Forward thinking
Published by Cardillo on April 18, 2007 at 1:53 PM.
MLS on the brain. What is wrong with me? (Wait, don't answer that.)
For whatever reason it dawned on me that the quality of the forward/strikers in MLS isn't all that bad. Almost every team has at least one or two guys that can be counted on to score goals.
Maybe I'm overrating this aspect of MLS since guys that score goals tend to get the most ink. Then again, it's not like the league is beset with world class, quality defenders, which you could probably count on one hand, even one that paw was mangled in a thresher accident.
Considering everyone likes lists, why not rank the 13 MLS sides by their strike force.
13. Columbus Crew -- It's not just because "America's Hardest Working Team" hasn't scored in 180 minutes. It's simply fact right now that the combinations of Jason Garey, Andy Herron and Joseph Ngwenya leave a lot to be desired. In fairness, Herron has proven to be a capable MLS player and Garey is touted to have unlimited potential. Right now, to quote David Brent, "I'm not saying they're unlucky, but if they fell into a barrel of tits they'd come up sucking their own thumb." Maybe Argie legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto changes the situation. The goal scoring, not the tits.
12. Chicago Fire -- Chris Rolfe has shown flashes. Same with Chad Barrett, but right now the Fire can't wait for Cuauhtémoc Blanco to arrive quickly enough.
11. Toronto FC -- The Syrup Boys have some names -- Alecko Eskandarian, Connor Casey, Edson Buddle, Abbe Ibrahim, Danny Dichio -- but currently have zero service. If coach Mo Johnston finds a good tandem, they could move up, but currently are stuck in the expansion team slog.
10. Chivas USA -- Wherever MLS-vagabond Ante Razov goes, he scores. Too bad he seems to be on his own right now for Chivas. This might be a little unfair to Chivas because with their midfield, which includes Amado Guevara can produce goals. Mexican youngster Francisco Mendoza, looks like a player too in the midfield.
9. ColoradoArsenal Rapids -- Herculez Gomez and Panamanian Roberto Brown look like a pairing on the come. It's not bad to have one-time US Soccer 'It Boy' Jovan Kirovski in reserve either.
8. Los Angeles Galaxy -- The question here is do you rate Landon Donovan as a classic forward or an attacking midfield player? Say what you will, but Landy Cakes can score goals. Right now, I'm not sold on Nate Jacqua, even if he is 6-foot-3.
7. Kansas City Wizards -- If Eddie Johnson 2007 is Eddie Johnson 2004/05 then the Wiz has probably the best all-around striker in the league if you factor in pace. Eddie was brilliant Saturday vs. DC, but it's anyone's guess if he keeps it up. Would it be crazy to rate him as the league's Lindsay Lohan? Scott Sealy is no slouch, either.
6. New York Red Bulls -- Again, another squad with great potential. Jozy Altidore is a rising star and if he's able to click with Colombian import Juan Pablo Angel, watch out.
5. New England Revolution -- Taylor Twellman has one hell of a goal scoring rate, with 77 in 132 games for the Revs. That makes the uncertain status of injured Pat Noonan tolerable. Rookie Adam Christman looks like a player and Khano Smith has shown glimpses.
4. Houston Dynamo -- If we counted DeWayne DeRosario as a forward, the Dynamo would easily be No. 1 on this list. But the Canuck seems to be playing a more withdraw position, leaving the work up top to Brian Ching & Co. Right now you could pair anyone you want with Ching and they'd probably benefit. The Hawaiian is the goods, bra.
3. FC Dallas -- In Kenny Cooper and Carlos Ruiz the Hoops have a veritable 'Thunder & Lightning & Flopping' combination.
2. D.C. United -- Could easily make a case for the No. 1 spot. Jamie Moreno has proven to be the league's most consistent offensive player over the last 12 seasons. Brasilian Luciano Emilio looks like the best signing by the league in the offseason and has bagged twice in his first two league encounters. That said, it's only two games. And it's not fair to overrate him completely.
1. Real Salt Lake -- Not what'd you call a "sexy" pick for the league's top spot, but with Jeff Cunningham and Jason Kreis you have a duo -- although aged -- who's bagged close to 200 league goals. Results are results and you can't discount that, but if I decided to do this list in a couple months, I'd doubt these two would retain the No. 1 position.
Cunningham is a true flake...in a good way. Maybe we're all sleeping on this guy as a comedic genius. Kissing himself after his goal in Week 1? Brilliant.
Hopefully he doesn't tear an ACL tripping on the gridiron lines at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
______________________
** Euro 2012 award jointly to Poland/Ukraine today. There are about 1,000 easy jokes to make. I'll try to hold my tongue.
** Good to see the DaMarcus Beasley revival at Manchester City seems to be in full effect, as he scorer a nice goal yesterday vs. Arsenal. It'd be nice for him to get away from City, though, as it seems thats where careers go to die. Hopefully Ricky Hatton didn't read that.
For whatever reason it dawned on me that the quality of the forward/strikers in MLS isn't all that bad. Almost every team has at least one or two guys that can be counted on to score goals.
Maybe I'm overrating this aspect of MLS since guys that score goals tend to get the most ink. Then again, it's not like the league is beset with world class, quality defenders, which you could probably count on one hand, even one that paw was mangled in a thresher accident.
Considering everyone likes lists, why not rank the 13 MLS sides by their strike force.
13. Columbus Crew -- It's not just because "America's Hardest Working Team" hasn't scored in 180 minutes. It's simply fact right now that the combinations of Jason Garey, Andy Herron and Joseph Ngwenya leave a lot to be desired. In fairness, Herron has proven to be a capable MLS player and Garey is touted to have unlimited potential. Right now, to quote David Brent, "I'm not saying they're unlucky, but if they fell into a barrel of tits they'd come up sucking their own thumb." Maybe Argie legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto changes the situation. The goal scoring, not the tits.
12. Chicago Fire -- Chris Rolfe has shown flashes. Same with Chad Barrett, but right now the Fire can't wait for Cuauhtémoc Blanco to arrive quickly enough.
11. Toronto FC -- The Syrup Boys have some names -- Alecko Eskandarian, Connor Casey, Edson Buddle, Abbe Ibrahim, Danny Dichio -- but currently have zero service. If coach Mo Johnston finds a good tandem, they could move up, but currently are stuck in the expansion team slog.
10. Chivas USA -- Wherever MLS-vagabond Ante Razov goes, he scores. Too bad he seems to be on his own right now for Chivas. This might be a little unfair to Chivas because with their midfield, which includes Amado Guevara can produce goals. Mexican youngster Francisco Mendoza, looks like a player too in the midfield.
9. Colorado
8. Los Angeles Galaxy -- The question here is do you rate Landon Donovan as a classic forward or an attacking midfield player? Say what you will, but Landy Cakes can score goals. Right now, I'm not sold on Nate Jacqua, even if he is 6-foot-3.
7. Kansas City Wizards -- If Eddie Johnson 2007 is Eddie Johnson 2004/05 then the Wiz has probably the best all-around striker in the league if you factor in pace. Eddie was brilliant Saturday vs. DC, but it's anyone's guess if he keeps it up. Would it be crazy to rate him as the league's Lindsay Lohan? Scott Sealy is no slouch, either.
6. New York Red Bulls -- Again, another squad with great potential. Jozy Altidore is a rising star and if he's able to click with Colombian import Juan Pablo Angel, watch out.
5. New England Revolution -- Taylor Twellman has one hell of a goal scoring rate, with 77 in 132 games for the Revs. That makes the uncertain status of injured Pat Noonan tolerable. Rookie Adam Christman looks like a player and Khano Smith has shown glimpses.
4. Houston Dynamo -- If we counted DeWayne DeRosario as a forward, the Dynamo would easily be No. 1 on this list. But the Canuck seems to be playing a more withdraw position, leaving the work up top to Brian Ching & Co. Right now you could pair anyone you want with Ching and they'd probably benefit. The Hawaiian is the goods, bra.
3. FC Dallas -- In Kenny Cooper and Carlos Ruiz the Hoops have a veritable 'Thunder & Lightning & Flopping' combination.
2. D.C. United -- Could easily make a case for the No. 1 spot. Jamie Moreno has proven to be the league's most consistent offensive player over the last 12 seasons. Brasilian Luciano Emilio looks like the best signing by the league in the offseason and has bagged twice in his first two league encounters. That said, it's only two games. And it's not fair to overrate him completely.
1. Real Salt Lake -- Not what'd you call a "sexy" pick for the league's top spot, but with Jeff Cunningham and Jason Kreis you have a duo -- although aged -- who's bagged close to 200 league goals. Results are results and you can't discount that, but if I decided to do this list in a couple months, I'd doubt these two would retain the No. 1 position.
Cunningham is a true flake...in a good way. Maybe we're all sleeping on this guy as a comedic genius. Kissing himself after his goal in Week 1? Brilliant.
Hopefully he doesn't tear an ACL tripping on the gridiron lines at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
** Euro 2012 award jointly to Poland/Ukraine today. There are about 1,000 easy jokes to make. I'll try to hold my tongue.
** Good to see the DaMarcus Beasley revival at Manchester City seems to be in full effect, as he scorer a nice goal yesterday vs. Arsenal. It'd be nice for him to get away from City, though, as it seems thats where careers go to die. Hopefully Ricky Hatton didn't read that.
