Ok..so we've done the overrated bit. Here are their picks for each team's pivotal player. 1. Mike Clark 2. Joe-Max Moore 3. Jaime Moreno 4.Galin Ivanov 5. Ante Razov 6.Cobi Jones. 7.Nick Garcia 8.Oscar Pareja 9.Jeff Agoos ("If Agoos doen't have a monster year, the Quakes will struggle..need him to anchor revamped defense," for those Agoos non-believers out there. ) 10.Pablo Mastroeni
Mike Clark? Joe Max Moore (who hasn't played a minute for the Revs yet)? Ante Razov? No Carlos Ruiz (the biggest no-brainer of them all)? Wow. At least I think I understand the other list a little better now.
Rodan, I don't think they were trying to choose the best player, obviously from the list. The idea was to choose a player that could have a big impact on the season. If he played well the season could turn good, if he did not play well the seson could swing bad.(hence the name pivot) At least that was my take on it when I read it in SA earlier this week. Andy
All of those picks seem like valid ones to me. For those pivotal guys who step it up--or play as they are capable--his team will be much much better for it. As for Clark, he will be assigned the other team's most dangerous attacker so I'd definitely say his play is pivotal to the Crew's success in the back this season.
Yes, for those ready to go crazy about SA's gravitas, this is the context of the picks. For the record, they have a: Pivotal Worth Your Money Make Or Break Best Youngster Underrated Overrated ...player for each team.
piv·ot·al adj -1)Of, relating to, or serving as a pivot. 2)Being of vital or central importance; crucial: Excepting Roberto Carlos, I'm not sure you can be pivotal on defense. Even KC in '02 didn't have one standout, everyone in back was great. 1.Seriously? Mike Clark? I'll go with McBride here. How he meshes with Buddle will determine CLB's season. 2. JMM wasn't "pivotal" when he left. I'm not sure he can be now. I'd go with Ralston because without him, Twellman does not score 20+. Also if Brown stumbles, Reis is there. 3. Mathis 4. Ivanov is hurt. I'll go with Rimando. If he isn't great dc will finish last. 5. I'm good with that. Isn't he suspended early? 6. Maybe in the locker room or in marketing. On the field it will be Ruiz. He will have to have 20+ again for LA to fly. 7. If the defense is great in '03, it will be Conrad's addition that cured the ills of '02. Wolff should be the biggest differce maker. His speed creates space all over the field for KC' wingers and Preki. 8. Pareja is hurt also, how about DJ Countess? We know Cassar will bleed goals so DJ must raise his level. He was below average in Tulsa two weeks ago. On field would be A. Martinez. 9. With DeRo out it must now be Donovan's burden to carry 10. Pablo is a good choice, I still go with Spencer. Hurt last year, his health should be good for everyone in Denver.
Yes, Razov is pivotal for the Fire this year. So is Andy Williams. We need Razov to be streaky at the right times this year and we need to get a whole productive year out of Andy. Either one would be fine with me.
I would go with Armas as the Fire's pivotal player. How he comes back from injury as the de-facto leader of the club will have a great effect on the team.
I don't think Clark is that Odd of a pick for the Crew. He and Dunseth are gonna need to be the ones that hold together the Crew's defense. They can definately score, but these boys are key...
I agree completely with their pick of Pareja for the Burn. He is clearly the most pivotal player. When he plays, they usually win. When he doesn't, they never do.
Last season KC lead the league in shots for a while and still managed to suck at finishing. We brought Wolff in for a reason: To be the most pivotal player and turn our poor finishing rate around.
Mike Clark no longer is a necessity. I think the make/break player this season either is Freddy Garcia or Edson Buddle.
Ivanov? Please. The DC season is a make or break based solely on how Etcheverry plays. If he continues to suck like the past few years, DC will be bad. If he regains the magic, we will succeed. Its as simple as that.