Good morning. A week off for KC demands a nuanced question, I think. So, there it is, the question of the day. Eddie or Maurice? Both players have 91 career MLS points over 7 seasons as I write this, and that is what made me consider the question in the first place. It’s a tough one when you think about it, as there are so many different ways to consider the question. Today, at the same age, relative skills, vision, level played, heart, will, consistency, brilliance of moment, relative resume, projected numbers, trouble that has followed, time in KC, improving teammates, and other points of history and relevance could all enter the discussion were time and space not relevant. One such point would be what would these two end up talking about if stuck in the same elevator for 8 hours? Undoubtedly it would help both men in some way. As players, we Americans didn't see Mo at his finest, great as he was here. We have not yet, hopefully, seen EJ at his best. Mo is part of the great history of the game and today EJ is the guy as he’s still playing and potential is the second most sought after commodity in soccer. The first being proven talent. So, how to compare? We can look at like ages by putting Mo’s record against EJ’s at EJ's current age 23. Here’s Mo’s resume. Born 4-13-63 Year-Team-Appearances(goals) 1981-1984 Partick Thistle 95(41) 1983-1985 Watford 85 (41) 1984-1987 Celtic 38 (23) <----Mo was 23 at the end of his run at Celtic. 1987-1989 Nantes 66 (22) 1989-1991 Rangers 100 (46) 1991-1993 Everton 34 (10) 1993-1994 Hearts 35 (5) 1994-1996 Falkirk 41 (6) 1996-2001 Kansas City Wizards 149 (31) National team 1984-1992 Scotland 38 (14)<-----5 Full International Goals at age 23 FA Cup final with Watford Celtic/Rangers thing Numerous Championships Majority of International Goals came in World Cup Finals or Qualifying Scored in a World Cup Finals Eddie Johnson: born 3-31-84 2001-2006 Dallas Burn 84 (24) 2006- Kansas City Wizards 37 (16) National team 2004- United States 30 (11) 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship Golden Shoe. 2004 - First international goal was in a World Cup Qualifier 7 goals in first six World Cup qualifiers, 4 since. Strikingly similar records. About level, Panama, Honduras, Guatemala, and Jamaica are not usually thought of as on par with Sweden, Wales, and most other European sides Mo toiled agianst. At the other end we have a present day MLS that isaccurately thought of as a cut above the league Mo played in. It's even harder to compare present day MLS to early 80's British football. On pure stats. Mo is up about 60 professional goals at the club level for the age. EJ is up 6 International goals. Is 10 for 1 an viable exchange rate? Relative skill can be quatified inaccurately by who signed the player and where he was signed from. Mo moved to the finest leagues available to him. EJ has been courted by those same leagues and continues to be so. There is a distinct upward progression by age 23 in Mo's career. EJ's less so. Both EJ and Mo have two feet. Mo was known to score from the spot and with his head. Both use the body well to create the margin required. I think MO was better with contact, but again much of that comes with age. I can't speak to Mo's speed eary, but he had to have some. EJ has it in bulk and uses it well. Vision - Mo's was plentiful, his assists speak to that if nothing else. Although this season is a better reflection of his overall game, an easy knock on EJ is a past lack of overall ability to set up teammates. I'd love to know if MO was offside often as a young man. EJ is among the MLS leaders perrenially. Heart & Will - Both players have it. We've seen a more developed version of that trait in Mo. We've also seen the titles that have come with that heart. It's an unfair comparison as the more experienced should excell here. This is also an easy area to unfairly pick on EJ. Only this season has he lived up, in any meaningful way, to any standards set for him. Do you see EJ being in the mold and make-up of an automatic choice Captain? Anyone see Mo Johnston as not being able to get a managerial job any time soon? Consistency - No comparison. Mo scored in bulk everywhere and anywhere until his late 20's. EJ's scoring prowess comes in wonderful torrential downpours interrupting massive draughts. Noone argues the class of EJ when he does score. Also in favor of EJ is that he's had ony 2 clubs. Brilliance of Moment - The best do it on the biggest stages at the most crucial of moments. Mo's best to age 23 was probably in a Qualifyer or maybe in Watford's FA Cup Final run. EJ's might have been his first international goal or the summed efforts of his hat trick against Panama. Neither of those things rise to a run at Wembly in my opinion. Years from now, if this is still a fair question, EJ will have had to raise his game to one that will still shine in the brightest of FIFA's lights. EJ's next chance will be in Chacago tomorrow against Brazil. I'd love to see him join Preki on another extremely short list, but I digress. Trouble - Mo is easily on the short list of the most controversial players in soccer history. In the English-speaking world, it's Maradonna, Mo, and pick your other guys. That's a bad thing for overall team strength, IMO. EJ has had issues with coaches, staff, and teammates, but nothing rises to the iconic lightning rod distraction Mo has been in moments. Note that most of Mo's more interesting stories happened after age 23. Time in KC - Mo bled memorably for the 2000 silverware, so EJ will always have a tough standard here as teamwise he has won exactly nothing in blue...yet. This in spite of his scoring pace far outstriping Mo's at the end of his career. Let's also remeber Mo was capable of lighting up the scoreboard as well. No hat trick for Mo however, just two and two against Columbus in his KC debut. Back to back hat tricks is a nice argument for EJ, as is 14 goals this season. Can EJ someday be the man to step up to the spot and convert at that critical moment when the USA can salt away a game in a World Cup Finals? Today, Mo met the majority of his potential as a player, and has the career both for clubs and country. I don't think many would argue against EJ having more potential for other levels Mo could not reach. To the same age, I think Mo has an edge regardless of how you quantify it. Certainly there are many other players whose attributes might compare better to EJ's skill-set. Mo and EJ are KC guys who have done their best MLS work in KC blue. I hope EJ realizes that men of his level have been, are today, and will always be measured against the history of others of similar fabric. What he must have been told is how blindingly fast 23 and potential turns into 32 and potential lost. No doubt Mo might have a nugget of wisdom of the subject. Bottom line is Mo has a storied career and EJ has the opportunity for one even more storied. EJ's game is improving and that alone is worth watching. Who's your biggest Johns(t)on? Mine's still Mo by a bit, but I'm hoping to be forced to change my opinion. -WC
Let's hope LARRY is the Big Johnson in Houston tomorrow! Sorry...had to add that in for a little American football flair.
One thing that you probably could have touched on more Dave is the fact that Mo is one of the more high profile players to play for both Glasgow clubs.