I'm working on the next installment of the USL Project, but I wanted to throw this out there because it should be highlighted: Maurice Edu scored his first goal for Rangers on Wednesday, while fellow American DeMarcus Beasley went down with yet another injury.
It seems the these two, connected in our minds because they are both club and National Team teammates, are on divergent paths in Glasgow.
More after the jump.
DeMarcus Beasley just can't seem to stay healthy for long enough to establish a role at Rangers, and this latest injury is just another blow to his efforts. Beasley frustrates (or rather, his situation frustrates) American fans because he seems to have more ability than most of the players we trot out for the USMNT. He has pace and the ability to cross the ball from the wing, two talents that collectively make him one of the more dangerous offensive players on the field.
Injuries have not only eaten into Beasley's playing time, they've led to questions about his role with the USMNT. Without consistent club time, many fans wonder if the Nats might be better served finding other options. Bradley's willingness to move Beasley from the left side of midfield, a spot he seemingly had a vice-grip on, to left back in the World Cup Qualifier against Trinidad & Tobago might be the first sign that DMB is slipping down the pecking order.
It might be long before the United States first eleven no longer includes DeMarcus Beasley on a regular basis, even when he is healthy.
On the other side of Scottish coin is Maurice Edu. After moving from Toronto to Rangers, Edu has had his own struggles to get playing time. Unlike with Jozy Altidore (admittedly a younger player), reports on Edu's work-ethic and abilities have remained exceedingly positive; it has seemed for some time that one break his way would lead to Maurice seeing significant time in Rangers' midfield.
It seems that break has finally come, thanks to one Scot's petulance. Barry Ferguson not only got himself kicked off the Scottish national team with his untimely show of defiance, he was also suspended by Rangers. Ferguson's absence leaves the door wide open for Edu, and with his performance yesterday, it appears he is intent on making the most of his opportunity.
Don't forget that Edu turned down the oppotunity to go to another club on loan; the determination of the midfielder is laudable, and only makes me pull for him harder.
I have faith that Maurice will continue to develop, play well for Rangers, and push himself into the National Team's midfield at some point in the not-too-distant future.
Game report from the BBC
One more note, completely unrelated to the subject at hand: The attendance for the Rangers-St. Mirren match I reference here was 6,231. While St. Mirren isn't a large club, and the game did take place midweek, I just thought that number was interesting. I'm pretty sure there are at least ten or twelve clubs in MLS that could exceed that number, so maybe we're getting a little too wrapped up in the early season attendance numbers for the league. Of course we shouldn't judge things by a Scottish standard, but it does put things in a slightly different context. Take from it what you will.
