This past weekend in MLS play, the San Jose Earthquake fell to the New York Red Bulls 2-0 and generally looked inefficient attacking with Innocent Emeghara in the game.
Last week the Earthquake defeated the Supporter Shield leading Vancouver Whitecaps, holding them to no shots on goal.
This past weekend, might have been their ugliest game early on in the season. While the weekend prior was their best total team display of ability, skill, and overall control which all happened with Innocent Emeghara and his hefty designated player contract on the bench.
Lucky for them, they had him in the lineup just in time for the New York road trip, right?
The MLS’s designated player rule began in 2007 with David Beckham, and initially was used to gain relevance in the world of soccer. Now designated players or DPs are expected to be the best and/or most promising/dynamic player on team rosters.
Emeghara’s play has at times not been promising or dynamic, while at times he has shown flashes of danger in the final third. Is that enough to qualify him as a true DP?
The Good:
Emeghara has looked dangerous on occasion toward goal. He occasionally outwits a defender or two only to cause some issue for the keeper.
The move he put on Brad Evans was masterful, and the finish was world class.
His dismantling of Brad Evans, made many question Sigi Schmid’s decision to continue to play him at centerback.
The skill and world class ability is there, as well as the willingness to run at defenders; this qualifies as potential.
The Bad:
Aside from the one goal his stats are generally pedestrian at best: He has more yellow cards than goals and assists combined, the same amount of game suspensions as goals, and more game starts than chances to score created (whoscored.com).
The Earthquake can’t afford to pay a large salary for a goal scorer that doesn’t really score very often, especially not with Tommy Thompson getting called in to under 20 national team duty every other month.
What’s even worse is Shea Salinas creates more chances on the wing, and Adam Jahn creates more chances at the forward position. Then again, Salinas, Jahn, and Thompson haven’t scored any goals. (squawka.com)
Innocent Emeghara turns the ball over on average more than any other Earthquake player either due to lack of control or being generally dispossessed (whoscored.com).
His play has been sloppy at times, but currently he’s San Jose’s best scoring option aside from Chris Wondolowski (whose age is showing a little bit as is), and Adam Jahn and Tommy Thompson still developing.
With the new stadium in San Jose this year, ownership is hungry for a Bayern Munich-Like winning offensive product. His days will certainly be numbered if his play doesn’t begin to improve as the season progresses to the summer transfer window.
Basically, if Emeghara does not start playing like a designated player, he should not continue to be one.
