A little under a year ago, the United States National Team, under then coach Bob Bradley, took a squad of mostly Major League Soccer stars to South Africa to play a friendly.  On that squad was a player that people were familiar with, Tim Ream, and one they knew very little, Juan Agudelo.  Ream was coming off a  sensational rookie season that was so good, many thought he was robbed, coming in second for MLS rookie of the year.  Agudelo was merely a hot commodity. He played sparingly throughout the regular season, but injuries to Thierry Henry among others, necessitated his insertion into the Red Bulls starting lineup for the end of the season and playoffs.  While the, at the time, 17 year old never scored, his nifty moves on the ball and otherworldly calm and instincts for someone his age opened many eyes.  Both young Red Bulls made their debuts in South Africa.  Ream started the match and was shaky, but got better as the game went on.  Agudelo was a substitute and broke the deadlock with a cool late finish, becoming the youngest player to ever score for the U.S. senior team.  After that match, and even for some time after, the duo’s national team futures looked very bright.  Oh how quickly things can change.

Tim Ream made a number of quality starts for the U.S. after South Africa.  Everything was going according to plan for the young centerback.  Very early on based on his performances, he was not only anointed the centerback of the future, but quite possibly the near future.  His steady progression exhibited over the first year of his career is what makes the severity of how hard he’s hit a wall all the more shocking.

It would seem that the start of Ream’s struggles can be pinpointed way back in April in a match against Philadelphia.  It was in that match that Ream tried to pass the ball across the field and seemingly put it right at the feet of Philadelphia’s Roger Torres who had an easy, clear path to the goal which he did not squander.  The Red Bulls lost, 1-0.  At the time the gaffe was called “uncharacteristic.”  It was generally thought Ream would bounce back as his trademark cool calm suggested.

The Ream that people grew to know hasn’t disappeared, not entirely.  He’s produced many fine defensive efforts over the course of the season, even made some spectacular plays such as this.  But he’s also had noticeable gaffes such as his lackadaisical pass that resulted in the second goal against Real Salt Lake on September 21st that effectively put that sent that runaway train of a match off a cliff.  One of the most common criticisms of Ream all season has been his lack of physicality in the box, especially on crosses or set pieces.  A flaw that would haunt him last night.  Ream entered the match in his home stadium with 19 minutes left to play.  It was a good opportunity for a young player to get in a short shift of mistake free soccer.  In the 78th minute, Ecuador had a quick throw in near the box that was promptly crossed.  Ream was one on one with Jamie Ayovi, who quickly side stepped Ream and headed the ball home.  In an instant, Ream seemed to severely damage his chances of being in the National team picture anytime soon.  It’d be wrong to say he’s in the gutter and hopeless, but he’s definitely in the midst of a severe sophomore slump.

While Ream’s stock rose steadily over time, Juan Agudelo’s shot up overnight.  It was instantly apparent to many that Agudelo was something special.  He was being touted as the savior of American soccer, the player that fans would watch bring national team glory.  He scored two goals and drew a penalty kick all within his first 3 caps.  Soon fans were calling for the Agudelo/Altidore pairing up top.  When the team shifted to a lone striker, many still favored the young teenager over Altidore.  But a funny thing happened on the way to the international promised land.

The Union match was not only the start of Ream’s problems, but also Agudelo’s.  In that game, the Red Bulls controlled most of the possession but they simply lacked that aggressive instinct in the final third.  After the match, Hans Backe decided to bench the youngster in favor of Luke Rodgers who has since shown no signs of giving the job back.

Since then, Agudelo has had an admirable campaign as a part time starter and super sub scoring 6 goals over the course of the season including this beauty against DC.  But steadily, it almost seems as if the kid’s exuberance has died down a little and his national team performances have taken a hit from lack of playing time.

Against Ecuador, Agudelo just simply didn’t seem right.  He looked rusty and tremendously tentative.  He never made the dangerous run into the box (a reason Rodgers is currently favored on the club level).  Never pushed the backline or made them work.  From time to time, he showed flashes of the Agudelo everyone knows and loves with his nifty footwork, but he added very little to the overall U.S. efforts.  One particular stand out moment of futility was in the 73rd minute when he and Timmy Chandler forced a turnover and while Chandler was streaking down the sideline, Agudelo for some reason simply jogged after him rather than spread the defense and give Chandler an option in the box.  There’s something off with Agudelo.

Club performance and national team performance are intrinsically linked.  I’ve written in the past that Agudelo’s club and national team situations could come into conflict and that  certainly seems to be the case now.  I also wrote that his lack of minutes on the club level would hurt his overall progression.  Look at Jozy Altidore who was written off while he was bouncing around Europe.  Now that he’s settled in the Netherlands and getting consistent minutes, he looks like a different player, or at least the player he was always supposed to be.  I wonder if Klinsmann will be making a call to Erik Soler.  Considering his national team role, Agudelo’s club situation is awful, and it’s not going to get any better with Rodgers and Henry meshing as well as they do.  Yet there are plenty of options for him to go and start regularly in MLS.  The Red Bulls, who are looking out for their own interests,  are holding him back and the situation has got to be one that tears at the hearts of Red Bull fans who share an equal passion for their MLS side and National team.  Klinsmann’s been very clear about how important starting for one’s club team is for his players.  It would seem that Agudelo’s best option is to get out of Harrison.

Of course it’s very important to realize, both players are young and still learning.  Just look at Brek Shea’s awful appearances for the National team under Bradley in October 2010.  Many had written him off at that time, and now, who would question the fact that he is the locked in starter on the left wing.  Both Red Bull players can turn it around.  In Ream’s case he’s aware of his issues and never makes excuses which is the sign of a player who will continue to work on them.  He also seems to have the confidence of his coach and teammates.  With a rebound MLS postseason or 2012, he could erase the memories of 2011.  It’s easy to forget, but Agudelo, is still very very young.  He’ll turn 30 after the 2022 World Cup, so the book on him is most definitely not finished.  With a new club or a drastic change in the Red Bulls strategic philosophy, possibly to a 4-3-3, he could resume his meteoric rise, though the former seems more likely than the latter.  There’s time for both players who will probably never completely fade from the National team discussion.  They just need to learn and look ahead.

Things I Think I Thought:

* NY/NJ fans did an excellent job showing Red Bull Arena is a viable option for international matches, though the crowd was decidedly 2/3 Ecuadorian.

* Cherundolo/Donovan has always been a solid staple of the United States attack, but Chandler/Shea looks down right scary.

* The praise of the Beckerman/Edu tandem by Klinsmann is a bit confusing.  He hinted that their understanding of each other means that’s his preferred pairing going forward.  However, it would seem prudent to try someone a little more offensive minded than Edu, and someone just a little better than Beckerman.  I personally would like to see Bradley/Williams, the latter’s natural position being CDM.  The current duo isn’t awful, but they could be better.

* While it makes all the fiscal sense in the world for U.S. Soccer to schedule matches against Latin American countries knowing their fans will show up in droves while us lazy Americans offer a tepid showing, it would be nice if the USSF would bite the bullet and schedule an opponent that doesn’t have a significant ethnic community in this country.  It really is a bummer when your home stadium erupts around you for the other team.