I don't know how many of you got to see the US Open Cup game of Dallas vs LA, but Carlos Ruiz opened a can of whoop ass in that game that was pretty damn impressive. I have to hand it to Sigi Schmid and MLS for bringing this guy in because it looks like the kid will go far. Good article on him here: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/09/05/ruiz_mls_sa/ So far I would even put Ruiz at the top of the heap of smart international signings.
Even though i cant stand the Galaxy, i can stand Ruiz...Hes a classy player...works hard and has impressed me when ive seen him play...its players like this that MLS needs to sign. Hes not a showboat and not a villainous player like Luis Hernandez...Great signing.
I couldnt remember who and when Ruiz scored the goal i was thinking of, so i didnt bother mentioning it...but his golden goal vs San Jose was great...he made San jose look silly.
True. I think that was an Open Cup game as well. He just flicked the ball over the last defender and that was all she wrote. Actually I wouldn't be surprised if MLS has a hard time hanging on to him. The article mentions his interest in playing elsewhere, and with his production this season he is bound to catch some interest.
hate the galaxy... love watching ruiz play him and twellman are simply a joy to watch play, great signings by the league
Debateable No argument at all. You obviously never saw the match at Mazatenango did you? He was a complete punk. Brutal tackles from behind, a flying kick to Keller and a handball that wasn't called. To his credit he plays 100% for 90 minutes, a quality that is certainly admirable. On that day though he was a total jerk.
now hold up, he was comparing ruiz to hernandez... and history tells me i have seen ruiz act like that one time, the game you are refering to in mazatanango. hernandez on the other hand acted that way, and still acts that way, every single time he sets foot on the field at country and club level... he (hernandez) is and always will be a classless jerk.
Earlier in the year, Carlos expressed a desire to play with the Galaxy for 4 seasons, and then ply his trade elsewhere (Mexico or Europe I believe). At this rate, I think he'll play only next season in MLS, and if he has the same level of success, he'll be gone to greener (for MLS that is) pastures. That said, let's remember we've had some playeras come in a have good first years, only to struggle to duplicate those stats in the next. However, Carlos is just 22, and getting better every stinkin' game! Love watching him, and wouldn't be surprised if he led us to the title this season. Anyone else who has seen him more than say 4-5 times think he's another MLS player who could PLAY for any club in the world right now?
New Article If you cast your net wide enough, you always catch a "Fish" ... http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=562132097 NOTE: If CNNSI is cross-linked to the same article, I don't know. Why? Because my employer blocks access to CNNSI.com as "non-work related." This is for others out there in the same position...
i remember all to well seeing ruiz for the first time it was in guatemala vs usa during wc qualifying oh that was ugly he was tenacious i am dreading the next time the usa has to go down there (but i cant wait to see it at the same time )
Re: New Article and BigSoccer IS considered work-related? Then again, I'll bet if we looked at the usage percentages, we'd find the highest volume of posts during "work" hours (allowing for time zone differences, of course) just curious, what web-filtering tool does your company use (by asking that question, BS just officially became a work-related site for me, thanks!
Regarding Ruiz, there was an LA Times piece a month or so ago in which he stated that his dream was to play in the MFL. I think it was a team for whom a Guatamalan soccer legend had previously played for. Sorry, but the story's too old to get the link from the Times website.
The Fish can flat out finish and I almost kinda...sorta...well, not really...like watching the Galaxy this year 'cause of it. I read somewhere where he wanted to play one more year in MLS and then move on to bigger and brighter things (for him). The MFL would seem the next likely stop. I do think it will be tougher for him next year in MLS if only because MLS defenders will take a personal stake in finding new, devious ways to stop him.
I've seen it speculated on the LA boards that Ruiz was signed on a loan for this year only. If that's true, I wouldn't expect him back next season.
As my Boss man reminded me yesterday, "you could probably sell a lot more if you didn't post all day to that freaking soccer page." Err uhh? I don't know what you're talking about, Massa. It's not my fault they have t100 or ISDN here and I have dial up at home, my apt has antiquated utilities. I don't have a problem w/ a guy being a pesky lil fish so long as he plays hard all the time and doesn't complain ala Bill Laimbeer or Dennis Rodman.
Fish is on a 4 year contract with the MLS...however, the MLS doesn't hold all his rights. Municipal have rights to him as well. (not sure where you got the loan deal from) Check back on the G boards. The latest is he may not be playing for Muni this winter after all. The Guatamalian FA is tieing things up with paperwork.
luis is so good that he has outgrown mls in 1 season. he should go to the mfl where he would develop into a better player, after all he said that he is doing all this for his country.
I remember hearing an interview with him earlier this year where he made a comment about coming back again next year to show this season wasn't a fluke--the distinct impression I got was that he wanted to come back for just one more year and then move on.
He's one of those guys you love to have on your own team and HATE to play against. If he can duplicate his season next year, I'd be a little surprised if he didn't go to Europe after that one.
Ask any coach what kind of player he wants out there once you get beyond the skill aspects of the game. You bet they want a guy who is willing to sacrifice his body in an all-out attempt to win the game, one that takes no prisoners, never shies away from contact, and never stops asking for more out of himself and his teammates (in that order). Looking at it objectively, that is what Ruiz did in the Mazatenango game. Only looking at it from a US fan's perspective was he a "punk" and a "jerk". I can proudly say that I was all for this signing as soon as I heard that it might happen. I couldn't have predicted his immediate scoring success, but it doesn't surprise me given what I saw that day in Guatemala.