Does Martino ever have a chance of becoming the Nat's #10 or will those, who at a younger age, were more highly touted like JOB, Donovan, Convey, Guillermo Gonzalez, or even Freddy Adu prevent him from getting his chance in the CAM role? I ask this because it just seems to me all those other players have gotten the chance or most likely will have a chance to show what they can do in the center for the Nats, where Martino has not gotten that chance at all. Even when he played with the youth National teams he was pushed to the wing in favor of other players. IMO, If he shows he can handle the role in MLS, he should be given a fair chance with the Nats.
So far he hasn't shown that he can perform over the course of a season. If he does, the WCQs start next year and he'll have plenty of time to show what he can do.... in Mexico City, San Jose, Guatemala City.
I disagree with that. His last season's worth of games (last 30) have been at a pretty high level, I think. He's not totally consistent yet, but was Tony Parker consistent last year (forgive the NBA metaphor, but I think it's apt between these two kids). Now, on the second half of that statement I find nothing wrong. Now, the question at the beginning was "does he have a chance?" The answer to which is "Yes. He'll likely get a chance." I would be very surprised if Il Bruce doesn't start him at #10 in some friendlies between now and WCQ time. And don't forget, Martino will also have the 2004 Olympics. We might learn a lot about where he is in his development in Athens. What he does with the chance is up to him.
It will be interesting to see if he does get the chance in Athens with players like Donavon, Convey, Gonzalez, and Eddie Gaven competeing for time in the center along with him. They all seem to get much more mention as "the future of the national team." I agree that the Olympics will be a big indicator of whether he will be given a chance at the CAM position.
well, we'll see where he plays for the U23s against mexico in 5 days. It seems to me that putting him in the middle with DMB on one wing and landon up front could create some fearsome attacks
Is Kyle available for the Wales game? Bruce hinted at playing newbies. I doubt we'll see a three man center midfield of Corrales, Mulrooney and Martino, but who knows? One thing I don't expect is for a #10 to always be on his game, to be a successful maestro in say, five out of six games. I just don't think soccer works that way, and I think it's one fault of relying on a classic #10. Zidanes come along almost never; Ortegas are more common and still a seemingly dying breed. Martino's rate of effectiveness as a #10 is one of the surprising and exciting things about this guy. He's on a hot streak.
Andrulis and Bruce both mentioned he needs to work on quicker releases. The three touches and pass has to get down to two or one. It wouldn't hurt him to hit the weights for his upper body strength either. ABMOD beat him up pretty good within the rules. Right now he really can't shield or go shoulder to shoulder with many guys. Tremendous progress on these fronts this year. It appears he knows what he has to improve to move up.
Raoul hit it on the head (at least Bruce and Andrulis did). He's still too slow in making his decisions with the ball. You saw how quickly the Mexicans converged on the ball last night. Martino would be eaten alive with his current skills in an environment like that. And the weight thing, he looks like a freakin' toothpick. DaMarcus gets away with it, but he's not exposed to as much playing outside. Martino would get broken playing central mid with his current size.
I think we have one Crewzer who outweighs him. Unfortunately her weight isn't upperbody. She would be good at shielding though, AND difficult to knock down!
Some of that is not so much slowness of thought as being too keen on trying to take his man on the dribble. He should be thinking, before he gets the pass, about if there's an open man at least as much as he does about whether he can beat his mark. A little less Etcheverry, a little more Nowak.