A breath of fresh air - The Fans Speak Out - Letter to the Editor

Soccer Digest, June-July, 2003 by Robert Raymond

Landon Donovan's play against Venezuela proves that the U.S. absolutely needs him on the field. He energized the team and provided a glorious goal. It was a wonderful tonic to the listless play of starting strikers Jovan Kirovski and Brian McBride. They are talented players, but Kirovski doesn't seem comfortable playing in an advanced position.

It's too bad that with all of the great wingers and tweeners in the U.S. offense--Donovan, Kirovski, DaMarcus Beasley, Earnie Stewart, Clint Mathis, Ben Olsen, Eddie Lewis, Cobi Jones, Chris Klein, Frankie Hejduk, and others--that the U.S. can't switch to a 3-5-2. I suppose the team just doesn't have the defense for that, and coach Bruce Arena likes to have those overlapping fullbacks in his lineup. Maybe with the emergence of young, tough defenders such as Chris Gbandi that will change.

Robert Raymond

Dallas