Kirovski Watch

Kirovski takes Mathis spot - anybody know how bad Mathis' injury is? The USMNT might just injure Jovan onto the A team. I doubt he makes the field, but if he does, I hope he makes good use of the time.

 

Kiro up for goal of the week...you guys gonna try and stuff it so he doesn't win?

Eddie Gaven, MET 169 votes (15%)
Jason Kreis, DAL 139 votes (12%)
Clint Dempsey, NE 145 votes (13%)
Jose Burciaga Jr., KC 136 votes (12%)
Jovan Kirovski, LA 539 votes (48%)

 

Voted for Gaven myself. Otherwise, I would have voted for Burciaga and Kreis ahead of Kirovski, in that order.

 

Kirovski's goal really was good, though. It reminded me of what Reyna tried to do against Oliver Kahn in the World Cup. Man, too bad Kirovski wasn't there instead of Reyna! We might have won that game!

 

Great post. when he was punching above his weight, he looked like a light-weight. Now that he's in his class, he's a contender.

 

Kirovski has always had some skill. The problem is that he is simply not as athletic (quick, strong, agile) as the similarly skilled, world class athletes he was playing against in Germany & England. He's a very good MLS player and a marginal member of the USMNT who is more than serviceable against some CONCACAF opponents, but out of his depth against world class opposition. That he has had similar success in MLS to that he enjoyed as a reserve team player in England says a lot to me about comparable levels of play.

 

I basically agree. However, playing regularly in MLS will improve his game more than playing regularly as a reserve. All that a coach can ask from a player is that he play up to his ability. But your assessment of his ability is spot on, i.e., he can only go so far against top flight competition.

 

totally ridiculous, even beyond ridiculous. Let me point out the obvious: what do you think of the fact that McBride's scoring rate is better in the EPL than it was in MLS.Does this mean that the EPL is below MLS and about like our A-league?

 

There's no mystery as to why Arena has always said that he wants players playing regularly on 1st teams before he'll bring them in to camp. There's a world of difference between reserves and 1st team ball, unless you're comparing the Man U reserves with weak professional leagues. MLS is not as good as the EPL, no question, but it's a good, and improving league. As excited as some have been about having Americans playing on youth and reserve teams for some of the top EPL clubs, let's wait until they crack the 1st team lineup on a regular basis before we anoint them the next big thing.

 

McBride didn't score too often with Fulham this season. If you combine it with the time he spent at Everton last year it would probably be comparable to his rate with the Crew. Remember too that he played well but didn't score often when he was with Preston North End. Looking at the broader spectrum of his career going back to his time in Germany, I believe you'll find that the goalscoring at Everton was an anomoly.

The level of ability in reserve team football in the EPL is not too different from MLS. But First Division is probably closer. Lewis & Hannahman played reserve at Fullham before starting in the 1st. Stern John is in a similar position. Joe-Max was basically a reserve player at Everton. McBride was a starter at PNE, but a reserve for the most part at Fulham. Olsen started at Forrest. Only Bocanegra & Harkes have been full time starters in the Premiership and Harkes' teams were often in Division I. All of the above were stars in MLS. Now add Kirovski and there is a definite pattern with American field players in England.

 

Unless of course your name is:

Frankie Hedjuk
Eddie Lewis
Greg Berhalter
Joe Max-Moore

Can we please stop spreading this untruth. BA doesn't give a ship whether or not you're playing 1st team ball, only if you can contribute to his team.

 

Bullsh|t.

Next.

 

strike rate equal to Thierry Henry-sometimes started,sometimes off the bench.5 goals in equivalent of 9 games.Them's the facts.

 

This guy is impressive. How can you not vote his goal "Goal of the Week?!" Did ANY of you notice that the moment he struck the ball, he turned to walk back to half?

Watch it again. The moment he hits it, he is turned around walking back to his side of the field to kick-off, he was so sure of where his ball was heading.

 

...as my, now imprisoned, CFO used to say..." I can make numbers DANCE!"

turns out he believed in false Gods as well!

 

He got my vote. I am not a big Kirovski fan, but with his move back and play in the MLS he has deserved some consideration for US call-up. Jovan finally woke-up from his EURO dream and realized that playing in the MLS was actually a good thing. I give him props for that.

 

well, that was intended to indicate to anyone who cared (perhaps old boy)that McBride had actually done pretty well for Fulham.And it is actually true about the strike-rate.

 

McBride equal in any way to Henri? And you want to be taken seriously?

Equivalent to nine games because he isn't good enough to start?