Bobby Convey, Eddie Johnson- just play soccer, will you?
George Vecsey, a wise writer who usually gets it right (French lineage there, George!) says that the US defeat is an eye-opener because the frenzy that it has created can only be indicative of the new found passion in soccer in this country. (NY Times, June 14, 2006)
Bruce Arena has to put aside this nonsense that Bobby Convey put out that the team was not ready to play. That it was ill prepared. How is that possible? The US is in a tough group and all the scouting reports would indicate that the other three teams were not walkovers, not even Ghana.
This might be Convey’s venting of his play on the left side, a flank that he is not used to. As with DaMarcus Beasley’s natural inclination to play on the left.
Arena also has to defuse the somewhat over the top statements of Eddie Johnson, that the Italy- USA match is akin to war. This is not a boxing weigh in where you can trash talk your opponent and make fun of his weight. Lets think about Johnson’s statements carefully. Would he have said this if the US had performed better against the Czech Republic? No wonder the Italians feel that they have been singled out.
Italy’s ex- PM, Silvio Berlusconi must be wondering if Eddie Johnson has suddenly become the spokesperson for the US State department, questioning the Italian contribution to the Iraq war. Last I heard is the Italians had contributed troops to this useless war and quite a few had paid with their lives. I think Eddie Johnson should keep his trap shut and come out to play. Along with the rest of team USA.