Is It That Some Of Our Euro Players Don't Care Enough Or What?

[NYCFCFan10]

I won't name names but I've felt disappointment with some, maybe many, of our Euro guys.

Now for some of them, I can't decide if it's heart or just the fact they're in preseason shape walking into a midseason league with a team that has never had the chance to gel and form a nucleus, yet. In any event, it's not been good.

That said there are 2 or 3 whose heart I wouldn't question. I applaud them, unfortunately, I can't name them either, to be impartial.

How do you guys feel? Are some guys missing heart or just fitness and understanding?

 

[Mikeylito]

How do you guys feel?

I feel like you should name names.

 

[ferrarinycfc]

1/ coming mid way thru a season isnt going to help.

2/MLS might not be technically great, but its fast and athletic and older guys will struggle.

3/ I think MLS needs to stop paying DP money to anyone who comes to MLS past 35. You've seen the impact Giovinco has had this year, MVP for sure for me, thats who MLS needs to target. Robbie keane and thierry henry had this impact as well. If they don't want to come earlier then tell them sorry.

 

[Calmness Personified]

1/ coming mid way thru a season isnt going to help.

2/MLS might not be technically great, but its fast and athletic and older guys will struggle.

3/ I think MLS needs to stop paying DP money to anyone who comes to MLS past 35. You've seen the impact Giovinco has had this year, MVP for sure for me, thats who MLS needs to target. Robbie keane and thierry henry had this impact as well. If they don't want to come earlier then tell them sorry.

How many guys like Giovinco are available though? Probably not that many.

 

[The Toe]

How many guys like Giovinco are available though? Probably not that many.

there are plenty of 6-8mil/yr players wasting away on someone's bench at the better clubs in Europe. Unfortunately, it's most of those players that are content doing that and would rather sit on a big team's bench than actually play.

 

[NYCFCFan10]

I feel like you should name names.

Guys who I don't question:

Facey
Villa
Mix

Guys who I do question:

Iraola
Angelino
Lampard
Nemec
Pirlo
Alvarez

 

[Davo15]

Iraola would be number one on the list for me he's been beyond disappointing.

The whole Lampard situation sucks but he needs to be given more time actually on the field to tell. I do think his injuries since arriving have been legit and wouldn't be held against him save for all the other bullshit.

Pirlo ...it's just really the way he plays we just don't have the players around him to pick up the slack for the negative parts of his game like the previous teams he's played for. Don't think he's putting in less effort but to make up for the less talent around him we need him to put in more than he usually has and not sure that's realistic at 36

Angelino I don't agree. I think he puts in a lot of energy. He might make some dumb mistakes but that's out of inexperience and the fact that he's might be better suited eventually to being a winger than a back since he naturally seems more inclined to attack than defend . I don't think he doesn't care.

 

[ManhattanValley]

If you're going to criticize players based on their nationality then you can fuck right off and watch NASCAR or something.

 

[The Toe]

Am I crazy or have I not seen Nemec warming up with the team in a few months?

 

[NYCFCFan10]

If you're going to criticize players based on their nationality then you can fuck right off and watch NASCAR or something.

I knew some moron would come in here with this trash.

Give me a break, many Euro players have stated that MLS is viewed as a vacation/big payday to many European players. They talk about this ALL THE TIME when they come over. Look what Ashley Cole said when he turned MLS down.

It's not that they're from Europe that's the problem, so take your PC shit elsewhere.

 

[einwindir]

If you're going to criticize players based on their nationality then you can fuck right off and watch NASCAR or something.

We don't need any social justice warriors here, this isn't Reddit or Tumblr. Also, Europe isn't a nationality.

 

[AJS]

Iraola would be number one on the list for me he's been beyond disappointing.

The whole Lampard situation sucks but he needs to be given more time actually on the field to tell. I do think his injuries since arriving have been legit and wouldn't be held against him save for all the other bullshit.

Pirlo ...it's just really the way he plays we just don't have the players around him to pick up the slack for the negative parts of his game like the previous teams he's played for. Don't think he's putting in less effort but to make up for the less talent around him we need him to put in more than he usually has and not sure that's realistic at 36

Angelino I don't agree. I think he puts in a lot of energy. He might make some dumb mistakes but that's out of inexperience and the fact that he's might be better suited eventually to being a winger than a back since he naturally seems more inclined to attack than defend . I don't think he doesn't care.

Like the analysis. One of the disappointments for me is that the expected upgrade at RB and LB hasn't made us much better. On one hand, the team is a lot more fun to watch and there is value in that. But it feels like having fullbacks that bomb forward hasn't really produced more goals (would need to review this in detail to validate it) and has left us badly exposed at the back. We were actually more solid with the mix of boring guys we had earlier in tbe year. The problem is then exacerbated because of Pirlo. If we assume Angelino is leaving, tactically we might be better off replacing him with a stay at home defender to counter balance Iriola. That and a real destroyer paired with Pirlo makes the team a lot more stable, albeit probably less fun!

 

[NYCFCFan10]

I think we're in REAL danger of falling into the same trap that Red Bulls fell into for almost 20 years.

Completely ignoring the coach's wishes and saddling him with flashy players that don't really give a shit and then wondering why it's not working. You fire Kreis and the endless cycle really begins.

Think about it, RB didn't turn around until a personality big enough to stand up to corporate and say "We're doing it my way" emerged.

ALL the best teams feature players that want to be here and aren't just here for the money. They believe in their teams, believe in what they're doing, they take pride in it. Vancouver, DC United, Kansas City, Portland, Dallas, Jersey, Columbus...when I watch those teams, I never have a doubt where their head or hearts lie regarding what they're doing. I really can't say the same of all of our team.

Glad Kreis finally let the media know the truth that some of our players aren't really committed to being here and it's not just a Euro player problem but we have a lot of Euros and it's a known thing for them here.

 

[twsj91]

I think we're in REAL danger of falling into the same trap that Red Bulls fell into for almost 20 years.

Completely ignoring the coach's wishes and saddling him with flashy players that don't really give a shit and then wondering why it's not working. You fire Kreis and the endless cycle really begins.

Think about it, RB didn't turn around until a personality big enough to stand up to corporate and say "We're doing it my way" emerged.

ALL the best teams feature players that want to be here and aren't just here for the money. They believe in their teams, believe in what they're doing, they take pride in it. Vancouver, DC United, Kansas City, Portland, Dallas, Jersey, Columbus...when I watch those teams, I never have a doubt where their head or hearts lie regarding what they're doing. I really can't say the same of all of our team.

Glad Kreis finally let the media know the truth that some of our players aren't really committed to being here and it's not just a Euro player problem but we have a lot of Euros and it's a known thing for them here.

This. Everything I wanted to type, but was to lazy to do it.

 

[Keith Putnam]

Iraola does seem a little lost. But I don't see accusing either him or Angelino, especially Angelino, of "not caring". I see them both (especially Angelino) working hard on the pitch. Iraola has made some bad mistakes, it's true. Angelino has made some, too, but all I see from that guy from my vantage point is enthusiasm and energy.

Pirlo is always going to seem like he doesn't care because he's the World's Calmest Man. I think of all our DPs he's right behind Villa in commitment and miles ahead of Lampard. I actually saw him defend strenuously a couple of times in yesterday's match, so that was an improvement.

Lampard... needs to redeem himself in many, many ways. Obviously.

Nemec... first of all, who cares at this point, and secondly it's been so long since he's played I imagine he *does* have a hard time caring too much about the team at this point. He'll likely be gone next season anyway, surplus to requirements.

No comment on Alvarez, I guess.

 

[dannd23]

Hard to question Pirlo, Mix, Villa, or Facey, IMO. They go balls out every game. Pirlo might not appear to do so, but that is just his style.

It is fair to question Iraola and Angelino, but I don't think it is super warranted. Iraola has struggled at times, but he went from his comfort zone at Bilbao where he has been his whole adult life pretty much. This is a big life change for him and I am giving him a pass until next season, but next season he must deliver. Angelino has been good, especially for an 18 year old.

No comment on the rest.

 

[BxLio91]

If players aren't buying in, that's on the coach.

 

[Davo15]

Not ready to hold the Redbulls up as an example to follow. They are a whopping 11-7-6 right now. Yes their clearly better than us and it's a parity driven league but their a few games over 500 and have won nothing yet nor would I bet on them being MLS champions this year. The Galaxy are clearly the standard to aspire to. I don't think their DP's are light years better/different than ours I'd say Villa/Keane are pretty much even, Gerrard hasn't had the injury problems fully years next year from him and Lampard before it can be properly assessed. Dos Santos probably better move than Pirlo I'll give them that one. The difference is what's built around to support those DP's and I don't think it's fair to expect us overnight without the benefit of years of an academy and with having to have relied on expansion draft pick ups to match that.

I think we're in REAL danger of falling into the same trap that Red Bulls fell into for almost 20 years.

Completely ignoring the coach's wishes and saddling him with flashy players that don't really give a shit and then wondering why it's not working. You fire Kreis and the endless cycle really begins.

Think about it, RB didn't turn around until a personality big enough to stand up to corporate and say "We're doing it my way" emerged.

ALL the best teams feature players that want to be here and aren't just here for the money. They believe in their teams, believe in what they're doing, they take pride in it. Vancouver, DC United, Kansas City, Portland, Dallas, Jersey, Columbus...when I watch those teams, I never have a doubt where their head or hearts lie regarding what they're doing. I really can't say the same of all of our team.

Glad Kreis finally let the media know the truth that some of our players aren't really committed to being here and it's not just a Euro player problem but we have a lot of Euros and it's a known thing for them here.

 

[ManhattanValley]

Also, Europe isn't a nationality.

Last time I checked, being European kind of depends on your nationality. But nevermind.

I knew some moron would come in here with this trash.

Give me a break, many Euro players have stated that MLS is viewed as a vacation/big payday to many European players. They talk about this ALL THE TIME when they come over. Look what Ashley Cole said when he turned MLS down.

It's not that they're from Europe that's the problem, so take your PC shit elsewhere.

You can try and disguise this as being some kind of well-meaning concern about our players not having enough MLS experience, but I don't notice RJ Allen, or Khiry Shelton, or even Kwadwo Poku on your bizarre list up there. You cite various teams with mainly American players as somehow having more "pride" or "heart" than teams full of pesky foreigners who could never have the same kind of vague, scrappy intangibles, but I didn't notice it doing LA Galaxy any harm when they turned us over last week. Why don't Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard or Gio dos Santos fit into your stereotype of 'Euro' pussies who are just here for a vacation?

Almost every successful team and league in the world benefits from signing foreign players. Unfortunately ours have been pretty poor this season. But I'm not going to default to the lazy cliche that foreigners just don't care, and that good old fashioned American guys would improve us just by playing with more "heart". It's a cliche you see from narrow-minded fans all over the world when the chips are down, and it does nothing but hold us back.

 

[JayH]

Of course all we can do is guess and speculate based upon the concrete information we see on gamedays, but we don't see what happens in the locker room before and after games, at practice and in team meetings. There may be sulkers, complainers and guys who just don't appear to give a crap. There may be a bunch, or very few. Maybe it's JK related, maybe it's not. We don't know. We may be able to discern who JK thinks it is by what he does with the lineup in coming weeks, though with all his tinkering maybe not. Was the Poku benching something more than "tactical"? Who knows. Does Iraola do sudoku puzzles during meetings? Who knows. Is JK just as pissed about the Lampard debacle as we are? Does Angelino show up on game day wearing MC gear? Is there finger pointing in the locker room after losses? Or are there guys who aren't bothered by the losses? Who knows. We certainly don't.