BRADENTON NOTEBOOK Mo on a hockey-style soccer game, a trialist on being physical and on several other subjects
Chris Henderson, in practice Thursday, has three speeds: fast, faster and fastest. Photo by Michael Lewis
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Bradenton, Fla. -- So far training camp has been a struggle for Portuguese midfielder Carlos Fangueiro, who is on trial with the MetroStars at their training camp.
Fangueiro said he would like to get out of the physical English Second Division, for which he plays for Millwall. MLS also is a physical league.
"Did you hear me shouting at him?" Johnston said. "Look, there is an area where he has to go in and defend. He starts shouting at someone else. I said, 'Shut your mouth, get on with it.' We don't want babies here. We want men. There's an area there where he is shoved off the football. If he thinks England and the First Division is hard, it's just as hard, it's just as hard. I've played against many First Division teams. This ain't no walk in the park.
"There are so many players come and gone overseas. They didn't give this league any respect. One day it's going to happen. Sooner rather than later. You see certain things here in pre-season training camps. Even with all the groups. They're very physical. And guys can play."
Three periods
When the Metros take on the Columbus Crew at 10 a.m. Friday, the pre-season match will have a unique look. Instead of playing a pair of 45-minute halves, the teams will play three 30-minute periods.
"We're going to throw three teams together," Johnston said. "We have an agreement with them and we will play three 30-minute periods. This is all about adjusting and getting used to certain players and Columbus will do the same. For me, I'm more than happy. This is going to bring the group together."
On what the Metros need
Johnston was to the point about the team's needs.
"We need a couple of strikers," he said. "We need a couple of players-- one on defense, one in midfield. A couple of other changes and I think we're looking good.
"I don't want to play the group (together). Right now, I'm mixing and matching and everything. I want the guys to play together. Just to see what they've got. Pre-season is all about fitness. Is it good winning games? Certainly. I hate losing.
"Certain guys will come, certain guys will go but the majority of the group will stay. And then obviously there are trades to be made. Other teams are looking at trades and we are looking at trades."
He then talked about Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake in which the Metros used two entirely different teams in each half. In fact, Johnston did not see it as a total loss.
"It was a good exercise," he said. "We played for 45 minutes. So there was one team that loses 1-0 and the next team tied 1-1. That's the way I looked at it."
Will he be the new kid on the block?
Will U.S. Under-17 forward David Arvizu of Santa Ana, Calif., whom the Metros won in a weighted lottery draft Wednesday, join the team? As of Thursday, the team did not know the answer.
"I actually spoke to him last night," Johnston said. "I gave him three, four days to think about it. He's excited about coming here. Obviously, it's a tough decision for the kid, coming all the way from L.A. to the East Coast. Listen, if the kid comes in, we welcome him with open arms. If he feels a need to stay there, then we have to work out something with someone in the league. if that doesn't happen, then we'll bring him here. Look, we ain't going to keep anyone if they don't want to be here. If someone wants to be somewhere, we're going to try. We have to get the right pickings for us.
"I spoke with his agent a couple times and a few alarm bells have gone off. Alexi (Lalas, Metros president and GM) spoke to him last night and opened up to him. He says he's excited. Alexi, on the other hand, says, 'You're a grown man now and you're going to move away from home. It's a tough decision. Tell us what you think, what your desires are, what your needs are and we'll address them.'
"I think it's been very good on Alexi's part. When you have certain young talent who are good soccer players, you are trying to do what's best for them. It's like Johnny X. We'd be hypocrites. Johnny X goes to L.A. and we are the ones who developed the kid and we have to do something and try and go out and get him back."
Still Serioux
Don't be surprised if Canadian international midfielder Adrian Serioux, a discovery pick, signs with the club in the not-too-distant future.
"Has a deal been done? We've spoken about money," Johnston said. "We're comfortable on that part."
