BearcatSA Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 (edited) I think he's spot on. Julian isn't the player he was in 2007, his defensive side of the game is average at best and offensively he brings very little. Also, his body language tells me that he isn't in to it at 100 %. No one will forget the 2007 JDG but at the moment he sadly looks like a player who's running his last miles. At the MNT level he isn't a sure starter like he was 3 years ago. Considering the ball playing abilities of the TFC defenders, especially the CBs, since the beginning of the year to date, I felt that having a healthy de Guzman was crucial to what the coaching staff wanted the team to do in their possession build up play. His particular skillset (tight control under pressure, distributing quickly) has been in evidence a number of times even this season. I'm just don't think he's that healthy and as a result has lost a yard or so of pace and agility in closing down opposing mids. If he's healthy, he'll really support Frings with his skillset, if the German's defensive skills are still on display at this stage of his career. I have been a fan of his since GC 07 and I guess I'm coming across as his apologist here, but I really believe he's getting undermined by durability issues more than anything else recently. Last year I felt he was struggling more with the nature of MLS opponents and teammates and especially with the mantle of being a high priced DP but now I think his tires are lacking in tread, so to speak. Edited July 19, 2011 by BearcatSA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 ^ Bearcat, you and I are on the same page on most topics in this forum, this topic included. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 ^ Bearcat, you and I are on the same page on most topics in this forum, this topic included. Well, I'm still waiting for the big midfield ballwinner for our MNT, are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Well, I'm still waiting for the big midfield ballwinner for our MNT, are you? You bet. Still don't think JDG or Johnson are the answer, and am not sold on Dunfield. Right now, I think Edgar may be the best bet, but Alderson gives me hope for the future! Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread. : ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 In all likelihood Julian just needs a change of scenery. He needs to go to place (B2, Liga 2, Holland 2) where he can play as defensive mid, play his preferred possession game, and not have too much pressure as DP. Got a great paycheck from TFC? Good for him, now maybe it's time to take off a bit of public scrutiny. We expected too much from an injured defensive mid. Or maybe (more likely) he's staying put ... I really agree with this post, and with rumors of him only wanting to go to Spain, maybe he go play back and play with Deportivo in Liga 2 lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 You bet. Still don't think JDG or Johnson are the answer, and am not sold on Dunfield. Right now, I think Edgar may be the best bet, but Alderson gives me hope for the future! Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread. : ) The problem with JDG decline is that we don't have much better options at the moment to play DM. On any given night I think players like Johnson or Dunfield could be able to do a similar or a better job (Ecuador game might be an example of that) but I doubt one of them will be an improvement on the long run. I've always felt like Jakovic could do a decent job at the position but so far no one has played him there in his pro career so I guess it's out of the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 The problem with JDG decline is that we don't have much better options at the moment to play DM. On any given night I think players like Johnson or Dunfield could be able to do a similar or a better job (Ecuador game might be an example of that) but I doubt one of them will be an improvement on the long run. I've always felt like Jakovic could do a decent job at the position but so far no one has played him there in his pro career so I guess it's out of the question. This is why DiChiara needs to be called up at the first opportunity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThiKu Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 ^This..... If JDC plays regularly for RPL. If he's a reserve player.....no (u23 at best). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loyola Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 This is why DiChiara needs to be called up at the first opportunity. True. I had forget about this player. With the kind of progress he's made in the RPL he should be called! Not sure he'll solve our problem instantly but I would like to see him included in a future roster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keegan Posted July 19, 2011 Share Posted July 19, 2011 Well, I'm still waiting for the big midfield ballwinner for our MNT, are you? This is why I'm excited for Di Chiara, from what we've seen in his couple RPL matches he's a big guy who likes to get stuck in and has some decent touches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted July 19, 2011 Author Share Posted July 19, 2011 Di Chiara should certainly get a look in our next match, if we want to integrate him for this cycle it is better to start sooner rather than later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I'll buy that. Forgot about DiChiara as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 With the kind of progress he's made in the RPL he should be called! Not sure he'll solve our problem instantly but I would like to see him included in a future roster. +1. He's still under 20, which is another bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emlyn Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 caps should trade for de guzman instead of signing OH. . .just sayin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yomurphy1 Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Out of curiosity, does anyone know the formation that Deportivo used when JDG was at his peak? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdude Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 Out of curiosity, does anyone know the formation that Deportivo used when JDG was at his peak? He was the sole holding midfielder in a 4-3-3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg75 Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 (edited) Out of curiosity, does anyone know the formation that Deportivo used when JDG was at his peak? He was one of the "double pivots" (holding mids) in a 4-2-3-1/4-2-2-1-1. The year he was team MVP they were using him to press up higher with the central attacking md when the team didn't have the ball. Edited July 21, 2011 by jpg75 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyJames Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 I don't think JDG has regressed as much as his knees are worse than mine......give him a break...his knees are 40 right now.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanadianSoccerFan Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Mega bump. Latest Footy Prime podcast with JDG is very interesting. Fills in a lot of the blanks about his time in Europe. Best part is that Deportivo tried to push him in to a sham marriage with a Portuguese woman to get an EU passport. https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5idXp6c3Byb3V0LmNvbS82MzYyMzgucnNz&ep=14&episode=QnV6enNwcm91dC01NjQyMzIw nolando, red card, RS and 4 others 2 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
red card Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 Good podcast. Learned his brother was already into Dutch football and trying to learn the Dutch language at age six. Trained barefeet to copy how Brasilian kids played the sport. So, he had a plan to fulfill his dream and actually achieved it. Also JDG & Dichio recounts that you need to do more than just playing for a youth club to become a pro. Need to have an internal drive like Davies & David, don't coddle the kids, train on your own & watch matches rather just highlights to learn how the best play your position. CanadianSoccerFan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearcatSA Posted September 29, 2020 Share Posted September 29, 2020 On 7/19/2011 at 11:13 PM, BearcatSA said: +1. He's still under 20, which is another bonus. Boy, I missed on DiChara but it has been good to see him resurrect his career in CPL. johnyb and Shway 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Obinna Posted October 2, 2020 Author Share Posted October 2, 2020 (edited) @BearcatSA you're not the only one who was off the mark..... On 7/17/2011 at 11:37 AM, Obinna said: That is fair his knees are not the same and that has affected the defensive part of his game, but on a Bundesliga team he is definitely an occasional starter, and NOT a squad player in B2, you have to concede that. On 7/18/2011 at 8:53 AM, jpg75 said: Nope, i stand by my comments. On paper he's probably a starter in Bundesliga 1, but the game isn't played on paper. After a few starts in Bund 2 and some defensive mistakes that are overlooked, the time will come where he has a total clunker of a game and is responsible for multiple defensive breakdowns that'll cost him his starting spot. Then he'll eventually get another chance, get hurt, and then be on the outside looking in. A couple more surgeries, more time spent on the DL then on the field and he'll be retired by age 33 or 34. Back then I thought JDG could move from TFC to a strong league, and if he moved to a 2.Bundesliga team it would be a strong one, and he'd play a key role. But after a brief stop at FC Dallas, De Guzman ended up playing with Jahn Regensburg in the 2012-13 season. Julian started all 15 games he played in, but they were nowhere near challenging for promotion, in fact they got relegated down to 3. Liga that season. He later had a brief spell in Greece and then finished his career in Ottawa, where if I am not mistaken he suffered more injury and soon retired (at 35) thereafter, as jpg75 predicted. He got it mostly right. It was pretty humbling to go back and see how wrong I was! Edited October 2, 2020 by Obinna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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