Osorio Ready to Chop Heads

By: Dave Martinez | July 7th, 2008

So many have had their chance to claim a starting spot with this years squad and have fallen well short. Injuries and mishaps have been abundant, creating potential opportunities everywhere. Believe me, with the present state of affairs, Coach Osorio would have welcomed a fired up bench warmer who shows a bit of class and touch on the pitch, taking a starting spot unexpectedly. But no one has really stepped up to that challenge. And Osorio is not taking it laying down.

In the post game reactions from this Friday’s debacle, I found this revealing quote over on BAS from Coach Osorio:

“I think that we did not compete today and in the end we got what we deserved. We matched them up and played the same system that we have been playing. It came down to the players. I don’t think any of the players can really look me in the eyes and tell me that they played today.

This means nothing moving forward. I cannot wait until the 15th of July where we can sign some players and make a very competitive team. At the moment I think that all of our players have had a chance to really shine and stake a claim. I think a lot of them have failed to do that.”

Wow. That’s cojones! And he is absolutely right. Players have been given golden opportunities, and have fumbled time and time again.

Andrew Boyens comes to mind. Each week is a heart attack watching the lanky Kiwi dive, step, and kick his way into and out of trouble. Ever since he has been injected into the defensive scheme, there have been two glaring effects; the 3-5-2 has gone out the window completely, and the lack of communication between Parke, Goldthwaite and the Kiwi is, at many points in a match, costly. I suppose its the fact that the aforementioned names are all naturally CB’s, and that may lead to communication issues I am sure. But Boyens really is the square peg in the round hole of this defense. Observe the reactions of Goldthwaite, Parke, even Mendes or Leitch when something breaks down in the back – fingers are almost always pointed at Boyens.

Reluctantly, I have to include Mike Magee in this one as well. Magee is a player that Coach Osorio see’s that “something” in. But, when given the opportunity to take a spot and make it his own, he has fallen well short. Granted, he basically has not played ball in over 2 years – after such an extensive layoff, a longer adjustment period should be expected. But his opportunity was now. And he hasn’t been able to capitalize on it (unlike in 2005 when he filled in the larger shoes of Amado Guevara quite nicely, leading towards the playoffs).

And who can debate that Oscar Echeverry hasn’t been given the chance to stake his claim on this teams starting strikers? Jozy Altidore has been traded. Juan Pablo Angel has been limping his way through the season. He is paired up with a guy that has been a right wing for 2 seasons. Its almost like the perfect storm of soccer is aligning itself for Echeverry to capitalize on, and he is watching it all pass him by.

Again, one can make the argument that he is coming back from injury. And in the current MLS clandestine medical records bylaws, who knows how bad a player is really injured anyway. But that was over a month ago now. And this is a solid veteran professional we are speaking of. With the wind to his back, he hasn’t been able to play his way into a starting spot. Sad.

So, much like Coach Osorio, we too await the 15th and hope that a few changes can be made to improve this floundering club. And, of course, we hold out hope for a bench warmer saviour (Ubiparipovic anyone?).

But with that said, and in the interest of fairness, 2 of the three men cited in this entry are Osorio signings, right (just sayin’ . . .)?

Heres to more Jorge Rojas level acquisitions!