imasyko
25 Jun 2003, 10:55 AM
The various threads currently on this forum provide examples that our USMNT is evolving, perhaps not as quickly as we would like, into a more complete and internationally competitive team. For example, there is Nutmeg’s post on getting more offensive threats on the field at the same time. Though personally, I don’t feel Martino and Convey are ready to take over the midfield for the Hex qualifiers, by 2006, they will likely be our preferred options for central midfield. With better skilled players in the midfield, our strikers can only become more aggressive and dangerous, since they won’t be forced to come away from goal nearly as far in order to receive a pass. Additionally, the long balls, always hard to control and possess, will be less frequently utilized, as we prove capable of building an attack through the midfield.
Defensively, there is the Cherondolo thread, which points to the fact that at least offensively, he is an upgrade at RB. Similar threads expound the potential of Dunivant, Gibbs, Clark, and others, all of whom can be expected to be better skilled both with and without the ball, than most of our past and present defenders.
What it means is that Project 40 is working, and that MLS is not only providing a training ground for these players, but also a proving ground for others who may be a little late developing, but who nonetheless, possess the skills to play at a high level. Better development also means better depth, something the USMNT has been almost totally lacking in the past.
But evolution is by definition, a slow process. These young players will not develop into internationals overnight, no matter how badly those of us at BigSoccer want them to. The USMNT is not going to transform overnight into a world power. The current group of players who are constantly criticized here (and we all know who they are) will continue to get playing time as needed, since they represent, in the mind of our coach, the best options we currently have. By 2006, I expect to see a dramatically different group of players competing for national team spots, resulting in a more exciting (read: offensive) style played by our USMNT. Will we achieve a better result than in 2002? Questionable. There should be no question that we will be more skilled at nearly every position than in 2002, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a better performance at the WC.
The real challenge of the next 3 years is going to be whether we at BigSoccer can survive the process!
Defensively, there is the Cherondolo thread, which points to the fact that at least offensively, he is an upgrade at RB. Similar threads expound the potential of Dunivant, Gibbs, Clark, and others, all of whom can be expected to be better skilled both with and without the ball, than most of our past and present defenders.
What it means is that Project 40 is working, and that MLS is not only providing a training ground for these players, but also a proving ground for others who may be a little late developing, but who nonetheless, possess the skills to play at a high level. Better development also means better depth, something the USMNT has been almost totally lacking in the past.
But evolution is by definition, a slow process. These young players will not develop into internationals overnight, no matter how badly those of us at BigSoccer want them to. The USMNT is not going to transform overnight into a world power. The current group of players who are constantly criticized here (and we all know who they are) will continue to get playing time as needed, since they represent, in the mind of our coach, the best options we currently have. By 2006, I expect to see a dramatically different group of players competing for national team spots, resulting in a more exciting (read: offensive) style played by our USMNT. Will we achieve a better result than in 2002? Questionable. There should be no question that we will be more skilled at nearly every position than in 2002, but that doesn’t necessarily translate into a better performance at the WC.
The real challenge of the next 3 years is going to be whether we at BigSoccer can survive the process!