Rugged defender earns plaudits

If Landon Donovan is the Michael Jordan of MLS, then his Los Angeles Galaxy teammate, Tyrone Marshall, is its Bill Laimbeer. A notoriously physical defender with an on-field attitude to match, Marshall is one of those players people love to hate. That is, except for his coaches, teammates, and fans. And as both players prepare for Sunday's MLS Cup final, you can count Donovan among Marshall's biggest - and newest - fans.

When the Galaxy forward was plying his trade for the San Jose Earthquakes, the two players locked horns on numerous occasions. The matchup was akin to a greyhound taking on a rottweiler. On some days, the greyhound's speed won out. On others, the rottweiler's tenacity carried the day.

When Donovan is asked about what it's like now to have Marshall as a teammate, he replies, "You mean now that [Marshall's] not kicking my ass? He kicked me for a lot of years, man. When I came to L.A., it was a little bit strange to go up to a guy who has been just beating on you for a long time."

But playing with Marshall this season has given Donovan a different perspective. Instead of being on the receiving end of the Jamaican's heavy challenges, the Galaxy forward has watched Marshall perform his handiwork on L.A.'s opponents. As a result, Donovan has an altered view of his one-time nemesis.

"[Marshall's] great, and I think over the years he kind of got a bad rap for being a dirty player," says Donovan. "But playing with him, he just plays hard."

Donovan has also become an admirer of Marshall's ability on set pieces, especially since the two-time MLS Cup MVP delivers most of the corner kicks for Los Angeles.

"It's not only scoring goals, but [Marshall] gets his head on things and keeps plays alive," Donovan adds. "There's been six or seven goals this year that have come through him on set pieces. That's huge for a team."

But it's Marshall's rugged defending for which he is most remembered. Or reviled, because it's a style that sees him cross the line into red card territory on occasion, as evidenced by his late-season ejection for stomping on San Jose forward Alejandro Moreno.

Marshall himself makes no apologies for his bone-crunching style of play, however. In a league as physical as MLS, the Galaxy defender looks at a matchup with an opposition forward as the survival of the fittest. And given that the New England Revolution's Taylor Twellman will be his opponent come Sunday, that attitude should serve him well.

"The forwards [in MLS] are very powerful and quick, and you have to be able to impose your physical presence on them and let them know you're there," says Marshall. "They're going to wear you down after 90 minutes, and the stronger you are, the better you're going to last."

Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Marshall's early development was characterized by the flair typical of Caribbean players. His game-winning assist to Carlos Ruiz in MLS Cup 2002 is testament to the fact that Marshall still possesses plenty of skill. But it was a move to the South Florida town of Lauderhill, at age 12, that forced him to expand his game.

"Coming to the U.S., the kids were not as skillful," says Marshall. "My game was a little bit more elevated, so I had to learn the physical aspect of the game. Bringing the two games together helped me better myself and move forward."

For Marshall, moving forward in his MLS career meant a steady transition to more defensive positions. His early years with the Miami Fusion saw him start out up top, then play as a wide midfielder, and finally as an outside back. It was a switch that came with the usual array of mistakes, but the eight-year MLS veteran credits former teammates Carlos Llamosa and Francis Okaroh with helping him through the tough times.

Marshall adds, "I could look up to those two guys because when times were rough, they'd call me up and say, 'Listen, I think you did a good job. You're young, you're just learning the position. You have the physical abilities to do it. Keep learning, keep your head up.'"

The lesson in patience continues to pay dividends today in that the Defender of the Year finalist has emerged as a leader on the Galaxy, especially in the mentoring of younger players. This season, Ugo Ihemelu has been the primary beneficiary of Marshall's tutelage.

"Whenever I make a mistake, [Marshall] is the first guy back there telling me to relax and just get over it," says Ihemelu. "He's never really negative. He understands. He's been there. He just has a calm demeanor."

Marshall's approach has also been instrumental in the Galaxy overcoming a midseason swoon that made a bright start to the year seem like a distant memory. The team conceded some embarrassing goals, and Ihemelu was even sent to the bench for a spell. But when the rookie resumed his apprenticeship with Marshall, both players raised their respective games, and it coincided with an upswing in L.A.'s fortunes. The Galaxy won the U.S. Open Cup, and are now poised to claim the double for the first time in their history.

Of course, most of the credit for L.A.'s playoff run has gone to Donovan, whose clinical finishes and vision have provided the Galaxy with critical goals. But Donovan hasn't done it alone, and according to the L.A. star, the improvement in Marshall's play has been one of the catalysts for the Galaxy's playoff surge.

"[The turnaround] doesn't happen without [Marshall]," says Donovan. "He decided at some point during the season that he was going to turn it on, he was going to make plays, and be a leader. When he does that, he's one of the best players in the league."

And one Donovan is happy to have on his side.

Jeff Carlisle covers MLS for ESPNsoccernet. He can be reached at eljefe1@yahoo.com.