Comments on: Is Eddie Johnson the future upfront for the U.S. National team http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/ The Soccer Hour with Glenn Davis Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:00:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Matt http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9718 Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:54:35 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9718 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) 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)

]]> by: glenndavis http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9659 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:45:49 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9659 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. 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.

]]> by: glenndavis http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9658 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:37:42 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9658 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. 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.

]]> by: Jeff http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9657 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:31:35 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9657 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. 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.

]]> by: Kevin http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9650 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:53 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9650 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. 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.

]]> by: FELIPE LOPEZ http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9645 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:27:11 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9645 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. 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.

]]> by: Kevin http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9633 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 00:30:54 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9633 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. 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.

]]> by: Blake http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9621 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 18:57:33 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9621 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. 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.

]]> by: alex http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9617 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:21:16 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9617 glenn im wondering were you in the columbus airport on friday? glenn im wondering were you in the columbus airport on friday?

]]> by: doug http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9570 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 01:51:48 +0000 http://www.glenndavissoccer.com/2007/06/30/is-eddie-johnson-the-future-upfront-for-the-us-national-team/#comment-9570 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. 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.

]]>