Ben Olsen has been over the past twelve seasons one of the best American footballers plying his trade in MLS. After several injury plagued seasons and speculation that he’d retire last year, Olsen scored a dramatic stoppage time tying goal tonight to give DC United a critical home draw with New England. Olsen slotted home a Jaime Moreno free kick almost at the death.

Olsen burst on the MLS scene in 1998, contributing immediately to the DC United dynasty helping to lead the Red and Black to the CONCACAF Champions League title, and the MLS cup final. The next year Olsen was critical for the US National Team scoring a critical goal against Germany which gave the US a victory and passage out of the group stage of the Confederations Cup.

Olsen continued his dominant and hard nosed misfield play by helping to lead United to the MLS Cup title. Olsen’s star had never been higher.

But the next season he had a dramatic collision with Zach Thornton and his injury problems started just as DC United were moving from being the elite MLS team to being the league’s first victim of the parity doctrine which rules MLS thinking. Olsen’s national team career hit the rocks and his move to Nottingham Forest on loan ended early when he was injured again.

Olsen missed out on football totally for about two years after the injury in England. He missed the 2002 World Cup and didn’t return to United full time until 2003, when the Red and Black finally returned to the MLS Playoffs after a three year absence. But Olsen wasn’t the same player.

He continued to be gritty and smart but couldn’t fly forward or play with pace, as he had before. But Olsen’s loss of speed which forced him into the center of midfield also made him again a viable option for the US National Team.

Bruce Arena recalled him to the national team and he made the 2006 World Cup squad. Olsen played a key role in keeping the US afloat after Claudio Reyna subbed out injured against Ghana, but his efforts were not enough to overcome an American effort that lacked urgency.

Olsen returned to DC United after the World Cup but helped lead the team to a Supporters Shield triumph in both 2006 and 2007. But Olsen’s injuries continued to mount and he played just once, ironically on ABC against David Beckham last season. But now Olsen is back and producing again, which is good news for DC United and the league.

Olsen w/ the US Team in a 2006 World Cup tuneup/US Soccer Federatrion

Steve Goff of the Washington Post is reporting that Ben Olsen’s distinguished career in Major League Soccer could be over. Olsen has been one of the most consistent players in the league when healthy, helping to lead DC United to the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup title, the 1999 and 2004 MLS Cup titles and the 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield. Olsen has also been a top player for the US, scoring his first international goal in front of my eyes in 1999 at Lockhart Stadium versus Chile as well as scoring the winning goal for the US in the 1999 Confederations Cup versus Germany, one of the best US victories of the last ten years. Olsen last played for the US in the 2007 Copa America.

Olsen’s performance against Argentina in the first match of Copa America was a throwback to the days when Olsen despite looking at times unskilled and raw could dominate the midfield in a match. The fact that he was playing against the likes of Riquelme and Veron spoke volumes as to the quality Olsen possessed when healthy. The story of his career was however sadly highlighted by injuries. Olsen’s injury problems began in the 1999 season for DC United, but he was healthy during the playoffs as the club won MLS Cup. But the injuries really began to pile up during a loan spell in 2001 to Nottingham Forest of the English First Division during the MLS closed season. Olsen played well with Forest and would have likely stayed with the club but was injured and fought through injuries for the next several years while DC United struggled. When Olsen once again returned to health, United returned to form in the 2004 to 2007 time period. Olsen’s potential retirement causes problems for United and quite frankly takes away a valuable utility type player from US Manager Bob Bradley as tough qualifiers in CONCACAF approach. Olsen has been a winner, period in a sport where many Americans quite frankly have a losing mentality. If this is it for him, may his career be remembered for his grit and accomplishments not his susceptibility to injury.

Ben Olsen from the US Soccer Federation

Steve Goff of the Washington Post is reporting that Ben Olsen’s distinguished career in Major League Soccer could be over. Olsen has been one of the most consistent players in the league when healthy, helping to lead DC United to the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup title, the 1999 and 2004 MLS Cup titles and the 1999, 2006 and 2007 MLS Supporters Shield. Olsen has also been a top player for the US, scoring his first international goal in front of my eyes in 1999 at Lockhart Stadium versus Chile as well as scoring the winning goal for the US in the 1999 Confederations Cup versus Germany, one of the best US victories of the last ten years. Olsen last played for the US in the 2007 Copa America.

Olsen’s performance against Argentina in the first match of Copa America was a throwback to the days when Olsen despite looking at times unskilled and raw could dominate the midfield in a match. The fact that he was playing against the likes of Riquelme and Veron spoke volumes as to the quality Olsen possessed when healthy. The story of his career was however sadly highlighted by injuries. Olsen’s injury problems began in the 1999 season for DC United, but he was healthy during the playoffs as the club won MLS Cup. But the injuries really began to pile up during a loan spell in 2001 to Nottingham Forest of the English First Division during the MLS closed season. Olsen played well with Forest and would have likely stayed with the club but was injured and fought through injuries for the next several years while DC United struggled. When Olsen once again returned to health, United returned to form in the 2004 to 2007 time period. Olsen’s potential retirement causes problems for United and quite frankly takes away a valuable utility type player from US Manager Bob Bradley as tough qualifiers in CONCACAF approach. Olsen has been a winner, period in a sport where many Americans quite frankly have a losing mentality. If this is it for him, may his career be remembered for his grit and accomplishments not his susceptibility to injury.

The 2006 World Cup was a page turner for the United States. Not only because the result didn’t fulfill the pre-tournament expectations of many, but because of a coaching change and the departure of arguably four of the United States five most skilled players. (Eddie Pope, Claudio Reyna and Brian McBride retired from international play; John O’Brien has not played a competitive match since the World Cup; Landon Donovan is the only remaining American of what I would consider the top 5 skilled players entering World Cup 2006.) 2007 was seen a rebuilding year for the United States and the team entered 2008 with as many unanswered questions as it began 2007 with. However, some of the youngsters who must be counted on in 2010 seem to be stepping into roles beyond their years with the national side, and that is obviously a good thing. But the lack of leadership, the type of leadership Pope, Reyna and McBride provided is glaring every time I watch the United States play. Carlos Bocanegra and Landon Donovan may often wear the captain’s armband, but neither has the respect nor the aura required of a captain. In this article,I will attempt to scope out the player pool and make some suggestions for the upcoming two years leading into World Cup 2010.

GOALKEEPER

Tim Howard and Brad Guzan are the top two keepers in the pool right now, but with the lack of veteran leadership on the team I would not be adverse to taking Kasey Keller or Marcus Hahnehmann to a few qualifiers or perhaps even beyond. Tally Hall, Matt Pickens and Quentin Westberg provide potential young depth. As my co-host Dave Denholm stated on this past week’s American Soccer Show, no need exists to knit pick at what is always the strongest position in the American setup so let’s move on to more pressing matters.

DEFENDERS

From my vantage point the US defense is currently in its worst state since shortly after the 1990 World Cup. Perhaps I am being completely pessimistic or fatalistic, but the the number of defensive breakdowns in front of goal this past year are difficult to swallow when as fans we have seen center backs of high quality: Alexi Lalas, Marcelo Balboa, Tom Dooley (later in his career when he was moved to the back), Eddie Pope and others over the past fifteen years. I’m not someone who is gets terribly impressed because some guys play on good clubs or in good leagues. From my vantage point both Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu have difficulty with positioning, and organization on set pieces. Bocanegra is also known to play some of the most desperate and errand back passes in international football.

Jay DeMerit, Eddie Robinson and Jimmy Conrad provide potential depth on the back line. If Cory Gibbs could ever get healthy he may be able to fight his way back into this mix, because none of the current US center backs are clearly better than Gibbs was before his injury in a tune up friendly for World Cup 2006. Jonathan Spector could also potentially play inside, but is better suited to be an outside back. Michael Parkhurst shows signs that he is developing further into a top class player, but his body of work on the international level is scant thus far and he cannot be counted on just yet.

The bottom line is that the U.S. badly needs cover inside. Onyewu and Bocanegra try and play a very physical game but are both prone to mental lapses and mistakes that you just cannot have in qualifying, let alone in a World Cup. But the problem is that the rest of the inside backs are untested at the highest levels of international football. This situation, I am sure will continue to develop going forward but right now not much exists to be optimistic about.

MAN MARKERS/OUTSIDE BACKS

The outside back are an even bigger concern, if possible than the center backs. Jonathan Bornstein has looked decent at left back but something still makes me very nervous about him. Heath Pearce continues to be an enigma and Ramiro Corrales did not do a whole lot against Mexico to inspire confidence. This is where perhaps leadership comes in yet again. Bruce Arena settled on moving veteran Eddie Lewis to left back where Lewis was less comfortable than in the midfield. In the final group match of World Cup 2006 Lewis returned to left midfield and delivered a perfect cross into Brian McBride, which McBride in his final international could not finish. Lewis could be a short term band aid at left back but since he is approaching the twilight of his career and will be almost 36 when the 2010 World Cup roles around he cannot be counted on. Besides, Lewis cannot play 90 minutes even at the present time, so Bornstein has to be vetted for the position. But I would continue to select Lewis and use him as a utility player on the left side of both midfield and defense until he is no longer able or willing to play internationally. Pearce is a touch and go situation. He is flamboyant personally and on the field as well. I’m not sure he meshes well with the rest of the team. Pearce is someone I have a hard time reading and I’ll let Coach Bradley be the ultimate judge of his capability in the future.
Right back is somewhat more stable when Steve Cherundolo is healthy. Size is Cherundolo’s biggest weakness but he’s someone that has played at the highest level for club and country now for a long time and is about as reliable as any American field player gets. Still Cherundolo lacks the overall skill and physical play that Tony Sanneh exhibited in the 2002 World Cup, and like many other players departed from the national team, Sanneh’s contributions weren’t properly respected or appreciated at the time. Frankie Hedjuk is getting up their in years but still has to be considered an option much like Lewis to provide leadership and depth come qualifying but not for World Cup 2010. The rest of the right backs are untested: Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Frank Simek and Jonathan Spector. Spector can play on the left side also but isn’t reliable and has been to me one of the most unimpressive players every time he’s been called into the U.S. camp in the last year. Some critics have pointed out to me that since he plays regularly in arguably the world’s top league (the Barclays Premier League) he must be considered, but my feeling is that a stark difference exists between the club game even at the top level and internationals and some guys are better suited for one game or the other. Eddie Lewis is a player I would argue has always been a better international than club player. The same for Frankie Hedjuk. Spector, much like Taylor Twellman may be the opposite. But Spector is still only 21 and should he do something spectacular for West Ham, he warrants another look but for now I would not bother with him.

DEFENSIVE/HOLDING MIDFIELD

No position has the glut of potential players nor the importance of the twin holding midfielders in Bob Bradley’s “bucket” formation. The bulk of playing time in 2007 went to Michael Bradley, Benny Feilhaber and Rico Clark in this role. However towards the end of 2007 Maurice Edu, the MLS Rookie of the Year began to emerge as a legitimate threat to play regularly and other capable options such as the veteran Pablo Mastroeni, and youngsters Danny Szetela, Sacha Kljestan, Dax McCarty and Greg Dalby are available.

Feilhaber hasn’t gotten an opportunity to show his stuff with soon to be relegated Derby County in England. However, Feilhaber is too skilled a player, who is probably the American with the skill set that most resembles John O’Brien to be written off entirely. Nonetheless, Feilhaber must find himself another club preferably outside of England before he is called back into the national team. While English Football is a perfect game for some, like Brian McBride (who has quite frankly been more effective in the precision aerial based EPL than the ground slop that for years was MLS) it’s not good for others like Feilhaber who are more Latin oriented in their game.

Michael Bradley has been scoring goals at a torrid pace in Holland. We thus know Bradley is an outstanding finisher but his service and link up play with the attack is poor to say the least. Also we saw he doesn’t play off of Rico Clark particularly well against Mexico, unlike Clark and Feilhaber who seem to play off one another very well. Bradley has to be in squad going forward but he needs to develop a better understanding of the players around him and the system his father, the manager is trying to run.

Maurice Edu and Rico Clark both bring a toughness, both mental and physical to the fold. But neither has the skill nor technical ability of Bradley or Feilhaber going forward into the attack. Both should however figure in qualifying and 2010 as valuable reserves.

WIDE MIDFIELDERS

Bob Bradley’s bucket formation doesn’t provide for a true #10 to slide behind the attackers so distribution and service is critical from the wide midfielders. It has become apparent since last year’s Gold Cup that Bob Bradley sees Landon Donovan as a right sided player who has the freedom to come inside. Donovan continues to be the most skilled and talented American player, so it is bit disconcerting to see him pushed out wide. However, the new position may have its benefits for Donovan as his speed and crossing ability are far better than that of Clint Dempsey who seized the same position in the later Arena years. Sal Zizzo is a young option out on the right side, but Ben Olsen who seems to have been forgotten about by Bradley is once again healthy and infinitely tougher than most other American players. Olsen can play wide on right side or in the holding role. At 30, Olsen still has some good years ahead of him and Bradley needs to bring him back into the fold. Eddie Gaven is a player many in US circles have been high on for a long time, but even at just 21 it seems Gaven is not going to develop into the type of player he was regarded to potentially be. Brian Mullen is another possible option to add depth in qualifying but not a world cup quality player by any stretch of the imagination. Lee Nguyen has failed to develop the way many of us had hoped he would but his recent move from PSV to Randers FC in Denmark may get him kore playing time and another look from Bradley. Pat Noonan in my opinion isn’t good enough for international play and if we see him again that is a very bad sign as to the depth of the US player pool.

The left side is more muddled but contains some excellent good options. DaMarcus Beasley is the clear front runner but his recent very serious injury while playing for Rangers has brought the rawness of the rest of the options at this position forward. Bobby Convey was a prodigy who at 16 began playing for DC United. But Convey’s club performances with DC United and Reading haven’t been matched by his national team work. He is a hustler but seems to have lost his way lately with poor positioning at times and also the tendency to drift in and out of games. Brad Davis showed a great ability on set pieces against Sweden and then promptly got hurt. Young options on the left side include Stuart Holden and Arturo Alvarez, both of whom are high class players going forward with some questions marks defensively. Then of course we return to the subject of Eddie Lewis. Lewis cannot play 90 minutes any longer at this level. But his crossing ability and sense of positioning probably continue to make him a better option in critical qualifiers late in matches than anyone else save Beasley at this position. Freddy Adu is another option out here but it is difficult to place a player in a position he doesn’t fully embrace. Steve Sampson learned this the hard way with John Harkes many years ago. However, Adu needs to be willing to play out wide on the left side or risk not being part of the US setup under Bradley. Adu is too small and too cute in his habits quite frankly at this point to play up front in my opinion. Justin Mapp could also be in the mix come qualifying if he can stay healthy.

FORWARDS

Jozy Altidore proved in his last two senior national team appearances (vs Sweden and Mexico) that he is miles ahead of the opposition at forward. In Bob Bradley’s 4-4-2 bucket formation, two attacking players are required. Altidore is comfortable with the ball at his feet and is a lethal target in the air. Until Eddie Johnson proves he is durable and willing to run at guys using his natural speed I wouldn’t bother including him in any qualifiers. Charlie Davies, while still raw and Brain Ching who can play with his back to goal and is good in the air are better option. Taylor Twellman is worth another look because I have hunch he’ll play very well off of Altidore. Josh Wolff is getting upwards in age but I would keep an eye on his play for 1860 Munich. Wolff has in the past proven he can both set up and score goals in big games, something else no other eligible US forward has proven. Still a Wolff call up would be a sign that we are in long term trouble in the attack. Kenny Cooper’s injuries and lack of development from the time that Manchester United signed him at 18 have me concerned he like Gaven, Specter and several other young Americans who began their careers with high hopes will never develop into a capable international.

TACTICS

This brings me to subject of Clint Dempsey. No player gives more for the national team or paints American soccer in a better light abroad than Clint Dempsey. He has to be part of any and all US setups going forward. But what exactly is his role? I don’t like where Bradley plays him because for all his heart and desire he isn’t as skilled as Landon Donovan and should not be the focal point of the US attack instead of Donovan. Dempsey can never be a #10 and isn’t a forward either. So where should he play?

I don’t like Dempsey as an attacker up top, but I will admit finding a solution for his position as well as Donovan’s is very tricky. If Dempsey slides back to the right side, it is possible Freddy Adu could play right behind Altidore and Donovan in a 4-3-1-2, but that would require Bradley to shelve one of the two holding midfielders and play down the spine of the field something he doesn’t seem to prone to entertaining. Coach Bradley’s style seems to rely on flank play, something that any American team should stress. This is why Bradley’s approach I believe is much more likely to succeed than Arena’s that relied on the skill of John O’Brien and Claudio Reyna in the midfield and used the wide mid fielders as supporting players more often than not.

I think a solution to the glut of midfielders and some of the US’ other tactical awkwardness is to go back to a three man back line as Bruce Arena often used in the 1999 to 2002 time period. In this backline I would slide Carlos Bocanegra out wide anchor the middle with Oguchi Onyewu and then place Steve Cherundolo on the right side. This re-alignment would rely heavily on the two holding midfielders keeping their position and allowing the side to keep its shape throughout the match. Truthfully I am not terribly comfortable with this suggestion, but if Bradley insists on playing two holding midfielders, the only way to put Dempsey, Donovan and Adu together in an attacking formation would be to add an attacking central midfielder and to take Donovan off the right flank.

No easy decision exist for Bradley going forward. Our talent pool is deeper than ever, but we lack the experienced class internationals like the Eddie Pope’s and Claudio Reyna’s that have continued to move the national team forward. We also lack the natural leaders like Paul Caligiuri, Earnie Stewart and John Harkes that were the lynchpin of the development of the national team in the 1990s. Bradley’s job is made more difficult by heightened expectations and interest in the national team. I for one believe he is up to doing this job but must take a view towards qualifying first and then figuring 2010 out later.

Benny Olsen hit the mark in the 23rd minute to give DC United a 1-0 half time lead over CD Guadalajara (Chivas) in a Copa Sudamericana tie at RFK Stadium. However, Marc Burch has been sent off just before halftime. It is absolutely critical for DC United to win this first leg at home to stand a chance of advancing. The game will be shown on Fox Soccer at 11:30 pm ET on tape delay.

For some reason Bob Bradley as I write this has yet to submit his squad for Sunday’s friendly versus Brazil at Soldier Field in Chicago. Based on recent performances in MLS two specific National Team veterans need to get a long look from Bradley with World Cup Qualifying around the corner next year.

Benny Olsen performance at Copa America alone should merit another call up for him. But beyond that, his recent performance in MLS has been nothing short of remarkable. Olsen is finally healthy and it’s showing with his fantastic ball winning on display in every DC United game, and seven goals to boot in the attack. Olsen as we’ve discussed before on this site and the Major League Soccer Talk podcast is a perfect utility player who can play in a holding midfield role or out wide. He’s an asset to any national team coach looking for gritty veteran leadership and deep player pool.

It’s been a while since anyone mentioned Conor Casey and the US National Team in the same sentence. Casey seemed to fade from Bruce Arena’s radar even as he played well for Mainz in Germany a few years back. Casey still has not scored a goal for the US at the Senior Level, and his early play in MLS after leaving Germany earlier this year was pathetic. But Casey has in the past four Colorado Rapids game completely regained his confidence, scoring two goals and contributing to several more. Casey has held off Daniel Osorno, the longtime Mexican National Team forward to keep the starting striker position with the Rapids.

Casey hasn’t been overally convincing, but considering the woes the national team has at striker, I’d certainly give him a good look given his recent form.

For some reason Bob Bradley as I write this has yet to submit his squad for Sunday’s friendly versus Brazil at Soldier Field in Chicago. Based on recent performances in MLS two specific National Team veterans need to get a long look from Bradley with World Cup Qualifying around the corner next year.

Benny Olsen performance at Copa America alone should merit another call up for him. But beyond that, his recent performance in MLS has been nothing short of remarkable. Olsen is finally healthy and it’s showing with his fantastic ball winning on display in every DC United game, and seven goals to boot in the attack. Olsen as we’ve discussed before on this site and the Major League Soccer Talk podcast is a perfect utility player who can play in a holding midfield role or out wide. He’s an asset to any national team coach looking for gritty veteran leadership and deep player pool.

It’s been a while since anyone mentioned Conor Casey and the US National Team in the same sentence. Casey seemed to fade from Bruce Arena’s radar even as he played well for Mainz in Germany a few years back. Casey still has not scored a goal for the US at the Senior Level, and his early play in MLS after leaving Germany earlier this year was pathetic. But Casey has in the past four Colorado Rapids game completely regained his confidence, scoring two goals and contributing to several more. Casey has held off Daniel Osorno, the longtime Mexican National Team forward to keep the starting striker position with the Rapids.

Casey hasn’t been overally convincing, but considering the woes the national team has at striker, I’d certainly give him a good look given his recent form.

Soccer can be a cruel game. For over sixty minutes our US National Team boys looked lively and more energetic than the favored Argentines. In fact I would venture to say we looked like the better team. However, tired legs and inexperience caught up with the USA and we succumbed to a 4-1 defeat. Watching the game at my newly adopted futbol home in Cozumel, the patrons and owners were pulling for the US largely because of me. It’s too bad we were so outclassed late in the match. I found it interesting that the waiter simply assumed that without Landon Donovan, a single player the US would get smoked out of the Copa, whereas if he were playing the US would be a threat to win the event. Such is the high respect Mexican fans have for the #10 they call the “Mexicutioner.”

I would say the most disappointing aspect of the match for me was how out of position our central defenders, Jimmy Conrad and Jay DeMerit seemed to be on multiple occasions. DeMerit looked completely outclassed which is especially unfortunate considering he seems to be everybody’s favorite player these days, the guy we want to see do well. Secondly, I’m still curious about why Coach Bradley decided to pull Benny Olsen who seemed to be outworking Cambiasso and Riquelme in the midfield for Eddie Gaven, whose career has been a complete washout to this point. Bob Bradley has pushed all the right buttons this year with the national team, but this particular substitution was probably his worst moment. Even if Olsen was tiring which didn’t seem to be the case, you are subbing a World Cup veteran whose versatility is among the best in the US player pool for a low energy player who doesn’t position himself properly. Now if Olsen really was spent, I think Kyle Beckerman could have come in to the match and done a much better job than Gaven. Come to think of it, I have no clue whatsoever why Coach Bradley selected Gavin for the squad to begin with.

Our attack was very limited. Justin Mapp and Ben Olsen provided some good energy and runs, but the forwards were once again absent. Eddie Johnson did well to draw a penalty and coolly finished the goal, but otherwise his reluctance to take guys on is mind boggling. Going into last year’s World Cup, Bruce Arena made the same observation publically about EJ, yet Johnson still hasn’t changed his mentality out there. Taylor Twellman once again provided little if anything, but the more I think about it we are for the foreseeable future stuck with there guys in the attack. I was pleased with the sense of positioning and quality runs Marvell Wynne provided. Like Gaven, I thought the selection of Wynne for Copa was questionable, but his effort last night provided otherwise.

I’ll be back stateside for the Paraguay match and hope we can learn from what went wrong late in the match last night.