As Injuries Mount, Union Need The Real Brian Carroll To Show Up

by Scott Kessler on May 25, 2011 1:30 PM EDT in Editorials

Brian Carroll's time in Philadelphia has proved to be quite a test for the wily MLS veteran. Brought in to give a young, developing team with a player who had won everything and anything in MLS, Carroll has not impressed in his short time with the Union.

Last season the Union had a sort of caravel of midfielders, ranging from MLS journeymen to near retirement South Americans. Carroll was expected to solidify an inconsistent midfield, but has only created quite a perplexing situation for the Union.

Can head coach Piotr Nowak afford to bench Carroll?

Carroll's best attribute on the field is his vision, which he utilizes to provide ample distribution to forward moving teammates. Other than during the first match up against the Los Angeles Galaxy, when @OptaJack reports that the former DC United stalwart had an 90 percent plus pass completion rate, Carroll has failed to impress the Philly faithful.

It's disconcerting that the one component of the Union's almost completely revamped midfield that was supposed to be dependable no matter the situation is the one member of the midfield who has been undependable in every way.

Now that young midfielder Amobi Okugo is out for a bit due to a high ankle sprain he suffered in the opening minutes of the Union's 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire, Carroll needs to finally show up this season.

The Union's central midfield pool is drying up with Okugo out, Zach Pfeffer recovering from appendix removal surgery, Michael Farfan and Keon Daniel most likely staying on the outside of the midfield and MLS veteran Stefani Miglioranzi's continuing infuriating play.

Without even average play from Carroll, the Union's offensive problems - which finally took a turn for the better with two goals at home against the Fire - will never fully end and the Union's defense will have to keep on taking the brunt of the storm.

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Carroll has often been one of the least visible players on the field for the Union this season, but I don’t know if I’d call him a bust. This post repeatedly refers to him as “undependable,” “inconsistent,” and “a disappointment,” but there are absolutely no facts or figures to back up the claim. In fact, the only number in the article refers to a game in which he had a 90%+ pass rate. Therefore, the main assumption that this post is built around is totally unsubstantiated. Plus, the author barely even attempts to analyze the implications of Carroll’s allegedly poor play. I don’t mean to be totally negative, but I’ve grown accustomed to much better analysis from tBG.

by sob chris on May 25, 2011 5:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

i thought it was a pretty good piece, and i get where he is coming from. But for me i kind of agree on the fact that carroll wasnt a bad signing and he does solidify the middle. His passing might not be what we want it to be, but he still holds his own defensively in the field which takes alot of pressure off the back 4. One of the reasons i think they play so well is that they know he is there to take a little of the load of their backs. So his passes might not be all there (they were for chicago) but his defensive presence is well noted.

by Rhayes on May 26, 2011 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions

You use the following descriptors of the defensive midfielder: “has not impressed,” “disconcerting,” “undependable in every way,” but don’t really say how. You also say, “Carroll’s best attribute on the field is his vision, which he utilizes to provide ample distribution to forward moving teammates.” As far as I can tell, he also does a good job of playing the disruptor, breaking up play just ahead of the center backs. You conclude, “Without even average play from Carroll, the Union’s offensive problems…will never fully end.” If Carroll is a good disruptor and distributor—in other words, a good defensive midfielder—how’s he supposed to “show up.” It’s not like he’s supposed to be a goal scorer, he only has four goals in eight seasons. And a defensive mid isn’t supposed to go upfield himself but to, as you say, “provide ample distribution to forward moving teammates.” If he’s doing that and the other mids or forwards are then not doing their part, isn’t the problem then that they are the ones who need to “show up”?

by Ed Farnsworth on May 26, 2011 8:04 AM EDT reply actions