A Recommendation to Suck
Dear Trix,
Sorry for the delay, there’s been a lot going on outside of sport that’s had me tied up.  But let’s take a moment to review the game against Atlanta from last Friday.
First thing’s first; let’s just get this ugly little piece of the game out of the way.  It was a draw.  Ties are very difficult to watch in a general sense but, worse, this was a 0-0 draw.  YEESH.  I’m not going to try and sugarcoat this, Trix.  You’re an American.  You are born and raised in a culture that (regrettably) values distinct black and white lines and labels.  Despite the fact that so little of life divides and categorizes itself so neatly.  This is a great struggle for us and your generation will likely be exponentially better at handling this than mine was or the generation before mine, etc. etc. etc.  That said, it’s important to acknowledge.  Let us see this game for what it was: a soccer match with no goals scored.
It hurts to write but this honesty is important.  Though these sound like platitudes, not all ties are the same and there are certainly valuable takeaways to draw from the game (pun intended).  I know I sound like a broken record about this (it’s because it’s so crucial), but the midfield is looking good.  The partnership between Lodeiro and Dempesy took a small step backwards during the international break but I’m confident they’ll figure out how to play together.  The backline held and, although Atlanta was missing some keep players from the starting XI (namely, Martinez and Almiron), managed to keep a clean sheet.  This is particularly impressive when you consider our defenders were a ways down the depth chart.  That bodes well for when we have a healthier crew in between international breaks.
This match reminded me the value of playing out of your league.  I mean that in the literal and figurative sense.  Trix, there are few things as valuable as playing out of your depth.  Or surrounding yourself with competent, talented individuals who are better at what needs to be done than you are.  Whenever Clint Dempsey comes back from duty with the national team, he is sharper, faster, cleaner on his touches.  Playing at that international level in competitive games and with teammates who are skilled enough to play at that level, also yields a return that we (the collective we, the player, the team) all benefit from.  He also looks hungrier.  That characteristic is hard to manufacture.  It’s almost a form of eidetic return (check out the recent Idea Channel, they talk about this a bit).  Another great example is Christian Roldan.  When he was hoping to play for the first team, he basically said something to the effect of “I’m here to replace Osvaldo Alonso.”  Ozzie is one of the best players we have.  Why on earth would we want to replace him?  The simplest answer to this is Roldan is 10 years younger than Ozzie.  More than replacing him, Roldan is sort of his apprentice.  Over the past few seasons, Roldan has elevated to the first team roster, then bench, then starting when Alonso was injured, and now starts alongside him.  And his level of play has improved exponentially.  Ozzie will someday soon be on the downward slope and the way in which he has taught and nurtured Christian has served the player, the team, and the sport here in America.  Rumblings have begun about Roldan getting a national team call-up.  And, while he’s not at that level yet, he might be eventually.  Hell, he even might be soon.  But all this came from playing with soccer players way better than he was, from taking his licks and getting back up, and from an unrelenting attitude towards his own self-improvement.
Now, of course, this can’t work if the levels of expertise are too disparate.  If I were to train with the Sounders, it would be a waste of EVERYONE’S time.  But if I play soccer in a rec league maybe one level more competitive than is comfortable, I think that’s an opportunity to improve.
Anyway.  That’s it for now.  I’d love to write more but I gotta prep for a trip and fight off (what I think is) a sinus infection.  Next game is Saturday evening away at San Jose.
Yours Out of Depth,
Uncle Nick
