With Marco leaving and some people declaring him the greatest player in DC history, I was wondering how everyone would rank the top 5 players. You can go on to do 10 if you like. I know that for someone like myself, who has not been following United very long, it would be good to get a perspective on just how great these players were. So who is it? I'm guessing Etch, Moreno, Pope, Olsen...
Moreno, at his peak, was the best player in MLS period. He's #1. The other four (in descending order): Pope Etch Agoos Llamosa or Sanneh Olsen has only played 2 1/2 healthy seasons, otherwise he'd be #5. The other guys who have to be considered are Richie Williams, RDA, Harkes, and maybe now Nelsen.
In descending order: Etch Pope Olsen Agoos Harkes Moreno Lassiter (How could y'all not mention him?) Sanneh Llamosa Nelsen
I loved Roy, but his tenure with the team was too short. I also think Diaz Arce, who only played a little bit longer with DCU, gets picked before him because he was a little more consistent.
I actually agree with gocaps. Moreno, at his peak, had the edge over Etcheverry. He was simply a more complete player. On the other hand I'd submit that compared to Moreno, Etcheverry had a much more sustained run of quality - say from 96 to about 98. After that ... well that's another thing entirely. So my list ... The Big Five Moreno Etcheverry Pope Harkes Agoos As for Lassiter ... Yeah, for some reason the guy could score goals. But in every other aspect of the game he was truly awful. No skills. Terrible touch. No, horrendous touch! In my book he just wasn't a good player. Maybe I don't appreciate goal poachers enough but it just doesn't seem right to list him with the guys above. And if I'm gonna list a poacher it'd be RDA ... at his peak.
1. Marco Etchaverry 2. Jaime Moreno 3. Eddie Pope 4. Raul Diaz Arce 5. Ben Olsen The first four are picks using my head. The last is a pick from the heart. Nobody brings more commitment and drive then Bennie. Every second of every game he does play in, the guy goes balls to the wall, and I love him for it.
1) Etcheverry . 2) Pope . 3) Moreno . . 4) Diaz-Arce . . 5) Lassiter Yeah, having 3 forwards up there isn't necessarily the most equitable thing, but outside of Pope, I can't think of a defender who's left such an indelible mark on the team, and the same goes for Etcheverry in the midfield. Over their respective histories with DC, each of those three forwards scored boatloads and boatloads of goals. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
1) Pope 2) Etcheverry 3) Moreno 4) Harkes 5) Agoos 6) RDA 7) Olsen 8) Llamosa 9) Lassiter 10) Rammel - If only because him getting on the field was the spark that led to the turnaround in '96.
1) Etcheverry 2) Pope 3) Moreno 4) Sanneh 5) Agoos 6) Llamosa 7) Harkes 8) Lassiter 9) RDA 10) Olsen 11) Williams
This list also considers length of service to DC United, and with that in mind: 1. Etcheverry 2. Moreno 3. Diaz-Arce 4. Pope 5. Agoos (Lord of the Rings) 6. Williams (enabled others to attack) 7. Harkes 8. Olsen 9. Llamosa 10. Lassiter -Digital
Top 5, in order of importance 1. Etcheverry 2. Moreno 3. Pope 4. Harkes 5. Diaz Arce Honorable mention (in no particular order): Agoos, Llamosa, Sanneh, Olsen, Rammel, Williams, Lassiter, Sonora, Garlick, Nelsen
top 5 unsung United greats. 1. Geoff Aunger 2. Steve Rammel 3. John Maessner 4. Mario Gori 5. Jesse Marsch My "favorite" DC player was probably Jeff Agoos.
Is Ben Olsen the only current player worthy enough to be on this list of top ten players? The more I think about it, I guess that's right. Another year of excellence for Rimando and he becomes the best DC keeper and surely merits a place. But not yet. Maybe Convey will step it up this year and take his place.
How can you leave Shawn Medved off that list. Without Medved - LA wins the Cup in Year 1 and there is no DCU dynasty.
I know, I struggled with #5, it came down to Jesse, Shawn, and Scott Garlick ..... I even gave momentary consideration to Kelderman ....... but I didn't wuss out and list 4 players as #5 like some folks, I picked one Without Shawn's goal we have no dynasty, but without Eric Imler we have no way to show off all the hardware that dynasty brought. Didn't he build the trophy case? Probably from splinters he got from sitting on the bench I could have the wrong player, but I think it was him. No other player (ok, maybe Coach George) brought me so much trepidation when he entered a game. If I saw Eric on the sidelines, I just automatically counted a goal ... for the opposition. Ahh, maybe we can have just as much fun with a 5 scariest DC players thread
1. Etcheverry 2. Moreno 3. Pope 4. Arena 5. Garlick 6. Harkes 7. Diaz Arce 8. Agoos 9. Sanneh 10. Lassiter
1. El Diablo 2. Moreno 3. Pope 4. Harkes 5. Lassiter 6. RDA 7. Agoos 8. Llamosa 9. Sanneh 10. Olsen 11. Williams *For the record Lassiter had 17 Assists with United, that's 7th all-time with only Ben Olsen of the current players above him. Also, Min per Assist for some of the other top 10 in assists: Diablo 158:1 Sanneh 227:1 Moreno 238:1 Olsen 270:1 Maessner 297:1 Lassister 306:1 Harkes 310:1 RDA 574:1 For further comparison some current players: Olsen 270:1 Quaranta 327:1 Namoff 401:1 Convey 481:1 I wouldn't say he was ONLY a poacher. Maybe with TB but he developed into a complete player in his years with us.
I find it interesting that a majority of folks have 1-3 pretty common, with somewhat different prioritizations of Etch, Jamie, and Pope. Goose, Sanneh, Llamosa, RDA, Roy, Harkes tend to make up the rest of the pool. Harkes and Llamosa would be how I round out my top 5.
Etcheverry Moreno Pope Garlick - I think he's been the best overall keeper that we've had. Rammel / Diaz Arce - They were both such a majore part in the success in the first season and turning the team around.
I would have Etch at #1 ... and then there is a wide gulf between him and the rest of the pack (no offense to the gentleman who suggested Jaime ranks ahead of Marco). I'd probably put Jaime next at #2, followed by Goose (#3), Pope (#4), and then a three-way tie for fifth between Diaz Arce, Llamosa, and Olsen.