From The US Soccer Players' Site I've got 10 bucks that say Lewis feels his best position in the future will be left back because a certain US coach has already told him exactly that. I also happen to think it's a great idea. Whether it is Lewis or Convey overlapping with DMB in front of them, the left side of the US team is looking particularly strong. And when the US has to batton down the hatches, a defender like Wade Barret could well fit the bill. I keep my fingers crossed that injuries don't decimate this team. If the Gods are with us and we can stay healthy, the US is going to be a pure force to be reckoned with.
I've been wondering ever since last winter's Gold Cup when we might see Lewis at left back again, so this looks great to me. In general it looks like Arena is looking at all sorts of combinations right now which inn the long run will really pay off in terms of depth and versatility
If Lewis is playing significant minutes as a left-back in WC 2006, it should be due to massive injuries at that position. Otherwise, there would be something seriously wrong with US Soccer development, given the quality/depth of players in the current pipeline.. US got away with playing less talented players at new, different positions last WC. Players rose to occasions, soccer gods intervened more than once, and Bruce did a very good job at last WC. Soccer gods are not likely to allow the US (again) such a fate. We need more talent at that position then Lewis, who will be well past 30...
Monster, if you think US will get to quarterfinals in 2006 w/a Berhalter-talent in center back, a Hedjuk playing big minutes, etc, a 32 Lewis playing significant minutes at left back......I think that is a bad bet.. Monster, US played very well in 2002...Bruce got the most out of his talent, as good a job as any coach in the Cup (Hiddink right there too)....but you must recognize that good fortune was also smiling (as it must). US was very fortunate to finish 2nd in group (not 1st), avoiding Italy, and playing the absolute best team they could play- an opponent they knew inside out. US played well at times in 1st round (importantly, was very efficient w/scoring chances ), but by no means did they dominate games....one could argue that the teams were pretty evenly matched (I think they were), but US did the right things at very important times....look at Mathis scoring against S.Korea against run of play (Friedel w/HUGE PK save)...in a game in which US needed tie, Poland kicked our butts.....US was not clearly better than any of the teams in their group, but they played great tourney ball, and kudos to them- that's all that counts. The most important thing: You got great goodkeeping (and US does), and it can make up for weaknesses in many other areas. In that point, I'll grant you US always has a chance at beating even much more talented teams. Of course, talent gap will be even smaller come 2006, although I also think the US won't enjoy (what was a big advantage for 2002)- Euro teams/players were TIRED coming into this tourney, and this FOR SURE explains some of the poor showing of some top Euro-star laden teams...Personally, I think it also contributed to the Portugal win- that is taking nothing away from a great Bruce gameplan, Portugal underestimating US, and a great (and a little fortunate) US start. I think by 2006, you will hardly see Lewis (if on team, he'll barely get a whiff)...some other young talent (or maybe injury-prone O'Brien) will be playing bulk of minutes back there..
32 is old for a player like Lewis, who is not is as athletic as Sanneh...his "mental talents" will not make up for his physical disadvantages.....it will be an Agoos 2002-type situation, except Jeff was much more experienced (as a defender/international defender), and mentally, better at that position I think then Lewis will be in 2006...Lewis' crossing is a nice plus at left back, but first order is having someone who is can defend at a very high level and consistently. Lewis is a good 1st division player, and that's about it...and that's at his natural positon....you think US won't produce something better than that (not to mention holdovers) by then? Sad comment on US development if you ask me...
Lewis is one of the fastest players on the team. Any team. Lewis has some of the most serious hops I have ever seen out of a white man. Lewis has an extremely quick set of feet. Lewis has a very, very good shot. jri, your opposing views are sometimes interesting and unlike quite a few, I like reading them. But this time you are flat-out wrong. I give Eddie a 70-30 chance of making the US roster in 06, barring injury.
You're not talking about the same Berhalter that shut down the Italian offense in early 2002 in Sicily are you?
C'mon, if Berhalter was really the $hit why the hell would he be playing for bottom table teams like Cottbus? Because he's non-EU? Actually he has an EU passport. Greg's got great technical skills, but very average athleticism. We're in trouble if Berhalter is our starting center back in '06. I'm not so sure about Lewis. I never saw him as a natural defender, certainly not sparring with another team's right winger. I think he could add a lot to the attack, but can he cut the mustard defending?
Perception is a funny thing. IMO, he's quick, but definitely not fast. But "Quick-Eddie" just doesn't sound right. I agree with the rest of your evaluation. But the bottom line is that he can't/wont D-up. I don't see him anywhere near the '06 roster.
Other than McBride, who is on loan, who do we have that is playing for a top table team? Give Berhalter a break, I don't think he will be our starting center back in '06 either but he has been playing well for a team in the Bundesliga which still a pretty short list for Americans.
I did not mean to imply that Gregg and Eddie are not good players. They are. They probably played their best at WC 2002. (I know Sanneh did...nothing like before/after at Nuremberg). We are talking here, though (I think) improving on the team's 2002 Cup. Just to make the quarterfinals again, I believe that a talent upgrade is needed at several positions (all the time in many sports, when teams that reach a certain level of success...they attempt to improve (or even to stay at same level- since their competition is improving all the time) by adding better, more talented players Especially when we are talking a once in 4 years event). It is also the case that older legs sometimes mean "deader" legs..a short tourney will little rest can mean trouble for some older players in spots, even though I think the Euros will end season way sooner next Cup. At 32, and likely a position he rarely plays at club....you gonna feel comfortable w/Eddie back there? I agree with the poster who said Eddie is quick, but not fast. But being quick as a midfielder is not necessarily the same as quick/fast as a defender. A lot of that has to do with timing, anticipation as a defender...you don't always have 10-20 yrds. (like midfielders/forwards) to overcome mistakes, close the gap....you have to know how to tackle/clear without giving up PKs....in this sense, I think Eddie will be at a disadvantage against many top forwards....Only a Hedjuk-type can make an adaquate transition IMO...and Hedjuk was getting by on pure grit and athleticism, not overarching defender savvy....again, there is something seriously wrong with US Soccer development if Lewis is the #1 or #2 option back there in 2006.. (barring injuries) I doubt many are going to underestimate US next World Cup....we won't have that advantage anymore..(that is an acheivement in and of itself)...in some senses, repeating 2002 acheivement will be much harder..
Translation: I was so frigging wrong about 2002, but I mean it this time. Your thoughts and opinions (and mine) are totally irrelevant. It's the passion with which you claim you know it all, bolstered by your accusation that "the soccer gods" determined things and not the players, that makes you comedy on a good day and idiotic on a bad one. So you can either believe "because a guy is such and such an age and I have seem him a handful of times in games lately, I know what will work in 2006." Or you can believe this: "... as a coaching staff, we have a vision of the long term and try to evaluate these players in our current pool and try to project where they may be a year down the road, because we think it is likely we will have to start qualifying early next year." I put my money on the guy who's watching practices and has actually coached in the World Cup.
I guess we'll agree to disagree. Lewis has been playing regularly at PNE, and by all accounts, has been one of the best players on his team. Many of the contributions he's been noticed for are on the defensive end of the ball. Here's a disclaimer - I haven't seen him play at PNE. I have seen him play too many times to count for the MNT and in MLS, and I have always thought he could be a player who could easily make the left wing to left back transition. With his skillset, and the mindset he's accepting - that his best position will be left back - I believe that US Soccer, both in the developmental sense and the competitive sense, will be in great shape in 06. And barring injury, I'd be willing to bet Eddie is on the 06 roster.
Nutmeg- Its a pleasure disagreeing with you. Not so important who is really right, just that opinions are respected. Monster- You criticism's of me/my opinion are overboard. IMO. If you can't recognize some good fortune in the US's 2002 performance, you are not paying attention (it was all great coaching and great play.....as Austin Powers would say..."rrriiggght"). Do you actually watch the games (I did). I saw Landon score a crucial 2nd goal against Portugal on a freak deflection. Was it good coaching that US got blown-out by Poland (on purpose...even risking getting eliminated) to play a Mexico team that was CLEARLY the easiest team in the tourney for US to prepare for...? C'mon man, short tourneys are INHERENTLY about (some) luck- even for Brazil....its only long, year-long seasons that tend to even out this advantage/disadvantage. Again, this is taking nothing away from a great US performance in 2002. BTW- I'll be the first to admit that the soccer gods were NOT with US vs. Germany...Berthalter's shot could have EASILY been called a handball..
Whatever, Don Quixote, Whatever. Keep singing the same tune and blaming US success on luck while predicting doom for the future like you have always done. Shame you can't see the reality - that this team was prepared to make things happen. I could always trot out the cliche that you create you own luck, but in the end, does it really matter. I live by the rule of the scoreboard because, I did watch those game.s They won two, lost two and drew one, clmost always coming through in the clutch. And I frigging love it. Regardless of what you or I think about the players, regardless of what their birth certificates say, regardless of what division their club team plays in, this team keeps on proving people like you wrong. So complain that Eddie Lewis will be useless by 2006 because you riffed on Sanneh for months. By the way. I watched the games. They reached the quarterfinals. And they don't seem deluded by what it takes to get there. Again, to quote someone who doesn't talk out of his ass like you do: "Regardless of how good you are, wherever your team is at the beginning of preparation, you have to realize it is going to be difficult. And the bottom line for us is going to be that we want to qualify for the next World Cup and we're not that concerned with the kind of fashion. Whether it is done earlier than later, doesn't really matter. There's a bottom line and clearly our goal for this team is going to be put ourselves in position where we are playing in Germany in 2006." If that involves giving Bobby Convey and Eddie Lewis a run at left back, more power to them.
Is what jri is saying that controversial? I actually tend to agree that I have yet to be that impressed with Eddie's work on defense. (I also haven't seen much praise for his defensive work with PNE, although I easily could have missed it.) I agree with Nutmeg that the prospect of Eddie's offensive skills in a left back are appealing, but I still think his ability to perform at a high level on defense is still a big question mark.
Monster- You have some prejudice against me, and are not fully comprehending the balance of my words here- you accentuate the negative, and deemphasize the positive. I have no further interest in discussing something with someone who is clearly grinding some long-held axe...
Eddie will be in contention for a spot in 2006. With the WC in 2006, the European nations are going to be very strong because of geographical reasons, including strong fan support. We will need experienced players who now how to handle the pressure and to conduct themselves. It can't hurt having player who have played in Europe and are familiar with the competition. I saw Eddie play with the Clash for several years. He is a very fast player (remember the dash down the left side against Mexico for the second goal). In fact, he sometimes was too fast (I.e. Roy Lassieter), but he has learned to use his speed better (may be this gives the appearance of being not as fast). If he starts to transtition to playing left defender for the team now, he shouldn't have too many problems. Also, even if he doesn't start, it would be great to have a player that can play both positions on the left side coming off the bench. Some of us think that by magic some players will appear to fill in positions for 2006. There will be one or two surprises, but I think the pool of players for 2006 is pretty well known.
i don't know if this is a worthwhile contribution to this thread, or not, but i'll say one thing with regard to an earlier aspect of it... i'll gladly give full marks to the players at the back (and to arena) for what was a splendid effort in korea. but anyone who doesn't think that "the soccer gods were with us" - or however you want to phrase it - is dillusional. just think back to 2001 for a minute. during our string of qualifiers that year, we saw at least one DIRE - and i mean horrifically awful - performance at the back from each and every one of our defenders (save mastroeni). to say that we went to korea with a suspect defense is a HUGE understatement. with the exception of agoos' rough patch, they were great - and i'll be the first to applaud them. but in order to believe that we're going to be regularly as good at the back as we were in the cup, you've got to ignore alot of evidence to the contrary.
This year's MLS rookie crop and next year's Olympic tourney will make all of the players capable of contributing known IMHO. After this MLS season and the subsequent European season, I don't think any players will have a chance to contribute.
My two cents: The grooming of a Convey or Lewis or Beasely for that matter (any sort of Roberto Carlos-type left wingback) is a great idea and clearly shows Bruce is looking to create a team that can attach from a number of positions. Whether or not a Convey or Lewis-type actually plays in vital games like key WCQs or the WC itself is certainly a function of Bruce finding a central tandem defensive tandem that can pick-up the slack when Convey/Lewis gets into the offensive mode. Bocanegra and a partner(say Pope) are the obvious choices at this point, as Boca can naturally slide left. But, if the two inside back are considered a weakness come WCQ or don't have the versatility to pinch left effectively, you'll likely see a more "stay at home" type left back like Barrett. So, we need to follow the development of the inside-backs as well as the defensive growth of a Convey to see if a wingback formation will be effective. I for one like it, particularly if Sanneh can play at 2002 levels in 2006.
Not only that, but if we were strong anywhere defensively during the Cup, it was surely on the right with Sanneh and Pope. Hejduk was abused for much of his time on the pitch. It was only the poor tactical decisions of the Korean and Portuguese coaches that allowed us to get away with his presence. And we all know about Agoos' troubles (calling it a "rough patch" is very generous). I don't believe any American (or other) observer would question that we need a complete overhaul on the left side of our defense. So, if Bobby Convey is being considered - a player who has never played left back to my knowledge - then why not Eddie Lewis? Eddie has all the elements Bruce (or any other Int'l coach) is looking for - a strong professional resume in MLS and England, significant international experience, and the ability to succeed on offense, defense and transition. Now, I'm not saying he's the best candidate. I still believe that at present the two top dogs are Vanney and Barrett. But Lewis is likely to be in the mix.