Some good stuff from Mark C: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=264362&cc=5901 "[Martino's] knowledge on what type of touch to use," said McBride. "That's changed. Last year, his touches were too good, meaning that they were too close to his body. It allowed the defender to get a toe poke in or be able to body him up. Now he knows when he needs to take his touch a little bit further away from that person. That makes a huge difference because he's so quick that sometimes that one long touch separates him from his defender and he's on his way. "I've always been impressed, but he now has the ability to do whatever he wants with the ball."
Martino is a really good example of the importance of MLS to the National team -- especially in developing our creative players. I'm not sure that he ever would have had the freedom to experiment and get the quality playing time in any decent European league.
I just hope he continues to develop. Right now, he isn't as good as Connely makes him out to be. But he definatly could be the main int he middle when O'Brien isn't around
I've been impressed with this kid since I first saw him last year. The reason is that he has classic playmaking skills - the ability to see the game a little more quickly than others, great control, accurate passing, and confidence to run at players and shoot. I know that he has a long way to go but his potential is huge. Such a combination is rare for an American player and we can only hope than Martino fulfils some of his potential. If so he will be a mainstay on the national team.
Impressed I got to see him play in person in the Revs/Crew match. The fans around me commented on how exciting he is to watch, even those who didn't know who he is. The kid is *very* quick, both in his movements and in his passing. He made two or three one-touch passes that got a Crew forward behind the Revs defense. OK. So the Rev s**K. But still... he was the most impressive offensive player on the field. He even won balls defensively in the midfield. On the down side, he can be intimidated. The Revs were hacking him down, including a really ugly tackle by Joey F. Afterwards, Kyle would disappear for 5/10 minutes. Not sure what the solution is. He wants MLS refs to protect him. But even if they did protect him in MLS, they can't protect him in a WC qualifier played in Central America.
he's looking like a player who excels with great players rather than someone who kind of fits in with great players
I did not think he backed off or dissappeared. The only time I saw him get up slow was the tackle by Franchino and that was ugly. He did not appear to be hurt and may have played the part a little. He will need to beef up some but I am real excited about guys like Martino and Convey.
Re: Impressed intimidated? i didn't think so at all...he was getting hacked and got right back up and played on, which is more than i can say for DMB who likes to roll around on the ground a few minutes after he gets hacked. the only reason martino disappeared after the tackle by franchino was b/c that was a horrendous tackle that should have shown joey the door <should have been a red> and would have stuned even the best players for a few minutes...
As a Rev fan, I agree Joey should have been red carded. The refs have to deter that kind of play, whether a future star like Martino is the victim, or anyone else.
I was lucky enough to see him play here at UVA two years ago and you knew he was going to be good. No idea that he'd be able to do all the same stuff v the pros that he did in college so quickly though!
Just out of curiosity, and since you bring up college. How would a good College School, like Virginia, handle an MLS team? Would they be able to hang and perhaps beat them fairly?
A few years ago (3-5), UVa's team might be able to beat a few MLS teams but right now I would say no if both sides were playing for real. Level of play and qualify of players has improved dramatically in MLS over the last 5 years which has adversely affected the college game because great players are leaving programs like Virginia, Maryland, UCLA etc... early and great young players are skipping college altogether.
College teams would get beat handily. MLS teams scrimmage local colleges all the time during preseason and regularly beat them. Look at it this way, even the real good college teams UVA, Indiana, UCLA...etc only have a few players drafted every year. And those players who are drafted usually spend most of the season on the bench. Which means that these schools best players would not be good enough to get on the field with MLS players. SMU had a great team in '01. They were the top ranked college team for most of the year. Their two best players were Luchi Gonzalez and Mohammad (I can't remember his last name but he was the guy drafted by DC). These two guys were dominant in college but Gonzalez got limited minutes and is now out of the league and the other guy got cut in preseason. Player for player even the worst MLS team has better reserve players than the best players on a college team. Its just a higher level of play that only the cream of the crop college players will have a chance to reach after playing with these more skilled and experienced players.
thanks for the answer guys. I love college sports and can't decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing
Not a chance in hell. I don't believe there's a college team in any of the last eight years anywhere near as good as the worst team in MLS. Just a different caliber of player entirely. They might fluke a win or two every twenty games or so, but better? No way. The players that make it to MLS really stand out, even at UVA. Kenny Arena, Kyle Martino, Alecko E and Onyewu (playing for Clemson) were all fantastic, just plain better than most others on the pitch. Maryland had a couple players that stood out as well, but I don't remember their names. ((didn't see that others had already answered this or would have let it go!))
The UMD-DCU fundraising game last year was relatively close. Though, I think they used different substitution schemes. If the 3-sub rule were used, then MLS should definitely dominate.
Martino's been a member of the U18 and U20 national teams. He's turned it on a lot since his time with the U20s, when he was mediocre to poor.
Mediocre to poor! I dont want to think of any player on USMN Teams as mediocre to poor, underage or not. Lets say that he has improved significantly in the last two years or if you like since he came to MLS.
Is there another version of the English language spoken in New York? Turned it on is slang for 'improved significantly'. Since then would mean 'in the last two years'. Capiche?
Is that a primarily eurosnob view or could it be a realistic view at this point in the young life of MLS? I agree with this, and am the farthest thing from a eurosnob. I love the game of soccer, support pickup games, the EPL, and would love the MLS to succeed, and believe that it will over time. I have season tix and see improvements consistantly. I admit the top euro leagues are currently better than the MLS, after all, considering the circumstances if it WASNT, something is wrong.. Could better MLS teams pull off upsets? of course. on average though they would lose more than win... If the MLS has to be a developmental league for a few years to solidify itself and make some much needed $$, so be it...
martino has a chance to be the claudio reyna some of us wanted all along - a genuine ATTACKING mid. however, reyna provided a lot of cover for our back four. something that martino doesn't quite seem to do on the same level - yet.