Onyewu to Milan: Big Move for the Big Man

By: Daryl | July 8th, 2009

With all respect to DaMarcus Beasley’s spell at PSV, Claudio Reyna at Rangers and, erm, Cobi Jones at Coventry City, Oguchi Onyewu signing for Milan is arguably the most high profile move by an American soccer player, ever.

I’m not counting Tim Howard’s move to Man Utd, because Howard is a goalkeeper and the world already knows about American goalkeepers. I’m not counting Landon Donovan’s winter vacation with Bayern Munich either, because it barely happened.

So in terms of outfield American players proving they can succeed with a one of the big boy European teams… Onyewu to Milan is the big one. But will it work out?

I’m sure I’m not the only one to point this out but… Gooch’s game (big athletic defender who can head away crosses for fun) appears much more suited to the English Premier League than the Italian Serie A. His loan spell with Newcastle didn’t really work out, but that’s probably because there’s a curse on Newcastle defenders.

And it’s not like he’s been signed as a first choice central defender by Milan either. As Gianfranco “points out on AC Milan Offside, Gooch has got Alessandro Nesta, Thiago Silve and Kakha Kaladze in his way. This could all end with Gooch sitting on the bench for a year before being loaned out somewhere else.

But maybe not. Both Nesta and Kaladze have been a bit fragile in recent years, so there will be opportunities for Onyewu to play. After that it’s up to the big man to do what he does best. And though I’d prefer to see Onyewu in the Premier League (or Bundesliga) it could still happen for him in Italy.

American players have already established themselves as reliable players with mid and lower level European teams (eg Fulham). So even if it doesn’t quite work out for Onyewu at the San Siro, even if future Milan fans aren’t debating Baresi vs Maldini vs Gooch for best ever rossoneri defender, then even the fact that Onyewu has signed for Milan can be seen as progress. It’s the logical next step in terms of American players bettering themselves and improving the reputation of American soccer as a whole. Now if only Landon Donovan could figure out a way to join him…

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Category: World Football

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Johnny

The rest of 2009, plus all of 2010, will indubitably be another 2 year span of individual USA player triumphs with tribulations. Nothing new. Coolio!
Osito

How can you be ignoring Brian McBride's captaincy at Fulham? He was a Premier League staple and quality performer for years. Are you old enough to know who he is... or too old and getting the forgetfuls.
shehan

lol the italian league more defensive?

based on what? i'm sure people making those claims don't even watch serie A.

serie A had a higher goal per game ratio (2.6) than the EPL last season (2.48).

if anything, the gooch will struggle because serie A is a more technical league where defenders are required to help maintain possession when recovering the ball in a turnover rather than donkey-ing it up the field a la EPL.

my biggest concern as a milan fan is not his defending qualities, but his composure on the ball.
Dante

Marlon, he said "a good team in Europe" not West Ham
Marlon

Michael, he plays for West Ham United.
Weston (@wpazzurri)

Ive always liked Spector. Juventus should sign him, he's probably better than Grygera!
Michael

I think he has a good shot at doing well.

What about another American defender, right-back Jonathan Spector? That guy is a legit defensive talent. He could definitely play for a good team in Europe.
LorenzoRosanero

He should've went to Palermo. Just sayin...

Natural replacement for an equally physical defender: Moris Carrozzieri.
Daryl

Ramirez, not in this post. But expect something tomorrow.
Applesauce

I foresee a lot of racism lawsuits in Italy.
Weston (@wpazzurri)

I would rather him at everton with Howard as a starter, but it's really cool to see an american (not to metion my favorite; he used to play for my hometown back in his college days) play in Italy.
tommy mazza

he is going to give away many fouls.

he is going to be diced by any decent forward.

he will be the target of racism.

he will be a.c. milan's best central defender
tom

he conciedes way too many penalties

and in a league full of diving to win pk's / free kicks to score it could be trouble for the big lad.

still i wish him all the luck in the world
James

It's a big gamble for Milan. I would've definitely preferred someone else.
Luis Paulo

I think he will have problems to play once Milan also signed the brazilian Thiago Silva, who is, in my opinion, one of the most talented defenders Brazil ever had and Nesta is coming back from his injury.
Ian

Good luck, Gooch. I think he has the potential for it to work out, but how often have we said that about foreign players headed to Serie A?
Ramirez

Nothing on the Libertadores final?
Finnegan

It's actually strange, I think his playstyle suits the Italian league just as well if not better than the Premier league. Italy's playstyle is defensive, with slow building attack and the Premier league's style is fast and physical. I thought that when Gooch was at Newcastle he'd be fit to handle the physicality but I saw him a number of times be shouldered off the ball by smaller players as if he were their size.

Course, that was back then, and this is now and much has changed. But I see him working out for Milan if he decides to work hard and take nothing for granted.
Eduard

He should succeed. He is a true defender going to a league where everyone plays defense first(attack is a lower priority). He'll be fine as he will have a lot of help(not to mention his physical ability)