Favourite Players
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Shane1988
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NYCFC: David Villa (Explain Later) Mix Diskerud (Likeable and Talented) and Josh Saunders (Gotta show some love for him)
Now/All Time: Gigi Buffon (8 years old to around 16 years old) That because as a kid I was a keeper, remember watching his early Parma games and fondly remember the Italy/Russia WC qualification game from 1998 in which he fully made me a fan of him
David Villa (16 years old +) Started to play outfield in later years (mostly striker or winger) and Villa was starting to make a name for himself at Zaragoza when I noticed him, loved the way he made scoring look easy, followed his career since, one of the main reason I started to watch MLS fully and become a NYCFC fan
Honourable Mentions: David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos
Now/All Time: Gigi Buffon (8 years old to around 16 years old) That because as a kid I was a keeper, remember watching his early Parma games and fondly remember the Italy/Russia WC qualification game from 1998 in which he fully made me a fan of him
David Villa (16 years old +) Started to play outfield in later years (mostly striker or winger) and Villa was starting to make a name for himself at Zaragoza when I noticed him, loved the way he made scoring look easy, followed his career since, one of the main reason I started to watch MLS fully and become a NYCFC fan
Honourable Mentions: David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos
Ferdinand Cesarano
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My absolute favourite players are Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, and John Terry. These guys, along with Jose Mourinho, made me fall in love with the sport in 2004; so I will be eternally grateful to them. This reminded me of my getting into baseball when I was a kid in 1972 on account of seeing Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer. And, having retired from baseball fandom in 1997, I was pleased to find something else that stirred my passions as baseball had once done.
Whereas in the years following 1972 I collected baseball cards and immersed myself in baseball history, starting in 2004 I began reading all I could in order to learn about English football and its history.
Several other ex-Chelsea players remain my favourites, especially Joe Cole, an attacking midfielder / winger / sometime striker who had the prettiest game of any player that I have seen. Others are Arjen Robben and defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Amongst non-Chelsea players, the top one is Cristiano Lucarelli, a fellow red.
Despite being a Chelsea fan, I had admiration for several rival-team players, just as I had begrudgingly admired George Brett and Jim Rice back when I was a Yankee fan. I admit that I always liked Cristiano Ronaldo, despite my hatred of Man United. I actually didn't want him to leave United, because his presence elevated the entire Premier League. For the same reason, I didn't want Gareth Bale, another favourite, to leave Tottenham. The wildman Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was always great fun to watch. And my favourite non-Chelsea defender is Phil Jagielka.
When I was a kid, I had a fascination with Giorgio Chinaglia; and still I love reading about his outsized personality. But I cannot claim to have followed the Cosmos closely back in those days. From sporadically watching the MISL as an adult, I became aware of Todd Dusosky, and always enjoyed seeing him. But, there again, I do not say that I was an avid fan.
Before NYCFC was founded (and before it cemented me as a fan by signing Lampard), I didn't care about MLS. But I sometimes watched the league's matches if one came on. And I remember really enjoying striker Sergio Galvan Rey of the MetroStars, who was a fast little guy.
For NYCFC, I have the same emotional attachments to Mix and to Poku as most other fans do. The slightly ungainly McNamara makes me smile. And I remain confident that the legendary Lampard will make a very big contribution this season.
Whereas in the years following 1972 I collected baseball cards and immersed myself in baseball history, starting in 2004 I began reading all I could in order to learn about English football and its history.
Several other ex-Chelsea players remain my favourites, especially Joe Cole, an attacking midfielder / winger / sometime striker who had the prettiest game of any player that I have seen. Others are Arjen Robben and defender Ricardo Carvalho.
Amongst non-Chelsea players, the top one is Cristiano Lucarelli, a fellow red.
Despite being a Chelsea fan, I had admiration for several rival-team players, just as I had begrudgingly admired George Brett and Jim Rice back when I was a Yankee fan. I admit that I always liked Cristiano Ronaldo, despite my hatred of Man United. I actually didn't want him to leave United, because his presence elevated the entire Premier League. For the same reason, I didn't want Gareth Bale, another favourite, to leave Tottenham. The wildman Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was always great fun to watch. And my favourite non-Chelsea defender is Phil Jagielka.
When I was a kid, I had a fascination with Giorgio Chinaglia; and still I love reading about his outsized personality. But I cannot claim to have followed the Cosmos closely back in those days. From sporadically watching the MISL as an adult, I became aware of Todd Dusosky, and always enjoyed seeing him. But, there again, I do not say that I was an avid fan.
Before NYCFC was founded (and before it cemented me as a fan by signing Lampard), I didn't care about MLS. But I sometimes watched the league's matches if one came on. And I remember really enjoying striker Sergio Galvan Rey of the MetroStars, who was a fast little guy.
For NYCFC, I have the same emotional attachments to Mix and to Poku as most other fans do. The slightly ungainly McNamara makes me smile. And I remain confident that the legendary Lampard will make a very big contribution this season.
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Great Thread!
My cousins are dutch and I have always been an Oranje supporter.
My absolute all time favorite player is Edgar Davids. I always played CM so between his play, his look, and his national team I have to call him my favorite.
My other favorites are Roberto Carlos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For NYCFC I'm a Mix fan. He just works so hard for the team and his charisma makes him a very likable player.
My cousins are dutch and I have always been an Oranje supporter.
My absolute all time favorite player is Edgar Davids. I always played CM so between his play, his look, and his national team I have to call him my favorite.
My other favorites are Roberto Carlos and Cristiano Ronaldo.
For NYCFC I'm a Mix fan. He just works so hard for the team and his charisma makes him a very likable player.
Seven
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Much like every other sporty girl of the 90s, I loved Mia Hamm and wanted to be her. And I had (and still do) a major crush on David Beckham...but that had less to do with soccer skills
Being from the NoVA/DC area, my favorite MLS player was Jaime Moreno. Him and Marco Etcheverry were awesome to watch for DC United.
Since Moreno retired, I started watching more international soccer, and fell in love with David Villa, and have been following him every since. I was very excited when he moved to the US and I no longer had to try and find illegal stream in Arabic to watch him play. I have since developed an unhealthy obsession for all of NYCFC, but that's a whole nother issue
Being from the NoVA/DC area, my favorite MLS player was Jaime Moreno. Him and Marco Etcheverry were awesome to watch for DC United.
Since Moreno retired, I started watching more international soccer, and fell in love with David Villa, and have been following him every since. I was very excited when he moved to the US and I no longer had to try and find illegal stream in Arabic to watch him play. I have since developed an unhealthy obsession for all of NYCFC, but that's a whole nother issue
Despite being a Chelsea fan, I had admiration for several rival-team players, just as I had begrudgingly admired George Brett and Jim Rice back when I was a Yankee fan. I admit that I always liked Cristiano Ronaldo, despite my hatred of season.[/QUOTE]
I have NEVER found a Yankee fan from that era that had anything but disgust and hatred for George Brett.
The guy was an asshole on the field. The only thing good about Brett was watching him act like a child during the Pine Tar incident.
I have NEVER found a Yankee fan from that era that had anything but disgust and hatred for George Brett.
The guy was an asshole on the field. The only thing good about Brett was watching him act like a child during the Pine Tar incident.
I have NEVER found a Yankee fan from that era that had anything but disgust and hatred for George Brett.
The guy was an asshole on the field. The only thing good about Brett was watching him act like a child during the Pine Tar incident.
When I was a little boy, my dad and I followed the original Cosmos religiously, attending games on a regular basis. There were so many greats on those teams, but Pele and Chinaglia were my favorites, with a soft-spot for a guy named Bogicevic. I remember in an early elementary school library class, everyone had to dress up as a "famous" person without revealing the name, and the rest of the class was able to ask questions until someone guessed the person. Most kids chose to be presidents, inventors, and historical figures. I was Giorgio Chinaglia.
Moving on to MISL's New York Arrows, Steve Zungul was my favorite.
Internationally, as a kid I admired the Brazilian teams, and closely followed players like Zico, Socrates, Rivelino, Oscar, Junior, Falcao, etc. My dad and I would watch the broadcasts of the Brazilian national team (and any other big international games) on the big screens at whatever venues would show them. The Felt Forum at MSG often would have them, as would other smaller venues as well. It was always an incredible experience, almost as if you were at the game in person, with energetic and devoted (obsessed) fans singing, playing drums and horns, and hanging on every play.
In England, as a MU fan (easy on the hate, guys), I loved Cantona at the end of his career, and then Ruud Van Nistlerooy, Keane and Scholes were my favorites. It was incredible to have started following and admiring Cristiano when he was just a skinny teenager, unknown to the masses, and watch him become a superstar. I have quite a collection of CR7 MU and Portugal jerseys (most of which were rendered useless when he left). I was disappointed after he moved to La Liga, but still can't help rooting for him.
It may have been blasphemy as a MU fan, but I loved watching Henry play for the Gunners, and never missed an opportunity (even though I was rooting against his club).
My long list of other favorites actually includes both Pirlo and Villa from long before they made their way to NYC, so it has been a great treat having them play for us (results aside).
Already a mouthful, so I will leave my other NYCFC favorites for another day.
Moving on to MISL's New York Arrows, Steve Zungul was my favorite.
Internationally, as a kid I admired the Brazilian teams, and closely followed players like Zico, Socrates, Rivelino, Oscar, Junior, Falcao, etc. My dad and I would watch the broadcasts of the Brazilian national team (and any other big international games) on the big screens at whatever venues would show them. The Felt Forum at MSG often would have them, as would other smaller venues as well. It was always an incredible experience, almost as if you were at the game in person, with energetic and devoted (obsessed) fans singing, playing drums and horns, and hanging on every play.
In England, as a MU fan (easy on the hate, guys), I loved Cantona at the end of his career, and then Ruud Van Nistlerooy, Keane and Scholes were my favorites. It was incredible to have started following and admiring Cristiano when he was just a skinny teenager, unknown to the masses, and watch him become a superstar. I have quite a collection of CR7 MU and Portugal jerseys (most of which were rendered useless when he left). I was disappointed after he moved to La Liga, but still can't help rooting for him.
It may have been blasphemy as a MU fan, but I loved watching Henry play for the Gunners, and never missed an opportunity (even though I was rooting against his club).
My long list of other favorites actually includes both Pirlo and Villa from long before they made their way to NYC, so it has been a great treat having them play for us (results aside).
Already a mouthful, so I will leave my other NYCFC favorites for another day.
Brian McBride and Alan Shearer. Back in the early 2000s, it was hard to find much PL soccer on tv. On Sunday nights there'd be a highlight show that I never missed, and I was amazed at the goals a semi-bald Alan Shearer would score. Instant favorite. McBride just did everything well and had the grit of a 9-pound hammer. He's everything a forward should be.
I love Sydney
Favourite NYCFC player is Tommy "I don't look like an athlete but still perform well" Mac; favourite player from days of old was Craig Brewster who scored the winning goal in 1994 when Dundee United won our first Scottish Cup.
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Ferdinand Cesarano
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Well, I guess you have found one now.
I don't want to overstate things; of course I "hated" Brett back then, especially when he had that fight with Graig Nettles. But, underneath that "hatred" was admiration at the best player in baseball, and the most feared opponent.
Of course I, too, exulted at the Pine Tar incident and at Brett having seemingly been thwarted. I smugly laughed at his tantrum -- for three days, until the A.L. president overturned the umpires' (correct) on-field ruling. The league president did so on the grounds that the pine tar on the bat above the legal height provided no help in the flight of the ball.
What nonsense! The rule regarding pine tar had nothing to do with any supposed aid to the flight of the ball. No one was claiming that Brett was trying to gain an advantage by putting pine tar up there; no one was even claiming that he had broken a rule on purpose. The only salient point in the matter was that the bat was illegal; therefore, the hit should be nullified.
One could argue that the rule about the pine tar is stupid and should be changed. But the change should be made as of the following year. To chose not to enforce an existing rule in that one spot, on a basis that was entirely outside the scope of the rule in question, was a completely arbirary act on the part of the league president.
That shit still bugs me.
Landon Donovan. No matter what people said about him, he did it his way and made a permanent positive mark on US Soccer.
Shane1988
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Probably the greatest USA player of all time
Man, Backyard Soccer was THE GREATEST! All those games were epic. Pablo Sanchez, Pete Wheeler.... those were the days.
My favorite NYCFC player at the moment is probably Matarrita. I love his work rate and intelligence with and without the ball. Favorite non-NYCFC MLS player is probably Diego Valeri -- incredible player and seems like an all around good guy. Favorite USMNT players... Besler and Bedoya and hopefully a young striker will captivate the attention of the nation soon enough.
Z4CH3B99
Borracho Aficionado
My favorite player of all time would have to be Jorge Campos. He played goalie for the Mexican national team and a variety of different club teams in the USA and Mexico.
He was best known for the outrageous uniforms that he wore during games and his acrobatic style of goalkeeping.
Gowing up in Mexico I played goalie because I wasn't good enough with the ball at my feet to play another position. Jorge Campos was a real inspiration of mine because he showed me that goalies could be as glamorous, skilled, and popular as any goal scoring player. I wanted to be just like him on the pitch.
Ultimately that desire to be just like him led to me doing something stupid and badly injuring my shoulder during a youth/reserve squad game. Which stopped my career dead in its tracks. But, that's a story for another day.
He was best known for the outrageous uniforms that he wore during games and his acrobatic style of goalkeeping.
Gowing up in Mexico I played goalie because I wasn't good enough with the ball at my feet to play another position. Jorge Campos was a real inspiration of mine because he showed me that goalies could be as glamorous, skilled, and popular as any goal scoring player. I wanted to be just like him on the pitch.
Ultimately that desire to be just like him led to me doing something stupid and badly injuring my shoulder during a youth/reserve squad game. Which stopped my career dead in its tracks. But, that's a story for another day.
Shane1988
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A underrated keeper in my eyes
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