Care to comment on some American players?

Question

Brian McBride
Carlos Bocanegra
Oguchi Onyewu
Clint Dempsey
Damarcus Beasley
Brad Freidel
Marcus Hanneman
Tim Howard

There are others, but this is enough!

1st - I'm realistic about US men's national team. they are a work in progress.
2nd - I'm a fan of McBride and Freidel. They give 100% everytime. I just wish they were still young.
3rd - Just a hunch, but I see a fire burning in Dempsey. I think he's going to turn out well.
Beasley - Sometimes he shines, sometimes he makes me wonder. Usually the slight guys can run and run and run and not get winded. Beasley seems to do a lot of trotting around at times, especially when the team needs extra effort.

So far, I like the comments (except Celi)

Answer 1

Brian McBride = Very much a 'late bloomer' in my opinion. After a few years playing in the USA, I believe he had a short spell at German club VFL Wolfsburg with little success before returning to the USA with Columbus Crew, his longest stay at a single club. Due to his success there, the English clubs came knocking and after loan spells at Preston North End and Everton he signed a permanent deal with Fulham. He is a player that many players underestimate due to his age and being only average at natural skill, and he often makes those players pay with terrific performance against bigger clubs.

Carlos Bocanegra = I've known him since his Chicago Fire days when he was known as a no-nonsense defender, a move to England was imminent with his skill. He has been solid at Fulham, but nothing incredible. I'd love to see him return to the MLS.

Oguchi Onyewu = I believe he has never played for an American team, instead starting out in France before moving north of the border to Belgium with Standard Liege, where he made a name for himself. He is currently on loan at Newcastle United in England. He is a very big guy and thus can scare off many strikers of smaller stature.

Clint Dempsey = When many American players went off abroad, Dempsey was the man who surfaced as the bright young thing with New England Revolution. He regularly plays a forward role, but isn't really a prolific goalscorer and plays his best football in an attacking midfield role in my opinion. Like Bocanegra and McBride, he is now at Fulham.

DaMarcus Beasley = Probably my favourite American player. I was first exposed to him around 1999 or 2000 when the 'Beasley brothers' DaMarcus and Jamar became invaluable players for Chicago Fire. Regular incredible performances meant he moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands where he struck up an exciting winger partnership with Ji-Sung Park (now at Manchester United). Unfortunately, for some bizarre reason, he began to play less and less for them and is now on loan at Manchester City where, apart from one goal recently, is sadly yet to make an impression. If you're wondering, his brother Jamar suffered with alcohol problems and was sacked from Chicago a few years back and now plays indoor football.

Brad Friedel = Friedel is a beast. The only thing more effective than Friedel in goal for Blackburn Rovers is if they built a brick wall over their goal, or possibly if they had Peter Schmeichel. He spent a few years at Liverpool as a substitute goalkeeper and the move to Blackburn gave him the regular games he deserves. I seriously rate this guy, he is fantastic.

Marcus Hahnemann = Another mountain of a goalkeeper, although perhaps slightly inferior to Friedel. One of the main reasons that Reading have done so well since being promoted into the Premier League. Mostly famous in the US for his tenure with Colorado Rapids.

Tim Howard = Being a Manchester United fan myself, I quite liked this guy. My team had been struggling with their goalkeepers since the departure of Peter Schmeichel in 1999, and replacements Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Fabien Barthez, Nick Culkin and Roy Carroll were all disappointments, so our manager Alex Ferguson signed him from the New York & New Jersey MetroStars in 2003, but like his predecessors, failed to live up to the hype and recently made his loan move to Everton permanent, not a bad goalkeeper but occasionally makes silly errors of judgement.

I'd also like to add that Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards) are also very good players.

Answer 2

McBride is probably the best American in the Premiership- he found a good niche at Fulham and they appreciate his ability to put the ball in the net.

Howard I think has caught a lucky break signing on fulltime at Everton. He doesn't have such high expectations as he had at Manchester United, and Everton being in the top half of the Prem gives him a chance to really establish himself. Sir Alex may wish he saved a few bucks and kept Howard when he wants him back for a big transfer fee in a few years.

Friedel has to be on the way out soon. He's still playing good goal at Blackburn, and keepers can last into their early 40's, but you have to think Blackburn will be looking younger sometime soon

If a shame Beasley ended up at terrible Manchester City. Another player who has shown a knack for the goal. If Man City threatens relegation, look for a bigger side to attempt a transfer.

Answer 3

it's not bad that they are playing in the epl. it will help raise the profile of football in america.

it will be even better if an american can break into and establish himself in the big four. howard was almost there.

Answer 4

Jay DeMerit is good. Its complete mystery why he isn`t in the yank national team.

Answer 5

why so you can feel good about your self.