Arturo making a splash in Europe So far the US U-18 team has beaten the youth squads of PSG and RC Lens 3-0, and 2-1 respectively. Arturo Alvarez had 2 goals in the first match and figured into both goals in the second, providing service on corner kicks that ended with the two goals, the first indirectly off a deflected shot eventually put in, and the second a direct assist via a header. http://www.ussoccer.com/news/default.sps?iType=113
No, the scoreline tells you that. The fact that Arturo has played a part in 4 of 5 goals tells you he's one of the best U-18 players.
Meaning a player who doesn't start for an MLS team and at full-strength would get minimal playing time goes to France and tears up their youth teams. Sad for them.
Arturo making a splash in Europe Does he play for U-18 as a forward (I believe, this is his natural position) or on the wing?
Arturo making a splash in Europe Agree. What I have seen of Walker in the two games that he's been in suggests the same.
It's time for him to step up for the Quakes now that Donovan is gone for the month of June. Start him up top with Mullan, anybody but Lagos. If he doesn't play as much defense as frank would like, more playing time should change that.
Arturo Alvarez [R] A great goal tonight. Arturo showed alot of promise in there. For stretches he had Devin Barclay Syndrom (DBS) in which he looked a little lost, but overall he played the game incredibly well for a seventeen-year-old (which just goes to show how much soccer has developed in this country in just a few short years.) I personally think Arturo will make Landon's departure in a year a little easier to swallow. Discuss!
Once Alvarez begins to recognize his defensive role as an outside midfielder, he will be unstoppable....his poise on the ball is remarkable.... Lagos should be hearing Arturo's footsteps behind him...once LD returns, it might be Manny sitting on he bench.....
Arturo Alvarez [R] I'd have to agree. I appreciate everything that Manny has contributed to this club and I believe he still goes out and gives it all he's got. I just don't think that is more than we can get from others...namely Alvarez. However, I imagine FY values his experience and that will keep Manny on the pitch a good while longer. Though the heart still is fond of Manny the business head says "play the kid!!!"
While I don't want this to degenerate into a thread about Manny, I would say that his place is on the bench regardless of Landon. When Ekelund is healthy, Ramiro or Mullan move to left mid. and Lagos hits the bench. I thought that was the plan to begin with. Once the bench gets more crowded, I was afraid Alvarez' development would be slowed, but his performance tonight must have proved to Yallop how valuable he is to this team. His shot on goal was textbook, and neck and neck with Razov's for goal of the week.
Congrats, it was a good result and Alvarez showed great promise. He gets kudos for sending candya$$ Ryan Suarez (that guy bugs me) to the ground late in the game, then scoring on a beautiful header. Mullen and Dunivant also showed well too.
Thanks for bringing this up. Suaraez wants to thug the kid and Alvarez is more than up to it. Picks up his yellow (does Todd D have one yet?) Then smashes the game winner home. Three comments: 1. Woohoop woohoop woo hoo!! I love this kid! Can't wait to see him at HDC. WOO HOO! 2. This guy probably wouldn't have sniffed if everyone was healthy. But whatever's going wrong that puts Arturo on the field, I'm okay with it. 3. Let him attack. Go with his strength. We've got four in the back and twin defensive midfielders. That should suffice if we've got another guy setting the agenda. Guys like Mathis and Arturo win games AND entertain the fans.
Vote for Alvarez's Goal Come on Quakes fans. Vote for "mi pariente." He is lagging behind all contenders for Goal of the Week. Vote early and often ;-) http://www.mlsnet.com/multimedia/pepsi/index.php OK, so he is not really my cousin but we share a common last name and his beauty of a goal deserves some recognition.
Don't feel bad. Every once in a while, the alternative universe ND gets his hands on the keyboard. If you want I can dumb down my post and make it more knee-jerk cynical.
Re: Vote for Alvarez's Goal ...plus his was the only goal that was worth a damn. All of the others were on one side or the other of a rout - Arturo's won the game, and in the waning minutes, and on the road. I see that that mook Carrieri leading, and for what? A pretty goal, but when you're up by three goals it's understandable that no one will bother marking you very closely. He camps out for one, two, three, four, five seconds with no pressure before hitting the ball and then he rips off his short and flexes? Whatever, guy.
Re: Arturo Alvarez [R] I don't know. One goal does not a striker make. Remember, he was also put in late (I think, correct if wrong) in the 2nd half. He was at full speed, everyone else was tired. I don't think that one goal when you have much more energy than the opposition gives you the bump up over a starter. Remember, it was Arturo who, instead of chasing after a Fire striker decided to raise his hand and hope for an offsides call, that led to either the 3rd or 4th goal in the Chicago vs. Quakes debacle. The Fire player was clearly offsides (clear to everyone but the linesman), but you let the refs call the call, you don't stop playing and hope for the best. I think his play warrants a longer look at him, but hardly a starting spot.
Re: Re: Arturo Alvarez [R] OK, I'm an idiot. I just checked the box score, and he played all 90. What the hell was I thinking. Still delerious over our first win in three games. Still, it's one goal (a great one). I still contend one goal does not a striker make.
Don't forget the other very classy (and significant!) pass he made - the through ball to Dunivant overlapping on the left which Todd chipped to Mullan for the first goal. Without Alvarez' pass on that play, the goal never happens. He still has a long way to go with his all around game, but the guy's got serious game.
FYI Arturo Alvarez will be on Glenn Davis’ radio show in Houston (available online) this Sunday (6/22) from 5-6 p.m. Central time, 3-4 pm Pacific time: Requesting the presence of real fans, Glenn Davis, Houston Chronicle. You can listen to the show online at www.kpft.org. Also from the column quoted above:
      So is the plan for Arturo to sit in place of Corrales?       GO EARTHQUAKES!!! -G