Anyone interested in Baby Drogba?
By: Dave Martinez | March 25th, 2008
Apparently, Guy Kpene is a big DC fan favorite. They seem to think he has the stuff to develop into a good MLS player. And admittedly, I really don’t know his game all that well.
But the relevant part of all that? He has been cut by the Scum.
Jon over at the DC Offside tells me he can play possession and distribute, but can not finish. Well, we aren’t looking for any options up top. Thats where Jozy and Angel will dominate (with Etchevarry backing them up). But CAM (central attacking midfield Catherine 
)?
Now, I know that Mike Magee currently has that position on lock (somewhat). And I am a HUGE Mike Magee supporter. But with the season days away, why not take a small look at “Baby Drogba” Kpene and see what he is worth.
Quickly. Before San Jose scoops him up.
Now before you crucify the suggestion, remember - I am totally ignorant as to this guys game play.
What would you think about trying him out? Anything to lose by doing so?
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Comments
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Catherine - Good Coach? Osorio. Good Workout? Osorio.
looks like Kpene could do well here =)
And Mel - yes. It will. If he plays like em. Think your team will be looking at him? He is from Ivory Coast - have any room for internationals do ya?
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Kpene could respond well to Osorio and Yallop.
Here’s why I think he should be an attractive option to NYRB or SJ: he’s creative as all-get-out. He makes something out of nothing. I’ve seen him out-Gomez Christian Gomez. If it’s true that he showed up to camp out of shape, then he needs attitude work and I think there’s no one better for than than either Osorio or Yallop (who are both in good positions this season to assert authority over their players and mould their own respective sides after their own respective styles). Bottom line, I agree with Catharine– the stats are wrong about Baby Drogs.
Kpene deserves a place in this league. I have no doubt about this.
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QJA - is he worth an international slot?
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I’m sorry, is this the same player we are all thinking about. He had some nice moments but half his games were absolutely horrid. He had frequent turnovers. I was surprised when we cut Nicolas Addlery instead of him. He had potential but he was at an age when the average player with potential in Europe would have long since been out of the game.
Could he thrive in the right setup- perhaps but I’m not sure if there is a much better setup for him than the pass oriented style of DC last year. And its not like he wasn’t given a chance, having had a hold on the third forward spot last year at DC and logging hundreds of minutes. Lack of forward depth is most often said to be the reason why DC failed last year and he was sitting there on the depth chart.
Out-Gomez Christian Gomez- You mean pull the strings of an offence, score the key goals and carry the team on your back- Must have missed that game.
As for the question of is he worth an International spot- it depends on the teams situation. If there is an international spot and a roster spot to risk on a player who *might* be good if things ever start clicking 100%- go ahead. If the space can’t be spared on a *high risk* gamble, no he’s not.
Sorry if I’m ranting but this player just seems to seem to be seen in a better light after he’s been cut. At the end of last year I was hoping that when we made a forward sub we put in Nicholas Addlery instead of him and most of those around my ticket section agreed. He was a nice guy and we hoped for his success, but he is not the second coming.
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I haven’t written anything on theoretical physics that’s been published or won the Nobel Prize in Physics, but I SWEAR I’m Baby Einstein. Making every person the “Next” someone or “Baby” So-And-So ESPECIALLY when they haven’t proven squat cheapens the person they’re being compared to as well as puts unfair expectations on the player in development. What do Drogs and this kid have in common, the fact they were born in the same town in the Ivory Coast? Ray Liotta was born in the same town as me, if I act in the local Dinner Theatre does that inherently make me Baby Liotta? Drogba’s 6′2.5″, this kid is 5′10″ on stilts. You still think they both rely on the same skills and physical attributes to fulfill their positions? Drogba comparisons, satirical or serious aside, a striker who doesn’t score? I’m sure there’s a line OUT THE DOOR for this kid.
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Sorry, forgot this was the Red Bulls blog- Yes he is absolutely worth the international spot. In fact, completely fair deal you give us Altidore and you can have him.
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Greg-
He rocked the Drogba Haristyle early 2007. Then they both ditched it because it was ugly.
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Hey Greg
They have nothing in common except for a hairstyle. Its tongue in cheek type of a nickname.
And Blue - thanks for the recommend lol.
It seems to me that for such an unknown player, people either love or hate the guy.
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My sense is, if Takayuki Suzuki, who was training with the Quakes and scored a goal during his time with us, signs with the Timbers, its not likely we are going to get crazy excited about baby drogba. Unless the fine folks at Match Analysis crunched numbers and came up with a different conclusion on the guy. Yallop and Doyle are all up in on that Moneyball sh*t.
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Moneyball huh? Interesting.
Suzuki you say? The Asian market is huge here, and its a wonder we never tried to tap into it.
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They won’t admit they use it, but they were holed up in the Match Analysis offices the night before the expansion draft. Those offices are mere blocks from my house too. One day I hope to bump into Yallop or Doyle just kickin’ it in Emeryville. That would make my year for sure.
Um, back to baby drogba. Yeah, I dunno.
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All I know Mel, is that these people are really polarized on this kid. Go figure.
Hey, I might have a cool announcement comin up - RB related. Ill let ya know.
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bluemeanies getting all irrationally pissed. cmon, addlery sucked way more than kpene. At least kpene looked like he might break out of it at some point…addlery always looked 3 steps slow, and could never win a ball in the air.
i always have an irrational soft spot for a player who performs decently in his first game, and who seems like he isn’t favored yet has talent. i don’t think Kpene is Thierry Henry, I just think he’s not as horrible as you’d say.
And why isn’t this discussion happening on my blog?! haha.
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jon: I seem to be arguing san jose points on other people’s blogs lately. Its a bit wierd.
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When Addlery was on he was on. He had one game that was magic in a bottle, I think it was against Chicago, where he scored two and assisted on one to take the win after we were down and was named MLS player of the week last year. While Kpene seemed like if he ever clicked he would be better it was pretty obvious he did not click in any game. We knew Addlery had had the magic for one game so that the magic might return at a later point while Kpene became a waiting game that ended in extreme doubt at the end of it. Addlery was limited but in the Jamil Walker sort of way where he scored despite his limits.
I do like Kpene, but I also remember that he caused extreme frustration throughout the season and the early promise faded. It just wasn’t working, and maybe he’ll work somewhere else but I just see the USL as better for him after last year than him being an excellent, sure thing pick up for another MLS team. I feel that I have to go a bit negative because people are in a bit of an optimism bubble on the guy (out Gomezed Christian Gomez- that guy doesn’t understand Christian Gomez). I want him to be successful but have huge doubts.
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@Dave M.–”Catherine - Good Coach? Osorio. Good Workout? Osorio.
looks like Kpene could do well here =)”My point exactly! If he’s going anywhere it should be New York or San Jose…
As for bluemeanies and Greg–looks like someone didn’t take their chill pill this morning! Put a smile on, will ya? Last time I checked the guy you dislike so much just got cut, and the guy we like so much just said goodbye forever (unless he makes a very unlikely comeback a la Quaranta). So chill, guys. Agree to disagree, eh?
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OH! WHOA! HEY, WAIT UP!! You and Goonie Bandit called DC United “Scum”!!!
Shame. I respect your team bro now respect DC come on! The only team I don’t respect is Galaxy but I’ve stopped my jabs at them because their fans are cool…still that’s not the point! The point is DON’T BE JEALOUS because DC is so lovely! And with fans like me how couldn’t they be?
(Well at least you capitalized it…)
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If you think I dislike Kpene you should hear my thoughts on David f-ing Stokes. Or even how I think of the play of bobbyboswell.com last year (and his name is on the back of my only united jersey).
And San Jose- bad. Don’t think he’ll get good service there. And DC players going to New York do not have the greatest record either. A team with a defensive minded roster and one that just hired a defensive minded coach (judging from his work with Chicago). Not the best place for the guy.
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Ha. Talk about dislike–try listening to me and my sister about David Beckham. It’s awful. I have to, like, go to Confession after Galaxy games…
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Ah I always let a “scum” out every now and then. Guilty as charged. In light of the good people here, I will be better about that (until Ben Olsen breaks Angels ankle in a meaningless blow out).
Hey, all arguments are fine. They keep things interesting.
I just find it amazing that one player as insignificant to DC’s plans can cause such a stir.
I do agree with Bluemeanies - Baby Drogs is in the Francis Doe category in the sense that they will cost an international slot.
The real argument should be Is Kpene worth it?
btw - watching the San Lorenzo game - nice!
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i cannot believe this post got so many comments. hilarious.
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Yea really. Who knew Kpene was such a polarizing figure?!
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As I said on Jon’s blog… with all the love-hate, we are going to have to start calling him “baby C. Ronaldo”
(only in Portuguese, guess what little Ronaldo is? Ronaldinho. So that isn’t gonna work.)
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you made me laugh out loud catherine. just letting you know.
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Very good site. Thanks!!!
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United States
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