Reyna Retires

Evan

I handled your comments immaturely and i apologize. Reyna had a great World Cup in 2002, but you are right that he was not dominant by any stretch of the imagination in 2006.

In 2002, he did a great job of making all the smart passes in the middle to make for smooth transitions from defense to offense, and from the left flank to the right flank. True, he didnt score a lot of goals, but he made all the simple plays that start buildups, like Claude Makelele for Chelsea.

However, he was playing with John Ó brien, who had a helluva tournament and was sorely missed this time around.

I really hope the US can produce more linkup men like Reyna. He will be missed.

Ive just been in a bad mood because everybody I know has been captivated by these JOGO BONITO commercials, and instead of learning to make simple, intelligenet passes, they are learning stepovers and forgetting the best way to move the ball is using your teammates.

once again, sorry about the disrespect.

Posted from  Dominican Republic

A great player as well as a good person. Us will never produce such a talented and hard working midfield player, he is the reason the midfield stayed solid all these years. Good luck for him in whatever he does.

Posted from  United States

I was at UVa when Reyna played there, and I was always amazed at how well he saw the field and how pinpoint his passes were, even then.

Despite all his injuries, Reyna has been a major producer for club and country, and he helped bring US soccer along a lot during his years with the team. Playing center mid isn’t necessarily about blazing speed or laser shooting. It’s about understanding space, controlling tempo, and organizing the team. Reyna’s the best player we’ve ever had at doing that (with the possible exception of John O’Brien, who’s been injured even more and more badly than Reyna). Even a half-step slow, as he has been for the past year or two, he’s been a real boost for the squad.

As for the people who say he had “no business being in Germany,” I’ll echo everybody else: who else in America did? Who else had the vision, the experience, and the savvy to play the position? Sure it would be great to have a Gerrard or a Ballack. But how many teams wouldn’t say that? Even England and Germany would be thrilled to have another one of each.

US soccer owes Reyna. I’m just sorry that he had to go off beaten up and beaten period.

Posted from  United States

Thanks ETucker, I appreciate it.

2002 was really my introduction to soccer, I’ve learned a lot since then… thanks for explaining I hope to see those games again.

Jurgen for Bruce?

http://fifaworldcup.sporati.com/jurgen-for-bruce.page

Posted from  Philippines

Jurgen for Bruce?

Lousy performance after an arrogant string of media announcements could not help but put a gag on his mouth and show no signs of comeback for the United States team. The disappointing performance of U.S. in the world cup would weigh in the decision of…

Posted from  United States

Relax,
Reyna Worldclass!! A bit too far. Yes, it was his fault trying to put the ball bwtn the forwards legs. I will not take anything away from his past achievments but Reyna last world cup should have been in 2002. He has lost a step or 2 over the past 2 years or so. To many injuries with Man city and USA has shown his age. Please no more players over the age 30. Klinsmann for Bruce!!! Time for Bruce to pack his bags along with Reyna. Thanks for the great play in the past Reyna!

Reyna’s “mistake” was really just bad luck. The Ghana player made a hard charge, Reyna attempted to reposition the ball, and they collided knees. Not a foul, but it was enough to stop Reyna cold. It obviously hurt him. It wouldn’t have even been memorable had it not also happened at a particularly bad spot on the pitch for the US side. It resulted in what amounted to a one-on-one PK scenario. All Keller could do was guess and hope. So chalk it up to bad luck, but it was still a good goal for Ghana. Their other goal should never have happened, and I think 95% of those who can be objective acknowledge that the ref blew that call. That was a 1-1 game.

John-

most americans have trouble chalking things up to bad luck. here is how i analyze the play from a coachs perspective

a) A defensive midfielder needs to boot the ball out of bounds or to the keeper. hesitancy is not an option.

b) Arena shuld not have put Reyna in that position if he did not understand his defensive responsibilities

c) Keller should hvae come off his line

d) Dolo or Conrad shoudl have been behind Reyna

Evan: sorry again for being a deusche. I am a midfielder in case you hadnt noticed, and i dont score a lot of goals but like to feel my job is important Glad to know the US has another new fan!

guys, looking back on it, the US really should have used a 4 4 2 formation with Johnson up front with mcbride. I know that hindsight is 20 20, but Bruce just had to decide: do we want Reyna or Donovan in the center.

Part of the problem was that Donovan really hadno clue what his role was in the 4 4 1 1. In some games he tried to be a second forward, and in other games he tried to play center mid. beign both really isnot an option.

basically, the 4 4 1 1 , is like the Sampson 3 6 1, it looks good on paper, but confuses players in practice.

its been great communicating with other fans hwo appreciate soccer, adn sorry if my comments are really stupid from tme to time…somtimes my emotions get the best of me and i say stupid things.

GO USA!

Posted from  Dominican Republic

reyna did a great job gettin stuck up by that ghana player which put us in a hole that we couldnt climb out of

Posted from  United States

Hi
Been reading all the posts and thrilled to see such excitement about USMNT, have been folllwing them for awhile (1990). I noticed several mentions of how the Ghana breakaway after the Reyna botch left keller in a Penalty Kick type situation, with having to guess which way to go as his only option. I would completely disagree with this notion.

I have watched some of Keller’s Bundesliga games and all his WC games and, as a former keeper, I would have liked to see Keller be much more aggresive off his line. He is by far one of the best at reaction saves, with incredibly quick reflexes, but most of the time he looks planted to the ground when attackers come at him. This seemed to be the case against Ghana. When the player broke towards him, he did not move, but waited for the shot and reacted to it. I don’t think I have ever seen him aggresively attack, preferring to hold his ground and try for the reaction save. I believe this may have cost us two goals (Ghana and the third CR goal which was toed in)

While he did make a two spectacular saves against Italy, they are the ones a keeper is supposed to make.

I think Keller is a solid keeper and an outstanding ambassador for USMNT, but he seems to be a bit deficient in some areas (including distribution, we started NOTHING from the back, even though we were playing a 4-5-1). I have watched both Brad F and Howard and both of those guys would have been just as good as KK, maybe better. (Friedel was a monster in 02′ and was rated top 5 in EPL this season)

This was a tough WC to watch as US fan, but at least we are at the point where we can see success coming down the road.
GO USMNT!!!

Posted from  United States

Friedel retired from internationals. He wasn’t going to play this time around, period.

Yes, Friedel retired intl, in Feb 05′, but do you think if he was told “you are guy”, even just before the cup, he would have stepped up, who knows. What about Howard and the larger point of Keller and his play.
Thanks

Posted from  United States

Who is anybody kidding? Have we been dupped by announcers who are all Reyna’s pals. Reyna was the worst player in the tournament. He should never have been on the team. The U.S. only qualified for the World Cup because Reyna waas out with an injury. Before that they were in danger of not making it through the first round of qualifications. Reyna hasn’t scored for the US in 6 years years. His retirement is the best thing that could happen to US soccer.

Posted from  United States

Jo Jo-

did you see the US vs Mexico game in September? Reyna was sorta the man of the match…

also, who do we replace him with? Ben Olsen? Eddie Johnson? An injured JOB who hasnt played a full 90 minutes in several months?

Note: EJ is a great forward, but probably not the best option at midfield.

Its always easy to find problems, but ten times harder to find solutions….

Posted from  Dominican Republic

I’ve been following the USMNT since qualifying for Italia ‘90 and I would have to agree with both sides of this argument. First and foremost, Reyna is absolutely the best American field player ever. He had an outstanding cup in ‘02 and was voted one of the tournaments top 11 players, gaining praise from foreign media and players for his world class performance. However, he was a step or two slow at this cup. He had just recently returned from a broken ankle at Man City and then pulled a hamstring in the first pre-Cup tune up match. Like most players over 30, he’s starting to show his age. But you have to go back to the argument of who else could have played that role? JOB was also injured and would be the only choice. Reyna did not have a great cup but he also did not embarass himself on the pitch. He is still the only American ever who could play at the world class level and seems to “get it” on the pitch (excluding goalkeepers and the ever injured JOB). He will be sorely missed and the team will take a huge step back because we don’t have any other players of his caliber. But it is time for him to hang up the boots. Reyna has given us all more than we could ask for and deserves to be praised by U.S. soccer fans. Onyewu and Dempsey were the only younger players to show promise for the future. Convey was decent. It is absolutely disgusting that U.S. Soccer insists on making Landon Donovan the poster boy for our team. I don’t think we will see much more improvement from DMB. Expectations were way to high for this cup. Over the last 18 years our team has gone from being terrible to being decent, almost pretty good. Nowhere near a 5 ranking in the world. Claudio Reyna played a huge part in the massive improvement of the team during Bruce’s 8 years. He was not the first American to play in Europe, just the first one to gain the respect of his peers as a quality player. He’s the only American to wear the captain’s band for a Euro club team and he did it at three different clubs (Wolfsburg,Rangers, and Man City). I have enjoyed watching Claudio play since his days at UVA, through his 13 years with the national team, and especially in the EPL. I bid a fond farewell to Reyna, McBride, Keller, and Pope, and look forward to U.S. soccer’s continued improvement.
USMNT and NUFC until I die.

Posted from  United States

landycakes-

I couldn’t agree more!

However, as much as I’ve decried the “bradenton brats”, at least DMB has stayed in Europe and taken his licks and the criticism for being out of form.

I really think he can put it together.

I also have not given up on Donovan: he could still sign with some lower level Premiership team (or maybe an up and coming Coca cola championship squad). The question is: will he stick arond when the going gets tough?

As of right now, it looks like no. But people mature a lot from age 24-28….

Posted from  Dominican Republic

I should have also mentioned that Eddie Johnson showed promise. I would love to see Donovan give Europe another try. I think he is a talented player but just needs a little toughening up if he is going to be our captain. DMB has been out of form with PSV and the USMNT, hopefully he can push through and regain the form we saw in the champions league. I think Landon should look to the Dutch league. Germany and England are too physical, but he might develop nicely with a few seasons in the Dutch Eredevise. I would like to see Onyewu in England. He’s a beast at the back.

Posted from  United States

Gooch would love the Premiership. His tackles would be celebrated by the fans rather than chastised with yellow cards.

Good call on the Dutch league and Donovan: however, he’d have to put his failed actress fiancee in her place.

DMB is just out of form. He’s a good player and he’s young, so I’m sure he can find it. He either needs to work on his crossing or perhaps eye a position switch.

EJ is the real deal. He also needs to find his form, but should probably move to Europe within a year’s time.

Posted from  Dominican Republic

I think Dallas traded EJ because they know that his time in MLS will be ending soon. I expect to see him heading to Europe this year. Hopefully Dempsey will go overseas also.

Posted from  United States

Please, no more defending Reyna. He never was our best player ever. Reyna was always billed and almost always used as our creative midfielder. In doing this job he was one of the worst I have ever seen and I get to see Pete Vagenas week in and week out. Reyna played one game for the USA in the WC ever where we won. The 2-0 win over Mexico and in that game he played right back. Yes please go back and look at the tapes of ALL our games for proof. Reyna is SLOW. He is slow thinking which leads to a very slow game where our attack is ineffective. He takes forever to make a decision and by the time he does the defense is ready for it. He is not creative and very often gives up the ball. We all know the most recent give away. Come on, how many 7 year olds know not to try and dribble out of the back especially when you are right on the 18? How about all the give aways Reyna committed in the offensive third? Look at the Italy game again. Reyna blew more than a few scoring chances by either passing the ball to the other team or hitting it out of bounds. I say good ridence. It was Arena’s mistake for buying into the Reyna hype and playing him at all in this cup.

Now on the other hand our attacking mid should be Donovan. Stop playing this 4-5-1 crap and play a real 4-4-2 with Donovan as the attacking mid and just let him go at the other team. Now this is just speculation but I believe that it is because Reyna was our “attacking” mid Donovan backed off from that duty and that is why our attack sucked. If you do not believe me look at how the Ghana game changed after Reyna went out even though Arena made the terrible decision to bring in Olsen instead of Johnson.

Posted from  United States

He never was our best player ever? You are comparing a player who has been a regular in the Bundesliga, Scottish Premiership, and English Premiership for over 10 years ( a first team regular whenever healthy) with MLS players. Who was better? Which American is more accomplished at the world’s top level? Reyna was named to the starting 11 of the ‘02 All World Cup team and you are saying MLS players are better than he was in his prime? I guess Stuart Pierce let him wear the captains band at Man City because he’s an over-hyped American. Not because he’s a seasoned professional with over 10 years of top flight European experience. Last time I checked Claudio Reyna will be playing in the Premiership next season, while Vagenas and Donovan will be in the world class MLS. I’m not saying Reyna is still at his peak, but he is absolutely our best player ever. Instead of just looking at the 3 or 4 games of the world cup finals, why don’t you go back and watch the films of all the qualify matches. I have seen every single televised qualifying match in 18 years and over the last 8 years the U.S. rarely won qualifiers when Reyna wasn’t in the lineup.

Posted from  United States

Marc-

I agree with your criticism that Reyna has lost a step. However, in his defense: a) the backpass from Dempsey was poor and b) Cherundolo and Conrad were both out of position. Plus, Bruce was asking Reyna to play out of position as defensive mid.

He played right back that game but was an offensive menace. Did you see that assist to Beasley? Do you think Donovan would have thought of that pass in a million years?

I do agree that the 4-5-1 system was confusing, because it was ambiguous who our creative midfielder was. A 4-4-2 with Donovan as attacking mid would be fine, untl it was time to play defense.

Until Donovan becomes a two way player (he has one performance against Italy where he played some D) the US can’t risk having three offense only players on the field.

I would like to point out that your criticism of Reyan being both a slow runner and a slow decisionmaker has been leveled against another creative midfielder: Juan Roman Riquelme. How is his team doing? How did Villareal do in Europe?

Donovan certainly has teh potential to be better than Reyna, but its not gonna happen if he stays in Los Angeles with his wannabe actress wife. Until the Bradenton brats realize what it takes to succeed in Europe, no one will be comparable to Reyna.

Posted from  Dominican Republic

You idiots don’t know a good player when you see one. Best American ever. Great Ranger (Glasgow)where people know what they’re talking about. Save your energy for losing your next games without a legend….

Posted from  United States