CHESTER, Pa. – US national team manager Bob Bradley had good things to say about Maurice Edu’s first start at central defender for the USA against Poland last Saturday.
But as far as the Glasgow Rangers starter is concerned, he is still battling for his regular position.
“I still want to compete for my spot in the midfield,” he told MLSsoccer.com after Saturday’s match. “That’s a position I’ve played my whole career and where I feel I can contribute to the team.
“Obviously, if the coach asks me to play in the back I’m a team player and I’m willing to help the team. Just like today,” Edu added. “I was asked to play in the back and I did my best to help the team back there.”
[inline_node:320529]Edu, who played at central defender for the 2008 Olympic squad, is a team player, but it’s evident that he’s not exactly requesting to be placed on the back line.
“It’s different, it’s a new position,” Edu said. “Obviously I feel most comfortable in the midfield. But I’m approaching it with an open mind and just trying to learn as much as possible in that position.”
His first start comes at a critical juncture for the US central defender corps.
World Cup defender Jay DeMerit is without a club. Oguchi Onyewu is not playing matches at AC Milan. Carlos Bocanegra will be 32 years old in May and is not the fleetest of foot.
Michael Parkhurst, who plays with Nordsjælland in Denmark, does not have the size. And while West Ham’s Jonathan Spector can play every position in the back, he’s never been a first-choice central defender for Bradley.
That leaves IK Start defender Clarence Goodson, the possible return of Columbus Crew stalwart Chad Marshall or the slow introductions of the LA Galaxy’s Omar Gonzalez and Red Bulls rookie Tim Ream to someday help fix the problem.
Bradley is not exactly without solid rationale to dispatch Edu out of position, especially when he’s already played there on the international level.
It’s worth remembering that Edu played the final 25 minutes of the May 25 World Cup warm-up match against the Czech Republic at center back in place of Onyewu. He could make for solid insurance should the need ever arise.
“We know he can help us in the midfield but we feel he’s got abilities that fit well in the back also,” Bradley said. “I thought for a first game in the national team [vs. Poland], the first time he’s played in that situation with Gooch, by and large I thought it went pretty well. It shows again that Mo is capable of helping us in a number of ways.”
