With another World Cup behind us, and soccer seasons up and running again all over Europe, stateside fans are perhaps a bit perplexed over lack of movement of American soccer players to more competitive European destinations.
Sure, Cory Gibbs made the jump from the Eredivisie to the Premiership, but unfortunately missed out on a chance to shine in Germany during the summer due to injury.
DaMarcus Beasley, although still on the PSV Eindhoven books, was sent over to Manchester City to help fellow American Claudio Reyna this season.
Other moves, especially from MLS to a European league, didn't materialize for US National Teamers.
There was talk of Jimmy Conrad joining Norwegian giants Rosenborg, Eddie Johnson being loaned out to Real Sociedad in Spain, Josh Wolff joining Derby County in the English Coca Cola Championship in England - but these switches just didn't happen.
The biggest surprise was perhaps a Standard stay for Oguchi Onyewu.
Many Yank fans would have bet beer money that Onyewu would make the giant leap from Belgium to England, or maybe Spain. When the transfer window closed on September 1st, however, the Clemson alumnus was still harassing defenders in the Jupiler League.
So Standard Liège coach, then general manager, Michel Preud'homme, was not joking when he told YA in August that his prize American defender would remain with the team, at least 'until January, that's for sure'.
But the ex-Belgium international keeper continued, "Afterwards we will see. It depends on him."
With Aston Villa, Fulham, Middlesbrough, Reading and Sporting Lisbon knocking on Onyewu's door, nobody believed that he would still be able to buy Belgian chocolates locally in the fall.
There was even rumor around the Bernabéu that the District of Columbia native was to become the first American Galactico.
The man they call Gooch has always presented himself in a very professional manner, and was often tight-lipped when it came to questions about where he would play his soccer in the new season.
Whenever such matters came up, Onyewu would grin and reply, "No comment."
If the questions persisted, as they did after the Valenciennes friendly, Onyewu insisted, "I'll talk about the game, but not about rumors."
Rampant transfer talk could have unsettled a lesser player, but not one of the mindset of a certain two-time Jupiler League Best XI honoree.
"The speculation? That wasn't hard at all," said Onyewu. "The difficulty for me was my injuries, two times. Besides that, there was no problem."
As far as the other 'Nats staying put in MLS, he feels pretty far removed from the scene. The domestic league is essentially foreign, but he admits to being a fan.
Onyewu does feel that if American players can find a European team to perfect their skills, they should by all means accept the challenge as he did when opportunity arose.
"I've always said that the best soccer is played in Europe," declared the burly center back. "I don't think there's any secret in that. I think even MLS knows it for sure. This is where soccer was started."
"But MLS, give credit to them. They're progressing every season. They're playing a lot better every season."
"You can see that in the friendly competitions they play in, like against Chelsea (in the MLS All-Star game) recently," boasts Onyewu. "They were competitive throughout the match. All credit to them and their players."
One bit of MLS gossip he did know something about was the one that had DaMarcus Beasley set for a possible return from Europe before Man City swooped in near the deadline - the defender is unconvinced.
"I don't think he's gonna go back to MLS just because he enjoys playing in Europe too much," said Beasley's pal. "I mean he might go back to MLS, but not this early. I don't think it’s gonna happen."
Whereas transfers to the Premiership or La Liga are the most lucrative moves - not just for American players, but for anyone from anywhere - he wouldn't write off a Jupiler experience either.
"I think the Belgian league definitely is a good place to come and get your foot in the door," Gooch reasoned. "There is no foreign limit and I think that's what blocks a lot of Americans from coming over to Europe."
"In Belgium, it helps a lot that you have no foreign limit on the team. You can showcase yourself here in Europe and a lot of other teams will be able to watch you play."
Gooch is always happy to talk soccer, club or country - but he won't speculate on who might be the next US coach.
"I don't know," Onyewu said. "I enjoyed having Bruce and am actually disappointed to see him move on, but right now you can't do anything about it. You just have to move on and think that the change will be even better."
Although the idea of having a USSF base for Yanks playing in Europe could be perceived as a good idea when compounded with a European coach, Onyewu cheekily dismissed that idea in connection with the ex-Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann, whose name has been ubiquitous during the National Team coaching search.
"Klinsmann is European, but he lives in America," he chuckled. "You've gotta throw that idea out the window because he's "American"."
Gooch is one man who seems to learn something from every game, every training session, every experience. Needless to say, the US experience at World Cup 2006 was one big lesson.
"Don't take your adversaries for granted," he says in the tone of a Zen master. "Going in, I think we were a little too confident after the results from the last World Cup."
"But, overall, you shouldn't take any team for granted. You have to play every game as if it's your last time and that the team you're facing is the best team you've ever played against."
With the US coach-less (and therefore match-less), Onyewu will be forced to confine his intensity to Standard... for now. The team started slow, but has come on of late, led by the big defender.
His intensity is on display for all to see, including potential suitors. Of course he won't say it, but come January, it won't be on display in Belgium. |
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