Starting Team: ONE Yank, only!

Anyone else notice that?

:lol:

 

Never really thought about it much to be honest with you. I hope McBride continues to start. My hoping he starts has nothing to do with him being a fellow American, but because I think he has had a very positive influence on the team since he has been starting matches.

My liking of Fulham has nothing to do with Yanks or no Yanks. I just want to see the best eleven players from wherever they are playing well for Fulham Football Club. It is an added bonus when McBride gets in and does well like yesterday.

As far as Carlos is concerned, he might be on the outside looking in the rest of the season unless there is an injury to Volzy or Rosenior.

 

Brian deserves to start and in the last few games that i've been to, he has clearly contributed considerably. I thought that volz in the man c game was one of the most consistent players...don't really have much of an opinion on carlos other than he scowled alot when i met him at sponsors day, I would be interested in seeing him in place of volz to see what he can bring to the game though.

 

Yeah... it would be nice to see what Carlos can do in center. Then he might catch the eye of some other manager and start an English career.

I never rated him all that well in MLS but he SHOULD have improved by now.

I HOPE my sense of irony was showing, there, in the original post... I sure tried hard enough to convey it.

All said it would be easier for me if there were no "Yanks".

 

Petty, your irony was very evident, but I just wanted to make a point that I am not a Fulham fan because of the Yanks on the team. Unfortunately, I think a lot of people just assume that any American that liked Fulham is only because McBride and Bocanegra.

That is not to say that some fans are not like that. I know some fans who chose Fulham because of that very reason. However, not everyone is like that and whether a yank is on the team or not, I will still love and cheer for Fulham!

 

Actually, playing Boca in the left back position makes it difficult for him to display one of his best features -- outstanding distribution. With the Fire, Carlos was the prime holder and distributor of the ball from the defense. He's aslo shown some similar ability with the US National team. He would also have a better chance to read, fill and support from a more central position. So a central defending spot is much suited to his talents.

Distribution out of the back is definitely one of Fulham's problems. But CC must rate Zat Knight and Alain Goma better for other reasons.

CC also commented that Boca needed a rest because of a year and a half of continual football with club and national team. Does anyone have any feedback on whether dropping Carlos was his long mentoned rest or a real change to the starting lineup?

 

I don't buy the theory of managers saying they are giving players a rest. The bottom line is that Volz and Rosenior are seen as two of the young Fulham players that have potential to be very good.

Boca is playing out of position and perhaps he is better suited for the middle of defense, but I do not know if we will ever see him playing that position for Fulham. However, perhaps Cookie has a plan for Boca. I do not know.

To answer the question, I think this is a change to the starting lineup, not a rest as Cookie says it is. We are close to being pulled into the relegation mix and Cookie is saying people need rest? C'mon Christopher, we are not that dumb.

As I touched upon above, it will be interesting what Fulham does with Carlos in the summer. If he is going to park it on the bench, I am guessing he will want to leave. However, if Fulham does not buy a left back, he might be able to get some playing time there. I would not be surprised to see Boca back in the MLS within the next year and half.

 

I really think Boca will be trying for some other team, rather than come back.

He has STILL got something to prove.. and he will before he does come back.

He's no Donovan in this regard... or Thornton, either... all credit to both, and I can understand Donovan coming back. but Carlos has lived through this and he'll want vindication, I'd think.

 

I am not comparing Carlos to Landon at all. Perhaps he will want some vindication, but I do not know what top league club in Europe is going to want an undersized center half or an out of position left back.

I could see him getting a go in a Coca-Cola Championship outfit as a center half and perhaps he will excel and prove to other Premiership clubs that he can play at the highest level.

Considering Carlos has been playing a position he is not familiar with I think he has done an exceptional job. I am sure when he came to Fulham in January of 2004 he thought he would be playing center half as he did for the Fire and the USMNT.

Perhaps Cookie and the Fulham staff have something in line for Carlos during the summer. Perhaps he will stick around next season and vindicate himself for Fulham, I just do not see him getting the playing time and the opportunities he is looking for at Fulham to do that.

 

Certainly Championship Div is in play.. he WOULD {revised for clarity} do worse by coming back here.

I think the level of play ( for a defender) is slightly higher than MLS.. though I dont agree with the apposite.

And as you say, a good run there would be a ticket back to a mid-table Prem team.

 

First of all, it needs to be said that I love the fact that more & more Americans are playing in Europe. If nothing, it enhances the level of our National Team and gives us more "street cred" in the world of international football. I applaud all of them for leaving the comforts of their homes, family & friends here to play in the European leagues. After attending MetroStars v. K.C. last Saturday, I realized how spoiled I am by the Premiership, La Liga & Serie A.

It's no secret that I think Landon is a child that would rather rule in Sicily than serve in Rome. Personally, I think he can get more out of riding the pine in the Champions League than starting every game for the Galaxy. Just my daily rant on Landon...

Okay, that said, it pained me to NOT see McBride play in the 4-4-2 this year, when I thought he clearly had proven himself in that position up front and when it was used by Cookie, it gave great results.

CC has been making A LOT of excuses for his "young defense" all season long. He doesn't really talk about the fact that he's playing Bocanegra out of position, but he does talk about how he's just been playing non-stop football. If someone has better insight on this, please respond, but I don't think that Carlos should get shipped down to QPR or the Wolves to improve himself. I think if he was playing in his natural position, things would be better for him and the Club. The Ben Thacher bust up was disgraceful and if we got a true solid Left Back and could move Boca over to Center, I think the whole back line would improve.

 

I am on the fence with what you are saying Krista. Shipping Carlos down to a Championship level team could actually help him. The question you have to ponder is this: What Premiership club is going to take Carlos on as a center half when he has not played that position at the club level in over 18 months?

There is too much money and too much at stake for Premiership clubs to take a risk on an unproven center half at the highest level. I think if Carlos can go to a Championship team, he could prove to the naysayers that he can play at that position at the highest level.

I agree that Cookie has been making a lot of excuses about the defense this season and I think perhaps Carlos should have gotten a chance. However, that has not been the case.

We will see what happens in the summer. If Coleman is still in charge, it will be the same ol' same ol' for Carlos. If there is a new boss in charge perhaps we will see a change to the way Carlos is used.

My last point goes completely in agreement with Krista. I think players can learn a lot more and develop their games much better playing with the best players in the world day in and day out over in Europe. That is not to say the MLS stinks, but the elite European leagues are clearly better.

I heard this analogy on World Soccer Daily, if Yao Ming had decided to stay in China and play professional hoops there, how much better would he have gotten? Perhaps a little better, but the things he is learning playing in the NBA are unbeatable.

I know Landon Donovan was not playing all that much for Leverkusen, but he should have toughed it out and fought for his spot. I am not taking anything away from Landon, but I just question his desire and motives for doing what he did. If he wants to shine in the MLS and that is all, well fine. But, if he desires to take his game and help the US make it to the next level, I think it was a mistake.

 

McBride is a great yank, after all he is from Arlington Heights, IL. Home of yours truely!!!! However, I'd pull for Fulham even if he was not on the squad, but it sure is fun to see a native of my home town on my favorite football club.