Talking U.S. performance and Oguchi Onyewu
by Steve Davis on Oct 13, 2010 12:15 PM EDT
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I’m never the person who thinks I know more than the manager. The world has enough of these presumptuous smarties. Just go read any of the forums.
I can usually see the plan. I may not always 100 percent agree. But, again, I don’t assume I know more than the man who spends his life fretting over these matters (the manager). And I am reasonable enough to understand that a lot of ingredients go into the goulash. That is, managers must consider a number of factors – sometimes a number of disparate ones – when they work out lineups. It’s not just as simple as how Tommy Tackler or Peter Passer are doing at the moment. It’s how Tommy fits into the longer range plan and how Peter works with the players around him, etc.
But sometimes a situation comes along that escapes me, one that I just don’t understand. Still, I’ll give U.S. manager Bob Bradley the benefit of the doubt on this Oguchi Onyewu matter. I’m not sure I understand the objective here, although I assume there is one. (I may get some time soon with Bradley specifically to speak about this. So maybe the answers will be forthcoming.)
Onweyu isn’t playing at AC Milan. So I’m not sure I understand the point to starting him twice for the national team. These games are about building depth and experimenting with personnel, formations, combinations, etc. Going forward, would Onyewu continue to be a U.S. starting center back if he can’t get any time at Milan? I doubt it, but who knows?
But if he isn’t, then shouldn’t these games be about testing others? I know that Bradley sees these guys all the time, so he knows what they can and can’t do. But form does matter, as we know. And players react differently in different combinations and under different expectations, so I assume there’s some value in seeing these varied center back combinations at work.
And isn’t it sending mixed messages to start Onweyu twice? U.S. Soccer spokesman Michael Kammarman reminded me the other day that different situations may require different approaches. I get that. But I still don’t know if I understand the choice to start Onyewu here. (Then again I’m just a little bit smarter than my border collie – so I suppose it’s no huge surprise that I don’t understand something.)
Again, I assume there is a longer range objective. Perhaps the man’s confidence is down and Bradley wanted to aggressive pursue a re-supply. Or maybe Bradley wanted to “show” the big fellow, hoping to help facilitate a loan or outright winter sale. (Which looks like the only way forward for Onweyu; I never thought he would get time at Milan, and last year’s big injury only worsened the chances.)
While you’re thinking about all that and about how last night’s events unfolded, my ratings and quick analysis at SI.com’s soccer site are here.
And just for fun, here are Soccer America's ratings from last night.
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plus he'll be old
Not to mention that he’ll be 32 at the next World Cup. Why not give Omar Gonzalez some more quality time or some of the other young centerbacks?
Boco was 32
He did ok in the WC
" Only build on positives , don't stack the negatives...Instead of criticizing , what was a positive?" - Donavin Darius
"There is nothing like a wise phrase or quote to help convince others that your decision makes sense." - Anon
"If you're ever in a fair fight, then your tactics suck." ಠ_ಠ
Because of if Gooch doesn’t get the starting job in Milan this year then he’ll probably be sold to a club where he can get some play. Say some middle level club in Germany. By the time things really get moving in 2012 he’ll be still young (for a defender) have the best resume and experience among all defenders and have the playing time. As far as I can tell, it looks to me like Gooch is still the best man in defense.
Play Omar!!
I understand Gooch playing in one of these games but i think not playing Omar Gonzalez is a huge mistake. Its never too early to get the younger players thinking about Brazil.
I think there's a difference...
between playing people who aren’t getting PT w/ their clubs 40 months out from a World Cup and playing them 4 months out from a World Cup.
Right now you can play people you want to look at harder to see how they fit. You can accept the issues of fitness that come with them, and you can maybe ‘put them in the storewindow’ so a club WILL take a look.
As a team runs up closer to the World Cup, you have to take those matches serious as preparatory to the event. And ‘that’ is when you say, “Why are you playing people warming the bench with their clubs?”
But even then, that’s a guideline, not a rule. There’s exceptions, even with the big nations (Germany and Podolski, for instance in the last WC.)
I think it's a bit harsh
to say that not playing central defense for AC Milan is a negative for a player. In general, yes, you want a guy to be playing for his club but that’s a bar that is awfully high. The list of of US players that have been on Serie A rosters is short. Very short.
Captain, there are doubt's...
that's a fair point
on the other hand, i think you have to realistically assess your chances of playing, and then go find a level that suits your talent. i could certainly be wrong, but to me Onyewu always looked like a guy that Milan acquired solely for cover. and i’m just not sure that’s what is best for his career at the moment. but you’re certainly right about one thing: if you want to learn about defense, serie A and Milan are as good a training ground as you’ll find.
they pay him well more than many of the regulars (1 million Euros, apparently)- more than a "cover" player
Maybe they are just waiting him out? Players tend to have longer careers in Italy anyway. I don’t mind if he’s a benchwarmer- he’s certainly not 100%, and Milan is pretty deep at D this year, deep enough to let him come back at his own pace.
"Voetbal is pas totaal als je wint"- Coach Adun
"The greatest sin is to spurn the gift"- Coach Alistair
Maybe Bradley's wants to see if Gooch has learned anything
Run him out there and see if he’s improved. If not, then maybe it’s time to look at other options.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Three things
1 The WC is four years off, but there’s a Gold Cup coming in one (and this Gold Cup is “the good one” the one that would qualify us for the Confed Cup).
2 You can only play a few ‘experiments’ at once and still have a valid experiment. There’s little to be gleaned by sending an Experimental XI, all unfamiliar to each other, to the slaughter. And I think this is more true for defensive than offensive players.
3 There are worse black marks on a CV than being unable to play at Milan.
'Gentlemen' he said,
'I don't need your organization,
I've shined your shoes,
moved your mountains and marked your cards,
but Eden is burning.
Either get ready for elimination,
or else your heart must have the courage,
for the changing of the guards.'
Easy Call
Steve-o,
I actually think the decision to start Gooch both games is an easy one. And I don’t think it’s about any of the reasons people have mentioned so far.
1. BB decided to pull him out of the starting lineup at the WC. Yeah, we’re all pros here, yada yada. But what BB did by starting him twice was in a very emphatic way say to Gooch “I love you—can we kiss and makeup now?” Remember, after Bruce Arena went with Brad Friedel in the WC, Kasey Keller announced he was done (and it took a combination of Bruce publicly saying he’s made a mistake by not playing Keller some—which I think was just PR—and Friedel retiring from the NT—to entice KK back). It didn’t cost Bradley anything. And I don’t think playing Gonzalez or Goodson or Marshall these two games would have told us alot. If Gonzalez had looked bad—does that mean he doesn’t get a callup again? I don’t think so. Nah, BB basically took actions (plus probably some private words) to tell Gooch “you’re vital to me—I can’t live without you!”
2. BB earned some goodwill for Gooch. Gooch isn’t getting minutes so he’s getting rusty. BB probably said “we’ll start you both games. we’ll give you some tape to show the big boss back in Milan that you’re international quality and capable of helping now—maybe that will get you some PT and more bonus money.”
Both actions earn some goodwill and forgiveness for BB by Gooch (not that either is required) but it’s about good man management. If Gooch never gets PT for ACM, he probably ends up being just a pretty good but somewhat rusty CB for the US. But if he can start getting minutes, he can return to what he was before the WC: one of the 3-4 most impactful US players. So starting Gooch 2 games in the hopes it gets him some PT opportunities with ACM and renews his commitment to the NT is a small price to pay.
