http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/09/19/postcard-europe-status-update-across-pond While Málaga summer catch Oguchi Onyewu was not in uniform for their successful Champions League debut on Tuesday, he is on the applicable UEFA roster. The club told MLSsoccer.com that he's still busy gaining fitness from a minor preseason knee injury, having joined first-team training only last week.
Is there an expectation that Gooch can challenge and win a starting spot or will he have to bide his time and wait for injuries? Is there enough competition/games for him to get in?
I think he's looking right now as the 3rd center back after he gets back into fitness, behind Welington and Demichelis. With Malaga in the Champions League and the Copa del Ray, I'm sure he'll get spot starts.
http://www.football-espana.net/24256/onyewu-named-malaga-squad He's in the squad for tomorrow's game.
Gooch is on the bench. Welligton and Demichelis start. Random thought: I wonder if Malag got Gooch to give them a bit of a different (read aerial) ability at centerback in the European games. Since you don't really need that for most La Liga games.
I don't think there's any rule, but yeah that's usually how it goes. Or if there's a decent chance of their coming off the bench.
It's up to whoever starts the thread. I thought about it, but realized Gooch probably wouldn't play and decided just to give an update that he improved from not making the squad to being on the bench. Anyway, both Malaga CBs got yellow cards.
Following Sid LoweVerified @sidlowe Meanwhile, Malaga stuck in Bilbao after plane couldn't take off.
I honestly think a La Liga team is a horrible choice for Gooch. In Spain, personal skills and ball control are a must. Onyewu is mainly a physical defender, strong and good at clearing danger. You see that type more in the EPL or Ligue 1.
Gooch has yet to make a 'good move' in Big Soccer's opinion. Every move he makes, Big Soccer asks "what does team XXX see in him? He's made a good career of it. His on ball skills are quite underrated.
If he can cut it in portugal he can cut it in spain. I too agree, his ball skills are underrated. He'll be fine in la liga. Quote me on that.
Gooch was mainly a right back until he was 20. The first thing I recall him drawing attention for was his dribbling moves in Toulon. That was before he grew a couple more inches, but his touch is still very underrated.
I think even a slight injury or bad display from Weligton & Gooch can suddenly have himself a starting spot. I personally rate Onyewu over Weligton. Gooch is going to need some luck though. Pellegrini wont uproot the current centerback partnership & affect chemistry just to make an upgrade.
Graham Hunter with an interesting piece on Malaga and Pelligrini in the 2nd half of this article... http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/laliga/id/123?cc=5901 I hadn't put together Gooch's move and Pelligrini's move before. Have to say, at this point, Gooch is probably getting the best soccer education of any YA that I can think of. It will be interesting to see if/how he puts it to use after his playing career ends.
Agreed. I know Bayern kept him for 7 years and he won loads of trophies there, but it seemed that any time I saw one of their games and they let in a goal, he was always directly involved in some way. Maybe it was just bad timing on my part...