Monday, March 10, 2008

Olympic look

I just filed my Press-Enterprise column and I focused on the Olympics this week. Although Mexico is playing within driving distance from our coverage area I chose instead to look at the US and their chances for Beijing. I even got to use a quote from Michael Orozco that was heard here first on Sideline Views a week ago.



As I put in my story, this squad is deep and if qualifying is a question of talent then the U.S. will breeze through this round. But we all know talent won't get the U.S. to the Olympics. It didn't last time, and four years ago the U.S. counted on players such as DaMarcus Beasley, Eddie Johnson and Landon Donovan.



Benny Feilhaber's exclusion seems like a shock to everyone but it may be a good sign for the U.S. that a player of his ilk, someone who more than held his own in two international tournaments a year ago, cannot make this roster. My guess is that his form ha fallen off badly by not playing regular first-team minutes England. Perhaps his confidence is lacking and it shows on the field. If that is the case, it would certainly be a good sign for the U.S., in that you won't be able to live off of past accomplishments to earn roster spots for events such as this.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Feihaber's exclusion is more a conflict in playing styles. Novak is going for the classic European long ball counter attack, while Feilhaber is a ball control oriented player, hoping Jozy and Adu will be able to out class the defense. Not going to happen! The US does not have the size or team speed to play this style. Feihaber being one of the smaller mid-fielders was a casualty of this and will be sorely missed...mark my words

just another one of you said...

no link, Luis?

just another one of you said...

oh and that anon above my last comment is sorely mistaken. The U-23 team put together right now would beat Derby 9 of 10 times (given as much time together). Benny has played 2 games that would be considered above average, and benefited from the added exposure Bradley threw around while trying combinations and young players last year. If you can't at least make your team's bench, you shouldn't be on the national team- that should be rule, excluding U-20s or special cases. If Benny didn't have his head up his ass he would have forced a move to somewhere he can actually play.

L.B. said...

I'll put the link up tomorrow as it won't run until Tuesday's editions of the PE.

Anonymous said...

"just another..." Just and wait and see, while I agree with you that Benny should have forced a move and his abilities have been suffering as a result it isn't his fault, he is still a very young midfielder and whenever an English team gets a new coach the young (unproven) americans always get screwed, it has happens time and time again not to just Benny.It has been documented that Benny has outperformed and run circles around his Darby team mates during practices, but he still hasn't recieved a chance. You watch and notice how this US team will rely on long balls to Jozy. There US has no linking mid-fielders and Benny was the best the US has had in awhile whether you agree or not!