Pahdz said:

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Wouldn't qualify any of our best keepers as world class (Howard, Friedel or Keller)?

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He's probably talking about field players.

I'm sure he was, but it's 11 guys out there and those 3 were some of the best in the world during their primes.

akm91 said:

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Pahdz said:

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Wouldn't qualify any of our best keepers as world class (Howard, Friedel or Keller)?

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He's probably talking about field players.

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Well he should've said that then.

I think Dempsey would qualify in 2011-2012. He was 4 in scoring in the premiere league.

He makes the USMNT best hair all time team.

Beckerman
Cobi Jones
Meola
Bald baby Bradley
Lalas
Gooch
Frankie Hejduk
Balboa's mullet

Edit to add:

Clint Mathis 2002 Korea

no mohawk Clint Mathis?

For sure!

I personally wouldn't. They had some very good games for their national team and clearly are USMNT legends.

However, none of those players ever excelled at an elite level at the club level. In my mind, to be world class you excel for the best clubs in the best tournaments in the world. Excelling for your national team in the best tournaments in the world is strongly recommended but can be overlooked if your club performances are just other worldly. Club football dominates the calendar and if you aren't at an elite level there, I don't see how you can be considered world class because that's where the bulk of the assessment is made.

The highest Keller ever got was 1st choice for a mid-table Tottenham team for two seasons. He never played for an elite club.

I actually think Friedel could have performed for an elite club if his opportunity had come in say, 2005 when he was excelling for Blackburn. Unfortunately, his opportunity came before Blackburn and he was very underwhelming at Liverpool. Had things worked out differently, I think he could have proven himself at the elite club level. But it's hard to say he was world class on the back of being a Blackburn Rovers legend.

Howard came the closest. He did better at Man United than Friedel did at Liverpool but ultimately, neither succeeded when tasked with being the #1 for a club expected to challenge for league titles and make deep Champions League runs. Similar to Friedel, I don't think you can say Howard was world class strictly on the back of being an Everton legend.

I also may be more restrictive of my definition of world class than others. To me, it's only established when you are consistently performing for big teams in big competitions season after season.

Dempsey definitely came the closest to doing that. I don't think he did it but that season was a very good season. Probably the best season ever for an American.

That's fair. I think Dempsey has had the best season in major league thay was probably closest to world class we've had.

I think he could've done it had he got the chance at a bigger club closer to his prime.

I also have no doubt we're going to break this lid sooner rather later.