Oguchi Onyewu Joins AC Milan

Well, we’re moving up the pitch. First it was goalkeeper Brad Friedel to Liverpool, then the MetroStars very own Tim Howard to Manchester United. Now American centerback Oguchi Onyewu is headed to play for another European giant, Serie A’s AC Milan. Assuming Gooch sees significant minutes for Milan, he will be the first American outfield player to make an impact at a top European club (and don’t even think of using Jovan Kirovski and “impact” in the same sentence). Just what type of impression Gooch makes in the Italian fashion capital, however, remains to be seen.

With his hulking physique, Gooch is always a likely candidate to look unskilled and awkward on the ball, and in his earliest days on the National Team he had moments when I thought to myself: here comes another Lalas. But after his monumental displays at the Confederations Cup where, apart from his awkward attempted clearance that shielded Tim Howard from Italy’s third goal, he looked not only like a man-among-boys, but a composed and confident defender, Onyewu has proven once and for all that he’s no oaf. At age 27, the 6’4” defender has finally convinced American fans, and apparently the AC Milan brass to boot, that he’s closer to a Maldini than an Alexi.

Yet while the prospect of seeing Gooch compete in Serie A and in the Champions League group stages is thrilling, U.S. fans would do well to temper their enthusiasm. In the best-case scenario, Oguchi’s year at Milan will see him develop into one of the world’s elite centerbacks and he’ll head back to South Africa a more poised and polished defender.

A worst-case scenario sees Onyewu enter the 2010 World Cup with splinters in his behind and a headache from seeing A. Nesta, D. Bonera, K. Kaladze, and T. Silva on the team sheet every week. Should Gooch commit a few early season gaffes or simply struggle to adjust to the tactics and flow of Serie A, and should Milan stumble out of the blocks as they search for a new identity without Kaka and Beckham, Leonardo could elbow Gooch off the pitch quicker than he did Tab Ramos. As a first-year coach, Leonardo will be under tremendous pressure to get results in the league, and he knows better than anyone that not even his special relationship with the San Siro faithful will save him if Milan begins to drop off the pack in the chase for the Holy Cash Cow that is Champions League football.

And Milan may do just that. Skeptical Rossoneri fans remain unconvinced that the team will be able to improve on last season’s third-place finish after being stripped of the creativity and powerful running of Kaka. While Pato will likely continue to blossom, and Pirlo’s bedazzling of Jay DeMerit and scoop-pass to Rossi proved he still has the ability to turn a match, neither he, Seedorf, Ambrosini, or Gattuso is getting any younger. Managing to pry Luis Fabiano away from Sevilla would be a move in the right direction, but Fabiano, for all his predatory instincts, is no Kaka.

A final concern is that Gooch excelled in the Confederations Cup in part because the U.S. tactics – clogging the middle while allowing acres of room on the flanks – created a plethora of crosses into the box. This strategy played exactly to Gooch’s strengths: out-muscling forwards and winning aerial challenges. At Milan, he’ll need to rely less exclusively on his physical gifts and more on the finesse, tactical nous, and ability to stand-up attackers that he developed over three seasons in Belgium and showcased in South Africa 2009.

There are reasons for optimism. With matches in Serie A, the Italian Cup, and Champions League Group Play, and with the injury history and advancing age of both Nesta and Kaladze, Onyewu should get opportunities on the field. When he does, he’ll be playing alongside some of the world’s finest players, and chances are that his partner in central defense – whether Nesta, Bonera, Kaladze, or Thiago Silva –will prove a more calming influence than Titus Bramble.

Still, the list of players who have dazzled in short summer tournaments, made big money moves to top clubs, and then failed to re-create that stellar form is long and distinguished. Will Oguchi Onyewu join this list, or will he push on to become a Milan legend? Only time will tell.

Edgar Castillo, Tigres, Advance to SuperLiga Final

New Mexico-born left back Edgar Castillo helped Tigres defeat former club Santos Laguna 3-2 to advance to the final of the 2009 SuperLiga. Castillo, who has played for Mexico's U-23 team and made several appearances in friendlies for the full national team, is a United States citizen who grew up in Las Cruces, NM; under a recent FIFA ruling, Castillo is eligible to play for the United States because he never appeared in an official senior competition match for Mexico.

In the SuperLiga semifinal against Santos, Castillo was instrumental in setting up his team's final two goals. In the 10th minute, Castillo played a neat ball to the Argentine Lucas Lobos, whose cross from the right was volleyed home by striker Jose "Kikin" Fonseca. In the 70th minute, Castillo's well-timed left-footed pass sprung Brazilian Itamar Batista, who slotted home through the legs of Santos keeper Oswaldo Sanchez.

Tigres to Face the Chicago Fire in the Final

Tigres, which does not open the Mexican Apertura season until the 25th of July, will meet the Chicago Fire in the Final of SuperLiga 2009. The Fire dumped out defending champions New England Revolution 2-1 in Foxborough, MA on a brilliant, curling free kick from Cuauhtemoc Blanco in the 63rd minute.

New Mexico to Mexico

At Mayfield High School in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Castillo led the state in scoring for three straight years and was named New Mexico Player of the Year as a Sophomore in 2002. Upon graduation, Castillo crossed the border into Mexico and signed his first professional contract with Santos Laguna, for whom he made over 78 appearances from 2006 to 2008. Castillo's form with Santos earned him a call-up to the Mexican National Team, with his debut coming in a friendly against Colombia in August, 2007. Castillo's stellar play with Santos also earned him a transfer to Club America for the 2009 season; Castillo would make only five appearances for Club America, however, before moving to Tigres UANL on loan for the start of the 2009 Apertura. At Tigres, Castillo rejoins former coach Daniel Guzman, the man who gave him his debut with Santos.

Castillo Is Eligible Play for the United States

Castillo has speculated that his diminutive stature - he stands only 5'8" - hurt his chances of playing with U.S. Youth National Teams because of their inordinate focus on size and strength. When he decided to play for Mexico in 2007, Castillo seemed to close the door on the United States forever; however, because he never appeared in an official senior match for Mexico (a World Cup qualifier, for example) Castillo now has the option of representing either the country of his birth or the nation where he plays his professional soccer.

Earlier this month, Castillo publicly declared his intention to play for the United States, a decision that produced considerable backlash in the Mexican media. “They will say everything," Castillo responded. "They will say this guy is a traitor. But I have to do what my heart says. And that is to play for the U.S.”

Castillo's Competition at Left Back

The United States currently has several imperfect options at left back. Frankie Hejduk is tenacious, indefatigable, and perhaps the United States' most reliable big-game performer, but is more comfortable on the right side of defense, and adds little in the way of attacking wing play. Chivas USA standout Jonathon Bornstein is more fluid going forward, but can look shaky defensively. Heath Pearce, who appeared to have the position locked down only a year ago, has seen his stock plummet after several poor performances in qualifying, although he has looked better in the 2009 Gold Cup, albeit against weaker competition. If Castillo can nail down a starting spot with Tigres UANL he will almost certainly get a look from United States' coach Bob Bradley as the U.S. roster for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa gradually takes shape.