Heath Pearce for Left Back? Soccernet Column

[Tony in Quakeland]

Sorry I don't know if this was posted. If it was, I'll get it deleted.)

I know the name and I know I've seen him, but I don't know much about him. Anyone thing he's got a shot at filling the left back hole?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=358386&root=us&cc=5901

[jankballs]

Interesting read. I don't know much about Pearce, but you would think the article would have at least mentioned Dunivant's recent play at left back. He did start and do very well in the last two matches. His crosses have been very dangerous.

[Bigrose30]

"He's a good athlete," U.S. assistant coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick said. "You can never have enough left-footed players in your team. He's a very good striker of the ball, he hits a good cross, he can hit a good long pass. He picks out the forwards very well with early balls forward. And he's got good pace, and his defending is improving every day."


Interesting quote from Mooch...seems to imply that his defending maybe was suspect to start with.

Pearce played the Canada game, and will get the Guatemala game to finish off his competition with Dunivant. A good indicator of the outcome will be who gets invited and who gets on the field in the two March friendlies in Europe.

(Side note to the author of the Soccernet article: Hejduk played left back in the 2002 WC, not Agoos)

[robchap628]

The author of this article seemed to hype this guy up a little to much. If Arena decides to bring a true LB in addition to Lewis, Boca and Gibbs then Pearce is going to have to scrap it out with Spector and Dunivant. As of now Arena seems keen on using Lewis there, and as we've seen in the past he plays Boca there sometimes as well(which pains me because Boca doesn't have the speed). So out of Pearce, Dunivant and Spector, I think Spector may have a slight edge over the other two due to his ability to play other positions as well. Dunivant has an experience advantage, although not internationally, so I think Pearce would really have to show something to make it. Although as mentioned in the article he's young, athletic and getting first team minutes in Europe so he may just have an outside chance.

[Galaxian]

I finally got to see Pearce play live , at the Canada game , and although he was very speedy , he seemed very uncomfortable on the ball . But when I saw Dunivant get his first cap for the Nats , he seemed like a regular , and had two nice assists . I'd give Dunivant the nod over Pearce as of right now , but im not BA ...

[jankballs]

Given that BA has started him over Pearce the last two matches he might agree with you.

[FirstStar]

Given that BA has started him over Pearce the last two matches he might agree with you.

Perhaps, although at the end of the camp both will have two new caps and I think you have to look at it like that-- Heath won the first start, Todd got the second. Since BA knew that he was going to release all Galaxy players prior to this Sunday's match, it makes sense that Todd played against Japan. It sucks a little for Heath that Todd got what will clearly be the best two games, but I don't think we should read into this that he's beaten out Heath.

Heath should get called into the Poland camp (although Eddie should start). Not sure if he will be able to make the Germany match, as his league (Denmark) will have started back by late March.

Now I've read today that Bruce has singled out Todd for his excellent play. Based on those comments, I'd give Todd the edge now. But I would not base anything on the game time-- both will finish with 180 minutes.

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

I have a pet theory about this that I'd like to throw out there, you may or may not agree.

I think guys who look good in their uniforms--nice haircuts, strong jaws, good complexions--get cut more slack than ugly-assed players. This is ingrained into all soccer players from a young age--in the 1980s bemulletted players with the right brand of shoes and apparel got picked first for teams and got all the chicks. Good players who wore Zips and shorts over their sweatpants got the shaft.

Hence, Heath Pearce and--I cringe as I write this, knowing the criticism I'll receive--Oguchi Onyewu. Both are good players, both probably/perhaps deserve a spot on the MNT. But if, for instance, Onyewu looked like...hmmm, let's pretend he looked like the freakish Nat Borchers, would we be so quick to look past the late lunges, the lapses in Mexico City, the growing list of red cards in both league and international play? Not so sure about that.

So here's Pearce, with his luxuriant, flowing hair, and nice cheekbones. You do the math.

Just admit it, we're all superficial bastards.

(FWIW I like Pearce and Onyewu, both good players. Just sayin...)

[aueagle1]

I have a pet theory about this that I'd like to throw out there, you may or may not agree.

I think guys who look good in their uniforms--nice haircuts, strong jaws, good complexions--get cut more slack than ugly-assed players. This is ingrained into all soccer players from a young age--in the 1980s bemulletted players with the right brand of shoes and apparel got picked first for teams and got all the chicks. Good players who wore Zips and shorts over their sweatpants got the shaft.

(FWIW I like Pearce and Onyewu, both good players. Just sayin...)

How does your theory explain the Neville brothers?

[Colin Grabow]

FWIW the agent for YA Carlos Elliott (http://www.yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=001534) told me that Danish clubs keep telling him to find them the next Heath Pearce. So I guess that says something about how highly he is regarded in that league.

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

How does your theory explain the Neville brothers?

As the OJ Simpson defense team said--quit playing the "evidence" card against me.

I dunno, different country. Everyone in England looks like that, I guess.

[Sachsen]

I have a pet theory about this that I'd like to throw out there, you may or may not agree.

I think guys who look good in their uniforms--nice haircuts, strong jaws, good complexions--get cut more slack than ugly-assed players. This is ingrained into all soccer players from a young age--in the 1980s bemulletted players with the right brand of shoes and apparel got picked first for teams and got all the chicks. Good players who wore Zips and shorts over their sweatpants got the shaft.

Hence, Heath Pearce and--I cringe as I write this, knowing the criticism I'll receive--Oguchi Onyewu. Both are good players, both probably/perhaps deserve a spot on the MNT. But if, for instance, Onyewu looked like...hmmm, let's pretend he looked like the freakish Nat Borchers, would we be so quick to look past the late lunges, the lapses in Mexico City, the growing list of red cards in both league and international play? Not so sure about that.

So here's Pearce, with his luxuriant, flowing hair, and nice cheekbones. You do the math.

Just admit it, we're all superficial bastards.

(FWIW I like Pearce and Onyewu, both good players. Just sayin...)

Then how in the world does Steve Ralston keep making the team?!? :eek:

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

Then how in the world does Steve Ralston keep making the team?!? :eek:

Okay, there are some outliers. But the exceptions prove the rule.

If we all work together on this, we can come up with a Grand Unified Theory (GUT), and submit it to academic journals all over the world. Then we sit back and await our Nobel Prizes.

I've laid the groundwork, so the rest of you get on this and get to work.

[mtr8967]

I think guys who look good in their uniforms--nice haircuts, strong jaws, good complexions--get cut more slack than ugly-assed players. This is ingrained into all soccer players from a young age--in the 1980s bemulletted players with the right brand of shoes and apparel got picked first for teams and got all the chicks. Good players who wore Zips and shorts over their sweatpants got the shaft.

"Moneyball" talks about baseball prospects being treated the same way.

[Wahoo]

I think guys who look good in their uniforms--nice haircuts, strong jaws, good complexions--get cut more slack than ugly-assed players. This is ingrained into all soccer players from a young age--in the 1980s bemulletted players with the right brand of shoes and apparel got picked first for teams and got all the chicks. Good players who wore Zips and shorts over their sweatpants got the shaft.


bemulleted? oh I hope that's not really a word

[Sir Nigel Sorebottom]

"Moneyball" talks about baseball prospects being treated the same way.

Damn, I thought I was the first one to think of this. There goes my Nobel.

[Tony in Quakeland]

Can't say he's making a case for himself today against Guatemala. Conrad has bailed him out a few times. Not a finished product my any means.