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Welcome to the latest installment of Your October Questions Answered, where we take your reader-submitted questions and try to offer up our best responses and opinions to those questions.
This batch of questions covers everything from Brian McBride's potential return to the U.S. national team, to my pick for Top Five Jay-Z songs. DaMarcus Beasley's international future is also discussed.
Now, without any further delay, here are More of your October Questions Answered:
MCBRIDE’S THE MAN– Is DaMarcus Beasley done at the International Level? I'm guessing he for sure won't be part of the team in South Africa, but is there a possibility he could get himself back on the International scene? Why do you think he has sputtered so badly with Rangers?
IVES– I know some U.S. fans want to write him off after his awful summer showings and because of his lack of playing time at Rangers, but I can’t see how he gets written off just yet. If he can score a winter move to a club where he will play, Beasley could certainly play himself into form and work his way back into the national team mix. We haven’t heard the last of him as a national team player.
As for his problems with Rangers, it’s tough to say because he got off to such a promising start with them before the knee injury. If he has indeed lost a step then he could struggle to ever make the same impact again, but until he goes somewhere and has a chance for playing time, I’m not sure we can assume he’s finished on the international level.
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DURDEN– 1) What's your current All-CONCACAF team look like, assuming everyone is at full health?
2) Your top 5 Jay-Z songs are..?
IVES– Here is my All-CONCACAF Team right now, excluding injured players:
———————Kenwyne Jones——Bryan Ruiz———————-
——————————–Landon Donovan——————————
Andres Guardado——————————————–Clint Dempsey
——————Wilson Palacios——-Michael Bradley——————
Carlos Salcido————–Rafael Marquez——–Jonathan Spector
———————————–Tim Howard——————————-
This is based on current form so a player like Gio Dos Santos, who isn’t getting a sniff if playing time for Tottenham, misses this list.
Jay-Z Top Five songs? I’d probably come up with a different list every few months, but here goes:
Big Pimpin
Lucifer
Brooklyn’s Finest
Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)
Renegade
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JOHNATHON ROSS– Senor Ives,
In your opinion, which MLS stadium has the best food options?
IVES– I don’t really get to eat at stadiums when I go visit so I can’t really say for sure. That said, I seem to recall BMO Field having some great options.
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MARK SPENCE– Dax McCarty's form has been stellar during the recent run from FC Dallas. His ability to maintain possession and passing efficiency have been excellent.
These two aspects of his game that are often found wanting at the end of a game for the USMNT. I would like to see him inserted for the last 20 minutes of a game the US is winning, when the USMNT has a tendency to resort to booting the ball down the field rather than maintain possession and complete passes.
Do you think there is a chance Dax could be called into the January USMNT camp?
IVES– McCarty’s chance has come even sooner than you might have expected. There’s little doubting that he turned in a career year and really matured as a player, and with other players such as Jose Torres and Kyle Beckerman involved in the playoffs, this was the perfect opportunity for Bob Bradley to take a look at the young midfielder.
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DAVID– For our friendly against Denmark, do you think it is best to give our locked-in players a rest and try out some players on the fringe? Which fringe players would you like to see?
Is it 6 subs at a friendly? How many can be on a roster?
IVES– I don’t think you can afford to rest too many key players. That sort of defeats the purpose of having a friendly like that. Aside from players who are playing in MLS Cup, I’m pretty sure we’ll see as close to a full-strength squad of Americans facing a tough Denmark team.
As for fringe players I’d like to see, I’d say Jose Torres is one player who I’d want to see, as well as Chad Marshall. If you’re thinking more fringe than that, I’m not sure who will get a look. Jeff Cunningham is obviously an interesting option and one I’d like to see get minutes, but you can say the same for Eddie Johnson, who I’m curious about.
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BRENDAN– Will Charlies Davies' long term injury impact his status with Sochaux? Any chance they release him?
IVES– Considering the amount of money Sochaux spent to buy Davies from Hammarby, I doubt they’ll cut ties so quickly. All signs are pointing to Davies making a comeback, and Sochaux would be crazy to cut ties with a player who was making a major impact before the car accident.
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SEAN– 1. Of our current group of healthy central midfielders (not including Jones or Edu) what combination do you think is best? Why?
2. Do you think Bradley will try pairing Dempsey with Altidore at forward and starting Holden at right mid.
IVES– I’d say the Bradley-Feilhaber tandem has the potential to be the best, though a Bradley-Torres combination intrigues me. I know Bradley-Clark did well in Confederations Cup, but I think pairing Torres or Feilhaber with Bradley provides that much-needed offensive spark from central midfield.
I think it is inevitable that we will see an Altidore-Dempsey forward tandem, especially if Stuart Holden continues to grow as a player.
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ACES– Should the USMNT look into changing the coaching staff regardless of our outcome next year in South Africa?
IVES– It’s an interesting question because I do happen to think that having coaches stay on for multiple cycle isn’t exactly always an ideal thing. That said, if Bob Bradley leads the team to a strong showing, and he wants to stay, I don’t see why he wouldn’t stay on. I do wonder whether Bradley might be tempted by the opportunity to coach in Europe if given the chance. It might sound far-fetched to think that an American coach would get a serious look abroad, but after the U.S. team’s Confederations Cup performance, if Bradley also added a strong World Cup run to his resume I think we just might see our first American coach to land a head coaching job at a top European league. It’s something that shouldn’t be ruled out.
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JOSH– Are there rules/guidelines for compensation when a player is injured playing for a national team? In other words, do AC Milan have legal recourse to compensation from the USSF for Onyewu's injury?
Second question: although it's unpleasant to talk about, whose stock rises in the wake of the injuries to Davies and Gooch? (Side note: now I'm really happy that Bradley used the Gold Cup to develop some depth in the player pool.)
IVES– To answer your first question, no, not really, Milan is simply a big club whining about something FIFA just isn’t going to change.
I’d say players such as Jay DeMerit and Chad Marshall will get even more playing time with Onyewu out, while forwards Eddie Johnson and Jeff Cunningham stand to get looks as Bob Bradley tries to find new speed options at forward.
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STEVEN M– What would be the point of moving soccer to the Winter season? I know soccer is an international sport, but in this country we have other popular sports that would crush soccer in ratings and attendance. Why isn't FIFA barking upon any other league's trees?
IVES– I suppose the only real benefit of moving the MLS schedule to a fall/spring schedule would be to align it with most of the rest of the world. I just don’t see that being a viable alternative any time soon and I don’t think it should be assumed that a change is imminent just because Sepp Blatter shoots his mouth off.
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GJ– There are already some 150 posts on here and I have not read through all of them. So this question might of already has been asked.
With Gooch out, can we have spector in the middle with boca and have Bornstien and Dolo at the ends.
IVES- I’m not really sold on Spector being a strong center back alternative on the international level. At least I don’t see him being a better alternative than say a Chad Marshall or Jay DeMerit when healthy. Spector seems to be a better option at left back than center back, and continues to battle Steve Cherundolo at right back.
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BRIAN– Can Landon Donovan ever be considered an elite player in world soccer?
IVES– This question is sure to stir debate, but in the end all we would be doing is arguing semantics. Donovan is the best player on one of the Top 15-20 teams in the World. By that definition he is an elite player in World Soccer. Would he make my list of Top 20-30 players in the World? No, but he’s a special talent. I suppose the answer to the question above depends entirely on one’s definition of “elite player”. I personally don’t see how you can’t call him one.
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RUFFY– I second Mike's question- what did happen to Adin Brown?
Tim Howard was his backup, then he was always injured, then went to Scandanavia, then…?
IVES– As far as I can tell, Brown is still on the books with Aalesunds of the Norwegian League, though he hasn’t been dressing lately. He had been battling injuries that cost him most of last season, but he is still on the team (just not as a starter at this point).
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DAVID– With Davies out do you think we will see Bradley take another look at speedsters like Johnson, Adu, or even Robbie Russell?
IVES– Obviously this is already happening, but my question is do you really think of Freddy Adu as a speedster? Really? Not sure about that one.
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LESTER– Do you think anyone would care if we called up Mcbride again. I know he has lost a lot, but I still think he is decent
IVES– I’m not sure he still has enough in the tank to be a true impact player on the international level. He has shown signs this season in Chicago of still having plenty left, but I don’t think we’ll see him wear a USA uniform again.
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Donovan is clearly the best US outfield player. Whether he is better than or in the same class with another team’s best player may be an interesting debate but pointless since it’s a game of 11 on 11. Until Donovan plays in an elite league we will never have anything close to an answer.
It’s like comparing wives. If she does it for you and you are happy with her then you stay together and who cares what anyone else thinks.
As you say, a stupid argument.
I would just like to say that this argument is stupid. Arguing about semantics is for philosophers. We are supposed to argue about lineups.
As one can easily see, Donovan has a host of achievements and awards both domestic and international, that can equal or best many top players in any region of the world. These are some of the facts.
San Jose Earthquakes
* MLS Cup: 2001, 2003
Los Angeles Galaxy
* MLS Cup: 2005
* Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup: 2005
* Western Conference: 2009
International
* CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2002, 2005, 2007
Individual
* FIFA U-17 World Championship Golden Ball: 1999
* MLS All-Star MVP: 2001
* MLS Best XI: 2003, 2008
* MLS Cup MVP: 2003
* U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year: 2003, 2004
* CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 2002, 2003, 2005
* MLS All-Time Best XI
* Honda Player of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009
* Los Angeles Galaxy Golden Boot: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
* MLS Golden Boot: 2008
* United States All-time Goalscorer
* United States All time Assists Leader
Major League Soccer
* Career regular seasons goals list: 6th place
* Career regular season assists list: 10th place
* Career playoff goals list: 2nd place
* Career playoff assists list: 7th place
Again, he can be voted best US National Team player till he’s 80 years old and it won’t mean he’s an elite player. Do you consider the best player for San Marino an elite player? Club play is better way to compare skill.
Careful – I did not say that playing in Europe makes you elite, I said that _not_ playing in Europe means you are _not_ elite. My point is precisely that the elite clubs are European clubs. There’s nothing snobby about it – you may not like to hear it, but anyone who knows anything about world soccer knows that if you’re a talented player, then ultimately, you have to go to Europe. Trying to deny that to make your favorite player appear better is foolish.
As for Pele, I’m afraid I can’t speak to that, as I was not yet born while he was still playing. I imagine things may have been different back then, but I don’t know.
Swifty…I wanted that goal to count soooo much, but the truth of the matter is that if a players arm is at their side, and they don’t make a attempt to play the ball with their arm/hand then if the ball does hit their arm/hand it is not to be considered a hand ball/foul. This clip will always ring in the minds of the US supporters, and we’ll argue the validity of the call for ever.
Wally,
I agree Donovan is a amazing player in the NT and in MLS some player such as CR or Messi dont even show up when they play in the national team but yet Donovan can do it every game against amazing to mediocre sides an he can probably start for clubs like Sevilla AstonVilla and Valencia because of his versatility and his amazing composure and my current CONCACAF BEST IX is
Altidroe Ruiz
Guardado Donovan Dempsey
Palacios Bradley
Salcido Bocanegra Spector
This may be old news to everyone following this thread, but i just realized that the US was robbed in its quarter final match vs Germany in the 2002 World cup. watch the link below and pay attention to the replays at the end that germany saved on the line. It looks to me A LOT like it hits off the defender’s hand, NOT his side. Since it happened on the line and Ollie Kahn has already been left completely beaten and flailing on the ground, i conclude that this game should have been tied 1-1 rite there.
What do u guys think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLtT0imwdCQ
Lucas Leiva is not at all a good comparison. While he is currently only a squad player at liverpool he would immediately start in the midfield for the USMNT.
Landon Donovan has won more national and international awards than most of the players in Europe.
I love Donovan as much as the next guy, but he’s not elite. He can’t be. I can name at least 60 or 70 players better.
He’s still nasty, though.
“Rafael Marquez”
“This is based on current form so a player like…”
Ives, I haven’t seen Rafa play much with El Tri or Barca. Is he in form?
i think everyone is wasting their time debating this. the goalkeepers will be fine. it’s everything else we need to worry about.
The whole is Donavan an elite player is silly semantics. But, at its core is the conundrum of how evaluate Donovan – the US’s best national team performer ever, perhaps the best and most consistent performer in MLS ever, but someone who has never succeeded in Europe. For players who’ve consistently performed on their nats team and a top European club team, their “elite” status is objective and indisputable – for someone like Donovan it’s a little more subjective. My view is Donovan is elite/world class/great, etc. When playing for the Nats (or galaxy) he has consistently been his team’s best player, and usually the best player on the field, even when others with European success are on the field as well. I think the lack of success in Europe is a combination of bad timing, early attitude issues and bad luck, but that Donovan is truly a world class, and elite, talent.
DMB isn’t speedy anymore
Actually, that is the reason why some people rate Maradona over Pele, because Maradona played in Europe while Pele didn’t.
Pele may not be the best example for this debate.
I saw both play in their primes and I believe Pele was a bit better. If I was picking teams and it was between those two for my first choice I’d pick Pele, primarily because I think he was tougher mentally, and a better leader. Plus he could have excelled at any position on the field including goalkeeper.
Donovan isn’t anywhere near that conversation but if he gets a move to a good club in Europe .. who knows what will happen in the next few years.
So you can’t be an elite player without playing in europe, then what do you call Pele? The idea that you have to be in europe is beyond snobbish, so if donovan ripped up the scandanavian league he could be elite, cause they are in europe too. If he ran circles around the italian defenders he could be elite just because he’s in serie a? An elite player is someone there team can not afford to lose, who is most valuable and the person you would depend on to hit the game winning PK, its not winning the Ballon D’or or making an 8 figure salary. By your definition Lucas Leiva is an elite player, because he plays in europe!
As a Newcastle fan I wouldn’t mind seeing Beasley move south to the Northeast of England. We could use some speedy wingers and I think the Championship would be a good level for him.
Ives,
Did you not answer the multiple questions about the arrival date for the 2010 U.S. World Cup jerseys because:
a) You don’t know?
b) You don’t care?
c) You don’t know and you don’t care
Donovan was added as one of the 7 extra players to complete a 23 man roster for the 2002 Tournament:
Keeper KAHN Oliver Germany
RECBER Rustu Turkey
Defenders CAMPBELL Sol England
HIERRO Fernando Spain
HONG Myung Bo Korea Republic
OZALAN Alpay Turkey
ROBERTO CARLOS Brazil
Midfielders BALLACK Michael Germany
REYNA Claudio USA
RIVALDO Brazil
RONALDINHO Brazil
YOO Sang Chul Korea Republic
Attackers DIOUF El Hadji Senegal
KLOSE Miroslav Germany
RONALDO Brazil
SAS Hasan Turkey
In addition, the Technical Study Group
mentioned another seven players who
would be added to a theoretical squad
of 23 players
CAFU Brazil
DONOVAN Landon USA
HAMANN Dietmar Germany
IKER CASILLAS Spain
JOAQUIN Spain
NAKATA Hidetoshi Japan
WILMOTS Marc Belgium
Pretty good company to be to be associated with.
Elite – Yes
World Class – No
Tim Howard was never Adin Brown’s back up.
Reis was Brown’s back up in NE.
(SBI-Howard was Brown’s back-up on the youth nationl team level, Under-20/23. There was a time back then when Brown was regarded as the better goalkeeper. Things have changed a bit since then.)
If you read what Ives wrote, he said it depends on your definition of “elite”. No US outfield player could be considered elite by your definition.
However,it is worth noting that club football is very different from national team football in that national team players get called upon very few times in comparison to what they are required to do over a long club season. So it is no surprise that some outstanding national team players do not necessarily shine at the top flight clubs, while good club players do not necessarily shine during national team service. Until Donovan joins a top flight team the jury will be out on whether he is elite.
This might give some some idea why I think Bradley has done a pretty good job.
If Keller is equal in talent to the other backups, then his vastly superior experience should give him the nod over them. Do you want some rookie keeper playing in what would probably be the US’ third group game with a lot on the line or a great veteran keeper like Keller? And don’t tell me you think we should give the third keeper invaluable experience for future World Cups. Ther maqy not be another World Cup for the US. You don’t screw around in the World Cup.
Not much of a choice in my view.
lol thats hilarious
Dude it’s a soccer game they bring these called cameras. Remember?
that was my point… he can only play regularly at a mid or low level in Spain so he can’t be considered elite player.
Re. Milan being compensated for Onyewu’s injury. Their claim isn’t so ridiculous. Newcastle was compensated for the injury Michael Owen suffered while playing for England. The English FA takes out insurance that can pay out up to $100,000 pounds/week for a player injured while on international duty.
Nate,
I wholeheartedly agree. An elite CONCACAF player sure, but under no circumstances is Donovan an elite world player. Ives says Donovan is not top 20-30, but is he even in the top 100? Is he even close to that?
You talk about semantics, but I don’t understand how elite world player could mean anything other than not only playing at an elite club level (i.e. the top Euro leagues or a top club in a smaller league), but dominating at that level. To me elite world player means Messi, Torres, Ronaldo, Ribery, Xavi Alonso, etc. Someone above mentioned that Donovan could play and contribute for a mid or low level Spanish team. First off that is debatable. Second, you know who else contributes for low level Spanish teams…a bunch of guys you have probably never heard of that aren’t ELITE WORLD PLAYERS. Is Walter Pandiani a elite world player? Is Roberto Soldado an elite world player?
Friedel is retired from international play, people. full stop. and even if he was talked into returning, why would Guzan (his professional understudy) all of a sudden outrank him?
I think there is a big gab between “great player” and Elite Player. Landon has had bad luck and made the error to go to Germany. He is more suited Spain. I am sure he would be a regular in a mid to bottom team there.
I love US Soccer, too, Ives, but wow, calling Donovan an elite world player is delusional at best, and deceitful at worst. You say it’s hard to define an elite, and I agree, but I can help a little bit: if you aren’t able to make it in Europe, you’re not an elite world soccer player. It’s as simple as that. Skill, relative to your national team teammates is NOT a good indicator of world class status. Skill relative to your club is. Comparing a talented player with unskilled players proves nothing – you have to compare talent to talent. At the club level, which is more of a free-market of talent, elite clubs select elite players. National teams largely get the players they’re dealt. Was Ryan Giggs an elite player because he was the best player on the Welsh national team? No, he was an elite player because he started and consistently performed well on one of the, if not the, biggest and best clubs in the world, and helped win the Champions League.
@Nelson: I don’t remember Donovan being nominated to a Best XI, and looking here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup#All-star_team
it doesn’t look like he was. But let’s say he was. By that definition, so was… Yoo Sang-Chul of South Korea. Anyone here agree with Nelson that Yoo Sang-Chul is or ever was an elite world player?
This is homerism, pure and simple, and is frankly a ridiculous statement that anyone other than US Soccer fans would ridicule you for.
everybody who has completely written off DMB should remember just what kind of fierce competitor he is. you think he didn’t know what he was getting into w/ gers & the scottish league reputation? this guy isn’t afraid of anybody- least of all a bunch of internet #10 shirts. i’d love to see him regain his form and give us another option.
I don’t know. I was abroad talking soccer with a Columbian recently (Barca fan, if that matters), and I brought up the US team. He said he was unimpressed by the Nats, then added that Donovan was a great player. Anecdotal, sure, but at least one impartial soccer fan has regard for Landycakes.
DUDE. hahahahaha
what about Jeremiah White? Who plays for Aarhus in Denmark, at the same stadium the Denmark game will be. Teammates with Benny.
As far as LD being an elite player, ask yourself if LD would regularly start for any of the top four or five teams in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, or France, or whether he would start for any of the Copa Libertadores contenders. I doubt it. LD is a very good player who can have great matches, but he has never proven himself in the best leagues. So he falls short of “elite” in my book.
hahahahaha
Ok,
So I was looking through the old youtube highlights of DaMarcus, and I found this not his best moment for sure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sicTFKAUec&feature=related
Any chance we see marcus tracy get a call while looking for davies replacement. He just the game winner in his club game which happens to be in Denmark. Thoughts
Not completely….but almost. With other players coming forward as Left Wingers who still have pace and developing abilities he’s falling farther back. Example(s)- Robbie Rogers & Edgar Castillo (referenced as Left Defense, but could easily play midfield since the Mexican nock on him is he doesn’t mark-up well.).
Would love to see Friedel there as well, but don’t think he’ll come back to play a reserve role. He didn’t like it when he was Kellers Back-up…no way he’d take 2nd (Maybe 3rd) now. Just my opinion.
I’ve always been a lukewarm Landy fan, but I have to say, he has been considered an elite world player in the past. He made the 2002 WC All Star team voted by the WC Technical Study Group, (along with Claudio Reyna). I think it would be safe to say his form is as good or better than it was 7 years ago.
I mean the Beas-knees played I think in 3 or 4 USMNT matches this year.
Outside Michael Bradley…he was close to Man of the Match vs Mexico in Feb in C-Bus.
Can’t really think he’s completely written off
I don’t see Timmy getting nervous for anything. He does play soccer for a living in Liverpool, UK and has a very strong resume.
I second this opinion however that we should bring Friedel to South Africa instead of Perkins or Handyman. God forbid Timmy gets injured in the first group match, then somehow Guzan gets a red card the next match. Then we have the world-class Handyman or Perkins in net???? Friedel is on the top of his game and playing very well. He’s obviously better then Guzan since he hasn’t lost his place at Villa Park, although Guzan has more promise. But I think it would be a great idea to pressure Friedel into traveling to SA. I’m not sold on bringing Keller. I’d say he is equal in talent to the other backups.
Any chance that Keller or Friedel gets a call for next summer? (Yes, they’ve announced “retirement” but players “retire” all the time.)
I mean, the third keeper almost never plays, but I would rather have one of those two on the bench just for peace of mind.
That said, maybe Timmy would be nervous and wouldn’t play well.