Beasley still lacking in some basics...

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by jri, Aug 13, 2002.

  1. jri

    jri Red Card

    Sep 28, 2000
    boca
    Been saying it for the last 2 years...

    DMB is still lacking in some basics, and, despite the hype over his limited WC performance, I question whether or not he can be any sort of success (consistently) in Europe.

    I recently saw him play in 2 MLS games...and I don't see any growth in his game. He is still largely an unimaginative player, still relying on kick-and-run and very simple "play it to the guy you are facing" stuff. His balance is still off too much, he does not get a clean plant a lot of the time.

    Being a lefty, and having great speed...I could see where he could be a niche winger/midfielder for someone in Europe (he is unorthodox, that's always valuable in spurts). Maybe even better as a late game sub. But day-in, day-out consistently good? I don't see it.

    Donovan has a much more rounded overall game, but I'm afraid his decision to stay in U.S. will only retard the fantastic progress he's made last 1 1/2. He's dominated AAA (or AA-take your pick)- now he needs to go to the bigs. He has needed MLS (until World Cup) for this stage of his career. Now he needs to go prove himself among the "men" of the sport, or his game will only slip in the slower thought MLS...

    Mathis, it seems, has added tools to his game every year since he's been in the league..and if gets fit and healthy, certainly can rival Donavon as (currently) most talented Yank. He needs to go.

    I do hope Pablo can get overseas and soon. He schooled the Germs, and if he stays here, will also only regress.

    It is time for most the boys to leave home, and stand on their own 2 feet (in Europe). Young Beasley would be better served staying here, and adding the needed tools to his game.
     
  2. jd2084

    jd2084 New Member

    Aug 1, 2001
    Rhode Island
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with your descriptions of Beasley's faults but think that you may be overstating them a little. His dribbling is imaginative and the way in which he varies his attacks (inside and out, pass or dribble) makes him tough to defend. In this Saturday's game he put a very tough (fast) defender (Ryan Suarez) on his heals most of the game.
    I also like the simplicity of his game. He doesn't try to force the issue when he is deep in his own half. Add to this his willingness to track back to defend and you have a very good outside midfielder.
    Remember he will become more comfortable turning with the ball as he gets a little older and (pray) stronger.
    Granted Beasley's best trait is his speed, but speed kills and that alone makes him enticing.
     
  3. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    I to thought that about DaMarcus. Then i lost that after watching the All-Star game. I don't care if it was an all-star game but that romp through the MLS defense before Dema hacked him to peices was jae-dropping. It was like his foot had a ball magnet. I think he has all the tools he needs, he just doesn't use them all the time because he can usually get away on speed alone.
     
  4. Liverpool_SC

    Liverpool_SC Member

    Jun 28, 2002
    Upstate, SC
    You are right about the All-Star game. Landon and DMB linked together very well the entire game. DMB plays well up and down the entire wing, tracking back well and leading the counterattack with the ball at his feet almost as often as he benefits from it off the ball. He looks very small when he drifts into the middle, but I was impressed at his control at high speed.

    The run in which Dema hacked DMB was amazing. I really think that he would have made a fifty-yard run on goal if his "teammate" hadn't committed a tactical foul.

    Also, in this game, it was nice to see how well Landon dropped into "the hole" and played a greater role in the build-up as well as more of a finishing type role.
     
  5. greenlightwilly

    greenlightwilly New Member

    Mar 4, 2001
    Colorado
    Well, you've certainly got the Euro-snob angle covered on this one. Remember, that the 'men' they would be playing with were the same 'men' they played against in the WC. So, let me get this straight, these guys have to go back to Europe so they can 'develop' in order to play the 'men' they have already measured up to - some might say exceeded?

    I have to admit that I see your point though. But I have to remind myself that Pablo and Donovan and Mathis and Sanneh and DaMa (to a lesser extent, Friedel) all cut their chops OVER HERE IN THE US. But I watch MLS and I don't see how that can be - the APPARENT quality doesn't come close to what I see in Europe. Yet... it happened. So maybe there's something going on that idiots like us don't see? ....NAAAAHHH!
     
  6. Eliezar

    Eliezar Member+

    Jan 27, 2002
    Houston
    Club:
    12 de Octubre
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I too think that Beasley has a lot of developing to do. I think if he can play in a better league for the next 3-4 years that he will be a standout player at the next world cup.

    His size will be an issue though. If he gets calls he can be dominate (see Portugal), but if he isn't getting the calls he can be a liability (see Korea).
     
  7. Stogey23

    Stogey23 Member+

    Dec 12, 1998
    San Diego, CA
    DMB plays some serious D.
     
  8. nobody

    nobody Member+

    Jun 20, 2000
    I think you just need to get over your problems with Beasley's game. I understand what you are saying. DaMarcus does not have the skills that Donovan has. He doesn't have the fine close control, he doesn't have a stunning shot, and needs a bit more time to get his shot off at all.

    Thing is, he's just really a different type of player. And, like it or not, he always will be. If you expect him to drastically change his style of play or develop a much higher skill level at this point, you are going to have to get ready to be disappointed. It's just not going to happen at this point.

    DaMarcus has many strengths. He's extremely quick, fast, unpredictable. He does tend to play a simple game, but I see that as one of his great strengths. He doesn't make things harder than they need to be. He combines well with other players. His tactical sense, especially in advancing the ball down the wing is excellent. His ability to read when to go inside and when to stay wide is very good, and keeps defenses guessing constantly.

    His defense is strong and his work rate is as good or better than pretty well anybody I've seen. His touch is average, as is his passing and shooting, but he makes the most of what skills he's got. He may not have great close control , but still manages to beat players on the dribble consistiently. He's constantly a threat on the field at any level, including the World Cup.

    So, yeah, he's not Pele, he's not Maradona. He looks a bit unorthodox and he's never going to control the center of the field the way a guy like Donovan can. We have other players with better technical skills than he has. However, he is a very exciting and dangerous young player who's going to be on the field for the US for quite a few years to come and gives every indication, through his accomplishments on the field at every level, that he could succeed in any league anywhere. Get used to it.
     
  9. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    Who DOES have the talent and skills of Donovan?? I wish people would stop using him as a barometer for US talent. They forget he is one of the 10 - 15 most talented players in the world. If you want to compare him so someone start with Owen Hargraves, Manuel Rui Costa, Fracesco Totti.
     
  10. kickin365

    kickin365 Member+

    Mar 4, 2002

    I'm sorry, I love LD as much as anyone, but there is no way in hizell that he is one of the 10-15 most talented players in the world. I won't get into listing.

    As for the topic of this thread- so what if Beas has a way to go in developing his skills. THe important thing is that he has improved greatly over the past two years. He is only 20yrs old. If he was 24 or so, and as skilled as he is we might have something to worry about.
     
  11. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One semantic point of clarification:

    "regress - movement backward to a previous and esp. worse or more primative state or condition"

    I see no reason to believe that players like DMB, Mastroeni and Donovan will regress in any way. Rather, their development in MLS certainly will continue, but might be at a slower pace, and might plateau at a lower level, than if they were getting playing time in top-flight European football.

    Or maybe not.

    My point is that, by staying in MLS they make it a better, more competitive league. For example, Landon Donovan becomes a better player by having to face Pablo Mastroeni. Sure, there are myriad gaps to fill in the MLS of 2002. But fast forward 3-4 years, when Mastroeni's 28, DMB and LD are 23, Quaranta 20, Convey 22, Bocanegra's 26, etc. etc. etc., and add in all the guys who'll enter the league as young prospects between now and then, and, before long, you'll see a league that is pretty stocked - rookies with raw, unproven talent, mid-careers players at the peaks of their games, seasoned vets prepping for WC '06 and feeling the heat from the younger guys.

    Actually, I think a lot will depend on the quality of coaching in this league. LD became a better player after moving to MLS. But he also became a better player with the Nats by being coached by Bruce Arena. MLS needs more coaches who'll push the game forward in MLS, challenge players, demand them to be real committed professionals. Recall Arena's comments about Mathis' fitness before and during the WC; he took some real jabs at Zambrano and his lax management of the MetroStars. Compare that with, say, Beasely's training in Chicago under coach Bob Bradley and player-mentor Hristo Stoitchkov.

    DaMarcus may need to develop aspects of his game more (I mean, he's only 20, after all), but I get the feeling that he's being given the necessary attitudinal training to do so in MLS. Not so sure if someone like Mathis is, however. And one wonders if that kind of less-visible training could keep Clint from reaching his potential as a player, whether he stays in MLS or goes abroad.
     
  12. appoo

    appoo Member+

    Jul 30, 2001
    USA
    Talent, not skill level. He still has a ways to develop, if he chooses so.
     
  13. soccerfan220

    soccerfan220 New Member

    Jun 24, 2002
    USA
    Beasely is awesome. About four weeks ago, i went to a game and saw him( NY/NJ v. Chicago) and he was awesome. He scored the winning goal, plus he smoked Petke and then delivered a perfect pass to Wolff who scored in a 3-2 victory.
     
  14. CrazyF.C.

    CrazyF.C. New Member

    Jun 15, 2001
    Washington D.C.
    1. A lot of dmb's game is limited by a lot of the smaller fields in MLS, like cardinal stadium

    2. He's be far the best winger in MLS and has reached his full potential here. Time to go develop at say, ajax... ? ;)
     
  15. Mattinho

    Mattinho Member

    Jan 27, 2000
    Chicago
    Club:
    Chicago Fire
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Wait, wait, wait, I think you're talking about Cobi Jones because you just described him to a 't'.
     
  16. astabo0ty

    astabo0ty New Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    South Florida
    atleast half of the players on these teams are more talented than donovan:
    brazil
    holland
    england
    france
    argentina
    italy
    etc...wow ur biased...
     
  17. NSlander

    NSlander Member

    Feb 28, 2000
    LA CA
    But SOMEHOW, only ONE of those teams went further than the US in WC02. I guess individual talent is irrelevant to team success.

    For you to assert that the teams listed above collective boast at least 60 players more talented than THE youngest player to score in the most recent WC is completely irrational.

    wow ur in denial
     
  18. astabo0ty

    astabo0ty New Member

    Mar 25, 2002
    South Florida
    the comment was that donovan was a top 15 most talented player in the world. how u bring up the fact that those teams didnt do well is irrelevant to the comment...
     
  19. ferrari77

    ferrari77 Member

    May 23, 2002
    Everywhere
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    "astabooty" is right, they were talking about talented players not teams and he neglected to mention portugal, colombia, nigeria, senegal, which have some of the most talented players so to say donovan is in the 10-15 most talented players in the world is off the mark. about beasley, i agree he is a smart player and defends well and has speed, but so are a lot of players around the world wherever he may go play next, but skillwise i believe he is nothing special. but as long as he does what he knows how to do bestl then he is fine.
     
  20. Martin Fischer

    Martin Fischer Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Kampala. Uganda
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, one could play devil's advocate and argue that better players = better team. But no, you are right, that's crazy!
     
  21. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    Except when Joselito Vaca screwed him into the ground at least 3 times last Saturday.
     
  22. MyHouse!

    MyHouse! Member

    Mar 12, 2000
    Tallahassee
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Was that before or after DMB took the ball from him on the right side and Vaca got so mad that he came back and chopped him down from behind earning the card? :rolleyes:
     
  23. Dsocc

    Dsocc Member

    Feb 13, 2002
    That was the 4th time. Vaca got him the 3 previous times.
     
  24. wunderkid

    wunderkid New Member

    Mar 17, 2000
    Chicago
    Vaca is a quality player...so losing a challenge to him is nothing to be ashamed of...you all talk about he is not that great but Fire fans have been watching him since he joined the Fire he has greatly improved. At the end of last season i didnt think he was good enough to make the US squad and i was wrong...And for anyone to say he cant play in the open field, when he and wolff played up top against Metrostars, he owned the field. Sure he wasnt in the dead center of mid running the field but he brutalized NY.

    Beasley and donovan are nothing alike, except for their age.
     
  25. monop_poly

    monop_poly Member

    May 17, 2002
    Chicago
    I know this is a thread about Beasley, but this comment about Donovan is comical. God bless him, he's good, but he can't even be assured of a spot in Leverkusen's starting 11. So he's at least behind Basturk on the worldwide depth talent chart. There are guys with his skills, and at his age or younger, on many teams in the Argentine league, for example. There's just a lot of good footballers all over the world.

    As for Beas, Europe's not biting ... yet. That's fine by me, so I can continue to watch him in Chicago.
     

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