Write On Sports LLC - "Onyewu on his way" by Gareth Sleger

Onyewu on his way

2007-01-25 19:48:12 | By: Gareth Sleger

Like any American soccer player fortunate enough to play in Europe, the best career move is to play at the highest level possible without being sucked into reserve team purgatory. In other words, avoid Chelsea at all costs.

The English Premiership’s cash juggernaut has been on an endless spending binge ever since Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich took over as the club’s sugar daddy in 2003.

Over the past few years, Abramovich’s world class player investment has landed the club among the European elite and back-to-back EPL titles (2004-05, 2005-06).

However, if the over-abused saying “more money, more problems” ever fit a situation, Chelsea’s is uber-perfect. The club’s lavish spending has hatched a talent pool traffic jam, which in turn, has led to players complaining about team vision and the rumored exit of manger Jose Mourinho.

(Players like Damien Duff, William Gallas, Eidur Gudjohnsen, Mateja Kezman, Tiago, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Jesper Gronkjaer, Mario Melchiot, Boudewijn Zenden, Juan Sebastian Veron, Hernan Crespo (on loan to Inter Milan), Alexi Smertin, Emmanuel Petit, Scott Parker, Adrian Mutu, Maniche, Robert Huth, Jiri Jarosik, Mikael Forssell, Babayaro, Marco Ambrosio and Glen Johnson (on loan to Portsmouth) have abandoned the club over the last few years due to lack of guaranteed first team playing time.)

So, where does that leave American standout defender Oguchi Onyewu, who has been highly touted with a transfer to Chelsea? If you take the aforementioned information, the obvious answer for him would be to stay clear of Chelsea, right?

Surprisingly, a move to Chelsea would be best for the 24-year-old, considering the other European clubs that have courted him. Spanish giants Real Madrid, French champs Lyon and EPL main-stays Fulham and Middlesbrough all have pursued Onyewu’s talent.

Desperate for a transfer out of current club Standard Liege of Belgium’s top flight (yet low-end European league), Onyewu refused to wait for Lyon’s offer which would force him to wait and join at the end of the season. And rightly so, no matter how much talent a player has, hype in Europe doesn’t last long with UEFA’s non-stop globalization.

After during down a September move to Middlesbrough, it was almost certain that the Maryland native would join American-friendly Fulham in January. Clubs like Middlesbrough and Fulham, which usually finish in the middle of the EPL standings (avoiding regulation, but also rarely qualify for European tournaments), have always been the best options for Americans craving EPL experience.

But as easy as it would have been for Onyewu to join a middle of the road club, there is simply too much competition in the Fulham and Middlesbrough defenses.

Fulham rotates seven injury-free defenders and Middlesbrough, anchored by Jonathon Woodgate, has too many defenders to know what to do with. Sure, his chances of starting with either team aren’t awful, but in the end, he played his cards right.

Onyewu and his agent Will Sherling also wisely turned down the always tempting offer from Real Madrid, knowing too well that first team opportunities were not promised and breaking into a healthy world class defense featuring Fabio Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos, Ivan Helguera, Raul Bravo, Michel Salgado and Sergio Ramos would be nearly impossible.

Ok then, how will it be any different signing with a star studded team like Chelsea?

When it comes down to it, Chelsea’s cluster of stars are padded everywhere but defense. The Blues’ defense is currently only rotating six players, three of which are injured (captain John Terry, Wayne Bridge and Khalid Boulahrouz).

Chelsea’s depleted backline is a big reason why the two-time EPL champion is six points behind first place Manchester United and just recently dropped out of the top 10 in the FIFA World Power Rankings.

Considering the high amount Chelsea pay for unproven teens ($23.5 million for 19-year-old Mikel John Obi) and underperforming stars ($98.2 million for Andriy Shevchenko), Onyewu most likely would be a bargain for the Blues, who could easily triple the $1.96 million offer from Fulham.

But, at this point, it’s not about a bargain for Chelsea, it’s about bolstering its backline; and Onyewu’s frightening 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame can legitimately handle the often overwhelming physical play of the EPL.

And with Bridge and Boulahrouz already out of favor, Onyewu could upend a flaky Paulo Ferreira and find a spot along side Ashley Cole, Ricardo Carvalho and the soon to be fully-fit Terry.

If Onyewu does indeed sign with Chelsea, it’s a step that will forge U.S. soccer further ahead. Yes, even more than David Beckham coming to America.

Comments

Gareth Sleger commented,
According to reports on soccertimes.com and si.com, Marseille as swooped in to sign Onyewu for around $4 million. Sources say that the reason he didn't sign with Chelsea is due to the uncertainty of manager Jose Mourinho's future.
January 28, 2007 10:15 a.m.

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