LD Youngest to 50 Caps

taking a look at reyna... if donovan makes the move to europe in the offseason... he will probably only get to a little over 100 by the time he is reyna's age

in some respects, i wish there was an asterisk next to all the 100 cap guys the us has... save reyna... they all use to play national games just to be able to play soccer

reyna's achievement was much harder... as will landon's when he gets there

 

I still admire CJ's number of caps. I wish he could get a few more to set the men's all time world record.

 

50 caps in this day for the USA at 22 is an amazing accomplishment.

 

What is the all time world record and who holds it?

 

I actually don't like that CJ has that many caps.
Jones is a tough little cookie and really loves playing for the USA and has done a good job over the years.

But he is far from a great player ... matter of fact I think he is a tremendously average player who has had great fight and good speed.

I think it sends the message that the USA had more spirit than talent over the last decade. This may in fact be true... but I'd prefer if the man who made the most appearances for our country was truly one of our best players.

 

Jones improved and became a very good player in later years. I admire the guy alot. I saw him this year on tv and he still looked pretty good.

 

Better than Stewart, I'd say (based on more reading than seeing).

 

I agree that Jones became a good player... but not a great one.
He and Hejduk followed similar paths... both were 1 trick ponies (speed) originally. Jones had the advantage that he played on the left side but he was never particularly skillful through his first 30 caps or so. Agoos was horrid in the first dozen or so national team games I saw... I have no idea how he made it past that first stage.

Back to Donovan. If he goes back to Europe, I suspect he'll get fewer caps as he matures because he'll not bother with friendlies held in the states. But I don't think he'll ever catch Jones... Sampson loved the friendlies...

 

Ya know, some great moments for the USA have come in those 49 caps. God as my witness, I cannot wait to see what happens in the next 50.

 

I'm not saying who is better... (though I have my opinion)... but I would urge you to base your beliefs on quality more on seeing than hearing if possible

 

Didn't a lot of Claudio's caps come under Bora or was he still full time at UVA then? I know he was on the roster and slated to start (at least according to SoccerAmerica who put him on the cover of the World Cup preview issue) but got hurt right before USA'94.

And when did he go to Germany?

 

Claudio left for Germany (Bayer Leverkusen) after the World Cup in 94.
He was named the best player in college by Soccer America in 1992 and 1993.
He transfered to Wolfsburg (loan then transfer I believe) a couple years later.

His first cap was in January of 1994 against Norway. He was indeed on the 94 team but that injury kept him out of any games.

 

By the way, anyone else think it's sort of funny that while Bayer Leverkusen have had 2 of arguably the most talented USA players on their books in Donovan and Reyna... the one American they played was Frankie Hejduk!

 

something above 150 and Hassan of Egypt has it, I think. Cobi is in the top 10.

 

No it's not, it's an amazing indication that the USMNT still plays too many games.

 

Shame Hendersen has spent the last 10 years of his professional career getting those remaining 30 caps.

 

In the early 90's the only show in town was friendlies, so Cobi's stats are not that meaningful. In the development of our soccer culture, the USMNT, and its attempts to qualify for each World Cup, is still the most meaningful part of the picture; So much is riding on the buildup to qualify, that the Fed needs extra games to really identify the players who can compete internationally.

In Europe, while the European Cup and World Cup are certainly important, the domestic leagues have much greater importance in the soccer cultures of most nations, and especially for the elite leagues, the players really don't need quite as many friendlies, because the domestic competition helps prove their international mettle. If Thierry Henry can score against Chelsea and Liverpool, there's a good chance he can do the same against Germany or the Netherlands, so extra friendlies are not needed.

 

Yes, I agree with this. You are right. I just think it's a little ridiculous to say getting your 50th American cap as a 22 year old is "amazing". Landon is a good young player, maybe very good. But still, I'd prefer to reserve words like "amazing" for a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, who doubtlessly will retire from his international career with fewer caps than Landon, but as a much younger player has skill, understanding, and vision that Landon, I think even by his own admission, cannot yet dream of.

 

I got the following list a couple months ago. Haven't confirmed it all, but it should be pretty close:

Claudio Suarez, Mexico 171 (1992-04)
Mohamed Al-Deayea, Saudi Arabia 166 (1990-04)
Adnan Al-Talyani, UAE 164 (1984-97)
Hossam Hassan, Egypt 160 (1985-02)
Cobi Jones, USA 160 (1992-04)
Lothar Matthaus, Germany 150 (1980-00)

Jason

 

and Portugal's National team has done SO well,right? I am glad you picked Portugal as an example,because they are world famous for consistently flopping on the international stage. I am sure our opposition feels that we play too many games. We certainly did NOT play too many games in the 70s and 80s.Our more active USMNT program correlates EXACTLY with the rise of the US program. And as for the Landon/C Ronaldo comparison, Landon has al;ready had one excellent world cup.C Ronaldo is a good player, but let's wait until he does something internationally before claiming he is better than Landon. Personally, I like Landon's all field game better, but since they are both young, we shall see.

 

Uhmm, I didn't pick Portugal as an example. I picked a Portuguese player, and called him amazing in comparison to Landon. And being arguable the best player on one of the top 6 or 7 teams in Europe is really a much bigger achievement than 4 good games in one particular WC. And as a p.s., I wouldn't call their Euro 2000 semi final finish, losing in the semi final in extra time to France in France, a "flop".

I like Landon, I really do, but to say that he's better than Ronaldo is so myopic that I can only suggest laser surgery, or a labotomy. Certainly, the international transfer market disagrees with you very, very strongly.

 

I'm guessing Landon has more goals than anyone else his age. He has about 15 right? And I think Wynalda has the record all-time with the U.S. with 33. So Donovan could pass that within 3 years.

 

and this explains why Eusebio is considered a better player than Pele,right? Because the World Cup is just a side show to European soccer? And since Pele never played in Europe, it is premature to consider him a really good player?
ps- I note you are already using personal insults.That is what you always seem to do, instead of staying with the poinhts under discussion. Try staying with the discussion instead of sending insults.It will make for a better debate.