How Good is Wondo?

By: Ben | May 20th, 2011

   

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Yesterday, MLS posted an article on its website regarding whether or not San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski is on the verge of another breakthrough. The 2010 Golden Boot winner has notched a goal in three of the Quakes’ last four games, and now, despite San Jose still having not won any of their past four home matches, he looks to continue the trend. Wondolowski is an interesting figue in MLS, whose recent success has been the first of a long, turbulent career. With the MLS season as hot as ever, and the Gold Cup approaching, we all sit and wonder, how good is Chris Wondolowski?

It’s important to note that as recently as 2009, we would have never asked such a question. Wondo, as he is known, was drafted by the old San Jose Earthquakes in the 2005 Supplemental Draft, and despite making only two appearances for the first team he scored eight goals in twelve games for the reserves. He moved to Houston with his club in 2006, but marked only four goals in his three years there. After being traded to the new San Jose in 2009, Wondolowski began to break through on the pitch. He scored 3 goals in 14 games in 2009, then went on to net 18 goals in 26 matches, the most of any player that season. Now at 28 years old, and having finally proved his soccer chops, many have started to wonder whether he could be an effective addition to the US squad as they seek the Gold Cup this summer.

We first need to consider his circumstances. Sure, he may be a goal scoring key for San Jose, but that really isn’t so much. With all due respect to fans of the Quakes, a team whom I definitely respect, they aren’t exactly Real Madrid, and his dominance may have more to do with the degree to which his team depends on him. This in itself doesn’t prove much, as it still takes skill to score as he has, but it also means that he may simply be picking up the slack of a very average offense.

Also, while Wondo may be successful now, it’s taken him since 2004 to do so. The past may be the past, but it still stands that Wondo may not be quite as consistent of a player as it takes to represent the US.

Or maybe I just never got over San Jose knocking the Red Bulls out of the playoffs last year, and this is completely incorrect. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

What do you think? How good is Chris Wondolowski?

Category: MLS

   

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Comments  

• matt |  May 20th, 2011 at 10:44 pm

  
  
  

  as an Earthquakes fan, i love this man. but, i watched him when the US played Chile this past January, and honestly, i’m not sure if he’s up to snuff. he never looked very dangerous, and never had more than two or three touches on the ball. he wasn’t getting good service, either, but even when he did, Chile’s defense pretty easily snuffed him out. he was also being used as a single striker, though, and i feel like he would be better with someone else up front to take some pressure off and give him someone to play off of, like he had last year with the Quakes.

  

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• SJQuakesFan |  May 21st, 2011 at 11:16 am

  
  
  

  We seriously can’t overlook the fact he’s scoring GOALS. It’s not like he’s putting in cheap goals, he has ability to position himself, anticipate the ball and find spaces unlike any forward in the MLS. Also, it’s not like he’s playing with a Xavier or Iniesta, he’s playing in a fairly average team. The thing to be done is play him as a withdrawnforward behind a more active striker and play him ahead of Dempsey or Donovan who are goingto be in the flanks.

  

• Major league soccer |  May 22nd, 2011 at 10:49 am

  
  
  

  I love Wondo! He is definitely one of the best forward in the league….and he’s exciting to watch!!

  

• Major league soccer |  May 22nd, 2011 at 10:56 am

  
  
  

  I love Wando! He is definitely one of the best forward in the league! And he is exciting to watch!!

  

• Chris |  May 23rd, 2011 at 6:01 pm

  
  
  

  I felt that Wondo played well for what he was given to work with for the Chile game. He was the lone striker at the top of a formation that couldn’t get him the ball. So unfortunately his only real attempt was from outside the 18 yard box that was an easy grounder for the ‘keeper. I hope Bradley pairs him with a target forward like the Quakes do now with Lenhart up top. Wondo may not have the best on the ball skills, but he is a deadly finisher.

  

• New York Red Bulls |  May 26th, 2011 at 11:08 am

  
  
  

  I think hes a good player i would like to see him pulling my teams New York Red Bulls soccer shirt on. I think he would do well.

  

• magic tricks for beginners |  October 10th, 2011 at 3:40 pm

  
  
  

  We took a trip to lasvegas last April and this street magician did the most amazing trick in my own hand. He put a fork in my hand and it started bending by itself. I finally found a video of this same trick here. Amazing – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU_JtEficU4