John Wilson: "Agent 0-0-27" (Urban column on Wilson)

[McOwen]

In a brief moment where he wasn't taking time off to oggle beautiful Barra Brava women posing lewdly with British sock monkeys...

Bill Urban (of http://www.ussoccerplayers.com )wrote this rather glowing tribute to DC United's own bit of good fortune John Wilson:

http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/exclusives/480622.html

Some good points in there.

One I think he perhaps might over looked is that even if Wilson staggers and falls a bit in the coming weeks and is not a Petke or Nelsen like defender, he very well could just be the important and vital EZRA HENDRICKSON replacement this team needs. Ezra's role on last years team was and is today still overlooked and I think Wilson can be the veteran SKILLED defender off the top of the bench for years to come.

Good stuff Bill :D

[Hunter R]

awesome... Im definitely getting a Wilson jersey

[Bootsy Collins]

I
One I think he perhaps might over looked is that even if Wilson staggers and falls a bit in the coming weeks and is not a Petke or Nelsen like defender, he very well could just be the important and vital EZRA HENDRICKSON replacement this team needs. Ezra's role on last years team was and is today still overlooked and I think Wilson can be the veteran SKILLED defender off the top of the bench for years to come.

One reason I don't think Wilson goes to the bench any time soon, even after the return of Namoff, is that Wilson seems more comfortable with the ball at his feet than any other defender we have. And so, he often makes better passes because he's not rushed/panicked into making bad ones. And yet this hasn't seemed to mean he's hanging onto the ball too long or slowing down counters. That's made a lot of difference to getting our offense started. He makes decent runs out of the back too.

If Namoff can stay healthy long enough to be fit enough to play 90 hard, I think I'd be pretty happy with Wilson, Boswell and Namoff on the back line, given how things have gone so far.

[fatbastard]

One reason I don't think Wilson goes to the bench any time soon, even after the return of Namoff, is that Wilson seems more comfortable with the ball at his feet than any other defender we have. And so, he often makes better passes because he's not rushed/panicked into making bad ones. Between him and the promise of Tim Merrit (once he works his way up the chain, like next season), we should have a much better backline for passes out of the back forward. Then we will be truly dangerous again.

[Bwana]

One reason I don't think Wilson goes to the bench any time soon, even after the return of Namoff, is that Wilson seems more comfortable with the ball at his feet than any other defender we have. And so, he often makes better passes because he's not rushed/panicked into making bad ones. And yet this hasn't seemed to mean he's hanging onto the ball too long or slowing down counters. That's made a lot of difference to getting our offense started. He makes decent runs out of the back too.

Something that struck me about Wilson from the first game he played was that he rarely just kicks the ball over the side or end line when pressured. He usually fights the opposing player and turns him around, giving him a chance to make a run up the side or pass into the middle. Most defenders don't do that - when breaking up a play in their own end they'll kick it out. Not Wilson.

I think that's him showing confidence in his ability with the ball at his feet. He's more of a mid than a defender in that regard. He's been very impressive and should NOT sit when Namoff comes back, IMO.

[Dave Brother]

Nice find Owen.

[DCAustinite]

Something that struck me about Wilson from the first game he played was that he rarely just kicks the ball over the side or end line when pressured. He usually fights the opposing player and turns him around, giving him a chance to make a run up the side or pass into the middle. Most defenders don't do that - when breaking up a play in their own end they'll kick it out. Not Wilson.

I think that's him showing confidence in his ability with the ball at his feet. He's more of a mid than a defender in that regard. He's been very impressive and should NOT sit when Namoff comes back, IMO.

He stays. His defense is as solid as Namoff's but he has much better offense, which makes sence since he started life as a forward.

[Pints]

Wilson-Boswell-Namoff

What were we afraid of?!
Oh depth right.
Wait!

Stokes, Prideaux not too bad this season. Not too bad at all.

Watching some of the replays from the Metro game on Sunday he had some brilliant tackles, and he pops right up after them as well. Two positive threads about DC's defenders in one day si somethign to be happy with.

[fatbastard]

He stays. His defense is as solid as Namoff's but he has much better offense, which makes sense since he started life as a forward.Wait a second. there is nothing at all wrong with Namoff's offense either. When given the opportunity, he's been one of our better defenders bringing the ball up out of the back on a dribble and providing quality balls to the frontrunners. Up until now there hasn't been any tape on Wilson for other teams to view, it won't be as easy as time goes on to get a free pass upfield like he did against the metros (and well, they just suck).
I like John, don't get me wrong, I'm damn glad he plays for my team, but he doesn't automatically replace Namoff (Prideaux maybe, as Namoff can play either side).

A guy has a few good games around here, y'all seem to think he should be starting no matter what, play for the USA in the World Cup, and then be shipped off to Europe. I'm glad the real world if different than the BigSoccer one :D

[onefineesq]

Between him and the promise of Tim Merrit (once he works his way up the chain, like next season), we should have a much better backline for passes out of the back forward. Then we will be truly dangerous again. what has been the word on Merritt. I haven't heard hide nor hair of him this season.

[fatbastard]

I think he was finishing his classes for the first part of the season so he got a late start with the team, but I could have him confused with some of the other rookies.

[Bwana]

A guy has a few good games around here, y'all seem to think he should be starting no matter what, play for the USA in the World Cup, and then be shipped off to Europe. I'm glad the real world if different than the BigSoccer one :D

Well, I thought mentioning Europe was premature, but since you brought it up... ;)

I'm not dissing Namoff and I remember how well he played for our 4th championship season. I do think, though, that you have to "go with the hot foot" and Wilson is it right now. Whether that means Prideaux or Namoff, I don't know, but I don't think you put someone who injects spark and life into the game on the bench. I just think Wilson's earned a starting spot for the time-being.

I bet if he started waving a flag around with BB you'd be more receptive... :D

[TEConnor]

Would someone explain to me what Djorkaeff, Branco, Lothar, Grimandi, and Beckham and have to do with John Wilson?

Wilson is on his third attempt with an MLS team. He looks to have found a good place this time and is apparently (knock on wood) fitting in nicely. I understand that he might have felt that he was languishing in the USL or that he didn't get a fair shake in his two prior attempts. However, I just can't figure out what three paragraphs of dozens of metaphors making a tangential point about the failures of the MetroTards has to do with Wilson and DC United. Hell, DC is supposedly looking all over for a new corps of defenders and has basically found two great, unheralded gems so far. So is Urban's entire point that DC United should stop thinking about a young, unheralded foreign defender? Or is he saying that DC United should continue scouting players all over creation (as per usual) and not fall into the trap of the MetroTards, which they have never been in danger of doing at anypoint since Hudson and his 20 trialists a week strategy left in 2003?

Confused,
Tim

[fatbastard]

I think he was trying to say it may be more fiscally prudent to go looking in the USL for players who have improved than to just go sign some guy who played overseas "so he must be good". Then he maybe got excited from too much Red Bull and went overboard with hyperbole. You have to watch out for that red bull when you forget to mix it with vodka :)

[TEConnor]

I think he was trying to say it may be more fiscally prudent to go looking in the USL for players who have improved than to just go sign some guy who played overseas "so he must be good". Then he maybe got excited from too much Red Bull and went overboard with hyperbole. You have to watch out for that red bull when you forget to mix it with vodka :)

That certainly did seem like an article written on Red Bull. I liked the metaphors and all, but three paragraphs of the same point was just a little much. But what's up with all the crazy Metro acquisitions being examples of what DC needs to do? Is the point that the league should follow DC's example, that DC needs to do more of the same, or that the metrodipsh!ts are just that...

Tim

[fatbastard]

You are looking for too much meaning from something on the internet :cool:

[TEConnor]

You are looking for too much meaning from something on the internet :cool:

Yes. Yes I am. I need to have that written on the inside of my eyelids.

Tim

[Bill Urban]

Would someone explain to me what Djorkaeff, Branco, Lothar, Grimandi, and Beckham and have to do with John Wilson?

Wilson is on his third attempt with an MLS team. He looks to have found a good place this time and is apparently (knock on wood) fitting in nicely. I understand that he might have felt that he was languishing in the USL or that he didn't get a fair shake in his two prior attempts. However, I just can't figure out what three paragraphs of dozens of metaphors making a tangential point about the failures of the MetroTards has to do with Wilson and DC United. Hell, DC is supposedly looking all over for a new corps of defenders and has basically found two great, unheralded gems so far. So is Urban's entire point that DC United should stop thinking about a young, unheralded foreign defender? Or is he saying that DC United should continue scouting players all over creation (as per usual) and not fall into the trap of the MetroTards, which they have never been in danger of doing at anypoint since Hudson and his 20 trialists a week strategy left in 2003?

Confused,
Tim

Tim:

It would be a fair criticism to mention that it appears that the majority of the examples of poor decision making in my article seem to be Metro-oriented. Perhaps this was a response to the "Super Club" hoopla surrounding Lalas and the whole salary cap increase rumored to be coming, for the millionth time.

I never intended to speak for Wilson himself, so I can't tell you if he "felt he was "languishing" in the USL. I did intend to advance the idea that Wilson is a player capable of competing on the MLS level, and mining the USL for more players like him instead of jacking up the salary cap in an effort to bring in more "stars" is a more fiscally effective approach, certainly until every team is playing in its own stadium and independently owned.

In fact, I regretted not inculding anything in the article about Clyde Simms, another appropriate gem mined from the USL by United.

"three paragraphs of dozens of metaphors" if you are accusing me of over-writing, you are making the point in appropriate fashion. but i'll let that pass, we've agreed in the past that my writing is not your cup of tea.

However, you seem to be looking too hard for anti-United bias, or for angles to criticize an article meant to laud United for locating another good player at a good price.

Would someone explain to me what Djorkaeff, Branco, Lothar, Grimandi, and Beckham and have to do with John Wilson

what they have to do with him is that they are not him, they all were or would be much more expensive, and that they represent a possible direction that I think would be a failure for MLS in the short term. Raising the level of play in the league by finding more John Wilson's is a more sensible course of action than trying to bring in "star" players, who have not proven to be draws at the gate in past MLS seasons.

Frankly, after reading your response, I get the impression that you were offended that the Metros were mentioned in an article about a United player. The two teams do play in the same league. To date, they do have the same ownership. If a United player is used to make a point about the big picture, the Metros will pop up, especially since their past transfer policies have been far poorer than United's, and far more expensive also.

Bill Urban
USSoccerplayers.com

[Knave]

Bill Urban (of http://www.ussoccerplayers.com )
Bill Urban is one of the best soccer writers around. If you're not already making a point of reading his columns - well, you should start making a point of that from here on out.

[TEConnor]

Tim:

It would be a fair criticism to mention that it appears that the majority of the examples of poor decision making in my article seem to be Metro-oriented. Perhaps this was a response to the "Super Club" hoopla surrounding Lalas and the whole salary cap increase rumored to be coming, for the millionth time.

I never intended to speak for Wilson himself, so I can't tell you if he "felt he was "languishing" in the USL. I did intend to advance the idea that Wilson is a player capable of competing on the MLS level, and mining the USL for more players like him instead of jacking up the salary cap in an effort to bring in more "stars" is a more fiscally effective approach, certainly until every team is playing in its own stadium and independently owned.

In fact, I regretted not inculding anything in the article about Clyde Simms, another appropriate gem mined from the USL by United.

"three paragraphs of dozens of metaphors" if you are accusing me of over-writing, you are making the point in appropriate fashion. but i'll let that pass, we've agreed in the past that my writing is not your cup of tea.

However, you seem to be looking too hard for anti-United bias, or for angles to criticize an article meant to laud United for locating another good player at a good price.



what they have to do with him is that they are not him, they all were or would be much more expensive, and that they represent a possible direction that I think would be a failure for MLS in the short term. Raising the level of play in the league by finding more John Wilson's is a more sensible course of action than trying to bring in "star" players, who have not proven to be draws at the gate in past MLS seasons.

Frankly, after reading your response, I get the impression that you were offended that the Metros were mentioned in an article about a United player. The two teams do play in the same league. To date, they do have the same ownership. If a United player is used to make a point about the big picture, the Metros will pop up, especially since their past transfer policies have been far poorer than United's, and far more expensive also.

Bill Urban
USSoccerplayers.com

Damn it Bill. There you go again. Why do you have to bring your reasonableness around here just to point out what an ass I am?

I like your writing (sentence by sentence) and I complimented the flourish you put on the individual points. But I also like brevity. Sometimes it's a fine line between the two. I still contend that you made the same point about 6 different ways, which annoyed me. But as you aptly point out, I was probably annoyed for other reasons.

Anywho, maybe all my insane rambling will get you some attention, which you deserve, despite my criticism.

Cheers,
Tim