The more I read about this kid and the more I watch him play, the more I like him. I'm glad to hear that he will be getting more National Team experience.
Is he the first American to really be given the A mid position of an MLS team?? I know Landon plays there sometimes but am I missing someone??
"It's amazing to be able to play with such high-caliber forwards," said Martino. "The funny part about having such great forwards is that it's almost harder. That is, if I'm not giving them good service and they're not scoring a goal a game, I kind of take it personal, like it's my fault. Being such talented forwards, if they get the right service, they should each have a goal a game." That is a great quote.
this guy has been class from his first moment in MLS. my only worry is he wears down as the game goes on (a la v. the Galaxy in the opener) but i didn't see much of the 2nd half of the Metros game, so who knows how unfounded my worries are. we could see him starting at a-mid in '06 in germany.
Martino is a season or two away from being ready for the Big Time, which is just about right for 2006 qualifying. In the meantime, he needs to bulk up a bit because in last week's game he was moved off the ball too easily. That was the first time I've noticed him and he was impressive. It's good to see a homegrown playmaker with more than just physical attributes, but mental talent as well.
There is a big change this year. Teams who arguably use an american central attacking mid: KC (Preki) Chi (DMB) NE (Cullen/Hernandez) Rapids (Chung/Beckerman) LA (Cobi) Crew (Martino) And the Metros may use both Mathis and Guevara in midfield, with Mathis as attacking mid and Guevara as central playmaking mid.
It is a great quote. This is an attacking midfielder with high expectations and a built-in sense of accountability for those expectations. Players like that go places. I don't think that he is as far along as Buddle at the moment in his respective role, but I do think that he will become a more important player to the Crew than Buddle as the entire attack will flow through him, although I think Buddle will be pretty darned good!
The only thing I've really seen of Martino was this year's opener. He played brilliantly, but missed a break away that Landon would've finished. With the National Team in November, he played on the outside, IIRC, and not terribly effectively. With O'Brien and Donovan, the middle is not a likely spot for him, but the national team desperately needs a good right mid. Still, I look forward to seeing him play more this year.
Let's start comparing all of our young players to Donovan. If any of them don't measure up at this point, even though they lack Donovan's experience (although they may be older), let's write them off as unable to play as an attacking mid or a forward for the Nats. That way, we can be assured of playing Donovan alone on offense, at least until Adu matures. And if Landon's hurt, we'll just play a 4-6-0 with six defensive midfielders.
It is indeed a great quote-- because Martino himself is giving himself something to shoot for. And the fact that he's putting such high expectations and lofty goals upon himself means that he a is a young, driven, highly motivated young player. See what I've italicized above for emphasis of this... He's got high expectations, but I don't think we'd have it any other way.