Wiebe: Major League Soccer benefits from South American player pool

Leading scorers such as Angel, Emilio propel teams

Column photo

By Andrew Wiebe

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

On Aug. 18 the largest crowd in Major League Soccer regular season history turned out to see the Los Angeles Galaxy face the New York Red Bulls. The 66,237 people in attendance witnessed a wild 5-4 Red Bulls victory characterized by its open play and unpredictability.

David Beckham created the hype that drew the massive crowd, but the Red Bull’s Columbian striker, Juan Pablo Angel, shared the show. Angel started the scoring with a clever free kick driven beneath the leaping Galaxy wall that just evaded keeper Joe Cannon.

After a dizzying 88 minutes, Beckham’s regular season introduction appeared destined to end as entertaining but inconclusive. It was a 4-4 draw until Angel made his presence felt once again. His seemingly impossible finish of a loose ball on the Galaxy endline ended an incredible game the way it began.

Angel’s performance came as no surprise to the few who actually follow MLS. In a league often criticized for its direct and uncreative play, Angel and other South Americans bring imagination and technical ability to MLS attacks. Although this season will always be known for the arrival of an English superstar, Angel and others are making it obvious that the class of MLS comes from South America’s rich pool of talent.

Denilson (Brazil) — The former World Cup winner signed as MLS’s fifth designated player with FC Dallas, making his MLS debut on Sept. 1. He briefly held the title of most expensive footballer in the world after Real Betis purchased him for $40.5 million in 1998.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Argentina) — League leader in assists for the Columbus Crew. The former Boca Juniors legend has nine appearances for the Argentine national team during the course of his career.

Carlos Marinelli (Argentina) — The Kansas City Wizards attacking midfielder formerly played for the English Premier League’s Middlesbrough FC and Boca Juniors. He has contributed one goal and five assists in a KC attack tied for third in MLS.

Juan Toja (Columbia) — Scored MLS All-Stars second goal against Celtic FC. Leads MLS in fouls committed by 14 despite being injured while also contributing six goals for FC Dallas.

When, Angel, a former Aston Villa (English Premier League) and River Plate (Argentina) ace, made the jump from England this summer, he arrived in the U.S. with little fanfare despite a prolific career in Columbia, Argentina and England’s top flights. Helped by a blistering start that included nine goals in his first seven matches, Angel’s 14 goals tie him for second in MLS with Kansas City Wizard striker Eddie Johnson despite starting only 18 of the Red Bulls’ 24 games.

Despite his success, Angel trails yet another South American summer signing for the MLS’s goal scoring lead: Brazilian Luciano Emilio, who has already exceeded lofty expectations after moving to D.C. United.

Emilio is helped by other South American teammates such as fellow Brazilian playmaker Fred, Bolivian forward Jaime Moreno and Argentine midfielder Christian Gomez, MLS all-time leading scorer and 2006 MLS MVP. Emilio leads MLS’s most potent attack with 18 goals.

D.C.’s South American attack force leads the league in scoring with 46 goals in 24 games, seven more than the New England Revolution. United have ridden their Latin-driven attack to 14 wins, four draws, only six losses and a lead in the race for MLS’s top playoff seed.

Along with Emilio, Fred has begun to establish himself as one of the most original offensive forces in the league. His six goals and five assists only show the measurable value he provides to D.C.’s attack. Fred’s speed and technical skill adds elusiveness and incisive runs from the left wing that no club in MLS can replicate. Coupled with Gomez, Moreno and Emilio, D.C. is the prime example of how stockpiling South American talent can lead to success.

The accomplishments of South American players have forced the rest of the league to follow D.C.’s example. Clubs now increasingly recognize South American leagues as a place to find reasonably priced talent who possess drastically different skill sets and abilities than their North American counterparts.

Until the U.S. begins producing creative offensive players in numbers, South Americans represent a significant part of MLS’s future. Constant increase in the quality of play is the only long term solution to boost the reputation and popularity of MLS. Scoring leaders like Angel and Emilio bring notoriety, but the contributions of lesser known players across MLS continues to improve overall quality little by little.

By taking advantage of South America’s player pool, and foreign talent in general, MLS is fueling its own growth. Without a deeper talent base to draw upon, the league cannot continue to show the improvement spurred by increased publicity and profits generated by Beckham. South America could be the most effective source of skilled and affordable talent for MLS as the league looks to expand the number of clubs in the next few years.

Judging by the success of Angel and Emilio, the South American talent pool has plenty to offer.

—Edited by Ashlee Kieler

Comments

andrea_parcera (anonymous) says...

For the love of God. The country in South America is COLOMBIA, not COLUMBIA. Juan Pablo Angel is ColOmbian, not ColUmbian. Columbia is a school in New York City. Colombia is one of the greatest nations on the planet :)

September 12, 2007 at 12:31 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

newboldcity (anonymous) says...

This was an excellent article. Andrea - I appreciate your point but don't let the typographical (or spelling) draw away from the point of the article. I'm looking forward to watching more talent from South America come to Major League Soccer.

September 12, 2007 at 10:15 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Advertisement