Jonny Walker

Oh really. Jonny Walker can't break into MLS as a starting keeper, a position currently held by 10 U.S. eligible players, and he should be our No. 3? Hmmmm. Interesting.

 

Forgive the ignorance.

Walker tried to catch on with an MLS team? I hadn't heard anything about that. I personally have never seen him play and have absolutely no opinion about him.

 

Re: Re: Jonny Walker

To tell the truth that MLS thing was a long time ago and he's played a lot of games since then. Not that I'm saying he should be a Nat.

Of course being in Mexico he'll be a lot closer to see how good he is.

 

I think he was the number two for Dallas around '98 or '99. I didn't follow MLS back then, so I am going on what I have heard. However, I did see him play on FSW en Espanol. The game ended a one all draw. He played pretty well. The field was in horrible condition and the goal he let in took a few hops because of it.

 

Re: Re: Jonny Walker

That was at least 3 years ago. He's played in some big games, and he at least deserves as much shot as Thornton, Hartman, etc.

 

I heard somewhere that he was close to being eligible for Chilean citizenship. Not sure if he is considering it.

 

No, the Burn cut Walker in order to keep Mark Dodd and Jeff Cassar instead. It was a long time ago, so it does not necessarily indicate Walker's current quality. But on the other hand, despite the high profile of Univ of Catolica, the goalie competition in Chile is quite low, so who knows. Mexico would certainly be a place where Walker could show his quality.

Personally, I don't see him at the same level as Tim Howard or the rare sighting of a healthy Aiden Brown.

 

Exactly. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team as a sophomore. The next year he was all-state and the year after, McDonald's All-American.

 

So Walker is now the next Jordan.

There's a reason this piece of the Jordan legend is so well known. That's because it's so rare for such a talent to be overlooked.

Which would means its possible, but highly unlikely, that the Burn cut someone three years ago who would two years later would be the best keeper in the league. However, given the form of Dodd at the time (made a case for being best in the league one of those seasons), and the fact that Cassar was probably at the height of his abilities at the time, one could forgive them for cutting a younger keeper with potential.

I like Walker, and he's looked good in the games I've seen on FSWE. However, he's never shown me anything that made me think more highly of him than Howard, Brown, Thornton, Hartman, Cannon, Busch ... not to mention a couple of EPL starters and another guy who's the hottest keeper in the first division.

 

Yeah, but what's he done since then?!?!

Regarding Walker, he hasn't been with an MLS team since 1996 when he was a backup with the Burn and didn't play. That year, Mark Dodd started 31 games for the Burn and Jeff Cassar started the other game.

According to the Soccer America story, Walker, who had been selected in the third round of the 96 supplemental draft, left the Burn after 4 months in 96 because he had been given a "developmental label," which was a term MLS allowed for 2 players per team back in 96, and he didn't want the salary that came with it.

After leaving the Burn, he tried lower divisions in England and even the Irish League and began the 97 season with the A-League's Jacksonville Cyclones. Jacksonville scrimmaged U. de Catolica in March of 97 and by July of that year, he was in Chile.

According to Soccer America, he played with the reserve team and trained with the first team till March of 98 when he was loaned to first division Huachipato.

He spent the 99 season as a backup at Catolica because they had too many internationals, playing only in Cup and exhibition games. By 2000 he was the starter, beating out Chilean first teamer Nelson Tapia, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Now, I'm not saying that Walker is going to beat out Keller or Friedel or Howard or anyone else. Nor, am I saying that because he beat out Nelson Tapia, who has played in a World Cup, that he is great.

But, the guy is oviously a much different, and better, player than he was in 96 and to judge him because he was third string n MLS 7 years is a mistake, especially considering GKs mature later than normal players and Walker was 21-22 at the time he was with the Burn.

 

Actually, I don't think he "beat out" Tapia. I think Tapia was transferred, partly due to the fact that Catolica thought they had a good replacement in Walker. Look, good for Walker. I admire (and envy a little) the guy for going down to Chile, and he probably is very good. I just don't like the conclusion that a transfer to the MExican league automatically puts him ahead of all American keepers except the two in the premiership.
That's a crock.

 

I recall hearing something like that, too...and that he had no real interest in returning to the US or playing for USA---basically he was content with his gig in Chile and didn't feel like doing anything else.

 

i have scrolled down this whole page and still haven't seen a link

 

The SA article is not on-line yet, hence, no link. Most of the speculation about him going to Mexico is based on quotes from Walker in the SA article (i.e. he's solid his car in anticipation of a move.)

In terms if a call-up, I'm not saying he's better than Howard or Brown or Rimando or even Marcus Hahnemann (who I also think has earned some serious consdieration from Bruce). Not do I think playing in Mexico makes him "better" or more qualified than the MLS guys.

But, I do think his strong play the past couple of years has earned him a right to compete with the likes of Brown and Howard for a place on the nats. And, moving up in quality of league, from Chile to Mexico, only enhances my opinion that he should be considered and given a chance to compete with the rest of the US 'keepers.


As for playing for Chile and having no interest in playing for the US, the article says that he is "eligible for Chilean citizenship" because he's been in-country for 5 years. But before he cap-ties himself to Chile, "Walker wants to investigate his U.S. chances first."

The article also says that Bruce Arena says he "plans to give Walker a look soon" though Arena isn't quoted.

So, based on this article, it would appear that Walker wants to play for the US, is gonna get a chance and that if it doesn't work out then he'd look to play for Chile.

 

SA

The Walker cover story is just another reason why Soccer America is worth the money. Good stuff, this article.

Wlaker beat out Tapia for the job, thereby clearing the way for Tapia to be loaned to Velez (Argentina) in 2000, and is, I believe, with Catolica now (don't have the article with me and could be off on that).

 

Rumours in Chile are that Walker is going to play for LA Galaxy.

 

When I was in Argentina this August the Argentine channel TyC (our version of ESPN) said he might be linked with a move to Talleres de Cordoba... I guess the deal went under, a move to good team in mexico or Argentina would be good for Jonny...

 

I think the SA article indicated that his wife followed the Jonny Walker threads on BigSoccer so maybe she'll clarify his plans.

 

Not to PH but how's walker going to unseat Reese(sp) & Hartman when he couldn't make 3rd string in big-D? Not to take awy from his top form in Chile & certainly he's improved since he was bounced here but IMHO, there's no way he's Galaxy caliber.

 

Well there's another post going around on the USA Men board about Walker and the National Team, but Walker has one major advantage that none of the other young keepers have; he's seen international competition as he played in the last Copa Libertadores. Universidad Catolica played in the group stage against Olimpia, Flamengo and Once Caldas. UC went to the second stage only to be eliminated by Sao Caetano in penalties...

 

Yep, it's not like there isn't some quality soccer on display from some of those teams, right? I don't think basing Walker's chances of doing well in MLS on his performance three years ago is fair.

 

Fair enough, but I think that the pace in is more relaxed and less physical. He doesn't spend a lot of his time punching out long balls and kneeing guys in the back on crosses either. Where as argentine & columbian clubs play the transitional game, the other south americans are far more methodical in the build up.
To be a Nat, I think he would need to adapt to the quicker & more physical continental style. That's where I see him being at a disadvantage to guys like Howard, Cannon, Thornton, Brown and Rimando. He looks a lot smaller in stature to those guys too.
This is not meant to detract from his performance since we should all be proud of how well he's represented himself over the past 2yrs. IMHO though, he's way down the list for future nats. Same goes for Marcus Hahnemann who I think is in a better position 2 get capped.