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If other U.S. sports stars would have chosen soccer as their primary sport
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:13 pm
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:13 pm
What position would they play? And what would your USMNT lineup be with these guys?
I'm always hearing the argument that other sports take away the talent for our national soccer team.
What if we had full access to all American talented athletes?
Here's some ideas... (I'm interested to see some of your choices)
Michael Vick - Fwd/Striker (he would just outrun any defender)
Brian Urlacher - CB or CDM (could be like a defensive version of Wayne Rooney - fast enough to cover a good part of the pitch, but can help a bit in the offense if needed)
Kobe Bryant - CAM
Chris Paul - CAM (dude knows how to serve - could be deadly with a great striker in front of him or in the center if he flanks out wide)
Shaq - goalkeeper (ETA: I kinda meant this one as a joke - obviously, shaq at goal would be more for the hilarity of it)
Reggie Bush - FWD (could see him be like an Arjen Robben or Nani type player).
I'll post my USMNT lineup when i've had some more time to think about it.
Go.
I'm always hearing the argument that other sports take away the talent for our national soccer team.
What if we had full access to all American talented athletes?
Here's some ideas... (I'm interested to see some of your choices)
Michael Vick - Fwd/Striker (he would just outrun any defender)
Brian Urlacher - CB or CDM (could be like a defensive version of Wayne Rooney - fast enough to cover a good part of the pitch, but can help a bit in the offense if needed)
Kobe Bryant - CAM
Chris Paul - CAM (dude knows how to serve - could be deadly with a great striker in front of him or in the center if he flanks out wide)
Shaq - goalkeeper (ETA: I kinda meant this one as a joke - obviously, shaq at goal would be more for the hilarity of it)
Reggie Bush - FWD (could see him be like an Arjen Robben or Nani type player).
I'll post my USMNT lineup when i've had some more time to think about it.
Go.
This post was edited on 6/16/12 at 9:04 pm
6
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:16 pm to StarSaint
I really don't like doing these. I would ask you this:Why not Tyson Gay as a striker, because he is a world class sprinter?
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:18 pm to Bho
Sure, go for it.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:20 pm to StarSaint
quote:
I'm always hearing the argument that other sports take away the talent for our national soccer team.
Which is mostly a stupid argument. Athletically, we are already one of the top teams in the world. The truth is that we haven't done a very good job with the athletes that we do get of giving them technical skills required to succeed at a high level. That said, having better athletes choose the sport will increase our pool, which is one of the requirements for long term sustained success. But time and again, at tournament after tournament, you see the more technical, disciplined teams winning over teams with excellent athletes, save for a few exceptions. If we can raise our technical standards to be on par with the rest of the world, then we can use the athletes we do get to their fullest potential.
This post was edited on 6/16/12 at 5:22 pm
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:22 pm to crazy4lsu
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:23 pm to crazy4lsu
Yeah, it's a weak argument.
However, I want Calvin Johnson to play sweeper keeper for me.
However, I want Calvin Johnson to play sweeper keeper for me.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:24 pm to crazy4lsu
I agree - I kinda wanted to see how other sports' athletes would size up in soccer - in a somewhat humorous point of view. Obviously, Shaq at keeper is absurd, but I just wanted to see who everyone would put at certain positions.
What you're saying is that it's less about pure talent, more about discipline, organization and the development of our youth academies to become more technically sound.
What you're saying is that it's less about pure talent, more about discipline, organization and the development of our youth academies to become more technically sound.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:25 pm to StarSaint
Calvin Johnson at GK. /GK talk.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:34 pm to UASports23
No Lebron, no care.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:34 pm to UASports23
Thanks, UA. 
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:35 pm to Bho
LeBron at left or right back. Maybe even center back or defensive mid. Need his strength.
Ray Allen at winger, lobbing long distance bombs into the box.
Kevin Durant as Peter Crouch.
Ray Allen at winger, lobbing long distance bombs into the box.
Kevin Durant as Peter Crouch.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:48 pm to StarSaint
shaq is a terrible fricking choice
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:52 pm to rockchlkjayhku11
I already said the Shaq one was a joke.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 5:59 pm to rockchlkjayhku11
One thing that this conversation that this always makes me think is that maybe not a single one of these NBA/NFL athletes would have become elite soccer stars anymore than Michael Jordan would've become the next Ken Griffey Jr had he concentrated on baseball.
However, I bet we'd have a lot of good players develop from the tons of excellent athletes that are under 6' and just play basketball and football now even though their size will eventually keep 99% of from making it in those sports.
Their lower centers of gravity would give them an advantage over the lanky athletes that excel in the NBA.
However, I bet we'd have a lot of good players develop from the tons of excellent athletes that are under 6' and just play basketball and football now even though their size will eventually keep 99% of from making it in those sports.
Their lower centers of gravity would give them an advantage over the lanky athletes that excel in the NBA.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:00 pm to StarSaint
We'd have to many strikers to choose from. You an pick practically any decent NBA player who is a guard/SF and throw him at Striker. I mean Lebron, Kobe, Granger, Harden, Wade, Rose, Westbrook...They're all 6'3 are over and fast. Well Maybe not Granger and Harden, but they would OWN in the air. Get Bush, Vick on the outside delivering in crosses. I'd want Drew Brees as my CM orchestrating everything. Howard is the only real choice for GK cuz no one else would come close. Griffen as a CB. I'd have Paul and Rondo as my RB and LB because they're so good at steals.
So recap:
GK: Howard (maybe Durant but it's Howard's to lose)
CB: Griffen and Jimmy Graham
LB: Paul
RB: Rondo
CM: Brees
LM: Vick
RM: Bush
ST: Bron/wade/Rose/Westbrook
So recap:
GK: Howard (maybe Durant but it's Howard's to lose)
CB: Griffen and Jimmy Graham
LB: Paul
RB: Rondo
CM: Brees
LM: Vick
RM: Bush
ST: Bron/wade/Rose/Westbrook
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:17 pm to LSUButt
Why don't we move this to the More Sports Board?
No self-respecting soccer fan entertains this discussion.
No self-respecting soccer fan entertains this discussion.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:21 pm to LSUButt
I wouldn't put vick in any of my teams. Seriously he is fast/agile but that's prettty much all he has going for him and lobbing through balls is easily countered by good defensive angles
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:29 pm to Sheep
quote:
Why don't we move this to the More Sports Board? No self-respecting soccer fan entertains this discussion.
Just have a little fun with it. OP can't be serious...he said Shaq.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:33 pm to LSUButt
I love how we're using their strengths in their respective sports and pairing them with soccer attributes. As if Paul or Rondo would be good at defense because they're good at stealing the ball in the NBA. Or Howard would be a good keeper because he is big. Reality check: reaction time is vastly more important than size. Of course having both would be ideal. But I bet Howard would be an AWFUL goalie.
Posted on 6/16/12 at 6:42 pm to LSUSOBEAST1
That's why Calvin Johnson works in the GK situation. But in the other positions, it's just a shot in the dark because you don't know if they could do the most basic of kicking.
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