We need top-shelf attackers who can orchestrate and finish scoring opportunities on a regular basis. Otherwise, we will assuredly remain in the wings of the world football stage, never seriously contending for hardware outside of CONCACAF.
Surely, among the 300 million citizens of our country, there is another player who can contribute more than Mr. Johnson is right now. I find it hard to believe that among the American players available for National Team duty, he is among the top three or four strikers.
I do not say all this merely to bash the name of a footballer. No doubt Mr. Johnson prepares himself adequately, and gives his all in pursuit of football glory. He simply does not seem to possess the level of talent which is required of international and EPL players.
I do not find fault with him because he cannot perform consistently at this level, as that is a most daunting task. But football is not about sentimentality nor charity.
In order to be the best in the world, managers must select the 11 who best give their side a chance at victory. And in my opinion, for the United States national team, Eddie Johnson is not one of those 11.
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe he will become a great star for Fulham, and do great things for the national team in its pursuit of a World Cup.
Maybe I will one day be writing a rebuttal to my own argument, rightfully eating my own words. But those days do not seem to be coming.
And at the very least, they don't seem to be coming soon enough to help the United States reach its goal of international football glory.
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