Who’s next? It’s a fairly common question in sports. Everyone involved in sports in some way or another keeps an eye on the future, looking out for that next big star. Sometimes we are looking for a specific talent, body type, personality, or even just a playing style. Other times we look for a replacement. Someone to fill the void left by a recently retired star. Or even a void we know is coming.
The world of soccer is already on the look-out for the next Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Who is lurking on the periphery, ready to fill the golden boots of those two when the leave their prime? In the United States our eyes are peeled for the next Landon Donovan. Is there a star in place ready to shoulder the weight of carrying US soccer onto the world stage?
Both burdens are incredibly cumbersome and more likely than not the first few athletes to get labelled with the “next” tag will struggle mightily to meet such expectations. Unfortunately when that happens, through no fault of the athletes, the perception of the game can change.
As an example, take a look at the NBA.
As Michael Jordan headed into retirement, how many players received the label, the “Next Jordan”? More than a few were cursed with the moniker since it was first used on Kobe Bryant to when it was last used on LeBron James. Yet, there was never a consensus on anyone actually living up to the standard of Jordan and the debate still rages on.
The truth is we will never really get the next Donovan or Messi or Ronaldo. At best we can hope for someone whose play sparks a memory of them or whose approach mirrors theirs in some aspect. But that does not mean we have to stop looking for the attributes of our current stars in the rising stars of the future.
In fact, I would propose that MLS might be in the process of producing the next Arjen Robben right now in Real Salt Lake’s Luis Gil. And if the young Californian is willing to take some cues from the veteran Dutch footballer, Gil may very well find his level of success similar to that of Robben’s.
Arjen Robben is often ignored when it comes to receiving high critical acclaim because of a personal distaste for his type of play. Something Americans can certainly relate to. Robben is also regularly criticized for taking dives in the penalty area and for not being more versatile as a forward. Versatility is another common critique leveled against US players. But no one is able to deny his talent or his results. The respect may come begrudgingly but it is still coming, something US players are still struggling to attain in Europe.
Like Robben, Gil is already considered one of the best when going one on one with a defender. The combination of speed and ball control has enabled Gil to become a threat every time the ball finds his foot. Gil’s talent was already noticed in Europe back in 2010 when Gil passed on an opportunity to join Arsenal, instead choosing to sign with MLS.
It might very well behoove Gil to make a move at the next opportunity, however. Gil as of yet has not produced to his goal scoring potential in MLS. His highest goal total came in 2013 when he scored five times in 30 matches. Some of the blame for the lack of goals should be attributed to the system used by Real Salt Lake.
Gil often plays on the wing of RSL’s diamond formation and has never been an offensive focal point with the club. Instead, RSL tends to rely more on his skill set to retain possession and feed the ball back to Kyle Beckerman, who in turn runs the offense and feeds the ball in to the forwards.
I believe in the talent Gil possesses. His speed and control are vastly underutilized in Sandy, UT, and likely has a lot do with the delay in a second European offer. But do not doubt that another will come. Gil is only 21 and realistically is just one system change away from being able to exploit his talents to their fullest.
With RSL’s current form being to let costly players go and Gil’s Generation Adidas contract now expired, that system change could come right around the time of the next expansion draft.
Robben has played well at every stop in his career but it took a few changes of scenery before he came fully into his own as a superstar. Similarly, there is no denying Gil has played well at RSL but it may take a stop or two before he fully breaks out.
I know he has the talent to do so but I also believe he will.
By emulating the approach of Robben and not just his skills, Gil may very well be better suited to succeed.
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