Judging MLS talent - the Montero Edition

by Dave Clark on Jun 15, 2009 10:31 PM PDT in Sounders: MLS Regular Season

It seems like all the buzz these days in comments at the Seattle Times, or at GoalSeattle, or even in the seat right next to me is how much Fredy Montero sucks. Words like lazy are thrown out. Poor passer. Bad Touch. Lucky first week.

While certainly all of these may apply in some degree, we should remember first that Montero is in MLS, after taking a small step up the league scale from Colombia. He should be judged versus those in his league. And amongst those he is one of the top scoring threats (tied for 9th) and one of the most productive (8th amongst players with 600+ minutes). Again the counter is the simple minded "He just had a great two matches."

Sure, so does every player on those lists, but guess what?

None of those players ahead of him on those lists are in his age group, nor are they new to the league. So if you want to ignore March, I remind you again, that Montero is young (he would be a GA if he had gone to college) and inexperienced.

Amongst the peer group of all attacking players (F/M) born within a year either side of Montero and ignoring Fredy's great first two matches a rather surprising FACT comes out. Montero is probably second or third best maybe fourth, while including all of their minutes.

Without March Fredy Montero has 2 Goals and 2 Assists in 716 minutes. Marco Pappa is clearly better, in his 1030 minutes he has 4 goals and 2 assists, Chris Pontius in 1051 minutes had 3 goals and 2 assists and Steve Zakuani in 838 minutes had 2 goals and 3 assists.

Some others might enter into the conversation, Wallace, Movsisyan, Ekpo, maybe Eddie Gaven based on his six years in the league. But think about this, in order for anyone to try and force Montero into this peer group they have to ignore 180 minutes played, 2 goals and an assist.

Some of Montero's peer group is very good. Some will have long MLS careers, but most will be in Europe by the time they hit 25. Three are battling for the Rookie of the Year (Pontius, Wallace and Zakuani).

NONE have been as impressive over the season as Fredy Montero.

Sure, he could be better. But if he was better he wouldn't have been available on loan from the third best league in South America to the second best league in North America. Sure he could be better defensively, but he'd probably miss more matches for international duty. He certainly could be a better passer, but then he'd probably be playing for a mid-table team in Spain. He could be better at making runs, rather than being an on-ball man, but he probably wouldn't have learned that playing in Colombia as a youth.

There are lots of things that could make Montero better. Most of them involve a coach that develops complete talent, a guy who has coached youth successfully. There is a man like that right in Seattle.

But there is one thing that makes Fredy a special talent in this league, at this age. He scores goals, and actually creates a bit for his teammates in ways that NO OTHER player at his age and experience is currently doing.

This is Major League Soccer, it is the second best league in CONCACAF, fourth best in the hemisphere. It isn't the EPL. It isn't La Liga. So judge Fredy Montero, judge each and every one of the Sounders, judge each and evey member of the league and drive it to improve. Watch league matches not involving the Sounders, learn the nuance of this hybrid of Scotland and Colombia, but always remember, this is MLS and Fredy Montero is currently one of the better forwards in the game.

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Ditto, Ditto, AAAAND Ditto. No comments, except wait until the second half of the season. We may be very lucky that he is still blossoming. Next year in the Champions league. ( I hope!!!!) Would be nice to have a striker that is ready to be snatched up by a big power.

by TL on Jun 15, 2009 11:27 PM PDT reply actions

Okay, but then he should not expect so many touches or minutes. It’s not his apparent laziness that gets me, but his ego. I don’t think his skills can support his ego, and that hurts the team.

by Doug on Jun 16, 2009 4:11 AM PDT reply actions

Ego? Tell me a couple of instances that his ego has hurt the team.

by Coug1990 on Jun 16, 2009 9:15 AM PDT reply actions

What that stats don’t say are that Fredy has a bad attitude, crappy team chemistry, is lazy on the pitch and is SLOW no way he goes to Europe with his lack of speed and size. Montero has excellent foot work but his head and his feet don’t communicate with clean passes and vision to make runs off the ball. He needs to loose his attitude and listen to the other Freddie and Zakuani they both have game vision and intensity, otherwise just let him stand around up front and give him some pockets in his shorts. I am not sold until he puts the team in front of his hair style.

by 214Crash on Jun 16, 2009 9:42 AM PDT reply actions

I agree Dave. I think another important note to point out is his foul rate.
Even though he may not be getting on the scorer’s sheet for goals or assists he IS attracting the attention of the opponents’ defenders which leave other players open or give the team a set play opportunity.

by Mike @ GoSounders on Jun 16, 2009 10:07 AM PDT reply actions

He sits on the ball a little too long for my taste, I think that it is arrogant on his part to try and take on EVERY defender instead of looking for teammates early.

No doubt he is a talented finisher, but he has also been predictable. That said, the team hasn’t played together for very long and it takes time to get used to everyone’s style of play.

by Kyle Alm on Jun 16, 2009 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

I think I agree with Kyle on this one. I think he is very talented, but like Kyle said, holds the ball a second or two too long and the defender are constantly snatching it away from him (Or he falls and rolls around for a few)

by Deevo on Jun 16, 2009 1:26 PM PDT reply actions

You know, there was this guy at Man U who got flak for hogging the ball too much in his first season there… wonder what became of him?

by GP on Jun 16, 2009 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

Montero has come from a very rough and tumble league that sometimes the refs allow very physical play to go on.. Montero has superb hindsight and great distribution of the ball as long as you have good players that match his speed. He is not the tallest of the bunch but can sure as hell make any defence nervous when he has the ball in his feet. He will mature and make the best of his chances as you have seen in the past games. To come into a new league with a totally different play style speaks volumes for what he’s done so far. I think that so far he’s one of the better acquisitions in all of mls .. Lets be happy that the kid hasn’t shown above and beyond skills where he would be a top choice to leave the mls becuase he’s just that good.. I also see chemistry happening between montero and lundberg that gives reasons to believe that these two players alone can take seattle to the playoffs….

by gtaguy on Jun 16, 2009 4:25 PM PDT reply actions

I’m glad for this post, Dave, and I’m wondering where your Karma button is so I can exalt you.
Some of my friends are pretty down on Fredy, even as far back as the RSL game. My response is usually “Er…well…uh…meh.” In reality I have a hard time getting on anybody when we’re less than halfway through our first season playing together, with several of us new to the league and so many injuries and suspensions that we’ve had a hard time building our on-field chemistry.
We have talent, and rather than bench it, we should have a little patience and perspective.

by Cornchops on Jun 16, 2009 4:29 PM PDT reply actions

Good post,

Montero comes from a league with better overall talent, and a lot more skill; he is getting used to the specifics of this league which are, I believe, a lot of speed and hard work, in exchange for talent; his presence, and the one of others like him, improves the league, which is needed

by George on Jun 16, 2009 4:56 PM PDT reply actions

Does the Colombian league really “have more talent and skill” than MLS? Or is it “a very rough and tumble” league???

by Mike @ GoSounders on Jun 17, 2009 11:52 AM PDT reply actions

I think there’s a lot of fans out there who’ve never watched a team (or any team at all?) that had a player on it whose greatest gift was advanced technical skill. Well, this is what’s it’s like. Moments of magic, games of nothing.

by bubba5000 on Jun 17, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions

Pappa is definitley better. He has proven this time and time again.

by Brainerd on Jun 18, 2009 12:51 PM PDT reply actions

6 goals, 3 assists

First and foremost a forward SCORES

by Dave Clark on Jun 18, 2009 2:48 PM PDT reply actions

A little too late for a reply Mike, but, that league is actually both; defenders are “rough and tumble”, “foot choppers” kind of, so it is true that there you would learn to endure; but midfielders and strikers are very skilled; from there, top players usually go to Argentina, Brasil, and Europe; I think Montero showed again today what I mean with “a lot more skill”

by George on Jun 20, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions