(NOTE: I'll be posting, or trying to post (I have yet to try), something very much like this over on Big Soccer's message boards. I'm not totally sure, but think I'll get more comments in that space.)
Whatever one thinks “happened” to Landon Donovan in Germany 2006, his effort in that tournament poses a disturbing question as the U.S. men’s program moves toward South Africa 2010. Namely, when Donovan loses the thread, what’s Plan B? Who creates for the U.S. national team when Donovan is injured or, as in Germany, not up to it mentally?
It takes only a quick trip through Major League Soccer’s rosters for a measure of desperation to sink in. Worse still, no Americans playing overseas spring to mind either. It’s also possible that some young kid working his way through the youth ranks can take over sooner than we’d think. But extending the list to any player who could conceivably replace Donovan today in a playmakers role, reveals few options. Without claiming to produce a complete list (any additions are welcome), one could include: Justin Mapp, Eddie Gaven (this one's worth the look for the photo alone), Ned Grabavoy, Freddy Adu, Mark Lisi, Brad Davis, Kyle Martino, Mehdi Ballouchy.
One might notice the absence of some high-profile alternatives in that list. Clint Dempsey, for one, certainly deserves mention as well. But he seems closer in style to DaMarcus Beasley, a two-way player whose offensive qualities rely more on individual skill than utilizing the players around him; and Dempsey, for that matter, doesn’t possess Beasley’s two-way capabilities. Neither, however, excels in the most crucial part of the playmakers role: bringing the rest of the team into the game.
Each of the players would bring different possibilities to the table: for instance, Brad Davis and Justin Mapp play more like traditional wingers, but with less emphasis on the virtuoso skills of either Dempsey and more on getting teammates invovled; for good or ill, Mark Lisi and (arguably) Ned Grabavoy would continue the Claudio Reyna tradition of pacing a game through smart passing; Eddie Gaven, Freddie Adu, and Kyle Martino would play a style quite similar to Donovan’s, though, at this point, to lesser affect. In a few cases, considerably lesser affect...
It doesn't help, of course, that a fair number of these players have spent large chunks of 2006 injured; even outside the walking wounded, a look at the above links suggests that fewer still can lay claim to be having banner years. The best thing that can be said about some of these players is that they’re young and have time to grow into both their bodies and their game. But, obviously, these aren’t names likely to be written either first or in ink on the next U.S. coach’s game-day roster. Whatever this future coach wants, however, the reality is he’s got to choose someone to fill this role.
And it’s in the spirit of a coach that fans should approach this question: in other words, operate from the assumption that you have to name someone as the player the rest of the team should keep in the back of their minds when trying to figure out where to send the ball next. Which of these players seems most capable making the team play effectively together? Failing that, which player seems most likely to inspire through their example?
Donovan will, in all likelihood, be available for 2010. But if he isn’t, or if the Donovan who shows up looks anything like the one who played against the Czech Republic, who should we look to for a replacement? What's Plan B?
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