Juan Agudelo, Oguchi Onyewu, and Michael Parkhurst modified golf equipment final week, and all three hope to catch Jurgen Klinsmann’s eye forward of the 2014 World Cup. Brian Sciaretta assesses the state of affairs.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
January 21, 2014
11:17 AM
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LAST WEEK SAW a number of American soccer gamers on the fringes of america nationwide group change golf equipment. Juan Agudelo, Oguchi Onyewu, and Michael Parkhurst have all had good stretches with the Stars and Stripes, however these three aren’t prone to make Jurgen Klinsmann’s 23-man World Cup squad except one thing modifications—quick.
Right here’s a have a look at how their transfers may change the nationwide group image.
Juan Agudelo to FC Utrecht
Of all of the strikes made throughout the January window, Juan Agudelo’s mortgage to Utrecht has essentially the most potential to alter the U.S. nationwide group, Stoke Metropolis, and Utrecht. Agudelo is coming off a powerful season in MLS with New England, the place he made the squad far more harmful and helped a younger Revolution group qualify for the playoffs.
After his British work allow enchantment to play for Stoke Metropolis was denied, Agudelo and the English membership crafted a workaround that can ship the 21-year-old ahead to the Eredivisie to get video games and construct his case for a second work allow enchantment try within the UK.
This transfer needs to be grounds for optimism, as Individuals have traditionally executed effectively within the Eredivisie. Present U.S. nationwide group gamers Michael Bradley, Aron Johannsson, and Jozy Altidore all blossomed within the Netherlands. Years earlier than them, John O’Brien and Ernie Stewart did the identical. There isn’t any purpose to suppose {that a} bodily gifted Juan Agudelo received’t be capable to observe go well with.
For FC Utrecht, Agudelo shall be anticipated to supply some much-needed firepower. Ninth place Utrecht have scored simply 28 objectives in 19 video games, inserting them within the backside half of the league on this class. The membership’s main scorers are midfielder Jens Toornstra, who has eight objectives, and Belgian winger/ahead Steve De Ridder, who has seven. Nobody else on the group has greater than three in league play.
The chance shall be there for Agudelo to earn minutes and contribute to a group that’s aiming to get into the Europa League playoffs subsequent season. In an offensive-minded league, Agudelo shall be given an opportunity to pad his statistics and bolster his case for a UK work allow for subsequent 12 months.
Agudelo has his work minimize out for him if he hopes to make the 2014 World Cup squad. Altidore and Johannsson are clearly forward of him on the present depth chart, as is Eddie Johnson. There are additionally questions as as to whether Klinsmann views Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey as forwards, wingers, or attacking midfielders. Terrence Boyd can also be within the combine however has but to attain for the Yanks.
To make the World Cup group this summer season, Agudelo will most likely should construct a case to both overtake Johnson, Boyd, and different January camp forwards like Mike Magee and Chris Wondolowski. It’s an uphill climb however one inside attain. The transfer to Utrecht units the stage effectively for a late push.
Oguchi Oneywu to Sheffield Wednesday
There isn’t any query that the final two years have been troublesome for Oguchi Onyewu who has hardly performed for both of his golf equipment, Malaga and Queens Park Rangers. Making issues worse, he has struggled to seize a foothold below Klinsmann, and making a push by way of the Championship this late within the cycle is hard. Klinsmann up to now has been reluctant to take gamers from the second tier of the English pyramid, as Tim Ream and Eric Lichaj have additionally failed to interrupt into the group. For Onyewu to succeed the place these different Individuals have failed, he might want to dominate.
Onyewu’s current transfer to Sheffield Wednesday obtained off to a promising begin on Saturday as he was named Man of the Match in a 1-1 draw towards a powerful Burnley membership.
His switch is probably going going to imply much more to Sheffield Wednesday than it to the U.S. nationwide group. Sheffield Wednesday sit simply two factors away from the relegation zone and Onyewu provides the membership a powerful bodily defender who’s skilled in high-pressure video games.
The 31-year-old Onyewu is fairly far down america’ central defender pecking order. Matt Besler, Omar Gonzalez, Geoff Cameron, John Brooks, Clarence Goodson, and Michael Orozco are all forward of the Maryland native. Shane O’Neill and Bolton’s Tim Ream, who’s taking part in as a left again as of late, are additionally making an attempt to push their method into the squad.
For Onyewu to have any likelihood in any respect for Brazil, he’s going to want play terribly effectively and maybe make the most of an damage or two to the gamers forward of him.
No matter his unlikely nationwide group push, this transfer is a feel-good story for a participant who had an opportunity to turn into top-of-the-line American defenders of all time earlier than struggling a critical knee damage within the remaining minutes of the final World Cup qualifier in 2009.
Michael Parkhurst to Columbus Crew
When Michael Parkhurst left Nordsjaelland in 2013, he was driving excessive. He had received a Danish Superliga title and had turn into one of many few Individuals to have performed within the Champions League group stage. However his subsequent transfer to Augsburg didn’t work out and he hardly ever even made the match day rosters.
Parkhurst will now return to MLS, the place he was a standout for New England from 2005 to 2008. This time round Parkhurst will go well with up for a rebuilding Columbus Crew tam that has missed the playoffs the previous two seasons.
Parkhurst performed in central protection throughout his first MLS stint, however it’s possible he’ll play fullback, his common place at Nordsjaelland, for the Crew.
Parkhurst wanted to make this transfer so as to safe taking part in time, however he faces lengthy odds of constructing it again into the nationwide group. With Steve Cherundolo’s return to well being and Geoff Cameron’s continued sturdy type with Stoke Metropolis, the appropriate again place doesn’t look as weak because it did final summer season. Additionally noteworthy, Brad Evans, a Klinsmann favourite, has grown into the appropriate again function in 2013 and promising teen DeAndre Yedlin was referred to as as much as January camp.
Given all of this, Parkhurst’s finest shot at making the World Cup squad could possibly be at left again, the place he performed briefly in World Cup qualifying in 2012 throughout a vital recreation towards Guatemala. DaMarcus Beasley and Fabian Johnson have secured many of the left again minutes below Klinsmann however each are pure midfielders. Edgar Castillo has appeared respectable there at instances however has but to place in a powerful 90 minutes below Klinsmann. Chris Klute was terrific in MLS in 2013 however Parkhurst provides extra big-game expertise, and this might give him a bonus as the ultimate roster choice are made.
Do you see any of those three gamers discovering their option to Brazil? Share your ideas under.
Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Observe him on Twitter.
