The Chicago Fireplace’s poor run of kind hasn’t helped Sean Johnson’s nationwide group ambitions, which is why January’s United States coaching camp is so essential for the six-foot-four goalkeeper.
BY
Brooke Tunstall
Posted
December 30, 2014
10:57 AM
SHARE THIS STORY
Editors observe: A gaggle of ASN staffers have created a 23-man roster for the January U.S. nationwide group camp. These are usually not our predictions—these are the gamers we want to see named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad.
WHEN YOU PLAY ON A BAD TEAM, it’s robust to get observed for particular person accomplishments. And it’s even more durable if you play one of many deepest positions in American soccer.
Such is life for Chicago Fireplace goalkeeper Sean Johnson, who, via little fault of his personal, spent quite a lot of time selecting the ball out of his personal internet this yr because the Fireplace missed the Main League Soccer playoffs for the third time in Johnson’s 4 seasons because the membership’s first-choice goalkeeper.
It’s not that he performed badly. In spite of everything, Johnson’s 1.48 goals-against common, whereas not nice, was practically similar to that of Stefan Frei and Luis Robles, each of whom backstopped their groups to inside a sport of an look in MLS Cup.
And his shot-stopping, lengthy the calling card that intrigued followers and scouts alike, has by no means been higher. Nonetheless, there’s a notion that Johnson, 25, hasn’t progressed as a lot as was as soon as hoped for a goalkeeper who earned his first cap at 21—a really younger age for his place. Is Johnson dramatically higher right this moment than he was 4 years in the past?
Although nonetheless younger for a goalkeeper, Johnson has but to progress previous fourth on the U.S. nationwide group’s depth chart, caught behind the extra skilled 30something trio of Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, and Nick Rimando. However none of them—regardless of Howard’s self-imposed one-year nationwide group respite—have proven a sign of not being part of the subsequent World Cup cycle. Johnson should leapfrog one among them to get constant significant video games for his nation.
After all, that’s not the one competitors Johnson faces. D.C. United’s Invoice Hamid, 24, whom Johnson had as soon as edged previous within the nationwide group pecking order—Johnson received 4 caps earlier than Hamid received his second—was simply named MLS’ goalkeeper of the yr. If Hamid’s beginning task in opposition to Eire final month was any indication, his sturdy season has moved him up in Jurgen Klinsmann’s pecking order.
And there are up-and-coming goalkeepers in Europe with youth nationwide group pedigrees like Cody Cropper, Zack Steffen, and Ethan Horvath, all of whom will likely be nipping at Johnson’s heels. And that’s not even counting competitors from inside MLS from the likes of late-bloomers like Steve Clark and Chris Seitz.
In brief, the time for Johnson to step up and stake a everlasting declare to a spot with the nationwide group is now. At six-foot-four and with athleticism to burn, in addition to 4 years of strong play as an MLS starter, there’s a lot Johnson can provide the U.S. if he performs to his potential. It behooves the nationwide group to search out out now if Johnson ought to be a part of this system for the subsequent couple of years.
ASN’s January roster up to now
1. Tesho Akindele
2. Lee Nguyen
3. Robbie Rogers
4. Matt Besler
5. Gyasi Zardes6. Invoice Hamid
7. Matt Hedges
8. Luis Gil
9. Steve Clark
10. Charlie Davies
11. Perry Kitchen
12. Andrew Farrell
13. Miguel Ibarra
14. Jermaine Jones
15. Clint Dempsey
16. Kelyn Rowe
17. Graham Zusi
18. Omar Gonzalez
19. Sean Johnson
Agree? Disagree? Inform us within the Feedback part beneath.
Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter.
