*If* Taylor Twellman is the next mold of Jason Kreis, all I can say is that it's an insanely strong sign for US and MLS soccer. However, I do not think he will be. Twellman works just as hard or harder than McBride. McBride is insane in the air, absolutely phenomanal. But Twellman is insane on taking chances. Just like McBride, he sacrifices his body and makes the most of what is given. And Twellman finishes. Right now he has 29 (6 this season so far) regular season goals in the last 2 seasons. I have no idea how many he added in the US Open Cup and MLS Cup playoffs last year. An open chance is almost assured of being finished, he's just sick. 14 more goals to become the first player to do 20 goal seasons back to back. I'd have to say he has a great chance to do that at this point. With Kamler scoring, Ralston still spraying great crosses, and Shalrie & Hernandez playing solid in the middle... defenses will have their hands full. Every Revolution player fights hard for every ball. Which is great for a team with Twellman. This sets him up with quick chances, and as long as their is a chance... he will sacrifice himself for the goal. And I would have to say that at this point, that's the only way he might not get to 20 this year. If he injures himself on a chance. But he appears to be quite resilient.
Are you insane Seriously though, did I hear Max Bretos right in suggesting that Twellman opted out of Nat duty for his club??
Yeah... I have to admit i was wrong about twellman... Twellman's finishing rate is awsome. His goal tonite shows how good of a striker he is.
Twellman would pair best with McBride. Twellman needs to beat out Donovan for the speedster role. It the US plays 3-5-2 with Donovan in midfield Twellman has a better chance to earn time. The problem with Twellman is he doesn't create anything for himself or his teammates. I do believe that Twellman should be an option off the bench. With the US ahead Twellman is great at pressuring the defense. When the US is behind add Twellman up front and push Donovan into midfield. Either way, Twellman has some things to offer as a substitute. The best lineup from Twellman's perspective is: -----------------McBride---Twellman ---------------------Donovan Lewis-------------------------------------Reyna ----------------Obrien----Mastroeni ----------Bocanegra-----Pope----Hejduk ---------------------Friedel With guys like Donovan, Reyna, Lewis, and Obrien providing service Twellman would surely finish a few off. He is actually a better finisher than Donovan IMO. Donovan is clearly a better all around player. Twellman can also track down some flick on headers by McBride.
No, Twellman would have to prove he's better than Mathis. And he's not. Mathis will get the nod by Arena over Twellman anyday. Heck, Wolff would.
so what you're saying is you want two forwards who do nothing to create for each other or themselves? that's brilliant! for the record, I hope twellman succeeds. I hope anybody who suits for the Nats succeeds. I'm just not optomistic. But i'm certainly not rooting against him.
UxSxAxfooty, On Paper Mathis is better than Twellman. However, Mathis doesn't pair well with anyone other than Wolff. The Mathis McBride combo doesn't work because Mathis is too slow. The Donovan Mathis combo doesn't work because both guys prefer to play withdrawn. Twellman plays a simliar game to Wolff. If Mathis is on top of his game, running freely and putting forth an effort I could see Twellman and Mathis playing well together. Twellman was let down in the beginning of the year my playing next to an out of form Mathis. I have not seen any reason to believe that Mathis is going to gain back his mobility. Twellman on the other hand is an up and comer. He will do the dirty work and at the very least pressure the defenders.
This is why I want Donovan in Midfield and guys like Reyna and Lewis wide. Man U looked great with Yorke and Cole finishing chances created by Beckham and Giggs. I believe it is really the midfielders role to set up the forwards. McBride and Wolff were great together with Donovan in Support. The Gold Cup and 2002 WC game vs Mexico proved that! Wolff and McBride don't really create for each other. (I know Wolff passed to McBride for the first goal in Mexico game) In general, Donovan and Lewis were the playmakers in the Gold Cup.
Twellman is remarkably opportunistic, but I still can't figure out that corner flag fetish he recently demonstrated. I don't think it's accurate to say that he doesn't create opportunities, but it is odd how completely successful he is with NE and how little he's done with the US. All of New England is looking solid this year. Maybe if that team donned the US jersey Twellman could have a good game for the nats. Maybe the USSF will schedule a friendly on a Monday when NE has a weekoff, and we'll see this happen. Heck, Brown, Llamosa, Twellman and Ralston have already been called up a few times. I'd like to see Franchino against some Central American side.
Twellman is better than McBride I am sorry, cause I am a big McBride fan, but Twellman deserves his spot on the Nats.
Re: Twellman is better than McBride Don't be sorry. Lets see what the two can do together. McBride has always played better for Nats than for the Crew anyhow. Remember that McBride is a target player and Twellman is the finisher. It is not like comparing Buddle to McBride. Twellman should be compared with Donovan and Wolff. Like most people I prefer Donovan over Twellman.
With a team that is seeking to depend on one striker to consistantly bang in a goal, Twellman is as good as anyone. This type of player can be very valuable to a league team and they can build around his production....and the player can earn a very good living. If you are a national team seeking strikers to play/cooperate & elevate the game level beyond the level of international defenses TWELLMAN is not yet your man. National Team players should have the ability to break down, Mexico, Brazil, England, Turkey. A strong dimensional player can succeed in league football and still be lacking high level tools for international football. Sometimes you can't put your finger on it, but another player just makes the difference obvious.(ie; Jovan Kirovski doesn't have it) Twellman is much better at his craft, so no insult intended. He reminds me of unidimensional Oliver Berhoff. I like Twellman to get better and I think he will. That is actually scary!!
How long is McBride expected to play for the Nats? At 34 in 2006 that might not be the best guy. Twellman needs a few more games to see if he can do the biz. Twellman's compeition might come from Conor Casey.
Yeah your right. Max mentioned somthing along the lines of making a commitment to Nicols, but nothing more during the Crew.Revs broadcast.
One of the domestic national team's biggest problems is the lack of true attacking midfielder who can control the matches flow. Both Donovan and Mathis can fill this role, but neither are really effective as they get caught up in the midfield and have difficulty moving forward with the rest of the attack. Given Twellman, McBride, and perhaps also Buddle's skill at the target forward position perhaps Arena should consider playing a 4-3-2-1 with both Donovan and Mathis withdrawn. This would lessen the need for a true A-mid and give each player the space he needs to be effective.
He beat the goalie on a 1 v. 1 the defense just stood around and watched him and didn't even try to stop him. It was an average at best goal and doesn't prove how good of a striker he is. He would get more US duty if he could have shown any promise in his time with the big club. He will be another Jason Kreis, one who can score in the MLS but is crap at the international level.
Even if Twellman never gets another NATS call up, as long as he keeps putting them in the onion bag for the REVS, I will be happy...Does it make him less of a player if he does not excel for the National Team but is a great player in MLS? I don't think so personally.... Go Twellman!!!!!! Nate
In fact, if you go to the ussocceruk site, you can read the little interview/story. Twellman said he'd concentrate on pleasing Nichol and WHEN and IF the nats call him up, then he'll concentrate on pleasing Bruce.
As a Revs Fort-dweller, plus we get all their games on TV here, I have had the chance to watch TnT from day 1. He is absolutely fearless and puts his body on the line for a sniff at the net. He will dive headfirst against studs, knees, posts and keepers to go after crosses and loose balls. You could even argue that he risks cards for "dangerous play" in the sense that he seems to court potential injury with his seemingly reckless abandon. But until he is carted off on a stretcher, which may well happen, he is a poacher supreme in MLS. He shields the ball fairly well and does serve as a target for crosses and passes to maintain possession. While it is normally a sign of offensive breakdown or lethergy when he comes to midfield to look for the ball, he is more than willing to do it. Again, he gets high marks for his workrate. He is a clinical finisher, most of the time. He went through a short period about two weeks ago where he missed a number of sure to good chances but generally he puts most everything away. As poachers do he employs every aspect of his body from head to toe to blast, roll, poke, nudge, redirect and even breath on the ball to get it in the net. Last night's goal was perfectly placed, low and just inside the left post. It would have required a world class save to stop it although the Crew keeper didn't seem to come foreward at all. His touch and speed and height are the problems. McBride is light years ahead of him as far as close control, passing and heading go (although TnT is a fine header, McB's stature means he is a better target and redirector of the ball). As for speed, they are probably equals. I think he has improved his touch over the year-plus that he has been with NE and I suspect that Joe Max will have an enormous influence on him. Ultimately, Twellman will go off to Europe and could flourish at club level there. At this point, lucky for us, his game needs a bit of work and he has a great learning situation with the Revs and the likes of Moore, Ralston, Nicol, etc. I don't think he is ready for full time service with the Nats unless he gets into a really good partnership with someone like McBride whose all around game is more sophisticated. JIM DOW
Just a little something to toss out here: In 2003, Taylor Twellman has six goals and no assists through the first eight games played. Steve Ralston by comparison has two goals and one assist through eight games. In 2002, Taylor Twellman had six goals and no assists through the first eight games played. Steve Ralston by comparison had three assists and one goal through eight games. Funny thing is, the Revolution lead the league in total team assists to this point in 2003... and Ralston only has one of them, this for a club that's been described as having no midfield. The Magpie