Oguchi Onyewu: Named in Jupiler Leage 2005 Best XI

Good for Gooch

 

Goochmeister!!!!!

 

Goocherific!

 

who picked? Media or players or coaches or fans?

 

Not sure exactly, but here is link to what looks like the Jupiler league site. Scroll to the bottom to see the team.
http://www.sport.be/fr/jupilerleague/0506/cover.html?comp=2304

 

IIRC, this is the second year in a row for Gooch. As Tom Petty says, "It's time to move on, time to get going." Gooch is ready for prime-time.

 

2 years in a row mentioned along with Kompany. How dare we?

 

Kompany didn't get the props in the last six months of 05 that he did in the first six month, according to the player of the year points deal. He looked like a sure winner after the first half. Of course, this post means I'm trusting my French, and that's never a good thing.

 

Other than Conceciao (sp), are there any other WC-bound players on that list ? With the Red Devils not making it to their northeastern neighbor, I gather not.
Other than Friedel and TH, have any other Americans ever been named to a European seasonal Best XI ?

 

Gooch is just a bad-ass.

And to say it's time to move on is pretty obvious. I think he's just biding his time so he can be guaranteed of PT before the WC and afterwards he'll field offers from the Big Leagues.

His agent has to be pretty jacked right about now. This kid is going places. It's funny, when Gooch first went to Europe there were a lot of posters here lamenting it, saying he should have signed with MLS to get PT, etc... But he has handled his career about as wisely as most Americans who go to Europe ever have and he is now in position to play for a very good team and get a lot of experience, glory and cash in the process.

 

The key phrase here is "handled his career".
When he first attracted interest from French teams, he held off until he was sure (and until he could convince his mom that he'd graduate from Clemson).
When he got stuck on the pine in Metz - he hit the weight room and got into great shape rather than whining.
When he was fit and still couldn't get game time, he managed a loan to La Louviere one year and Standard Liege the next - finally signing a contract with Standard.

People may forget but Gooch starts off a little slowly. He did with Metz, he did with La Louviere, he did with Standard Liege, and he did with the national team. But once he feels comfortable (a game or two) he really opens up his game.

What's more is that if he stays in Belgium a little while longer - he could qualify for a Belgian passport which would be HUGE for his career.
(is it 3 or 4 years in Belgium).

Gooch has handled his professional career very well to date - he's a smart guy and a hard worker in addition to an incredible physical specimen and talented soccer player. I suspect he'll do just fine in the future. How could he not when "God fights for him"

 

Sergio Conceição is very unlikely to make the Portuguese squad but his main rival - and the best buddy - for the Jupiler Player of the Year Christer Wilhemsson is a shoo-in for the Swedish squad.

3 years but it won't matter in England or much in Germany.

 

actually im pretty sure conceciao is not WC bound, though his country sure is. i cant remember the last time i saw his name on a portugal team sheet or lineup. so it looks like gooch is THE man. works for me


forza inter

 

What do you mean it won't matter much in England or Germany?
If he gets a Belgian passport, that removes the need for a work permit, or am I missing something?
Granted I think he'll eventually be a shoo-in for the 75% rule needed in England, but wouldn't the passport still be a good thing to have?
(or am I missing something)

 

Well, as a regular US international, the UK work-permit is no longer a problem for him. Additionally, fees that it would take to acquire him would pretty much guarantee his WP in England.

And Germany is doing away with their foreign player limits (it would have helped him to have a German passport a little) anyway.

 

If Zakky Knight is worth 5m pounds, how much is Gooch worth?

If this young man is worth 12.5m pounds, how much is Freddy worth?

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=355671&cc=5739

 

My recollection is that Gooch does not yet meet the 75% requirement and would have to go thru the appeals process, so it's not yet "no longer a problem", but it is getting better!

 

10m pounds, depending on how he plays next season.

 

Well, those two guys are English, which pretty much doubles their price tags.

 

Congrats to Gooooooch!!!! I can't wait 'till he moves to a bigger club. The more high-profile Americans in Europe, the better for U.S soccer.

 

Still peanuts.

 

But halves their value.

 

I remember when Gooch was playing at Clemson and I said they were mispositioning him, using his athleticism to just burn up the sideline rather than where he was best suited, center back. Yes oh yes I got a lot of flack for that. Okay I baited the argument a bit by saying that his control in traffic wasn't so good and sometimes he stumbled as if the puberty fairy just visited but still, I think he's best suited for marking speedy forwards and enforcing a no-fly zone around tall ones.

I think Gooch deserves a lot of credit for his work at centerback. Switching to such a position in the pro's is remarkable. I don't think it has come naturally, I never thought he had the mentality of a center back but if he had any bad habits, he's certainly overcome them.

 

I can't think of another American who's made a seasonal Best XI... however, Kasey Keller was once named to France Football's monthly European Best XI.