Book of Dreams, “God will produce the greatest soccer player in the world. And, he will come from the United States – the chosen nation of the world.”

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In the United States, we always seem to be looking for the next great Soccer savior to emerge from our shores. Several years ago, it was a young Ghanian immigrant kid that out dribbled everyone here in Indianapolis at the then Snickers National Championships. That young man was Freddy Adu, a player that has struggled since going professional at the tender age of 14. He was the next Pele and walked on water.

I think Freddy listened to all his press and has since struggled to make the impact everybody thought he would make. I think American Soccer fans expected too much from a 14 year old kid. He is still a young player that possesses some great technical ability. Let’s hope that his time in Greece allows him the opportunities he has been lacking the past 2 years in Europe.

Jozy Altidore

American Soccer fans need to calm down. Because now the same expectations are being put onto a young kid from New Jersey named Jozy Altidore.

Jozy is and has been a natural goal scoring talent. He featured for the New York Red Bulls at 16. The difference between he and Freddy was most people left him alone. They did not want to make the same mistake with him. And, he produced on the field.

Jozy was transferred from the MLS side New York Red Bulls to La Liga’s Villareal 2 years ago for a record $10 million transfer. He had limited playing time on his arrival into Spain. He was sent to Xerex of the Segundo Division for playing time. The problem was Xerex was playing so well, they did not need him and they were working towards promotion. It just did not work out for him. Villareal always had it in mind to send Jozy on loan.

This year, they sent him to England to play for Hull City. No offense to Hull City fans, but the team was crap before Jozy arrived. He was not going to make it that much better. Hull City’s midfield still sucked and their defense let in goals like a sieve. For selfish reasons, I can say that Jozy got out of Hull City what he went there to do – get playing time, get knocked around and adapt to the game in Europe.

Now he can go back to Villareal battle tested and stronger for the experience. And, he can start tearing up La Liga.

Here is why I say this, if you look at the careers of players like Didier Drogba, Thierry Henry, Ruud Van Nistelroy and even Eric Cantona. They were not world beaters at 20 years old. Their games played and goal production are very similar to what Jozy has accomplished. Jozy has actually done more, as he has 8 national team goals to his name in competitive FIFA competitions.

(Yeah, but that is in CONCACAF) Well, some of the European groups are pretty weak as I am a follower of one of those weak teams. I wish my Hungarian team had a forward of Jozy’s ability.  (They do actually, but the coaches are reluctant to put too much expectation on a young kid name Krisztian Nemeth – only the fans see him as a savior too).

The magic number 25

A player does not reach his full potential until he is 25 years old. How old are Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo? When did they really come into their own and start dominating games? Even Lionel Messi was allowed to develop his talent at Barcelona. Give Jozy a break.

Point is, to expect that out of Jozy Altidore is premature and just not going to happen.

My only concern for Jozy was his goal production should have been higher for Hull City. However, what he did not produce in goals, he did draw important fouls that led to goals. He was generally rated pretty high in post-game player ratings on Sky Sports.

I know American soccer fans have had their disappointments from the 2006 World Cup. We can’t put our hopes and dreams onto a 20 year old kid from New Jersey who is really just getting started. He accomplished what he needed to accomplish at Hull City. He will play for the US National Team. He may even be the impact player against talent from Slovenia and Algeria.

To expect him to carry us through to the final is a little much.

Freddy Adu is the lesson for all of us. We were too impatient with him. Let’s not do the same to Jozy Altidore.

What is with the soccer fans in Dallas?

Pizza Hut Park in Dallas seems to always be empty when you watch games on TV. Last night was no exception. The game between FC Dallas and Seattle Sounders looked more like a scrimmage than a league match. There was nobody in the stands.

(I wish John Harkes would just shut up. He spends 90 minutes criticizing everything. I really want to go to a single announcer like Tobey Charles during the good ole days of Soccer Made in Germany).

Yet, last summer, Soccer opened up the new Cowboys stadium and they filled the place up with what? 80k of people? Yet, they can not get 15k-20k to find their way to Frisco on a beautiful evening to watch professional soccer.

The Dallas market hosts one of the biggest youth tournaments in the world each year. They have a lot of soccer being played.

The drive is no excuse. I used to drive from New Hampshire down to Foxboro. Shame on you Dallas Soccer people – support your team!!

“According to a report published by European football’s governing body in February, English Premier League clubs have a combined debt of 3.8 billion euros, more than the combined total of all the other European top flight clubs.” – Agence French Press, April 14, 2010

How long will it be before the English Premier League teams do something about the financial crisis occurring in their game? Can they take the measures needed to make their clubs financially stable? Or, are traditions and clan club rivalries more important in the end?

I love Football (the round kind). I agree with Michel Platini that something is wrong. Let’s take my beloved Hungarian Football as an example. The clubs there are struggling and the most popular club in the region – Ferencvaros almost melted down financially a few years ago. It took a rich Englishman to pull them from the abyss. The reality of the purchase was for the real estate deal on the club’s current property rather than for purely football reasons.

Why are Hungarian Clubs trying to compete against each other for the hearts and minds of 10 million and shrinking population? If you look across the border to Austria where their population is even smaller and shrinking, you could ask the same of their clubs. Isn’t it time for Football in these regions to consider changing their structures and breaking down the borders? Why not have a Central European Football League where there are maybe 1 or 2 super clubs from each country competing each year?

They will not because traditions will win out at the expense of the game. The rivalries are so great that the individual clubs’ egos would never allow the cooperation needed to develop such a league.
Here is where MLS comes in. There has been much criticism by many here in the United States that the single entity system is no good. The reality is, it is the future of the game. The single entity system of MLS allows it to maintain tight cost controls on players and salaries without bankrupting the league or its clubs.

It makes you wonder why FIFA kept its fingers out of the recent contract negotiations. I am sure they are using MLS as a possible model for how football should look in the future. Business management is the contribution American Soccer may make to the world game. All our sports leagues have made the necessary changes to become profitable leagues.
If Europe does not wake up to its excesses, it may find itself out of business soon. While MLS, may find it becomes the league that survives and prospers. Why? There are fans in this country and last summer demonstrated that people will go watch games, if there is talent on display.

I say Major League Soccer is poised to become what it says it wants to be when it grows up. A top league in the world competing for top talent to display.

I personally think the team that turned Major League Soccer into the hot property today was Toronto FC.  They had fans

from day one attending games and filling up their stadium.  They even added more seats this year and replaced their field turf with real grass.  Since TFC entered the league, other expansion teams have come into the league with similar support.

Do I feel sorry for their fans though.  The product on the field has much to be desired.  TFC brought Mo Johnston as their coach, but he decided to move into the front office where he can’t seem to find the right mix of players to play attractive Football on the field.

Last night was no exception.  The new Philadelphia Union were in town and pretty much owned TFC on the field for much of the 1st half.  TFC were lucky not to go down to 10 men after their right back went studs up tackle on a Union player.  Then TFC got a break as Danny Calif elbowed DeGuzman in the neck to receive a red card.

Eventually against 10 men, TFC ended up winning but not without help.  Both their goals were on set pieces and not in the run of play.  And, the fact that Philadelphia was only playing with 10 men helped.  In the end, I think Philadelphia was still the better team.

TFC’s style of play is so British.  Hoof the ball from the back to the front and have your forwards jump up for head balls.  Forgetting the fact that they have some of the best in DeRosario and DeGuzman to work the ball.  Midfielders are for defensive purposes.

I love Toronto as a city and think their fans are fantastic.  MLS owes those fans a lot of thanks for it was the Toronto franchise that got fans in the other MLS markets to step up and be heard.

Mo, put a decent product on the field for them.  You owe it to them, the league owes it to them.  Give those poor people something to cheer about.  They deserve it.
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Ives Galacerp has written a very detailed account of the recovery of Charlie Davies, a US National Soccer Team forward who was

Photo by ISIphotos.com

involved in a terrible car accident back in October. He woke up 3 days later in the hospital and did not know where he was and thought he was in Honduras having his organs harvested.

His accident happened in October 2009.  He broke most of the bones in his right leg.  Fractured bones in his face.  And, fractured bones in his elbow.  He also injured his posterior cruciate ligament.  The miracle is his bones have healed and he is on the treadmill already.  He has one more surgery to remove the plate and screws from his elbow.  He is schedule to return to France and start training with his club Sochaux at the end of February.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is freaking unbelievable.

You can read the full article here at Soccer by Ives and his published article at ESPN Soccernet.

I have to admit, I was one of the people guessing we have to scratch Charlie Davies from the World Cup.  Let’s hope he can continue on his recovery.  He was one of the bright spots in US Soccer in 2009 as we led up to the World Cup.
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