Last year, the US Men’s National Team player on everyone’s minds was Kenny Cooper. Cooper was lighting up MLS, and American fans were clamoring for a goal scorer with Cooper’s production. For some reason, Bob Bradley never gave Cooper the chance the fans were demanding. After last night’s match against Panama, we know why. Kenny Cooper simply isn’t that good.
Your immediate reaction, especially if you’re part of the Cooper apologist crowd, is that I’m crazy. After all, Cooper did score the game winning goal. If that is all you have to back up Cooper’s “mad skillz” on the field, you must not be paying attention. Just look at the sequence leading up to Cooper’s goal and the shot he scored on closely and you’ll see that Cooper is just another decent striker not ready for the big time.
Aside from his goal, Cooper stood out for all of the wrong reasons. Coming on as a sub, Cooper was supposed to provide a spark. Instead, he dragged down the US attack. At times, Cooper would attempt to dribble his way into a shot, only to have it easily taken away. In other instances, Cooper found himself in open space with the ball at his feet. Rather than make a run and provide service, Cooper choose to take shots, some from as far as forty yards away. When Cooper did have chances on set plays, he sent them well high or wide of the goal. All in all, Cooper’s presence was more hindrance than help.
The play where Cooper earned the penalty was certainly legitimate. He was ninja kicked to the stomach. In any match, that’s a penalty if it happens in the box. The only shocking part of that play was how it only earned a yellow card and not a straight red. When it came time to decide who would take the penalty, I turned to discuss the matter with the other members of the Orlando Soccer Supporters Club. While we didn’t come to a consensus, none of us picked Cooper. Both Brian Ching and Stuart Holden were available. As Cooper took his shot, we saw exactly why.
Getting a penalty kick blocked happens to the best of players. On Thursday, Juan Pablo Angel had his second penalty kick blocked because the Galaxy keeper Donovan Ricketts guessed correctly. Cooper nearly missed by placing his shot wide. Fortunately for him (and the USMNT), he caught the inside of the post and a lucky bounce. In the crucial moment, Cooper nearly blew it. While pressure doesn’t make the shot any easier, Cooper needs to make a better shot, plain and simple. Perhaps his targeting was off. Taking shots from forty yards out will do that to you.
Cooper isn’t a terrible player. Despite his negative performance against Panama, Cooper has promise. He is only twenty-four, and has plenty of time to grow. His play in MLS (seven goals on the season so far) shows that he is a capable goal scorer, but he needs more development. Whether that development comes in MLS or Europe is an entirely different discussion. Either way, Cooper just isn’t ready yet. Still, with his skill set he should be able to get there.
5 responses so far ↓
Brian Zygo // July 19, 2009 at 7:43 AM |
I doubt we’ll be seeing Cooper in South Africa next summer.
joe // July 19, 2009 at 12:16 PM |
cooper has always been to me anyway, a cheap imitation peter crouch. and crouch aint that good either…
Ryan // July 19, 2009 at 3:15 PM |
Haha I read on SBI that Cooper was going to be named man of the match until someone stepped in.
Kartik Krishnaiyer // July 20, 2009 at 12:02 PM |
I totally disagree. Cooper is simply not very good in THIS setup.
His first touch is MUCH BETTER than any current American striker and among the best in the USMNT history for strikers. Wynalda and JMM were up there also.
Secondly, he’s a player that cannot play a defined target role. If we had some more tactical variety Cooper would excel. Cooper can push out wide and also can provide critical link up play by coming back into the midfield.
Against CONCACAF teams, especially “B” teams like Honduras (let’s see Honduras is missing Rambo, Suazo, Palacios, Figueroa, Thomas, Guevara, okay basically everyone of note except Carlo Costly) our current group of players may look like world beaters.
But when you play top international sides in critical games, first touch and ability to hold the ball matters. Conor Casey proved against Italy, Brazil and Spain that he doesn’t have the touch and imagination Cooper does. Nor does he have the off the ball work rate. But in this very defined system that’s fine- Bradley wants his forward to be stationary for the most part and hold up play. I’ll admit Cooper is NOT good at that, but if we had more tactical flexibility or another (a foreign) manager I can almost guarantee you Cooper would be more intriguing than Casey, Ching and even perhaps at this stage Altidore.
Cooper’s goal against Denmark in his first cap in 2007 was brilliant. Good ball forward by Heath Pearce, Cooper shields the defender off and baits the keeper before slotting the shot home. So few Americans, even the guys Bradley pick have the vision, understand and composure to finish that chance against a decent European side.
Cooper is suffering from the role he is being put in and the lack of faith the coaches have shown in his natural abilities and technical skill.
So does that rule him out for 2010? Probably, but when a new coaching staff comes in whenever that is do not be surprised if he emerges as a first choice striker.
soccer goals // July 31, 2009 at 4:27 PM |
Germany should allow for playing time and development.