TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Travis Clark is the latest member of the ASN 100 editorial panel, and we bought him to speak concerning the challenges he confronted in crafting his 1-100 rating of American soccer gamers.
BY
John Godfrey
Posted
January 06, 2014
11:50 AM
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JOHN GODFREY: Travis—thanks for becoming a member of the ASN 100 editorial panel. We have admired your work at TopDrawerSoccer.com from afar and had been thrilled to have you ever take part. So inform me: Was it simpler or tougher than you anticipated to create a 1-100 rating of American soccer gamers?
TRAVIS CLARK: A lot tougher than I assumed, actually. I’ve quite a lot of expertise rating gamers as we do the identical factor for membership and faculty on our web site, however it is a a lot completely different animal, because it’s about following American gamers in a wide range of leagues, taking into consideration the nationwide workforce, and many others. I’m nonetheless making an attempt to determine one of the best ways to get a deal with on it as I will in all probability contact on on this dialog.
JG: You’ve Sacha Kljestan, Herculez Gomez, and Aron Johannsson ranked greater than Clint Dempsey. How come?
TC: Dempsey’s type over the past half 12 months triggered that call. Is it harsh? Sure. Midseason MLS transfers often have a tough time adjusting, and Dempsey was no completely different. He was tried in a wide range of positions, battled health and damage issues whereas by no means actually his greatest. Together with his dip in type, I assumed it acceptable to drop him down—although I think about he’ll present properly sufficient by the following replace to climb again up within the rankings. I count on that regardless of the World Cup, he’ll have a giant 12 months for the Sounders in 2014.
JG: You even have Jermaine Jones at No. 17, lowest amongst our panelists. What’s your tackle the Schalke midfielder?
TC: Those that comply with me on Twitter know that I’ve by no means been a fan of Jermaine Jones’ recreation. Additionally, I in all probability maintain it in opposition to him that he seems to be significantly better for Schalke than he ever does in a U.S. nationwide workforce jersey. Cannot bear in mind the final U.S. recreation (possibly the pleasant win in opposition to Germany) the place Jones was one of many higher gamers on the sphere for both aspect. That is additionally a part of how I’m nonetheless making an attempt to measure gamers—is it a 50-50 steadiness for membership type and U.S. or ought to or not it’s skewed in some way?
JG: We sidestep that problem considerably by encouraging panelists act as if they’re coach of the U.S. nationwide workforce and must make personnel selections for a World Cup match tomorrow. After which rank accordingly. And since you’ve Sacha Kljestan at No. 5, one thing tells me that he makes your World Cup squad….
TC: I am a fan of Klejstan’s easy, tidy play for Anderlecht—how he retains the ball transferring. I like watching the Belgian aspect play due to Kljestan and former D.C. United standout Andy Najar, who each are on the workforce. It is the alternative conundrum for Kljestan because it was for Jones—am I giving him an excessive amount of credit score for his membership type?
To counter that, I do not know if Kljestan’s ever been given the possibility to play in the identical form of function for the U.S. nationwide workforce as he is struggled with the restricted enjoying time up to now few instances I’ve seen him. It’s going to be fascinating to see if he’d make the ultimate lower to Brazil—I clearly would deliver him alongside.
JG: Sounds affordable. So who do you’ve in your private prime 100 that did not make the general record?
TC: Chicago Hearth midfielder Dilly Duka lastly stayed wholesome and on the sphere for almost all of the 2013 season (31 video games, 24 begins, 1,788 minutes). And whereas that clearly is not motive alone for his justification in a prime 100, I like a participant together with his skillset on the ball and assume he deserves a spot within the record. He is the form of participant who if he reveals properly, could make an enormous contribution to his workforce.
JG: And who on the present ASN 100 must be eliminated?
TC: I’d drop Steven Lenhart off if I had the sway. Would a lot somewhat have a participant like Duka on the record.
JG: No argument from me on that one, though the ASN 100 web page would definitely miss Lenhart from a images standpoint. Thanks for being a part of the panel, and for this chat. New rankings are up now, and the following one is scheduled for March 1. Discuss to you earlier than then.
OK, ASN readers—give us your ideas on Travis Clark’s ideas. The Feedback part is open for enterprise.
