He was tearing it up in MLS under Curt Onalfo for the Kansas City Wizards before his call up to the Gold Cup and Copa America.
Thursday night he did create the penalty in the 4-1 loss to Argentina and I did hear Goltv announcer Ray Hudson raving about Johnson up front. I disagree a little with Ray on Johnson’s performance against Argentina. Although at times Johnson kept possession for the U.S. I did not feel he was agressive enough going at defenders.
Lets hope Bob Bradley can bend his ear and get him more agressive in the attacking third of the field both with his movement and runs off the ball but just his plain overall attitude. A few times during the Argentina game Johnson pulled out wide and got isolated against a lone defender yet turned and knocked the ball back into midfield. Can Bob Bradley get him running at people more? Can Bob Bradley get him more focused on getting into the penalty area where good things happen to strikers.
For me he was not hungry enough, not aggressive enough when thinking about goals. In the end his outstanding speed was never realized other than for the penalty.
Give me your thoughts on Eddie Johnson and the U.S. National team strikers?
June 30, 2007
Is Eddie Johnson the future upfront for the U.S. National team
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I think you just summed up Eddie Johnson’s play pretty well. Part of it could be Bradley’s fault. He might be telling him not to go into the fox unless there’s a teammate making the run with him. Many times he gets the ball, looks to see if there’s somebody there to accompany him, and when he sees nobody is there, he immediately passes it back. I think if Bradley just gave him free reign to attack, we’d see him wreak more havoc in the box, but if it’s a matter of attitude, then somebody else needs to take his place.
Comment by Marco — June 30, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
I don’t think Johnson is the future. He just hasn’t played well for the national team recently. He doesn’t look comfortable with the ball and has not been creating chances for himself.
Comment by doug — June 30, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
glenn im wondering were you in the columbus airport on friday?
Comment by alex — July 1, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I used to hope that EJ was the future up front for the national team. But I just don’t see it anymore.
The word “hungry” that you used Glenn - that’s just what is missing. He doesn’t have the hunger, agressiveness, or work rate to be a star at the international level (and why he’s still in MLS). He just relies on pure talent.
But that doesn’t tell us who WILL score goals for the US in the next 4 to 6 years. That is a mystery - but I hope Jozy Altidore gets his shot with the Nats pretty soon.
Comment by Blake — July 1, 2007 @ 1:57 pm
I was disappointed in his lack of attacking mentality also. In his defense Twellman was pretty much invisible during the game and Johnson was basically playing up top by himself which he isn\’t suited for. Johnson is too much of a poacher, if he\’s got to take more than a couple of touches before getting his shot off then things won\’t go well for him. Of course that\’s a pretty good sign that he isn\’t national team quality in itself.
Altidore is getting his chance with the U20\’s right now, hopefully he (or Ferrari) will have a good showing and earn some playing time with the men\’s team.
Comment by Kevin — July 1, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Have you notice that the stands in Robertson Stadium are more than half empty.Maybe if they had at least a hispanic player the Dynamo would sell more tickets.They got rid of Moreno,God knows why.His replacement is on the same level of play as he is.Its a shame that with all the Hispanic population in Houston we dont have a hispanic player on the roster.The Dynamo organization starting to look like Astros organization.They dont have a black player on their roster.How can that be possible? I hope to hear from you or the Dynamo.The game between Mexico and Argentina\’s old timers two weeks ago drew more fans than a Dynamo\’s regular season game.Well I hope you or the SUPER DYNAMO give me a reasonable answer.
Comment by FELIPE LOPEZ — July 1, 2007 @ 9:27 pm
I\’d rather have good players than players that are only on the team for their skin color. And if fans will only come to see a hispanic player then I\’d rather them stay home.
And Ngwenya has been far superior to Moreno. He\’s scored as many goals since coming over as Moreno did all of last season. And if anybody was buying tickets and going to games just because Moreno was on the team, or quit going when he was traded just because he was hispanic then they\’re pretty stupid.
They could field a team of blue, yellow, and purple players and I\’d still support them, because they play for HOUSTON.
Comment by Kevin — July 1, 2007 @ 11:00 pm
Johnson is a wonderfully gifted athlete, but he had at least three major opportunities in the first half where he had burst ahead of the defense with the ball and pulled up, which then lead to losing the ball to the defender. And these were not chances where he simply had booted the ball ahead and had a chance to run to it. He had the ball on his feet heading into danger and did not make that key turn or burst to get him in a position to fire.
As I watched the first half of the match, I thought the U.S. gave a good accounting of themselves, particularly in defending. That said, it looked like the U.S. players were one touch short of being able to stay with the Argentines. What I mean when I say that is that our players got themselves in relatively good positions, were quite good at making a move, but did not have that one extra touch that separates the good from the very good or great. In the second half, they were probably more than one touch short.
There is some reason for optimism, however. In years past, our top team would have taken on a team like Argentina and taken a result like we saw. For our clear second team to at least be in the game for 60 minutes says some depth is being developed, but there is more progress to be made. I know some will be down on Bradley for sending a B team to Venezuela, but the only way we are going to know what we have going into qualifying for 2010 is to put our young players on the pitch against top competition.
Comment by Jeff — July 2, 2007 @ 7:31 am
The only approach to take is to get as much out of these games from an experience factor as possible. I still think a stronger squad could have been taken and with Beasley and Donovan there the squad would take on a whole different look.
Comment by glenndavis — July 2, 2007 @ 7:37 am
Felipe,
Remember the team just won the MLS Cup in 2006 .
Also remember the league has a salary cap of 2.1 million dollars so it doesn’t lend to going out a just buying a “name” player without giving alot up to remain within the limits of the cap.
I do believe that the organization wants the right fit and is certainly aware of having a hispanic player on the team in the market but that player must fit in with the team in the locker room, salary and with on field ability.
You are not stating facts, the old timers game only drew 7000 fans between Mexico and Argentina.
As for me I am caucasian but could care less what skin color the players are but just that they played good soccer. I would support anyone on my team!
As for comparing the Dynamo organization to the Astros I think you are being a little dramatic. As for African American players the Dynamo have two. Corey Ashe and Mpho Moloi. If you have been watching you will have noticed Ashe has become a great late game substitution on the left side.
The Dynamo are in year two, have won a championship and have built a solid, diverse base of fans.
You clearly won’t respect or support the team without a hispanic player on it. Sad.
Comment by glenndavis — July 2, 2007 @ 7:45 am
Your criticism seems to be the same as it is for almost all US Forwards. When Dempsey is up top, that’s the criticism. When EJ is up there, that’s the criticism. When Donovan’s up there, that’s the criticism.
Is this coaching or the American style of play? I don’t know, maybe you can chime in on this.
Matt
(and Ngwenya is African so that’s a third person of color on the roster)
Comment by Matt — July 2, 2007 @ 11:54 pm