Winnipeg Fury Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad named player of the month in MLS NEW YORK (CP) - Canadian goalkeeper Pat Onstad has been named player of the month in Major League Soccer for August. The Vancouver native, who plays for the San Jose Earthquakes, had four shutouts in five games last month, posting a 3-1-1 record and helping move the Quakes within four points of the Western Conference lead. August has been a good month for Onstad, currently on duty in Edmonton with the Canadian national team. Of his 14 career MLS shutouts, seven have come during the month and in 10 career games in August, Onstad has allowed only five goals for a 0.49 goal-against average ann 6-2-2 record. The two-time MLS all-star, voted 2003 goalkeeper of the year, was the runaway winner for the monthly award. New England Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis and D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno also received votes. The winner is selected by a panel of journalists from the Professional Soccer Reporters Association. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Georgio Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 I must admit that I never actually get to see this guy play outside of when he performs for the Nats. So he either has an amazing fullback line right now with San Jose which would mean the shots on goal would be at a minimum or he is actually a stellar keeper. F*ck I don't know, it's awfully confusing though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadasBest Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 It's like I said earlier. Nothing good has ever happened with Onstad in net for Canada. Nothing against his ability, he just does not seem to be able to get the job done for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian B. Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 My question is: Did Onstad ever got a result for Canada with an oustanding performance in one of his numerous appreances for the MNT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 If you're Canada coach, would you start a GK with great communication skill that can avoid shot being taken at our net just by organizing his defense. Or a GK who looks good because he receive 10 shots a game but those shot would have been prevent with better communication skills. If you are confident with your defense, the first thing a coach should ask himself is, 1-wich one of my goalies will be comfortable with that defense, which one can operate well with those 4 guys, 2- distribution skills, 3- crosses, and the last thing is 4- shot stopping ability. If you're not confident with your defense because of injury and you know the other team have some offensive power, it would be a better idea to start your best keeper on aspect 3 and 4. I'm just tired of people asking for our best shot stopping keeper to be between the pipe, the time of Craig Forrest is over.....Now we have a solid team with a good midfield and good defense as well, so I don't think we will allow 10 shots against CR, Guat or Honduras. The main question is not which one has the best results/performance for Canada but, it's more something like which one of those 2 our defense wants to see behind them..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 quote:Originally posted by loyola If you're Canada coach, would you start a GK with great communication skill that can avoid shot being taken at our net just by organizing his defense. Or a GK who looks good because he receive 10 shots a game but those shot would have been prevent with better communication skills. Perhaps the television camera did a better job of demonstrating Onstad organizing the defence, but I din't notice anything too notable in the last game from the stands. I never have that I can think off, but that does not mean it isn't happening. Never noticed it with Lars either to be fair. Of course, inth elast game, I don;t think we had a defence that could be saved by a keepers organization to be honest, at least inthe middle. quote:Originally posted by loyola The main question is not which one has the best results/performance for Canada but, it's more something like which one of those 2 our defense wants to see behind them..... That is exactly the opinion that counts, because if the defence doesn't have any confidence, it will effect their game and their commitment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Gordon, I wasn't saying that Onstad did a good job in the last game by organizing the defense.....that's my point, it's extremely difficult for us (the fans) to judge whether a GK is good at it or not at organizing his defense.....but the coach and the players certainly know that after a few games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 quote:Originally posted by loyola Gordon, I wasn't saying that Onstad did a good job in the last game by organizing the defense.....that's my point, it's extremely difficult for us (the fans) to judge whether a GK is good at it or not at organizing his defense.....but the coach and the players certainly know that after a few games. And I agree with you loyola. I posted somewhere in a different thread that the main opinion that counted was not the fans or even the coach, it was the players who had to play in front of the keeper. I did think you were suggesting that this was a quality Onstad had over any of the other candidates and thought you may have seen something. I know you've coached keepers and have some appreciation ofr some of the intangibles. As you know, I am not Onstad's biggest fan. He simply doesn't fill me with confidence. I am not sure why, his positioning is generally sound, he has lots of expereince, he has had plenty of success in MLS and his 17 shutouts for the NATs is noting to sneeze at. Maybe it comes down to me not having seen a big save out of him when Canada really needed it in recent memory. He save a penalty in the MLS Championship, so I know he can do it, but why not for us once in a while? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 To be honest, our goalkeeping situation make me nervous, but I have no preference between our 3 goalkeepers....... Just like you I'm not an Onstad fan, but I,m also not a fan of Lars either.....Sutton is good(I'm not suggesting that he's better than the other) but I have no idea how he would shine at this level and it would be too risky to give him a start at this point unless you have no choice. On the bright side I think the future looks good with Lindley, Fernandes, Karim, Giacomi, Olivieri and Wagenaar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.