2010-05-12 17:32:00 +0000 #1
De Rosario learns patience
Jeff Carlisle
soccernet.espn.go.co...462&root=mls&cc=5901
It was an attack that looked destined to die. There was San Jose Earthquakes' midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, trapped near the sideline by two MetroStar defenders. But just when it seemed as if the Canadian had run out of options, a clever back-heel caught teammate Brad Davis in stride, and his cross was headed home at the far post by Ronald Cerritos for the game's only goal.
Derosario
San Jose's Dwayne De Rosario has found a home in midfield.
That play has encapsulated De Rosario's season thus far: dynamic, creative, and above all else, unpredictable.
The same could be said for De Rosario's rise into the upper echelons of MLS midfielders. His six goals and league-leading 12 assists have seen him garner some serious consideration for the league's MVP award, but at the beginning of the season, the fifth-year veteran was stuck on the bench behind a logjam of forwards. An unsuccessful attempt to play overseas had seen the Canadian arrive late to training camp, but given a tenure in San Jose marked by injury and inconsistency, there wasn't much reason to think that this year would be any different.
But the first month of the campaign saw the Quakes' midfield stuck in neutral, and it was De Rosario who ultimately put it into overdrive. While San Jose was lethal on set pieces early on, the team was struggling to create chances in the run of play. That was never more evident than in an early season game against Chicago. Trailing 1-0 after 70 minutes, and needing a spark, head coach Dominic Kinnear threw De Rosario on in an attacking midfield role. The move breathed life into an offense that equalized late before succumbing to Thiago's stoppage time goal. Despite the loss, the seeds for a revamped attack, and the team's eventual success, had been sown.
"That game really gave me the idea," says Kinnear. "Just the way [De Rosario] was joining the attack, I was thinking that it puts more players forward so we can possess the ball more in the opponent's half of the field. And I think his mobility is a problem for any team."
That De Rosario would fit so seamlessly into the role is about as incongruous as Landon Donovan being cheered at Spartan Stadium. The Canadian's years in MLS had been characterized by highlight reel goals - like his game-winner in the 2001 MLS Cup Final - but also infuriating solo runs to nowhere that exasperated teammates and fans alike. After all, attacking midfielders need to pass, right? For De Rosario, distributing the ball seemed to rank below "cleaning soccer shoes" on his priority list.
"Sometimes, you'd get so mad because you would be open," says Cerritos, who was a member of the Quakes in 2001, De Rosario's first year in the league. "But you need a guy like Dwayne in your team, someone who's tricky with the ball and has skill."
De Rosario has always had bags of skill and self-belief. Current Canadian national team coach Frank Yallop, who as the Earthquakes' head coach brought De Rosario to San Jose says, "[De Rosario] is always full of confidence. He thinks he's Ronaldinho. And the unpredictable side of his game is like no other."
But for De Rosario, it's been the ability to reign in the creative part of his game that has been the secret to his success.
"Playing in midfield, I've definitely learned to be more patient and build the attack instead of just going attack, attack, attack" says the Canadian international. "I still don't have it fully down, but I'm getting more comfortable; when to stay and when to hold; when to distribute and when to go at defenders."
Just as surprising has been De Rosario's contribution on the defensive end, where his partnership with midfield running mate Ricardo Clark has given the Quakes' two snapping, tenacious Dobermans in midfield.
"[De Rosario] is very honest," adds Kinnear. "He defends as much as he attacks. He's got a great engine, plus he and Ricardo [Clark] have a pretty good understanding. His work rate, I don't know if it's underappreciated by some, but not by us."
The growth of De Rosario's game has been noticed at international level as well. Yallop adds that he's seen a maturity in De Rosario's game that wasn't there before.
"I think playing that position has made [De Rosario] realize he's a good footballer," says Yallop. "He doesn't have to do the magical thing every time he gets the ball. He's a good all-around player now rather than just a guy we thought would be a good super-sub or good for a few games here and there. His consistency wasn't there. Now he's very consistent."
That doesn't mean that De Rosario has abandoned his creative ways. It's more that he's channeling his flair in a different direction, in particular his ability to join the attack late. That trait was on display in San Jose's 2-0 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night. Running from deep, De Rosario latched on to Brian Ching's flick-on and finished off the play by with a sublime lob over Fire keeper Zach Thornton for the game's first goal.
"I probably say 'Dwayne, come in late,' ten times a day," says Kinnear. "Because when he does that, he's so much more effective. His element of surprise is excellent."
De Rosario's knack for the unexpected is one that was forged in his hometown of Scarborough, Ontario. The Toronto enclave is home to numerous immigrants from the Caribbean, and combined with his Guyanese upbringing, it was that style of soccer that had the biggest influence on his game.
"It was more flair than anything else," says De Rosario. "You nutmeg a guy and that's the highlight of the game. It was playing with enjoyment. It wasn't like 'How can we score?' It was more like 'How many times can I skin this guy?'"
But Scarborough was also home to all of the wrong kinds of distractions. Drugs and gangs were a constant temptation, but De Rosario credits his aunt, Lea De Sousa, along with brothers, Paul and Mark, with helping to keep him on the straight and narrow.
"My aunt, she's 84 and she'll still knock me out," jokes De Rosario. "She gave up her job to raise three boys, which is very difficult to do in a rough neighborhood. She showed all of us that 'You're better than what's around you.'"
A trip overseas also gave De Rosario a glimpse of what was possible. As an 11-year-old, he was chosen to play on a London, Ontario select team that went to Norwich, England to play in the Canary Cup. The trip not only exposed De Rosario to a different culture, it gave him an idea of where his abilities could take him.
He adds, "I just knew from that time on that I had a talent I couldn't let go to waste."
That talent has taken him to the pinnacles of MLS this year. While New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman looks to have a leg up on the MVP award, it could be argued that De Rosario has been more important to his side. Without his presence on the field, San Jose's attack doesn't look nearly as imposing, especially given Brian Ching's injury problems for most of the season.
But whether he wins the award or not, De Rosario has his sights fixed firmly on an even bigger prize.
"I'm going to do what I do," he says. "Which is win another championship this year."
Given De Rosario's gift for delivering the unexpected, it would be wise not to doubt him.
Jeff Carlisle
soccernet.espn.go.co...462&root=mls&cc=5901
It was an attack that looked destined to die. There was San Jose Earthquakes' midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, trapped near the sideline by two MetroStar defenders. But just when it seemed as if the Canadian had run out of options, a clever back-heel caught teammate Brad Davis in stride, and his cross was headed home at the far post by Ronald Cerritos for the game's only goal.
Derosario
San Jose's Dwayne De Rosario has found a home in midfield.
That play has encapsulated De Rosario's season thus far: dynamic, creative, and above all else, unpredictable.
The same could be said for De Rosario's rise into the upper echelons of MLS midfielders. His six goals and league-leading 12 assists have seen him garner some serious consideration for the league's MVP award, but at the beginning of the season, the fifth-year veteran was stuck on the bench behind a logjam of forwards. An unsuccessful attempt to play overseas had seen the Canadian arrive late to training camp, but given a tenure in San Jose marked by injury and inconsistency, there wasn't much reason to think that this year would be any different.
But the first month of the campaign saw the Quakes' midfield stuck in neutral, and it was De Rosario who ultimately put it into overdrive. While San Jose was lethal on set pieces early on, the team was struggling to create chances in the run of play. That was never more evident than in an early season game against Chicago. Trailing 1-0 after 70 minutes, and needing a spark, head coach Dominic Kinnear threw De Rosario on in an attacking midfield role. The move breathed life into an offense that equalized late before succumbing to Thiago's stoppage time goal. Despite the loss, the seeds for a revamped attack, and the team's eventual success, had been sown.
"That game really gave me the idea," says Kinnear. "Just the way [De Rosario] was joining the attack, I was thinking that it puts more players forward so we can possess the ball more in the opponent's half of the field. And I think his mobility is a problem for any team."
That De Rosario would fit so seamlessly into the role is about as incongruous as Landon Donovan being cheered at Spartan Stadium. The Canadian's years in MLS had been characterized by highlight reel goals - like his game-winner in the 2001 MLS Cup Final - but also infuriating solo runs to nowhere that exasperated teammates and fans alike. After all, attacking midfielders need to pass, right? For De Rosario, distributing the ball seemed to rank below "cleaning soccer shoes" on his priority list.
"Sometimes, you'd get so mad because you would be open," says Cerritos, who was a member of the Quakes in 2001, De Rosario's first year in the league. "But you need a guy like Dwayne in your team, someone who's tricky with the ball and has skill."
De Rosario has always had bags of skill and self-belief. Current Canadian national team coach Frank Yallop, who as the Earthquakes' head coach brought De Rosario to San Jose says, "[De Rosario] is always full of confidence. He thinks he's Ronaldinho. And the unpredictable side of his game is like no other."
But for De Rosario, it's been the ability to reign in the creative part of his game that has been the secret to his success.
"Playing in midfield, I've definitely learned to be more patient and build the attack instead of just going attack, attack, attack" says the Canadian international. "I still don't have it fully down, but I'm getting more comfortable; when to stay and when to hold; when to distribute and when to go at defenders."
Just as surprising has been De Rosario's contribution on the defensive end, where his partnership with midfield running mate Ricardo Clark has given the Quakes' two snapping, tenacious Dobermans in midfield.
"[De Rosario] is very honest," adds Kinnear. "He defends as much as he attacks. He's got a great engine, plus he and Ricardo [Clark] have a pretty good understanding. His work rate, I don't know if it's underappreciated by some, but not by us."
The growth of De Rosario's game has been noticed at international level as well. Yallop adds that he's seen a maturity in De Rosario's game that wasn't there before.
"I think playing that position has made [De Rosario] realize he's a good footballer," says Yallop. "He doesn't have to do the magical thing every time he gets the ball. He's a good all-around player now rather than just a guy we thought would be a good super-sub or good for a few games here and there. His consistency wasn't there. Now he's very consistent."
That doesn't mean that De Rosario has abandoned his creative ways. It's more that he's channeling his flair in a different direction, in particular his ability to join the attack late. That trait was on display in San Jose's 2-0 victory over Chicago on Wednesday night. Running from deep, De Rosario latched on to Brian Ching's flick-on and finished off the play by with a sublime lob over Fire keeper Zach Thornton for the game's first goal.
"I probably say 'Dwayne, come in late,' ten times a day," says Kinnear. "Because when he does that, he's so much more effective. His element of surprise is excellent."
De Rosario's knack for the unexpected is one that was forged in his hometown of Scarborough, Ontario. The Toronto enclave is home to numerous immigrants from the Caribbean, and combined with his Guyanese upbringing, it was that style of soccer that had the biggest influence on his game.
"It was more flair than anything else," says De Rosario. "You nutmeg a guy and that's the highlight of the game. It was playing with enjoyment. It wasn't like 'How can we score?' It was more like 'How many times can I skin this guy?'"
But Scarborough was also home to all of the wrong kinds of distractions. Drugs and gangs were a constant temptation, but De Rosario credits his aunt, Lea De Sousa, along with brothers, Paul and Mark, with helping to keep him on the straight and narrow.
"My aunt, she's 84 and she'll still knock me out," jokes De Rosario. "She gave up her job to raise three boys, which is very difficult to do in a rough neighborhood. She showed all of us that 'You're better than what's around you.'"
A trip overseas also gave De Rosario a glimpse of what was possible. As an 11-year-old, he was chosen to play on a London, Ontario select team that went to Norwich, England to play in the Canary Cup. The trip not only exposed De Rosario to a different culture, it gave him an idea of where his abilities could take him.
He adds, "I just knew from that time on that I had a talent I couldn't let go to waste."
That talent has taken him to the pinnacles of MLS this year. While New England Revolution forward Taylor Twellman looks to have a leg up on the MVP award, it could be argued that De Rosario has been more important to his side. Without his presence on the field, San Jose's attack doesn't look nearly as imposing, especially given Brian Ching's injury problems for most of the season.
But whether he wins the award or not, De Rosario has his sights fixed firmly on an even bigger prize.
"I'm going to do what I do," he says. "Which is win another championship this year."
Given De Rosario's gift for delivering the unexpected, it would be wise not to doubt him.
