to Uruguay, but if the US is not going to give him a chance, then I think Uruguay would be very lucky to get him.
What is it with Arena and Dallas anyhow? The Burn have a number of players who are legitimate USMNT candidates -- Kreis, Deering, Suarez, Broome, & even Rhine -- and yet Burn appearances with the USMNT are few and far between. Granted, in some ways, I'm actually kind of happy that we don't have any USMNT regulars. While Chicago and some other teams are hit hard when the U.S. plays, the Burn can keep rolling along, full speed ahead. But as someone who's had the chance to meet most of the Burn players and see what great guys they are, it aggravates me that they've not received a fair shot to show whether or not they deserve to be playing for their country.
no offense but deering, kreis and rhine? not in your, or my lifetime...deering is over the hill as a d-mid is concerned and there are many forwards in mls that are ahead of rhine and jason in the 'deserve a shot' category. suarez is good and has been called in before and will continue to get called in, you will see him get capped soon, i figured it would be tonight but i guess food poisoning but an end to that. broome, that is the one that is odd to me. he played really well for the burn this past season and left back is sorta up in the air on the USMNT right now, i gotta think he will get the call to a camp at some point.
Deering played as well as any American d-mid in MLS last season. I'd like to see the U.S. do well in this summer's international competions, and to do so, you should field your best team regardless of age. Kreis has never been given a fair shot at the USMNT. He's played in a friendly here, a friendly there, but not enough that it's fair to totally write him off. Year in and year out, he's among the leaders in MLS in scoring, and while other players might be more flashy or make for better PR material, few are more productive. And Rhine? Well, you're right, Bobby isn't exactly likely to ever become a USMNT regular. But he did receive a callup awhile back, and it would be nice to see him play in a friendly or two.
the best in mls? not sure about that. now that pablo is in the team i really cannot see a person displacing him as favorite for bruce; perhaps armas will be invited back in but that is about it...until clark is ready. agreed. i left kreis out of my original arguement b/c i think he somewhat deserves another shot or two, but i am guessing bruce would go young (ie: twellman, santino, EJ) before he goes to kreis.
Broome deserves a shot at left back, especially since the Bruce is down to trying Convey there. Kreis had his chance, and Mathis simply surpassed him. Wolff is better at the international level also. Now Kreis is really too old to be a factor for 2006, and that's what Bruce is building for. Rhine is just not international quality IMHO--he lacks that killer edge and blows too many chances.
Yes, you're right, about Pablo. He'll undoubtably be a fixture on the USMNT for years to come. But strictly judging by how well they played in MLS last year, I'd put Deering right up there with Mastroeni and Armas.
Part of the reason is because we have one national televised game on ESPN all year. But be realistic...Kreis, Deering? For the 2006 World Cup...How old will they be then? 40 and 41? Sucks about Ryan though.
Kreis will be 33 by the time WC 2006 rolls around. Getting on there, for sure, but it's not out of the realm of possibility for Jason to still be one of MLS' top forwards in 2006. Deering? Well, Chad will be 36 come 2006. So no doubt Deering's seen his last WC as a player. But should Mastroeni or Armas be injured this summer, I'd love to see Chad get a shot at playing for his country one last time. WC 2006 (and its qualifiers) are still along way away, and I'd like to see the U.S. field its best players in this summer's competions and not just young guys who might be good in 3 years time.
Can't you see what has happened to Jason in the last 3 years? He dissappears late...including the playoffs. If they didn't call him up in his better years, what makes you think they are going to call him up now? Mathis, Donovan, McBride, Wolff, Cunningham, Twellman, etc...no chance for Kreis. Agree on Deering.
Bruce has a satellite set-up probably only rivalled by the Pentagon's. I'm pi$$ed that Broome never got a call-up.
I agree. It's very unlikely that they're going to call up Jason. Arena likes to stick with players he's familiar with, and once he's written you off, you pretty much stay written off whether fair or not. As to Jason fading late in the season, I think it's due to the fact that he tends to play through nagging injuries until they eventually catch up to him. If Jeffries is smart, he'll sit Jason out every 3rd game from the beginning of the season whether or not he's 100% fit to play. With Kreis, Cerritos, Rhine, and Johnson up top, the Burn are awfully deep at forward and can afford to rest Jason (and Oscar for that matter) without the team's standard of play dropping much. And even though that might lead to an extra loss or two in the spring or early summer, it'll be worth it if Kreis, Pareja, et al are fit and ready to excel in the postseason.
My two cents on forwards.... The key to Burn winning a title with the current set of forwards is not Kreis staying healthy (although I agree it would certainly help)... The key IMHO is the emergence of Eddie Johnson. If he becomes the player we all think he will be (and Jeffries thinks he will be) the Burn will have a great chance to win it all.
I seem to remember reading an interview with Kreis about how he got called up for a friendly and came down with the Flu but played anyway and that was his biggest mistake. He odviously didn't play up to his usual standards and maybe thats part of the reason Bruce wrote him off. Suarez got food poisioning? I smell a conspiracy
I'm curious. How high has the bar been set for Eddie? From what he's shown while he's been with the Burn, it looks like he's headed toward "Jeff Cunningham good". But obviously the upside potential is pretty high. Is Jeffries talking "Carlos Ruiz good" as a realistic goal? Or maybe even "Ronaldinho good"?
Broome is too small to get call-up. I love Broome. I've loved Broome since he first started for his intensity and that chip on his shoulder (is there any player quicker to fight on this team?). I'll bet you $20 Broome is starting at left back on opening day. But remember what happened when Arena tried to play Cherundolo at right back in WC qualifying? Everyone started isolating him with a big Wanchope type forward for an advantage. That's why Broome will never get a call-up.
In theory the team can get by without Pareja without the team's standard of play dropping much. However, in reality it never has worked out that way. As soon as Pareja is out, the team loses control of the midfield and resorts to the long ball. Unfortunately, Jeffries has never had the "Huevos" to stick it out for two or three games without Pareja (or Kreis for that matter) to allow the rest of the team to fullfill the potential of the deep roster.
Yeah, but I thought Vaca was the guy who could control the midfield. I agree, Johnson is a key component to going to another level this year. Gbandi, Broome's continued good play at LB, ROB's continued adjustment, and Vaca's desire to take the game by the balls are also important. If we stay injury free and Jeffries decides to let Vaca do what he can do, then we're going to have a damn good squad.
tickets........$12 Beer............$3 Burn Scarf.........$15 watching Broome go psycho.........priceless