Every now and then there'll be a USMNT player that comes around and kicks butt. However, unfortunately they can't always keep it up. Damarcus Beasley, back in the day, was excellent. I was a huge Beasley fan. I thought he was truly world class. When he went to PSV, he kicked ass. When he played for the USMNT back then he was always one of the best, if not the best, player on the field. While people were talking about this "Donovan kid", I was talking about this "Beasley kid". IIRC he was selected to some sort of Euro All-Star team back when he was at PSV. However, in recent years, he's been struggling, and he just hasn't been the same. Jonathan Spector, rose up through the youth ranks at Manchester United, eventually winning some MU Youth Player of the year award(won by Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes I believe back when they were Man Utd's youth players...), and he got some starts and started playing some minutes for Manchester United's first team in the EPL and UCL. He was excellent, daring, trained and good to go. I saw him as one of our best youth prodigies(if not THE best). I thought he was gonna have a long and lasting Manchester United career, and be a mainstay of left back for both the USMNT and Man United. I definitely thought the signs were there. However, he transferred to West Ham United, where he now finds it difficult to even sit on the bench. He's still young however, so maybe after some time has passed he'll be back into a starting lineup. However, for me, right now, if JP and DMB were back to their top form, I'd love that more than anything for the USMNT. Other notable mentions: Bobby Convey, Eddie Johnson. So, this is simply my personal opinion of these players. However, I started this thread to see who you guys "miss", in terms of a "former form" that once was. Who do you wanna see back in their top form?
I almost listed him myself. American Badass, kicked everyone's ass(5 goals in one MLS game!), ripped up the Bundesliga for a very short while. Then, that was the end of it. No more superstar.... Clint Mathis(2000-2004) R.I.P
In my opinion, the only one that comes close to Mathis in lost potential is John O'Brien. Wynalda was the first modern striker with attitude and a decent amount of skill. Mathis kicked both (especially the attitude) up meganotches...off the scale. Being a top striker, I believe, is 2 or three parts skill, craftyness etc, 10 parts attitude, confidence and cockiness and zero parts fear. That was Mathis. He coulda, woulda, shoulda then...no more.
mcbride, reyna, stewart, and pretty much every guy that actually played in europe and didnt just sit on the bench. the closer it gets to game time the more i doubt that the US could win. not too long ago there were actual players in the prem. now there are just two (howard and demsey). everyone else except the guys that retired from the national team are busts. johann smith, jonathon spector, bobby convey, eddie johnson, beasley, onyewu, bocanegra, gibbs, and on and on.
Mathis. Donovan has a lot of heart, but it isn't always visible. Mathis always wore his heart on his sleeve and showed up with the intensity every game...
Right now, for the US team, I miss Spector. He should be the lock starter at LB and is just about to enter the prime years of his athletic career. The injuries are a huge setback. Historically, I agree with those who mention Mathis and O'Brien. Indeed, I'd wrap them up as the top candidates from a missing generation -- those players who should have been the key leaders on the 2006 World Cup team: Mathis (age 29 in Summer of 2006) O'Brien (29) Olsen (29) Gibbs (26) Had these 4 avoided the career-derailing injuries, they would have been 4 key prime-age leaders on the 2006 squad. O'Brien should have been the Midfield General. Mathis should have been the goal-poacher. Olsen should have been the speedy right winger book-ending Beasley from the left side. Gibbs should have locked down the black hole at left back. Mix them with Boca, Mastro, Cherundolo, Donovan, and young-gun Dempsey (off the bench), and watch the results roll in. Reyna, McBride, and Pope could have played the veteran bench role rather than being overworked as 90 minute stallwarts. Coulda, shoulda, woulda. It's what I miss the most.
Right now, today...Adu. Where is Freddy Adu? If the reason is no club games, none of the MLS'ers have played club games since October. At least Adu is practicing with his club.
Oh where have you gone, David Regis? We still haven't replaced him yet. We need to find another great American like David Regis to play left back.
As good as Timmy is, I really miss Friedel. The guy was born to play this position. His armspan is literally 10 feet. Timmy is a great athlete, but you can only do so much with what you were born with. Ever since retiring from the national team, Brad seems to have even gotten better, which was probably partly a result of retirement from national team duty. I wonder how many posters would take Howard over Friedel if Brad decided he wanted one more bite of the apple in South Africa in 2010. I wouldn't, and that makes me miss Brad. The second on my list would be Mathis. I said it before, he was just dangerous for opposing defenses.
It has to be Mathis. After his terrific start in the Bundesliga, I thought for sure we would have had one of the greatest in the world, but instead we ended up with a washed up bum.
I know Regis takes a lot of crap for not really being American and not being a superstar, but when Regis put on the US jersey he was solid and team player. I have no problem with adopting players who are willing to represent the US like he did.