Apparently the MLS is ruining Eddie Johnson.
By: Michael | July 10th, 2007When you read an article that begins “To start, I am not trying to insult Major League Soccer,” you know you’re not necessarily working with someone whose bias will favor the MLS. But over at SoccerLens, there’s an interesting article written by Daniel Miedzinski arguing for the true reason EJo has not shown the ability to break into “world class” status is in fact that North America’s pro soccer league has ruined him.
Essentially what is argued by Mr. Miedzinski is as follows:
1) Any training/experience gained in the United States is far inferior to any in Europe for any player in the world.
2) The MLS is greedy for holding onto home-grown talent.
3) While Eddie has the speed of “Thierry Henry in his prime”, his lack of confidence and ability to settle the ball and then beat defenders is the reason why he has been “ruined”.
I think it’s the first two points that warrant consideration: Is MLS at a point where we can make the first statement? I happen to think this is not the case (see U-20 World Cup).
Secondly, what of the MLS’ awkward relationship with the players? I think there’s no question that eventually the system of transferring/paying players needs to be changed at a fundamental level…
How do you feel about it?
 |
MLS Forums | KC Wizards Results |  |
 |
Category: Team News
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
      |
Comments
-
I am American through and through and I hate European anything, but when it comes to football the know what hey are doing. The sport can not be structured like baseball, basketball and definately not our football. MLS is still in a developmental stage, but in the coming years major changes will have to be made so the arguement can even be pondered that it is comprable to European leagues. if some of our collegiate athletes are going to sweeden and denmark instead of the mls, does this not say something about the mls?
Posted from
United States
-
I think its more likely to be a foot injury and not really being world-class in the first place that has led to him not progressing as fast as hoped.
Posted from
United States -
I’ve been mulling over this post since I read it a couple of days ago. I can’t comment on the Eddie Johnson part, not being all that familiar with his play and being a new-to-MLS recovering Eurosnob this year.
One thing I’ve noticed, though, is that MLS is not about having a pretty touch or mad ball-handling skills. It’s about moving the ball fast. It’s almost like it doesn’t matter when the ball unintentionally ends up ten feet from whoever touched it, because the other team will just cough it up within thirty seconds anyway and the player will get it back. This is actually not criticism from me — I’ve learned to enjoy this kind of game too. But it does tend to handicap us in international play.
I have to say, though, that I was really heartened by watching the U-20 game against Brazil. These guys DO have the touch, and a number of them do or will play in MLS. I’m thinking it’s only a matter of time before the league style of play adapts to a more competitive level.
I also think that having DPs from outside the league can only help. Has anybody who’s watched Juan Pablo Angel this year not learned something about settling and moving the ball?
The transfer issue is something I’m watching. Maybe I’ll know enough to comment by the end of the year.
Posted from
United States -
I think Miedzinski is huffing paint…and I also happen to believe he’s wrong. Johnson’s problems come from Johnson. Even if he started 2007 well, those two hat-trick games featured goals that play to his bread-and-butter: balls over the top breaking an offside trap. But put a defender in front of EJ and he’s close to useless. It’s a confidence thing and EJ doesn’t have it against anyone who knows how to play him.
Laurie’s makes a great, largely accurate point on general quality of technique in MLS, but I don’t think that’s Eddie’s problem either. Having seen the man trap the ball, I can only dub his style unique and argue he didn’t learn that weird, over-the-ball touch from any coach.
One more point on trapping: you should have seen the trapping back in the 1990s, Laurie; every received pass featured the ball hopping three feet into the air back in the day. One-touch, no matter how poorly some teams are currently pulling it off, is a vast improvement.
Posted from
United States -
I find it interesting that the haters are always so eager to jump on…whoever is the obvious scapegoat. Sir Trevor Brookings (English FA) is trying to “save” Brittish boys and girls by tying to teach them propper skills…like the Dutch and Brazilians. So even in England there are people in the “know” that realize the Brazilians, Argentines, Dutch are doing a better job at teaching propper skills to the up and coming players. Soccer is still evolving in this country. Look at what the Europeans did to catch up in Basketball. The same thing is happening here.
Posted from
United States -
I don’t know, those are some valid points. The MLS IS greedy to hold onto it’s own players…but really, this DP rule is new, and it only allows us up to TWO brilliant international players. So, in turn we try and hoard our own players before so big club waves some money at them and they run over there. They are going to have to lift the salary cap on the league. I know in some cases it may seem unfair, but it’s business. The MLS is NOT a sell out league, so it doesn’t matter how rich the owner is, at some point it’s just not going to make sense to dump more money into the team. It will even itself out.
Posted from
United States -
I wanted to clarify that I don’t think there are no MLS players with solid touch/trapping skills. I’ve seen some lovely play and lovely games. Houston last week comes to mind. And a New York-Chicago game a few weeks back. (Yes, Chicago, before they started seriously sucking.) And several others. Not many games like that from LA, though. It’s not the team style, or hasn’t been up to this point. (Again, not criticism, just a statement.)
All I was saying is that it seems to me that this type of play is helpful, but not an MLS requirement the way it is in some leagues.
Posted from
United States
Comments are closed
Home 
