What happened to Claudio Reyna?
When I first heard that Claudio Reyna signed with the New York Red Bulls, I was ecstatic. One of the most solid players on the U.S. national team was coming home to play in Major League Soccer.
The news of Reyna’s impending arrival came after the announcement that Beckham had signed with the Galaxy and I was just as excited about Claudio Reyna coming. With experience in Germany (at Wolfsburg and Bayer Leverkusen), Scotland (at Rangers) and England (at Sunderland and Manchester City), I assumed that Reyna would be a great asset for New York and for MLS.
But I haven’t heard anything about Reyna since his transfer in January. What happened?
I checked the stats and Reyna has played in 15 of 19 games, so I know he has seen time on the pitch. Does he play second fiddle to Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore? I live in Ohio so I can’t see the Red Bulls on TV unless they are playing the Crew but I expected Reyna to make more of an impression on MLS.
Any insight from Red Bull fans (or anyone else)?
Photo by wjarrettc
11 comments
Reyna has never really been a “marquee” player though. I can’t think of anytime he’s grabbed the headlines, except when he was grabbing his ankle at the World Cup against Ghana.
He has always been and continues to be a solid player. However, being a solid, technical, and well-rounded player in the MLS doesn’t really make headlines.
’nuff said.
You’re right – haven’t heard anything about him.
As for commenters rippin on Reyna for a bad world cup mistake – weak. Dude is a hero. Play long enough, and everyone’s gonna mess up bad eventually.
He’s never been a goal-scorer. Possession guy. Distribution guy. Smooth. Older/slower now, but can prob still get things done. Don’t watch MLS, so don’t know.
I don’t know if being the most important player on your national team for ten years makes one ‘marquee’ or not, but if we ever get another midfielder like him again we might actually be dangerous.
I brought up the question because I would hear about him last season when he was with Manchester City. The BBC talked about Reyna and I would see him on Sky Sports. I assumed if Reyna got some press in a league with football superstars that he would be big in the MLS. Maybe the English press are more interested in the technical players and the American press only want the home run hitters?
As for commenters rippin on Reyna for a bad world cup mistake – weak.
You’re right. To pick out that one mistake isn’t fair. I reckon we could go on about his excessive fragility or absurd off-the-pitch comments but that seems like piling on.
Tyler,
I think the English League in general is that litmus test for true international quality. Reyna is a legitimate world class player, no doubt about it. But your last sentence is so true. No home runs = no SportsCenter.
Peter,
At least Zidane apologized to the entire country of France for his “bad world cup mistake”.
I’m surprised he has played 15 games. Seems from my sporadic checking in on the Red Bulls he has been injured quite a bit.
PS
inregards to SportsCenter covering MLS its not even about goals scored anymore, its all about Beckham.
this is what Bobby Boswell had to say about the coverage SportsCenter gave last weeks United/Galaxy match, “I’ll tell you what [makes me mad],” he said. “If you watch SportsCenter today they were showing [highlights]. It was an ESPN-covered game. You would think they would show the highlights of the game, but the highlights were when Beckham warmed up, when he went in, a free kick…and then they just show him kind of after the game.
Ridiculous
Marks is only upset with Reyna for his WC mistake because it ruined his vacation to Germany. I agree – Reyna owes Mark an apology. And Arena, and Pope, and…
Matthew: I edited your comment because the non-wrapping URL was messing with the design. Hope that’s OK…
Wonder what Bobby Boswell has to say about the coverage of last night’s game?
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