Tony Sanneh enters Bruce Arena’s defense puzzle
The last time Bruce Arena found a new position for Tony Sanneh, it worked gloriously.
It was 1996, MLS’s first year, and Arena’s D.C. United had lost five games and won one. It called up Sanneh from the Milwaukee Rampage in the A-League, where he had scored 18 goals and finished second in scoring in 1995.
“I came to D.C. United as a forward,” Sanneh said. “But we had 10 forwards, so I played right midfield for three years.”
Sanneh scored in D.C. United’s MLS Cup victories in 1996 and 1997. And after the 1998 season, he earned a lucrative contract with Germany’s Hertha Berlin, which uses him in the midfield.
In his last U.S. start before U.S. Cup 2000, Sanneh played as a withdrawn striker, against Russia. Now Arena — national team coach since October 1998 — once again sees Sanneh playing a new position.
Against South Africa and Mexico, Sanneh lined up at right back. That puts his name among a list of 10 players vying for the four spots on the U.S. backline.
That Sanneh started in a back four that took the field twice in the U.S. Cup indicates his chances are excellent to be on the field in his new position when World Cup qualifying commences in July.
RIGHT BACK SHORTAGE. Arena has considered playing with a three-man backline — if he has a healthy, in-form Eddie Pope. But Pope may not be either right now, and Arena is unlikely to make such a drastic change after playing his final preparation games with a 4-4-2.
That means he needs a right back.
And judging from those games, the first-choice backline has Sanneh at right back, Jeff Agoos and Carlos Llamosa in the middle, and David Regis at left back.
Sanneh emerged in his new role when U.S. U-23 back Steve Cherundolo, who plays in Germany’s Second Division, suffered a serious knee injury. Though he played only once for Arena, the 21-year-old was practically penciled in at right back.
Frankie Hejduk, Arena’s remaining option on the right, may be too suspect in the tackle to claim the job. Though Sanneh stumbled about against South Africa, he pulled himself together against the Mexicans.
His 6-foot-2, 190-pounds frame moves swiftly — not mention, intimidates — and Arena apparently believes he’ll grow into the new role.
“It’s still a new position for him,” Arena said. “He’s still learning the position. I think he’ll get better as he continues playing there.”
It seems a sad state of affairs when a nation of 250 million has a right back shortage, but if Sanneh pans out, that problem can be addressed later.
PAIR IN THE MIDDLE. Robin Fraser, 33, missed the U.S. Cup with an injury after making 10 starts in the Arena era. He’s still in the picture, but Agoos and Llamosa looked good at the U.S. Cup and have played together for four seasons at D.C. United.
“I wanted to have the opportunity in this cup to see Fraser and Pope together,” Arena said. “They’re not here. I wanted to see Gregg Berhalter and Pope, I wanted to see [Greg] Vanney and Fraser. I didn’t have that chance; that’s a little bit of a concern.”
C.J. Brown, who started against Ireland, is a long shot.
REGIS LOCK ON LEFT? David Regis looks like Arena’s choice at left back, where Agoos has most frequently made his home.
Greg Vanney, who plays centrally alongside Fraser at L.A., presents a third option. Vanney’s versatility and age, 26, point to a bright future.
Facing six qualifiers in the next four months, Arena can be pleased that he has plenty of options.
Or should he be worried that four players haven’t pulled away from the crowd?
by Soccer America executive editor Mike Woitalla