Noonan for USMNT striker

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by braun, Oct 31, 2003.

  1. braun

    braun Red Card

    Feb 22, 2001
    metro Boston
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Of course, there is Donovan, McBride, Mathis, Twellman, Buddle, etc., and we start against the minnows in January, but given his rookie year showing, shouldn't Noonan be invited to camp?
     
  2. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Noonan is the new Cletus.
     
  3. The Magpie

    The Magpie Member

    Nov 19, 1998
    Cambridge, MA
    Waaaaaaaay too soon to even think this, even though he's been on a good run of late.

    The Magpie
     
  4. Nutmeg

    Nutmeg Member+

    Aug 24, 1999
    I think braun is a few weeks too early on this. If Noonan were to continue his recent play through the playoffs, I think the question would be a legitimate one.
     
  5. Father Ted

    Father Ted BigSoccer Supporter

    Manchester United, Galway United, New York Red Bulls
    Nov 2, 2001
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Ireland Republic
    He would do great for the USMNT, as long as the Metros are the opponants.
     
  6. Matrim55

    Matrim55 Member+

    Aug 14, 2000
    Berkeley
    Club:
    Connecticut
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Bruce called Mark Lisi into camp in January 2002 after a much less productive rookie year than what Noonan's had. Granted Lisi has much, much more potential than Noonan, but it's not entirely unprecedented for Bruce to take a look at a promising rookie.

    That said, I suspect if Bruce does look at him on the int'l level, it will be as a right midfielder.
     
  7. soccertom

    soccertom New Member

    Jun 2, 1999
    Why so?
     
  8. lurking

    lurking Member+

    Feb 9, 2002
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Because hes a Metros fan and he probably is reacting in horror at the destruction that Noonan has done to them. Well that and Lisi is a Metro.

    Ive been impressed with Noonan all year, although Im not really where he fits on the field. There are less deserving people that have been called into camp.
     
  9. Mattinho

    Mattinho Member

    Jan 27, 2000
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Noonie actually does things most American players can't do. He's got vision, a magic touch, a sweet pass, and solid shooting technique. If it wasn't for his disturbingly average appearance, he might stick out more. I'll be a fan of his as long as he keeps playing like he has this season. Sort of an American Teddy Sheringham. Even though I hated Teddy.
     
  10. Red Card

    Red Card Member+

    Mar 3, 1999
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Too bad Noonan wasted time in college. He still might make it internationally, but time lost is time lost. He has been very impressive against Metros, but let's see what he can do against other teams.

    Lisi has potential but right now he is hampered by an ankle awaiting an operation. His absence is the number one reason the Metros have stopped scoring.

    Both have a chance at the nats.
     
  11. lightningback

    lightningback New Member

    Jan 27, 2003
    Carson
    I haven't seen that much of him, but I don't think he's quite ready yet. Revs fans, is he someone we could think of as a future candidate as a target man after McHead (bless his soul) has retired from Int'l play? How is he in the air? Obviously, getting ahead of myself, but just curious to know if anyone thinks he can play that type of game...
     
  12. ursula

    ursula Member

    Feb 21, 1999
    Republic of Cascadia
    Well I think he'll be called up this winter. After that, who knows?
     
  13. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    no, he does not play as a target man at all. He wants the ball to his feet.
    I was VERY skeptical of him when the Revs drafted him-looked like another typical college boy.I was TOTALLY wrong.First, he is very skillful,even by Nat standards.His touch is excellent. Secondly, someone above mentioned he has a rare skill for a USA player: he shoots very well.Hard and on target alost all the time. Lastly, he is very savvy- the guy just has a soccer brain. By the way, his strike rate per minute is almost identical to Damani Ralph's. Instead of scoring by going 1-1, he is a combination guy. Quick 1-2's, quick flicks.In that sense he might fit even better with the USA team than Ralph, who I think is very good, but his style would fit less well with the USMNT.
    I am not sure of Noonan is ready but I was totally wrong about him- he has a ton of talent.
     
  14. Noonan

    Noonan New Member

    Dec 16, 2001
    Colorado
    I think Noonan should definitely get called up!
     
  15. gyr0

    gyr0 New Member

    Mar 31, 2002
    NYC
    "Noonie"?
     
  16. milkduds

    milkduds Member

    May 20, 2003
    Saint Paul, MN
    too soon to say

    Noonan appears to have some good upside, but I have not seen enough to make me think that he is already National Team material. As someone else mentioned, there are quite a few guys ahead of him as a forward (Donovan, McBride, Buddle, Twellman, Razov...) and I don't think he has the pace to play as a right midfielder. I could be wrong about that, but he never struck me as being very fast. He makes me think of Chris Klein in that position - and I don't think Chris has a very promising future with the Nats.

    The kid is still young, and if he keeps getting better then I'd love to say that I was wrong about him.
     
  17. Woodrow

    Woodrow Member+

    Dec 7, 2001
    Brick City
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Noonan should get his shot sometime next year, if not during the offseason, then perhaps in the summer when the Olympics and qualifying conflict.
     
  18. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    Noonan bagged another tonight.9 goals in last 9 games- who has done that except Clint when he could play? His best play was a 40 yard attempt to beat Walker with a lob- off the bar.As noted above, the boy has an excellent shot- almost always on target.
     
  19. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Donovan did it earlier in the year.

    I'd bet Twellman and/or Ruiz has done it at some point the last two years as well.

    Noonan's best chance for the Nats right now probably is on the right flank where he played earlier when Twellman was healthy and Ralston was gone.

    We still haven't taken much of a look at Twellman or Buddle, so Noonan may have to wait his turn at striker.
     
  20. afgrijselijkheid

    Dec 29, 2002
    mokum
    Club:
    AFC Ajax
    i agree he should wait his turn, but if ching can get a cap i don't see why noonan shouldn't - it's not like we are overrun with productive scorers and i smell a large friendly slate coming up seeing as how we don't start WCQ 'til june
     
  21. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    I am not arguing that Noonan is clearly USMNT material but that he is worth a look. AS for the speed/size thing- that is a fairly umimaginative way to look at it. Mathis( when he could play) was nieither particularly fast, nor a target player.In an earlier generation, Roy Wegerle was neither particularly fast nor a target player- he was 2nd in the Premiership( or top division if that was before the Prem) in scoring. Loads of examples of guys who score through being skillful, clever, good timing, good shots.
    Of all the recent USA players, I would compare Noonan most to Mathis in that he has a very, very good shot, and is very quick on the turn. Last night he got one good chance and buried it instantly.He also made an incredibly creative play by lobbing Walker unexpectedly from 40 and almost pulled it off-beat Walker but hit the cross-bar.
     
  22. voros

    voros Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Parts Unknown
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well Ching's cap is a lot like Eskandarian's. Bruce had to pick a side from San Jose and DCU plus Lewis and Kirovski.

    Here's what I think about Noonan:

    Pros:
    Excellent ball control, near the very best in the league in that area.

    Very good shot.

    Decent field vision

    Cons:
    Not the fastest player ever.

    Could be better moving off the ball.

    Untested against a faster paced game.

    He's certainly in the picture, but that's all for the moment. Versatility on the right wing might get him his first look. He's also roughly the same age as Twellman and Buddle, so despite being a rookie, isn't particularly young for one.
     
  23. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    I think that is a fair assessment, but I think every Rev fan, probably MLS fan is VERY surprised at how good he is.I guess in college it just was not the environment to show his skill.
     
  24. Flip1178

    Flip1178 New Member

    Apr 19, 2001
    Bloomington, IN
    Re: Re: Noonan for USMNT striker

    I think that's one of Noonan's strenghts. He doesn't look that fast but even when he was at IU when he would take people on, he has this burst of speed that caught a lot of people by surprise. Once he was by you all he would need to do is step in your line and sheild you off the ball with his strenght. He also has this tendency to just show up in the right place. You'll lose track of him for a second and then you realize that he's collecting the ball out of the back of net.

    Noonan had an exceptional college career. If I'm not mistaken herman trophy finalist and MAC player of the year runner up. I'm sure you can find more honors and things. I guess all I'm saying is if you haven't had a chance to really watch Noonan play don't write him off yet. IMHO throw him in and see if he can swim with the USMNT.
     
  25. Bruce S

    Bruce S Member+

    Sep 10, 1999
    Re: Re: Re: Noonan for USMNT striker

    we have so many great college players who can not even survive in pro soccer that we all tend to take this with a grain of salt. But clearly some great college players are great pros too, so it happens.As I said, Noonan has surprised me.
     

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