Something else to think about...through the last two qualifying cycles, the USMNT has been an exceptionally strong set piece team because of players like Onyewu and Bocanegra. Both players are legitimate threats who unbalance the other teams' defense on set pieces. Under JK, the team has not seemed as focused on set piece execution. He has not always chosen to overload his own back line with players with aerial dominance. Part of that has to be due to Onyewu falling out of form. But Goodson is a solid aerial threat, and he's not seeing as much PT as one would expect if JK wanted that kind of focus on the team. So what we are seeing is that JK is trying to adapt the team to strengths on the fly, and Gordon's rise is part of that adaptation. The USMNT needs to be better on set pieces, and they need to have players collect the ball and retain it when it is played direct out of the back. Gordon potentially helps in both of those ways.
Gordon has a different skillset and package than the forwards that Klinsmann has called in to date. It will be interesting to see how he is utilized. Actually, I am looking even for him to start Friday night, although with the controversy around Jozy's snub, the safer choice would be Gomez, of course.
When Klinsi played, he often times had a Kamikaze style of going after goals. He played with high intensity and really sparked his team's energy. I wonder if he sees a bit of himself in Gordon? Altidore just never brought that kind of energy under Klinsmann and I think that body language was apparent from Jozy and bugged Klinsmann. He wants a "Braveheart" kind of guy and Gordon is that player.
I seem to remember Rudi's best games came when he was playing along side JK. When JK's passion was missing, Rudi didn't look nearly as good. I sort of think that's the way JK is looking at the Jozy situation. We were very flat in Jamaica and Jozy brought zero additional intensity when he came on. I think JK wants someone to play like he did, where every 50-50 ball was his and he fought like it was the last game he'd ever play in. For all the fun people make of Gordon, you can't say he doesn't want it (like McBride and Ching before him). Of course running around for running's sake doesn't make a great player, but when you see guys get dis-possessed and then they fight to get it back, that has a way of infecting the rest of the team to do the same. Gordon does foul a lot, but he's not taking cheap shots. Everything he does is designed to win back possession for his team even at the expense of the knocks and bruises he takes. His example gives his team license to do the same. That was the allure of Brian McBride. How many times did he have to come off the field to have blood cleaned off his uniform? And yet, if you were playing with him, how could you not want to match that intensity????
So far he's not playing with a bunch of DMs about 30 yards behind him, and cut from him by the other team's midfield line, I can see him doing some damage.
Alan Gordon is not Brian McBride lol. Gordon is having a better season and great for him but Sapong would have been a better callup.
He was dangerous because he's a big guy with a good workrate and unafraid of physical challenges. Both SJ and Dallas were going hard and it was an ugly ugly game of Mayan ball. Boot smash run and receive. This is what you get from Gordon. It's not pretty, but he can play a role. Let's see if he gets some minutes.
The only difference is that McBride, and to a lesser extent Ching, were actually great players relative to our other striker options. Gordon is not as good as Ching, and not even close to being in the conversation with McBride.
LOL, no. Sapong is a nice prospect for the future. He is not close to the same level as Gordon right now. Gordon is leading MLS in goals per 90 minutes. Sapong's goal scoring rate is a little better than 1/3rd that of Gordon's (0.35 per 90 vs. 0.90 per 90). Then there's Gordon's 7 assists to Sapong's 1.
Ching and McBride were villified and crucified on these boards. Anyone who ever kicked a ball would have been scoring more goals than either of these two. It was amusing the last cycle to read the comments about Brian Ching . . .
Yeah I was somewhat impressed by Sapong, but considering that San Jose can't blame success on any nonexistent 'stars' (as considered by most US MNT fans), it sort of presents the question: how you can you not call up one of the three guys who have collectively scored what, almost 50 goals?
How so? Isn't his speed average for a striker? So basically you have worse finishing than Wondo and a little better speed. I'd take better finishing every day, though I like Sapong. He's just not enough of a unique difference to add some tactical advantage unlike Gordon or Wondo or EJ, JK jokes notwithstanding.
Well it's just my opinion, I think he gives you what Gordon does except Gordon is probably a better passer. Then again both are untested at this level.
He can hold the ball. EJ, Wondo can't do that. Gordon got the call and that's how it's going to be I know. I don't see another Conor Casey in Gordon. I see Gordon as an MLS journeyman who is having a good season.
Wondo can indeed do holdup. He looked better than Sapong for the national team. I know Casey is recovering from an injury but Gordon looked a lot better than Casey; more intelligent. Gordon is more than just a guy who has been scoring though, otherwise with his foot skills alone he'd just be another MLS journeyman having a good season. I think the trick to him is that he may look very average skillwise, but he has also made his goal scoring look easy which is somewhat counter intuitive. If he gets on the pitch and is completely outsmarted and invisible, then I'd give you that he just can't get it done though. However I think that you can't determine that yet.
Personally I'd take Lionheart over Gordon and especially over Sapong. however Gordon is still a decent call up he has totally earned it.
It's not just his effort and physicality...he has some skill and can put the ball in the goal. He's good with his head too.
Wondo doesnt win 50/50 headers like you would want and hes better pulling off the defenders and dropping into the midfield for combination play then he is staying high with defenders on him. I think hes made great strides in his non-goal scoring play in the last few years, but he isnt the player you need as a target man.
Wondo and Gordon's SJ chemistry could translate to NT success; I hope we get a chance to find out after these qualifiers.
Eh.....Gordon's actually probably a better fit for this kind of international play. Scrappy, has some talent, size, etc. Sapong has better tools, but we're not exactly playing Holland and Spain here.