Friday, February 11, 2005 ESPNsoccernet: February 14, 11:12 AM US
A move to Europe is in the cards
Ives Galarcep
Forget about waiting the four or so years for Freddy Adu to start drawing attention for European suitors. Or even the one or two years before Eddie Gaven is on the radar screens of big clubs in search of a highly-skilled midfielder. The biggest transfer bulls-eye sits on the back of Eddie Johnson, the precocious striker who didn't get the memo about young prospects taking their time in becoming stars.
Eddie Johnson: Already being watched by European clubs. (Marcos Brindicci/Reuters)
Johnson has always had talent, always had that "he could be one of the greats" label to go with the skill set and athletic gifts more synonymous with Brazilians than with Yanks. The question about Johnson since he was a 17-year-old rookie with the Dallas Burn was when would he grow up. When would he take his amazing talent and convert it into performance, into moments of mouth-watering beauty.Some would have pointed to his performance at the 2003 Youth World Championships, where he finished as the Golden Boot Award winner. The award seemed hollow given the fact that he scored on three penalties, but anyone who watched him play saw all the elements he possesses. The strength on the ball, the extra gear he can kick it into when necessary, as well as the vision to make the good pass rather than force a bad situation. It took a stellar 2004 season with FC Dallas, during which Johnson began to become a more consistent threat. His 12 goals tied for the most in MLS, making it difficult for U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena to wait any longer to call in the budding striker. Little did Arena know the impact Johnson would make.How much of an impact? Try six goals in four games (220 minutes to be precise). And we're not just talking any games. All four matches have been World Cup qualifiers and two of them were road qualifiers, which are difficult enough for veteran players, let alone 20-year olds with single-digit caps.That production led to Arena starting Johnson against Trinidad &Tobago on Wednesday and all Johnson did was put on his best performance to date. After beating the T&T defense, which included Glasgow Rangers defender Marvin Andrews on a perfect header to give the U.S. team the lead, Johnson later helped set up the eventual game-winning goal by starting the play with another one of his well-timed runs. His speed and strength proved too much for the hosts to handle.Johnson's heroics have helped set up a very interesting next few months. Not only has he grabbed hold of one of the two starting forward slots on the national team for the foreseeable future (how can you bench someone who has scored in every game he's played in), Johnson has also sounded the alarm that should have foreign clubs coming in droves to scout him and get their bids ready. That development could leave MLS in a bind. If the bids for Johnson pour in come July 1 will the league seriously consider them? Or will the fact that FC Dallas is set to open a new stadium in August force MLS to try and hold onto Johnson, who is Dallas' only true marquee player. It could be an interesting tug of war between Lamar Hunt and the league he helped build. Ultimately, the decision would be Johnson's, and it would be difficult to see him sticking around past the summer if offers dwarfing Tim Howard's $3.6 million transfer to Manchester United (the current MLS record) come in (and they will).Does Johnson want to leave MLS? After his memorable second-half hat trick in the U.S. team's 6-0 drubbing of Panama in November, Johnson sounded like someone who was ready for the opportunity."I feel like I'm ready for that move," said Johnson of a potential move to Europe. "You see someone like DaMarcus over there doing his thing and it makes me feel like I'm ready. I know there are things I still need to learn and work on but I'm getting there."If he felt that way three months ago, Johnson is surely champing at the bit now. A training stint at Manchester United this past winter left him feeling even more certain he could make a successful transition to the European game. He has some time before he has to worry about transfers. His focus now is on the upcoming MLS season and the next national team match, on March 27 against Mexico in Estadio Azteca. If Johnson can continue his goal-scoring ways for the national team, the question won't be whether he goes to Europe, but rather just how high profile a club will eventually land his services. Farewell Friedel
You could hear it in Brad Friedel's voice more than a year ago. During an interview in December of 2003, shortly after the birth of his first child, Friedel sounded like a satisfied man, a doting father and someone who was beginning to think about the end of his national team career.
So it came as no surprise that Friedel would play just one more game for the U.S. national team before deciding to announce his retirement this week. What did Friedel have left to prove exactly? Nothing really, not after his stellar performance at the 2002 World Cup. That showing, coupled with a season in England that saw him honored as the English Premier League's goalkeeper of the year, proved the pinnacle of a national team career that had gone somewhat overlooked before his heroics in South Korea.
American fans can take heart in the knowledge that Friedel will eventually make his way back to home soil to close out his career. Friedel's contract with Blackburn runs through the 2006 season, and while he is seeking an extension, he has repeatedly stated his desire to return to MLS to end his professional career. Be it Columbus, an expansion team in Cleveland, or some other team in MLS, there would surely be a suitor eager to have a 36-year-old Friedel minding the nets in 2007.
The 'right' back
Eddie Johnson may have stolen the show against Trinidad & Tobago, but the play of right back Steve Cherundolo must have put a smile on Bruce Arena's face. Just when it seemed like Frankie Hejduk might be called on to handle right back duties once again, Cherundolo is back to reprise the role he held during the last World Cup qualifying hexagonal in 2001.
His recent stellar play for Hannover 96 was finally rewarded and he displayed all the skills that make him a safe bet to hold onto a starting role for the national team for the rest of qualifying. From his sharp crosses, which are a considerable upgrade from Hejduk's adventurous cross attempts, to his solid tactical awareness, Cherundolo turns 26 next week and is peaking at the perfect time.
Ives Galarcep covers MLS for ESPN.com and is also a writer and columnist for the Herald News (NJ). He can be reached at Ivespn79@aol.com
