MLS's forgotten men: the backup goalie trains as hard as any other player, but receives only a fraction of the spotlight and respect enjoyed by his teammates - Major League Soccer

Soccer Digest, Dec, 2003 by Michael Lewis

THEY ARE AMONG THE HARDEST working players on a soccer team. They show up for practice every day and put in a full session. Yet, when it comes time for the big prize at the end of the week, the weekend match, the No. 2 goaltender usually, finds himself in a familiar spot--the bench. After all, while teams can utilize as many as five or six midfielders or four or five defenders, only one goalkeeper at a time can man the nets at any one time.

It's not fun sitting at any level. In MLS, it's even more frustrating because every keeper in the league has become accustomed to starting and being numero uno. "It's especially difficult in this league," says MetroStars goalkeeper coach Wes McAllenan. "There is no reserve system. In general, most coaches will not rotate the goalkeeper. Yet the backup still has to train with as much intensity as any other player. Their job is to be ready at any given time. You cannot afford to have a great disparity between your No. 1 and No. 2.

"It takes a lot of perseverance, a lot of dedication and a very, very good attitude. They each carry the same CROSS."

"The poor backup goalkeeper is the forgotten step-child of the squad," says D.C. United coach Ray Hudson. "Yet he is also the most unselfish players. They have to swallow more pride than anybody."

Among the MLS backups who spend most of their days swallowing their pride are Bo Oshoniyi of the Kansas City Wizards Paul Grafer of the MetroStars, and Doug Warren of D.C. United.

They Play behind established keepers who won't be replaced unless they go through a horrendous slump,are injured, or are called to the national team. Oshoniyi plays second fiddle to Tony Meola, Grafer is No. 2 to Jonny Walker--and was the backup to Tim Howard--and Warren warms the bench watching Nick Rimando.

A late-season injury to Rimando and a period of time after Howard left the MetroStars but before Walker was acquired meant that both Grafer and Warren earned rate starts this year. Oshoniyi wasn't so lucky. "For me, it's been the hardest things I've ever had to do," says Oshoniyi of being a backup goalie. "No matter what the situation is you know you're not going to play. It's kind of a tough pill to swallow.

Adds Warren: "It's obviously difficult. You have to be really patient with yourself, knowing that you're not going to play. You have to find the energy to work as hard as you can."

How do these guys cope with the situation? That's easy--they consider themselves to be their team's No. I goalie. "I joke with the players that I'm a starter in a backup role," says Oshoniyi.

For Grafer the psychology of the No. 2 goalie is no laughing matter. "I think the American perspective of a backup is different than a lot of other places in the world," says Grafer. "I don't think it's as valued here. It's almost like the poor backup guy, the guy who doesn't get to play as much. I can't allow myself to look at it that way. I always look at myself as No. 1. It's hard, especially in years when I don't get to play at all. But that's what I have to do. And it would be a disservice to my team if I didn't. I think I'm an equal on this team. I feel I have gained the respect of my teammates over the years. I buy into all those cliches like each guy contributes in one way or another. If you don't buy into those things you shouldn't be here.

"It's hard to come into a game, to be thrust into that all of a sudden when you're not sharp. It's different to go day in and day out to have the work ethic and put in the time and try and contribute in practice. You think about dropping down a level. Personally, I like to reserve those things for the offseason. Do I want to give this another shot staying at the highest level, training day-in and day-out and getting the positives I get out of it? Or do I want to go get the positives that I can find in the A-League?"

Oshoniyi has been more fortunate than most backups. He's been called on to play for long stretches, once when Meola was injured as well as when the starter was at the 2002 World Cup. In 2002, Oshoniyi played in 13 matches, starting 11 en route to a 1.97 goals-against average and a 3-54 record: "The starling job was thrown at me," he says. "Here it is: You're going to be the starter for the next six to eight games. And I was prepared mentally and physically."

Oshoniyi, 31--one of two players who had their jersey retired after starting for Division II powerhouse Southern Connecticut State--started the Columbus Crew's inaugural match in 1996 before Brad Friedel joined the club. "You don't want to be unprepared when your number is called," says Oshoniyi. "You lose faith in yourself and the coaches lose faith."

His most MLS memorable moment was when the Poughkeepsie, N.Y., native fled the team record of nine saves in a 1-1 draw with the MetroStars in front of friends and family at Giants Stadium in 2002.

Oshoniyi admits that his most unusual call off the bench occurred this season when he was forced to come on after forward Josh Wolff was suffered a pulled hamstring in the 82nd minute in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire. Meola, who once scored 30 goals as a forward in high school, moved up front "I've never been thrust into a situation where I was looking for another goalkeeper to give him the ball to his head," says Oshoniyi. "He was our biggest guy up top and jumps well.