Developing Leadership for the National Team

With the annual January training camp in full swing for the US, and January B+ friendly as I like to call it out of the way let’s look ahead towards qualifying. Here and now in 2008 the US has a deeper player pool than ever before. But at the same time, the talent at the top of the pool, and especially the leadership from veteran players is arguably at its lowest point since before the 1994 World Cup. This squad doesn’t boast the veteran soccer savvy leaders like John Harkes, Tab Ramos, Eric Wynalda, Tom Dooley, Ernie Stewart, Joe Max Moore, Brian McBride, Eddie Pope or Claudio Reyna that we’ve seen in the recent past. Instead, this national team is being led by a generation of players most of whom were early graduates of the US Soccer National Academy who have never had to fight for the colors and the badge the way the aforementioned players did.

Landon Donovan showed remarkable growth and maturity in his conversation with our Peter Brown after the US-Sweden game. Yet Donovan who is about as mild mannered and personable as high paid professional athletes come in our society and can not be a leader. He simply doesn’t have the respect and admiration of his peers and the supporters of the game in this country. As good a guy as he is and as talented as he is, he simply isn’t passionate enough about his football 365 days a year. The current US Captain Carlos Bocanegra is in my opinion (and the opinion of many others I speak with) a below average left footed center back. True, until this season he has done alright at the club level, but that isn’t what concerns me; at the national team level he has been mistake prone and often breaks down in the most critical moments. We all recall his ill advised ball into the box against Ghana which caused a chain reaction that ended the United States World Cup. Few recall the numerous mistakes he made in World Cup qualifying for 2006 and in the Gold Cups in both 2003 and 2007 that the US was fortunate to overcome in most cases. DaMarcus Beasley mentally doesn’t seem to always be with “it,” so to speak and Bobby Convey is injury prone and has yet to develop the toughness many of us thought would naturally come when he moved to Europe. Tim Howard is a good vocal leader, but since Tony Meola’s outstanding leadership in the 1994 World Cup, US keepers seem to be less relied upon to be the leaders of the team in general.

That leaves Clint Dempsey. For my money Clint Dempsey is the best player and most passionate player in the US player pool. But as Jamie Trecker, our most recent guest on the American Soccer Show pointed out in his outstanding book Love and Blood, Dempsey comes from a completely different background than the vast majority of kids who play this sport in the country and the vast majority of guys he plays with on the national team. It is Dempsey’s background that have made him the footballer and person he is today. But Dempsey because of his background and lifestyle may not be the best leader because other players may feel they cannot relate to him personally.

For longtime observers of the National Team like myself 2008 could be a watershed year. The player pool is deeper and more talented than ever. However, the lack of leadership and savvy is painfully evident every time I watch the team play. Not only is leadership lacking but our top players, Dempsey and potentially Freddy Adu excepted are not as good as our top players in the 1994 to 2002 time period. That is an opinion which anyone with a historical perspective on US Soccer must at least consider. Again, I come back to the subject of leadership. Someone must step up for this team to overtake Mexico as CONCACAF’s finest, (more on why despite the US’ consistent wins over Mexico, I consider Mexico to be a superior national team program in a future post.) and as a potential World Cup spoiler.

Comment here.

MLS Math: Does it Add Up?

I must admit despite the speculation I was mildly surprised by the news Carlos Ruiz has returned to the LA Galaxy. I understand that the Galaxy have Joe Cannon and Clint Mathis both off the books and that the three “DPs” (David Beckham, Carlos Ruiz and Landon Donovan) only count 400k each towards the approximately $2.2 million cap. But after the three DPs, Abel Xavier, Chris Klein and Chris Albright, I guesstimate the Galaxy has about $600,000 to pay the rest of the squad: 12 senior roster players including as many as five foreigners.

But as we have so often in the past the salary cap doesn’t seem to always make sense or according to some of the more cynical fans of non big market teams, the salary cap doesn’t apply to everyone. This allegation has most often been made about the Galaxy in the past and is sure to rear its ugly head again. This is especially true because conspiracy theorists, many of whom I speak to were convinced when Ruiz was exempted from the DP rule it was not being done for FC Dallas’ benefit but for the sake of the Galaxy.

Let me state I don’t know enough about the backroom deals and politics within MLS to truly understand whether rules really are bent for the Galaxy on a regular basis, but it does smell funny to me. I found it suspicious in past years when San Jose under AEG ownership used to make seemingly one sided trades with the Galaxy: trades that never seemed to be in the interest of the Earthquakes.

Whether or not their is foul play right now doesn’t matter. Considering the suspicions within the soccer community in the US that the Salary Cap and other squad rules don’t necessarily apply to the Galaxy, the trade of Carlos Ruiz for a classic undisclosed allocation, which is vocabulary I had hoped the MLS would stop using in reference to trades. This very term makes the league look very mickey mouse not only to the Eurosnobs but to its biggest supporters as well. If MLS seeks to change this reputation, it is imperative that the allocation system and salary structure receive some sunshine as we call it down here in Florida (open records, open books) to eliminate all suspicion and talk of conspiracies.

Granfathering DPs Smacks of Favortism

Major League Soccer has made several efforts in the past few seasons to eliminate the appearance of favoritism towards certain clubs that was often alleged in the early seasons of the league. Many fans of clubs in the league had what in my mind were legitimate gripes against clubs such as the Metrostars and LA Galaxy who seemed to be assigned the best players and biggest draws by the league which controlled all player contracts. The scouting networks of individual MLS clubs were not nearly as developed in the late 1990s so it appeared to be simple for the league to rearrange the deck ever so often and give teams like the Galaxy prized allocations while promising smaller clubs like the Columbus Crew or dearly departed Tampa Bay Mutiny the next “major” allocation.

MLS thankfully has moved past these days when club supporters would cringe when they’d hear the teams “partial allocation” or “major allocation.” However, the league has taken a step back in the wrong direction with its exemption of Landon Donovan, Carlos Ruiz and Eddie Johnson from the DP rule. While I am concerned about the cases of Ruiz and Johnson, I will admit it is the Donovan situation that really bugs me.

From the inception of the league until today allegations of bias towards the Los Angeles Galaxy franchise have existed from the fans of every other team in the league. I will admit that I sit on the fence in this debate. I for example thought it was terrible when the Galaxy were allocated Carlos Hermisillio in 1998 without having to give up another player and that they had jumped San Jose, Dallas, Columbus and Tampa Bay in line for the next allocation. (San Jose felt they were owed the allocation and were even angrier when they were not compensated following the season for the loss of Eric Wynalda and Eddie Lewis. Wynalda went on loan to Mexico where he was injured and then returned to MLS with Miami and Lewis went to England) However, in 2000 when Luis Hernandez signed with MLS with the condition he play in L.A., the Galaxy were forced to part with Clint Mathis who was assigned to New York and who then went on a scoring tear to match any in league history with his new club, I thought the Galaxy could feel hard done. In addition the Galaxy never seemed to benefit from the favoritism DC United got when signing youngsters: Ben Olsen, Bobby Convey, Chris Albright and Freddy Adu were all assigned to DC United simply because they wanted to play for DC. In the case of Albright, my favored club the Miami Fusion was assigned him with the understanding he would be traded to United for a “future allocation.” The Fusion were owed the allocation for losing Carlos Valderrama and instead the club ended up getting Welton, who had discarded by the Galaxy as belated compensation for Valderrama and an injured Eric Wynalda as compensation for Albright. San Jose was never compensated for losing Wynalda or Eddie Lewis as mentioned before. I believe something similar happened with Convey though I can not recall who was owed the allocation, but I do remember Olsen threatening to sign overseas if he wasn’t allocated to DC United.

MLS has a perception problem particularly when it comes to the Galaxy. It has been alleged that this favoritism is due to the large investment AEG has made in the league, but the reality is many of allegations and bitterness on the part of other clubs fans predate AEG’s purchase of the Galaxy. (At the inception of the league, AEG owned only the Colorado Rapids, which was sold to Stan Kroenke in 2005).

When it comes to the Galaxy, MLS has a problem. From a perception standpoint it would have been wise to somehow force Donovan to leave the Galaxy or force the club to dump David Beckham. While as I have admitted previously I see both sides of the argument no doubt fans of clubs like Chivas USA who find themselves with no current DP possibilities while sharing a stadium with a club known for clever book keeping and perceived to be a long term beneficiary of favors from the league will be screaming bloody murder about Donovan’s exemption. MLS needs to revisit this decision otherwise risk being accused of the same bias the league has worked so hard to distance itself from.

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Donovan scratched from South Africa Friendly

Landon Donovan has sustained an injury in Los Angeles' friendly with Minnesota on Sunday and will not be flying to South Africa to join the US team.

Galaxy Lose Yet Again; RSL Crushes UEFA Cup Bound Everton

Another match, another loss for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Despite the red carpet, Hollywood setting and 19 ESPN cameras the Galaxy looked pedestrian in a 1-0 loss to Chelsea in front of a packed house at the Home Depot Center. The star attraction of the night David Beckham did not debut until minute 78, but his succesor as England captain, John Terry had already sealed the match for Chelsea in the 49th minute with a laser strike that beat Joe Cannon. As usual the Galaxy looked weak going forward but outstanding efforts from Cannon and former Liverpool and Everton defender Abel Xavier frustrated Chelsea all night. Nonetheless, the Galaxy effort was decent by any standard, but once again the Galaxy failed to convert chances when the match was on the line.

In the other friendly between MLS and EPL clubs Saturday Night, Everton was fortunate to have escaped Salt Lake City with only a 2-0 loss. I just got done watching this match on Tivo (I had not realized I actually recorded it until I got home from our EPL Talk get together for the Galaxy/Chelsea match), and really believe RSL (currently last in the MLS table) could have easilyscored five or six first half goals if not for some poor finishing. Carey Talley, a classic MLS veteran and recent Galaxy castoff Robbie Findley scored the two goals for RSL. What was most impressive the almost constant assault Real Salt Lake put American International keeper Tim Howard under during the first half. This attack led by Findley, who clearly the Galaxy could use did not look like one that has scored the least goals in MLS this season.

Andy Johnson who I am a big fan of for Everton seemed to be rusty in this match, but Toffee fans should be encouraged by the play of newcomer Phil Jagielka who frustrated the RSL reserves in the 2nd half with some excellent midfield play.

Halftime Thoughts on USA-El Salvador

• Playing Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber and Pablo Mastroeni together is a mistake. You don't have anyone remotely resembling a playmaker occupying space in the center of the midfield, thus a tendency to push the ball exclusively down the flanks or play long ball seemed to set in at points during the first half.
• Landon Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley are supposed to be playing wide but have tended to push inside as the three aforementioned defensive oriented midfielders seem to be laying back.
• The US back line continues to be disappointing. Positioning for Jonathan Spector and Jonathan Bornstein seems to be a problem and Oguchi Onyewu lacks the closing speed and discipline to snuff out the opposition attack.
• DeMarcus Beasley's goal was a textbook example of why midfielders who charge the scraps on the set pieces should emphasize touch over killing the ball. Beasley's shot took forever to reach the goal but he placed it perfectly. If your running a clinic show your students Beasley's goal, not only for his shot but his perfect positioning.
• Beasley contradicted his own work with a muffed shot in minute forty three where he tried to kill the ball, once again showing he is much more comfortable with his left foot than his right foot.
• Beasley, Donovan and Clint Dempsey all play well together and understand each others game, but I have noticed in the two matches all three have played that they are playing one game and the other seven field players are usually on a different page. Not that that is an awful thing, because you want your veterans to lead by example and all three players understand this is now their team with the retirements of Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride and they need to step it up.
• Donovan telegraphed his first PK attempt and was fortunate to get a rebound for a goal that was nullified anyhow. His second PK attempt was much more accurate and well taken, even though the keeper did guess right again.
• I'm pleased Dave Johnson who has covered MLS and US Soccer for many years is being used by FSC on these matches.
• Guadeloupe is forty five minutes away from advancing to the Quarterfinals, and I want to double check this but I believe they will become the smallest nation to ever advance to the knock out phase of a Continental Championship in any Confederation.

Wynalda vs Donovan Cold War Continues

By now I am sure everyone has heard about Eric Wynalda's comments towards noted Soccer hater and general sports trash monger Jim Rome. What had escaped me during the ordeal was Wynalda's comments towards Landon Donovan that follows up nicely on the war of words on both sides we discussed here last week. Thanks to Bill E Shears at Odds and Sods for pointing out this priceless Waldo quote from Sportscenter last night:

"I don’t know if getting married is going to help him, but he has already been in a situation where I think a lot of the decisions he has been making have been about his personal life, about being happy, about being where he needs to be. He needs to make the decision whether he is going to be a guy playing soccer, or a soccer player. I want him to be a soccer player, because I know how good he is. And I want him to challenge himself, because there is nothing, in this country, that is going to challenge Landon Donovan any more."

No response from Donovan as of yet, but Donovan responded harshly to Wynalda last week in a Dallas press conference and probably will do the same if pressed on this quote.

Wynalda and Donovan still at it.

During Sunday's telecast of US-Ecuador ESPN's Eric Wynalda made the statement that he felt Landon Donovan was shirking his responsibility to the national team by stating he would skip one of the major tournaments the US is playing this summer. Donovan was asked about Wynalda's comments on Tuesday by a local reporter in Dallas, and Donovan scoffed when he heard Wynalda's name before he even heard the comment. Then after hearing the comment, Donovan curtly said "I have to live my life and he doesn't."

Clearly Donovan still holds a bitterness towards Wynalda for his consistent criticisms during the World Cup, and his continued criticism this year even as Donovan was scoring five goals in three matches. Stay tuned, because as we know US Soccer doesn't enjoy criticism and if Donovan, the chosen poster boy for US Soccer eventually wants Wynalda off the US Soccer telecasts, my money is on him getting his wish.

The Rebirth of Landon Donovan

The USA's dominant 3-1 victory Sunday over Ecuador's A team at Raymond James Stadium was the most impressive performance by Landon Donovan since the early stages of World Cup 2006 qualifying. Donovan simply put has regained his confidence and has taken the criticism that many US fans including myself have lobbed at him to heart. Donovan's hat trick (which believe it or not should have been a four or five goal outburst since both he and Demarcus
Beasley were taken down in the box on separate plays with no fouls called.) and dominant attacking midfield play were signs that Donovan is taking his responsibility as the US' new #10 and best goal scorer seriously.

Donovan, long considered the most talented American player had a woeful World Cup 2006. What made Donovan's World Cup all the more disappointing was the build up and hype he has received in the lead in to Germany 2006. For the first time ever, a Soccer player in the United States had achieved superstar status. Donovan was on the cover of magazines and even on an advertisement in Times Square. Donovan it seemed was the great hope to make Soccer a mainstream American sport.

Then came Germany 2006, and a disappointing first round exit for Team USA. Donovan's play in 2006 was a serious step back from his spunky, spirited play as a 20 year old at Korea/Japan 2002. Donovan's failure to stick it out in the Bundesliga when he wasn't getting regular game action and his return to MLS, emboldened his critics including myself. After returning to the MLS, Donovan went 19 consecutive national team games without scoring a goal. That dubious streak culminated in a lackadaisical performance as the US was eliminated from the World Cup by Ghana.

This year Donovan got married to his longtime actress girlfriend on New Years Day and has celebrated by scoring five goals in three games for the National Team. If Donovan can continue his current form, expect to see the top European clubs tempt MLS into selling Donovan. However, with David Beckham slated to become a teammate of Donovan's in July, I wouldn't bet on him leaving MLS anytime soon.

Donovan's resurgence is good news for US Soccer. Regardless of how many other players such as Carlos Bocanegra, DeMarcus Beasley or Clint Dempsey we try and make superstars out of, Donovan is without equals among American players both in talent and skill level. He's the most talented player this nation has ever produced and hopefully as Donovan just celebrated his 25th birthday, he's beginning to reach the prime of his career as well.

"The result was unjust," Hugo Sanchez said. "This is a unique game in that you can deserve to win and still lose.We deserved to win and they did not."

Hugo Sanchez is a living contradiction. In same time he aspired to be a great tactical manager he constantly criticized every recent Mexico manager until he landed himself the job. On one hand he marvels at the play of the United States and on the other he claims they are inferior to Mexico. On one hand he claims the Mexican League where he managed and MLS where he played are excellent leagues then on the other he wants his players moving to Europe. Sanchez on one hand said he would choose an all Mexican league squad for the early year friendlies and then relented by calling every single Mexican national pool member who plays in Europe over for a midweek friendly. Now he claims the result of last week's 2-0 loss to the US was "unjust."

Hugo Sanchez may want a few friendly reminders. In the 1998 World Cup Qualifier held in Foxborough the US pretty much took the game to Mexico but ended up in a draw thanks to a freak turnover by Kasey Keller than ended up as an easy goal for Carlos Hermisillo. How about the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup final where a Luis Hernandez counterattack breakaway allowed the Mexicans to life the trophy even though the Americans dominated possession and outshot Mexico 8 to 3. You see Soccer isn't about "style points." Controlling possession for much of a match to only breakdown in the final third does not mean you deserve a victory. As has been the case for years Mexico failed to do much off of set pieces and had suspect finishing. Despite numerous dangerous looking attacks, Mexico never really threatened to score a goal. I can recall only two or three really good shots on goal and they were all poorly struck while Tim Howard was in perfect position.

The Mexicans keep looking for excuses as to why they lose to the United States on such a consistent basis. It's no wonder they call Landon Donovan the "Mexicutioner," because in spite of his indifferent play of the last few years he seems to always get the best of his neighbor to the south. As a great Footballing nation, with a passion for the game unmatched in the CONCACAF region, Mexico and their greatest player ever need to use the US as a bar to strive for, rather than inventing new excuses after every loss. It can only help both national teams and the CONCACAF region on the world football stage.

Landon Donovan's Goal on YouTube

From Univision so we don't have to listen to ESPN's commentary!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rhYB6-jh-s0

If you insist on Dave O'Brien and Eric Wynalda:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOqYhKKhs78&NR

SuperClasico Win Boosts National Team Towards a Big Summer

Bob Bradley made Sunil Gulati's life a lot more difficult yesterday with the decisive 2-0 win over Mexico in front of a very hostile crowd in Glendale, Az. Much like Steve Sampson did 12 years ago when he was the interim coach while the USSF was waiting for Carlos Quieroz to become available, Bradley probably will get to use a shutout of Mexico to hold onto the job than he was originally intended to have it for.

Whomever is coaching the US come summertime not withstanding, yesterday's game was critical for restoring the confidence of Landon Donovan, who despite his poor form of the last year and his desire to avoid playing in Europe remains easily the most talented American player and who on a good day can still provide world class runs and finishing. While the World Cup was a disappointment for Donovan and for the US squad in general, Copa America is the 2nd biggest tournament the US plays in, and with the USSF finally accepting an invitation to play in the event for the first time since the formation of MLS, the bitter memories of Germany 2006 can be erased rather quickly. (Many US fans have blamed Donovan and DeMarcus Beasley for the poor World Cup, forgetting that both played heroic matches when a nine man US team drew the eventual World Champion, Italy) Donovan can lead this team by example, and he certainly has many complimentary parts to enhance his game. Eddie Johnson, despite not scoring yesterday showed a field awareness and a willingness to make daring runs that he has lacked for the past two years. Pablo Mastroeni seemed to settle more and more into a Claudio Reyna type holding midfield role and Jonathan Bornstein proved much like last month's game against Denmark that he can use his speed to make dangerous overlapping runs on the left flank. Most importantly, Jimmy Conrad and Carlos Bocanegra seemed to always be positioned perfectly when Mexico was attacking, something that was sorely lacking in the World Cup. Bocanegra has allowed his excellent form with Fulham to boost his willingness to play physical defense, something he was always reluctant to do in the past.

It was also a relief to see Tim Howard appear so confident in goal. Bradley should thank David Moyes for this, because the Everton Manager has allowed Howard to play through his mistakes unlike Sir Alex Ferguson whose perfectionist attitude towards the Goalkeeper position ruined Howard's confidence and made him unplayable for the National Team for the past few years. The bottom line: Yesterday's win provides a great lead in for what could be a big year for US Soccer both thanks to the restored confidence of the National Team and the arrival of David Beckham stateside.