With contraction and the supposedly improved quality of play in MLS, I was curious as to people's thoughts on players that have not lived up to expectations or that just don't cut it anymore. Some nominations: Dema Kovalenko - to be honest, I never really thought much of him and that talk of him for the US team was silly. Now--he's simply terrible Chad Deering - Age? Failed hopes of WC? Ponytail? When he first showed up he was way ahead of other players in speed of thought/play. Now--seems mediocre. Mike Petke - Bad defender on a bad team with a bad defense Bobby Convey? - Bad team, for sure, but he doesn't seem to have much impact on games for all the hype he got. Razov? Cullen? Cunningham?
Cunningham? You have not been watching many Crew games if he's on your list. He's a fine MLS player. Kovalenko. I'm not sure what your original expectations of him were. Kova is a hard worker and he has the ability to make solid runs on the ball and even score a few goals. He's no superstar, but plenty of teams would love to have him.
wow third post and I'm the first person to mention Chris Albright. shouldn't that have happened three posts ago? I second the convey nomination.
How old is Convey? He's what 20 years old? He's still a pup and he's a decent MLS player. Albright is fine example of someone who didn't match the hype.
Convey grew a lot this year. He's finally shown that he can play a central role, not to mention showing that he's lost his "deer in the headlights" finishing. He's also began running at defenders more often, and he's still not 20 yet. Unlike everyone else on your list, he's still got plenty of time. I may be biased, but I also saw him a ton of times this season. Trust me, Convey will continue getting better.
I agree with what has been said above with regards to Albright, obviously. But then again he did score on Meola. I have to chip in with regards to Convey. Personally, I have been rooting for the guy ever since he got MLS some run for being so young. The kid is only 20 years old which has been mentioned before. I think he really blossomed this year. First off, his "role" has not ever really been clear (i.e. left mid or center mid). Regardless, he started playing much more centrally this year near the end of the year. He looked fantastic from what I saw. Give him time. He will pan out. How many other 20 year olds in MLS have been starting regularly for nearly three years now? He has some quality experience. He is getting more confidence. It will come. This thread should be saved when the U-23's comes up or the Olympics. With regards to others, the entire NY/NJ Metrostar team sucked. Faria shows so man yflashes of brilliance it is almost unfair. But then he flops open shot or 1 v. 1 etc. That is pretty disappointing. Other disappointments: Big Mama, Razov (that red card alone)
When Leo Cullen first came to the Fusion there was a lot of hype that he would be a future starter on the national team. He did some of training for the team and I think came in as a sub for a game but that was about it. Hes a good defender who would start on most teams in MLS, but he never lived up to that initial hype.
By a "few goals" do you mean over the course of his entire career? Because he's only scored one this year. Convey's problem is his play is so much more fluid than the rest of his team. He's as quick a thinker as Donovan (though not nearly the finisher) or Beasley but Marco and Jamie have lost the ability to make runs or take fewer than five touches on the ball before passing.
What happened to Petke? I really liked him a couple of years ago, and he looked like a future Nat. Now, no way. I like Jolley alot better. (DISCLAIMER: I only see the Mutts when they're on the ESPN2 game.)
If i remember, Hudson played Convey in central role in the last few games and they started winning... I hope they do the same thing in 03.
how many goals would YOU score if you were forced to play all your home games in a carpeted shoe-box?
Earlier in the season I thought Adin Brown form was dropping. But the last half of the season seem to squash that doubt. Albright get my vote.
Can I nominate Joe Cannon? At this time last season, he seemed to be one step away from excellence. Now it looks as if he'll never reach his potential. His feet are a disaster, and the mental side of the game simply isn't there. His teammate Devin Barclay is a great athlete, and in 2001, he showed flashes of potential for Tampa Bay. This year, however, he looked completely lost on the field -- could he be the next Albright? Finally, Luchi Gonzalez won the Hermann Trophy last fall, yet he was stuck on the bench behind Barclay.
Bobby's been a bright spot of a dismal season. He's one of the teams leading goal scorer, and was moved to central midfield towards the end of the season, the same time that DC started winning.
Convey and albright did not match there hype by a stretch. i go to a-league games anyway so who cares!
Zach Thornton. I'd say he's in the same boat as Joe. Oh, and playing in a shoebox never stopped Ante Razov and it never stopped other teams from scoring on us.
I don't know how anyone can say Convey. He doesn't turn 20 until May. If we're going to say that 19 year-olds are not promising if they put up good, but not great numbers in MLS, then who is promising?
What about Mattheus? I mean, he had all the skills to be a great defender in MLS? But he kept betting beat like a rented mule. Or any of the other great Metro SIs over the years? Sachin
I think some people here are confusing players in a stretch of bad form, oir who have peaked and are now on their downside. I think the Cullen nomination is spot on. After the 98 WC, which was Cullen's rookie year, Sports Illustrated ran a poll of soccer observers giving their opinions on who would be the starters for the 2002 Cup. Three of those players didn't make the Cup team, but two (Olsen and Armas) were injured. The third was Leo Cullen. IT's too bad. I think part of that is simply that the league has improved.
Ed Johnson, has anybody seen his touch on the ball? He would get torn apart on the National team..no question. Even though he is young, people on this board hype him up to be some great young player, I'd be surprised if he gets to see any significant time for the MNT in the upcoming years.
sssssshhhh. must you point out the obvious?! favorite moment of watching live soccer in U.S... first game at Naperville me and my friends hear this little toddler in the front row ask "Is that the Fires Field?!" 'yes' we told him. "thats WAY too small". can we nominate Jay Heaps too? or is he a never-was... and not a could-a-been?
WOW WOW WOW there are some names on here that i can't believe were mentioned: ante razov, joe cannon, dema kovalenko, ed johnson, bobby convey, devin barclay ante razov: the fire's leading scorer in 4 out of their 5 years... he has proven to be consistent and did extremely well with a team devastated by injuries... yeah, he can be a head case... a TON of scorers are, and he is the worst kind of scorer... CONSISTENT... although i will say he is not promising anymore... but that is because he is a known commodity joe cannon: been a great keeper past couple of years, quakes burned out at the end this year... that is never one man's fault... i think any flak he gets will come from quack fans upset that he doesn't need to be watched after by mommy like LD... he will be looking for teams in europe this offseason, good luck with that joe dema kovalenko: he had a real hard time putting balls in the back of the net... still had several assists and played some good all around soccer, the scoring was very missing though... one bad year... besides, he has been playing for around 20 months straight with very little time off (loan to st. pauli) ed johnson: what do you have, to say this kid ain't promising???? nothing, he hasn't really played yet in this league... he has shown to be damn good at the youth national level... give him some time bobby convey: damn, damn, and damn... this kid showed some great play when i got to see him at the end of the year... really turning around and starting to show some of that hype... and STILL just 19 devin barclay: he went from the mutes to the defending champs... of course he is going to have a hard time finding playing time and working his way in with that team... he's seen as a guy that could be a good player, but i don't think anyone really had him hyped up to think he was doing insanely bad this year