I guess I have to start a week 5 thread. The DC game was ok, it looked to me like the ref was deficient, however, I don't think it changed the outcome of the game. There was some merit to the penalty. Anyway, as for the nats I was impressed by hmmmmm, Matt Reis, beyond him no one was really spectacular that could play for the US. Disagree? wanna hear your opinion
I think Twellman has plateaued. MLS has done him well, but to get to a higher level, he needs to play with better competition. That being said if the Gold Cup were tomorrow, I'd want him over Ching.
Twellman is 27 right now. Assuming he could play in one of the top European Leagues, it would almost certainly take at least a year, if not two, to adjust and by then his career is nearly over.
I thought the whole DC line was Nats material in some way, shape or form. At least that's what you would have thought a few mths ago readin certain sections of this board.
if i didn't know better, i'd be thinking match fixing on the dc united-revs match.... it couldn't have been incompetence...could it?? as to the forwards this summer...my 3 for each tourney...4th guy being more problematic... gold cup....ching...donovan...ej off the bench... copa america...twellman...cooper....rolfe off the bench... twellman does well in group play, and he may supplant ching
Twellman ain't going anywhere. He just signed a fresh 3-year deal. Off KC-Columbus. Grabavoy looked to be shackled up by Sigi. Ned needs to go forward and take guys off the dribble. Eddie Gaven did not have a good game. He had a few chances but always seemed slow to make something happen. Eddie Johnson - the guy is equally unskilled with both feet, which is actually a plus. He had a few quarter-chances but didn't know what to do half of the time. Columbus ain't TFC. Guillermo Barros Schelotto (by and for comparison) - looks tiny out there among the Yanks.
EJ had some nice touches on the ball for sure. Played few nice passes as well. He really needs to play with an a-mid though. Burciaga--had another good defensive game. I only remember one good cross he allowed in. Jack Jewsbury--looked strong at rb O'Rourke--making fewer mistakes at d-mid.
What group play was that? Scoring on an open goal on an already eliminated Panama after we had already qualified?
What a weird week in MLS. Probably the unsexiest list of American standouts we've ever had to discuss: Richard Mulrooney looked awesome as a right back in Houston and added real width to the Dynamo attack. He sprung two scoring sequences from that spot and probably has no business anywhere near the US locker room. Jack Jewsbury continues to look like he was born for that role. If you haven't paid attention to him there, do. He's good. The "just not quite quick enough" Jose Burciaga Jr scored a great game-winner in a snoozer of a game where oft-discussed EJ looked dangerous and aggressive, but couldn't put one away, Gaven looked awful, and recent insurgent Grabavoy looked pedestrian. More from Colorado: Beckerman looks like a decent player sometimes, but he's abandoning his defensive midfield role when the Rapids can't afford it. Clark looked like he's back to business, which was good to see. Something to watch in his game you might not appreciate - how much separation he gets in one touch, and how quickly he moves the ball around the field. Ching played well, as did, well, everyone on Houston. I wish DeRo was an American. And in the truly unsexy game of the day, Chris Klein and Chris Brown have to get nods for two freakin' amazing goals. We'd be going gaga if Altidore scored anything like the goal Brown did. That was beautiful. Is Clint Mathis "really" retired? He's back to being good.
The attention that he drew from RSL's defense pretty much accounted for all the good chances the Red Bulls had. He was a beast physically. Only managed to make one decent half-chance for himself, though (and that was on a deflected shot by Stammler), and smoked it just wide.
Both of Mathis' goals were influenced by Altidore. He was wide open on both because the 17 year-old made picture perfect runs that opened up the space. Altidore had both CB's marking him at all times.
He was again played wide and saw very little of the ball. Had an assist on a nice lead ball on the equalizer and looked dangerous a couple of other times but mostly struggled to get involved (for which I wouldn't fault him in at least this match). Even when he's on the ball the rest of his team look like they're trying to do something different. Nobody's on the same page.
Sometimes Taylor Twellman looks like Herman Munster with a soccer ball. Though, the old Herm was probably a little more nimble.
Re: Mulrooney. That has always been one of his strengths - well played long balls up to the forward. It's a shame that he missed his shot at the WC due to injury. I haven't seen Beckerman play that much. But, to me, he looked too slow of foot and slightly too slow with his decision making when he had the chance to make something happen. Glad to read that Jewsbury looked good at RB.
We appear to have some competent fullback prospects for the summer with Bornstein, Burciaga, and Pearce on the left and Mulrooney, Jewsbury, and Spector on the right. Chivas has lost two in a row without the suspended Kjestan underlining his importance. 3 goals and 3 assists on the season for Rolfe. He's carrying the team. His distribution seems to be improving.
Mulrooney is too slow for right back at the international level and, given his age, I doubt that the coaching staff will invest too much time in looking at this option. I didn't see much in Jewsbury, but I guess I should watch closer.
I really agree with Individual Eleven. I like Jewsbury and Burciaga. And it's good to have Mulrooney back, and it's safe to say that Bornstein never looked like he ever got injured. Looks really class. And I think Clint Mathis just booked himself a ticket to South America if he wants it. It's too bad he couldn't play like this a year ago. We could have used what he is now back in Germany. I am also impressed by Fred, of course. But that's another story....
We'll see. He's played 4 or 5 games (that count) at RB. It's a little early to be writing him off. Too early to have him leapfrogging the likes of Spector, Simek, or even Hejduk or Hunter Freeman at this point. But, imo, he's one to watch. I'd rather see those 4 filling the RB roles in the tourneys this summer (along with SC, of course). And, let Gentleman Jack work out the positioning kinks with KC this summer. But, it's too early to write him off as someone who'll never be cap-worthy.
Simek and Spector haven't shown any noteworthy in a US jersey. No reason guys like Jewsbury or Mulrooney can't compete as long they're improving throughout the season.
Dasan Robinson is far more athletic, agile and versatile. BTW, I wouldn't mind looking at Jose Burciaga at a left defensive mid if the Hardworking Bob keeps his job and the 4-4-2. He's better with the ball at his feet than Beckerman or Mastro and has a very good outside shot.