Job

[mickhayafe]

I don't watch him with his club team. But he hasn't impressed me as much as i thought he would during the GC. His crosses have been inefective at best, and his passes haven't been all that great, even though I think he's improved over the GC. His cut through the box to get the PK in the JAM game was really good. Is it that he hasn't played and needs to get back into shape? I'ld like peoples comments, especially if you've seen his club play, and comparing it to his GC play.

keep in mind that I've watched these game with off-air-antenna, so if i'm open for correction on any or all points

[Dave216J]

His crosses have been terrible, but some of his lobbed passes upfield have been good. What really makes him stand out are two main points - his ability to hold the ball under pressure, and his ability to interchange short passes. He has sublime technical skills, but clearly after being out for months, he's not back to form. He will never cross like Eddie Lewis, however. But he is one of only two US players (with Reyna) who can hold the ball under pressure and still be making progress with a play. Almost everyone else will either drop the ball off or launch a long upfield/crossfield ball if someone is pressing them and they don't have an angle; JOB can shield it and continue to look for outlets.

His club play isn't the greatest guide, but watch him in the 2002 World Cup to see what he is capable of at his best. He was our best midfielder in Korea.

[Heathens '87]

I don't watch him with his club team. But he hasn't impressed me as much as i thought he would during the GC. His crosses have been inefective at best, and his passes haven't been all that great, even though I think he's improved over the GC. His cut through the box to get the PK in the JAM game was really good. Is it that he hasn't played and needs to get back into shape? I'ld like peoples comments, especially if you've seen his club play, and comparing it to his GC play.

keep in mind that I've watched these game with off-air-antenna, so if i'm open for correction on any or all points


I saw him play several times for Ajax in 1999-2002, but given how few times he's suited up for his club in the past two seasons (1 in 04/05, 4 in 03/04), you have to go back a few years to even find him playing a part-time role. Comparing it to club play from a few years back is kind of meaningless as so much can change, especially given his run of health.

I saw the first two games in Seattle in-person, and in terms of ball skills, game understanding, positioning, etc...., he's still JOB. In terms of conditioning, timing, adjusting to his team, a light touch, etc..., he needs to play.

I don't think anyone, including Arena and JOB, can tell you what level he's going to be able to accomplish. What I saw was a healthy O'Brien, who if able to maintain his fitness, is going to be a major factor for our World Cup team in '06.

Is that a WC02-level JOB, which also happened to be the last time he was truly healthy for his club?! Probably not, as his physical game is likely in decline while his maturity and understanding are increasing. But you can't play as little soccer as he has over the past few years and not have a considerable amount of rust on your game.

We're going to need to stay patient, and hope that his good health continues if we're to find out what form he can accomplish. If all goes well, it's likely we wouldn't even see JOB at his best until next spring. My fingers are crossed for the guy as nobody deserves the run of injuries he's had......

[Jumbo1]

I haven't been able to watch these games, but obviously a player that hasn't had games in a number of months, and then only a short span of training and reserve team games is not quite in game shape. Please remember that John O'Brien has only had a number of games this year and was also injured much of the previous year, when Ajax made it to the semi-finals in the Champions Legue. It appears that he will regain his past form, and that would make him the best center midfielder, if not midfielder we have. I can tell you from a coaches perspective, there is no way he is not starting in 2006, unless injured or a big drop in form. People can disagree with my opinion, but the man that matters most with this team, Bruce Arena, says he is the best passer on the team. I relaize everyone isn't there, but it's apparent he would be on the field if the team were selected now.

[Chester FC]

O'Brien was among the best players on the field yesterday, long lay off or no. The dude has it -- the soccer brain. I just pray he stays healthy.

[mickhayafe]

well, in the case that he hasn't played much in the last two years, will he play more in '05-'06 before the WC. I mean, that would be optimum for us to have him not only healthy, but sharp on his skills. I do understand that US training for WC '06 will be extensive

[WShine]

O'Brien was among the best players on the field yesterday, long lay off or no. The dude has it -- the soccer brain. I just pray he stays healthy.

Exactly. If he stays healthy he will be a major impact player for us.

[UChicagoSoccer]

I haven't been able to watch these games, but obviously a player that hasn't had games in a number of months, and then only a short span of training and reserve team games is not quite in game shape. Please remember that John O'Brien has only had a number of games this year and was also injured much of the previous year, when Ajax made it to the semi-finals in the Champions Legue. It appears that he will regain his past form, and that would make him the best center midfielder, if not midfielder we have. I can tell you from a coaches perspective, there is no way he is not starting in 2006, unless injured or a big drop in form. People can disagree with my opinion, but the man that matters most with this team, Bruce Arena, says he is the best passer on the team. I relaize everyone isn't there, but it's apparent he would be on the field if the team were selected now.

When was it that Ajax made it to the semi-finals? The last time they played in the semi-finals was in 1997 I believe. As for the drop in form, he already has dropped in form by not playing for so long. When he regains his form, then he'll be hard to leave off the roster. BA supports his long-term plans by saying that JOB will not be playing left back anytime soon... since he's too good for it apparently.

[Jumbo1]

Sorry, that was quarter-finals v AC Milan two years ago.

[blech]

O'Brien was among the best players on the field yesterday, long lay off or no. The dude has it -- the soccer brain. I just pray he stays healthy.

i agree, although i'll admit that i'm cutting him some slack due to the layoff. he hit some poor balls, especially on crosses, but there was a way he approached the game, pulling balls back out, switching fields, trying give-n-gos, etc., that made him look much different than the rest of the team. he just seems to "get" the game in a way that many others don't. of course, it's possible that he'll never be able to get the skills back up to par with the way his brain reads the game, but it seems like both his touch and his conditioning has improved with each game, which leads me to conclude that the odds are on his side. that's only good for the US team... :)

[nobody]

With his long layoff keeping people from watching him play, and the fact he did pop in the first goal in WC 2002, the O'Brien mythology has many here believing he's an offensive dynamo, waiting to explode once he finds his form and gets match fit. Instead, he's much more likely to become a Big Soccer whipping boy as his game much more closely resembles Claudio Reyna's than Landon Donovan's.

But, he's an excellent player and will start in midfield for the US as long as he stays healthy wenough to figure in 2006. His ability to hold the ball and spread it around is sorely missed as he's about the only player we have that can do so effectively outside Claudio. But, O'Brien is a bit more direct than Claudio. So, maybe the backlash of reality versus the myth won't be too bad.

[Arisrules]

JOB, if healthy and playing at his best is easily the best american field player by far. That's just because of his technical abilities. Sure DMB has incredible physical attributes, but in terms of soccer brain nobody is even close to him except for Reyna.

If JOB is healthy, he is on the field. Whether it is in a 3-4-3 (which I think is much more suited to this team, seeing the dearth of fullbacks we have, especially now that Cherry is injured) or in a 3-5-2.

Plus, comparing him to Lewis is an insult.

I hope he plays regularly.

[Lobooho]

There were a couple of moments during yesterday's game when JOB took it to the next level. Donovan, Keller and Beasley were there too. If fit, he is an automatic starter for the USMNT.

[sidefootsitter]

With his long layoff keeping people from watching him play, and the fact he did pop in the first goal in WC 2002, the O'Brien mythology has many here believing he's an offensive dynamo, waiting to explode once he finds his form and gets match fit. Instead, he's much more likely to become a Big Soccer whipping boy as his game much more closely resembles Claudio Reyna's than Landon Donovan's... John already does more than Landon by having the ball at his feet. Landon was virtually invisible against Jamaica.

[Ghost]

He made a play on his second touch against Cuba, where he settled, read the play and hit a player streaking into the box in one motion. The recipient muffed it because he didn't expect it. It was insane, particularly for a player who has virtually not played since the World Cup. That's three years ago. He seems to me to be the Reyna for this team, meaning he can hold but iisn't afraid to release the ball quickly, as Claudio's critics want him to do. I've said that Reyna coudl still be one of our best players and might not be the right fit for this team. JOB just is. He's a joy, and even if he (knock on wood) he never sets foot out there again, it was great having him play these games, because I never expected to see it. I'm not sure his speed (never super fast but with capable of a pretty explosive burst) is going ever going to fully come back, but his mind makes up for it. And what a beautiful run into the box. Why Landon didn't let him take the penalty. I don't know.

[ionprovisioner]

I have to concur with all the 'soccer brain' comments I've read here. The heartbreaker to me is to imagine where he'd have been without the horrible and protracted injury problems. This guy is what you think of when you think of a great holding midfielder - fluid, technical, strong, and thinking ahead of the play like Kasparov in a tight chess match.

[NBlue]

John already does more than Landon by having the ball at his feet. Landon was virtually invisible against Jamaica.


I never cease to be amazed at the number of threads you can find a way to take a shot at Landon in. Why don't you just start a thread entitled "why I think Landon sucks" and get all of your vitriol out there -- this is getting rather annoying.

[sidefootsitter]

I never cease to be amazed at the number of threads you can find a way to take a shot at Landon in. Why don't you just start a thread entitled "why I think Landon sucks" and get all of your vitriol out there -- this is getting rather annoying. Vitriol is deserved for those with a remarkably wimpy performance.

John O'Brien worked his behind off the entire game. Landon had an early assist when Tyrone Marshall gave him a courtesy club-mate marking, then went AWOL for the entire second half, which culminated in his refusal to shoot on a breakaway.

JOB, to the contrary, helped the US control the midfield and was awared a PK after successfully dribbling between two defenders.

Now, if you're given an option of having JOB or LD being your midfield general, whom would you take?

And, if you're given an option of BMB, EJ or LD as your forwards, whom would you take?

Capice?

[nobody]

So...are you saying that the guy who is what, third on the all-time US scoring list as a 22/23 year old or whatever his age is, doesn't deserve a key starting role on the US team? Or, needs to be put in a less influential position. C'mon. Whatever you think about his style or personality, he's our most productive player and will play a key role for the US for a long time. Get used to it.

[NBlue]

Vitriol is deserved for those with a remarkably wimpy performance.

John O'Brien worked his behind off the entire game. Landon had an early assist when Tyrone Marshall gave him a courtesy club-mate marking, then went AWOL for the entire second half, which culminated in his refusal to shoot on a breakaway.

JOB, to the contrary, helped the US control the midfield and was awared a PK after successfully dribbling between two defenders.

Now, if you're given an option of having JOB or LD being your midfield general, whom would you take?

And, if you're given an option of BMB, EJ or LD as your forwards, whom would you take?

Capice?

This thread has nothing to do with Landon -- it is about JOB -- that is my point -- perhaps I was somehow unclear, but I don't think so.

btw, on current form I want LD as my attacking mid and BMB and EJ as my top forwards. Of course, if JOB can continue to improve his form to close to where he was 3 years ago -- I believe (and hope) he will be very involved in Germany.