Is DMB overrated?[R]

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by eagleterp, Feb 11, 2003.

  1. Chris M.

    Chris M. Member+

    Jan 18, 2002
    Chicago
    I haven't had the chance to watch the entire Jamaica match yet, so i just watched, oh I don't know, maybe the first 12 minutes or so :)

    But in that 2 minute sequence, I noticed that first, Beasley gave his man a nice little deke like he was going to try to burn him before playing a nicely weighted ball to convey who won the corner leadiing to the first goal.

    Then a minute later, he was tracking back on defense where he pressured his guy into turning the ball over to Bocanegra leading to the 40 yard pass to Klein.

    This is the type of work that doesn't show up on any stat sheet, and goes unrecognized by many, but that is crucial to team play and winning.
     
  2. matador11

    matador11 Member

    Jun 21, 2000
    South Florida
    This kid's talents are boundless. He's not only lighting fast...but more importantly has tremendously quick feet (i.e. difficult to take the ball from him on the dribble).

    Clearly, he needs to play stronger on the ball ala Donovan who despite his size rarely gets pushed off the ball. However, the single most important aspect that DMB needs to elevate his game to the next level is to...believe it or not...SLOW DOWN.

    Yup. By that I mean, he needs to learn how to be patient with the ball. Sometimes a square pass is just as effective as beating your man down the flanks. Against a world class side like Argentina, they're more than willing to let DMB run wild down the sideline...knowing that he's outrunning his support and thus they can box him in the corner. When you're constantly running in one speed, good teams, no matter how fast you are, can and do make adjustments....
     
  3. divingheader

    divingheader Member

    Nov 10, 2001
    St John, NB, Canada
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is DMB overrated? He's our starting left mid while we are not using Euro-based players. The only other player in the mix at that position is Convey, so BA appears to rate DMB over Convey. I think thats reasonable. I am unaware of any other meaningful "rating system". Until CM4 comes out in March, that is...
    Of Course, BA may be looking at what else Convey can do for him, and not necessarily rate DMB over him. Personally I have been suprised to sere Convey at left back, I expected to see one of the young MLS defenders get time.

    A while before JK02 I heard an English pundit talking about what was wrong with England's game. He cited the fact that when an English pundit, coach or player is describing a player one of the first things that is said is a rating of his crossing. He felt that pointed to the English style being hopelessly get it to the corner and heave it across. Sure crossing is a good weapon, but it shouldn't be your entire plan. So if DMB doesn't cross (and I don't remember him doing so) maybe that isn't the end of his career. It bothers me more that I can't remember a single give and go down the sideline springing DMB. I don't know if that is the fault of DMB, BA or the rest of our midfield, but it seems like the natural option.

    If DMB consistantly draws restarts in the middle third, then our team needs to develop ways to take advantage of that, not just waste the opportunity because the conventional wisdom is that the ball is too far from the goal to be dangerous. The simple concept of using what you got.

    But... the best thing about DMB is that he does run at people with the ball. He gets by them too. Sometimes. His style is an important addition to the team, cause he is the only guy who will press like that. He forces the defense to do something different where he is concerned than they do to contain every other player we have. It wouldn't work if all our playersd tried one on three runs all the time, but having one dangerous fast dribbler who will challenge people is a priceless asset. When you start listing the reasons why the USMNT is improving, you should include this all-new capability near the top. Note that doesn't mean I think DMB is responsible for our improved performance, just a part of it.

    I have always been sort of bothered that at the end of a fine game of season, when you look up the stats DMB has many fewer goals and assists than you would expect. Is that what you mean by overrated? That sort of ignores the 87 minutes of most games where a goal isn't produced. I don't believe thats wise.
     
  4. BenReilly

    BenReilly New Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    Those 87 minutes are really important if there's no knockout. The judges look at these things carefully.
     
  5. BenReilly

    BenReilly New Member

    Apr 8, 2002
    Only because we don't have good stat sheets.
     
  6. maccabee

    maccabee New Member

    Mar 27, 2001
    Amen to the last paragraph, and to most your post. However, on the lack of give-and-gos, the fault their is not DMB, BA, or anyone else other than your memory. He's done this dozens of times with Donovan alone.

    With regard to some of the other posters on this thread, I find it puzzling to see DaMarcus thought of as a one-dimensional speed burner. He's really no faster than Donovan, and while he doesn't have all the same skills as LD, those two (along with Convey, JOB) have a feel for the game and tactics--both O and D--that surpasses previous generations of US players (with exceptions for Tab, Reyna, a few others...)

    I think his race does have something to do with it--we are used to hearing about "raw athletic ability" in young black men from the NBA, and I think it carries over into people's perceptions. Not racism, just misperceptions.

    Overrated? Not on this board.
     
  7. maccabee

    maccabee New Member

    Mar 27, 2001
    So do people who realize that defense matters.
     
  8. jri

    jri Red Card

    Sep 28, 2000
    boca
    I think a very good analogy/talking pt. is comparing Beasley to a young pitcher who can throw a straight heater at mid/high 90s consistently w/potential, but is still learning how to pitch...

    There is a big difference between a thrower and a pitcher.....Beasley needs to learn other pitches, he needs to learn better mechanics, he needs to learn proper technique (or he will "wear out" his arm)...etc...go down the line, the analogies are there..(even changing speed...not using fastball too often, playing under control, accuracy, etc)

    Beasley needs to become a pitcher IMO....even a well-placed fastball can get hit..
     
  9. lurking

    lurking Member+

    Feb 9, 2002
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Donovan is incredibly quick himself, and could do well on speed alone.
     
  10. maccabee

    maccabee New Member

    Mar 27, 2001
    Yes to the first part, no to the second. I think it's obvious that speed is a huge asset but that to succeed at the pro/int'l level it takes skill, savvy, etc. etc.

    My point is just this: there are other guys as fast as DMB on the Nats and in MLS, to say nothing of other countries where the best athletes are all playing soccer. He's not some freak show track star out there, he's a good soccer player with ball skills, toughness, tactical awareness, and, yes, very good speed too. And he's getting better and more confident every year.
     
  11. He really can't shoot at all. He would be MUCH better if he could shoot, but he has terrible form. I have been saying this for a long time, and in that time I have seen him take maybe two good shots, and maybe twenty bad ones. His ankle never seems to be locked, and he usually looks all off-balance. If he could shoot like Donovan, he would be unstoppable. Beasley plays great defense, that is his number one attribute. The kid ALWAYS gets back, when he is 100%. His quickness makes is hard for the defense to get the ball forward on his side. He isn't a great tackler, but he is tenacious. He wins the ball a lot. As he gets older and settles down, he will be very effective, but he also really needs to be able to score to hold down a consistent spot. If good defenders don't have to respect his shot, they can just play shepard and wait for the double-team every time.
     
  12. Karl K

    Karl K Member

    Oct 25, 1999
    Suburban Chicago
    I disagree with you completely on this one. He has a very hard and heavy shot.

    In the Gold Cup game against Korea he beat the keeper NEAR POST from the left corner of the area. It was a laser.

    In the Game 3 playoff against the Gals in 2001, he took a switching ball out of the air from Armas settled in one touch, and slammed a rooftop shot past Hartman from about 12 yards out. Kevin couldn't even get his hands up.

    That same year, in the OT US Open Cup game against Hartman and the Gals again, DMB was free left, and sent a rocket far post that Hartman desperately parried. It fell to Wolff, who cooly slotted it home to conclude the proceedings.

    Meanwhile, I have seen excellent runs from him to set himself up for one-time finishes -- against the Metros last year, particularly, where he teamed up again with Wolff.

    So, while I agree that his crossing needs work, I think his shot is quite good -- low, accurate, and with plenty of power, derived largely from his outstanding hip flexibility.
     
  13. Dave216J

    Dave216J Member

    Aug 1, 2001
    DC
    The shot...

    Does anyone else think that DMB's shot issues come from needing to use his left foot? I mean, there are lots of left-footed wingers out there with good shots, but I always feel that Beasley needs to be in advance of the last defender to properly set up his shot; he's not going to fake a cut in, cut the ball back to his shooting foot, and quickly take a hard shot.

    I actually think that if he was placed out on the right wing, he would get off many more quality shots--he plays the give and go very well, and also could cut inside of defenders, allowing him to take a full stride or two into his left-footed shot. Since he's not a great crosser from the left wing anyway, there's not much drawback; it would be interesting to see this experiment.
     
  14. Elninho

    Elninho Member+

    Sacramento Republic FC
    United States
    Oct 30, 2000
    Sacramento, CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Let's just say DMB's shot is unorthodox. But given his size, I'm not sure the "correct" technique will help him at all - it probably wouldn't give him nearly as much power as he has in his shot now.

    As a matter of fact, as a player, even though my greatest strength has always been my shooting ability, I've actually improved both the power and accuracy of my own shot by trying to model it after Beasley's. Turns out it's actually not easy to learn at all. Try it yourself some time.
     
  15. lurking

    lurking Member+

    Feb 9, 2002
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    No, hes not a freak show track star, but I question how developed his game is outside of being faster/quicker than MOST players (and he is faster than most players on the field) on an international level. Hes not technically a comeplete scrub, but without his speed advantage (in relation to most other players on the field) I think DMB becomes a fringe nat. Donovan I think is still a nat if he lost a step overnight.

    Or in other words, what distinguishes DMB from other players is mostly his speed, and that is why he is considered a speed player.
     
  16. Karl K

    Karl K Member

    Oct 25, 1999
    Suburban Chicago
    I would make this arugment: virtually ALL international level players who who play up top or on the outside, and lost a step overnight would likely be relegated to the fringe.

    There would be exceptions here and there. But if, say, Michael Owen were slower, well....
     
  17. Brunssen

    Brunssen New Member

    Jun 3, 2000
    I have seen every match live since the last of the run ups to now (save the Mexico and Germany WCG), and I honestly can’t believe why people would think Beasley is overrated. His tactical awareness is superb for a youngster; his work-rate is inspiring. Obviously his speed, agility and explosiveness are world class. As for his technique, people don’t give him enough credit. He can beat most anyone on the dribble; I have seen this first hand, against top quality international opponents. He pulls off things other Americans can’t and will not even dare attempt to. I agree, sometimes he is a bit lazy in the pass, but this doesn’t affect the run of play all the time. On the contrary, he is a lot like Reyna and Donovan in the way he plays the safe square ball in pressure moments (when he is not going to beat them on the dribble) to keep possession.

    The bottom line is he is a very young international, and indeed - he does have experience, but he still has a tremendous room for growth and he will do just that. He is only 20 years old, a boy, a boy amongst men in terms of physique in any league or venue in the world. People must remember that (even with Donovan) given time he will settle in with his new teammates (which takes time for anyone), add enough experience (learning the little subtleties like using his arms more) and weight to fight off the vultures, and show his true class. Right now he is dynamite, however, it is apparent that one day in the near future he will explode (heavens that is cliché).

    As for his dribbling, he does get knocked off the ball quite a bit, but almost all outcomes in a dangerous free kick in a great position. Once he learns those little subtleties that come with experience his field of vision will open up more in those tight situations he will take it a step further. Remember though, even Ryan Giggs doesn’t pull off the spectacular on every occasion.
     

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