Barrett's one for the future
Friday, September 12, 2008 | 03:26 PM ET
He had chances. He missed them. He was annoyed. I am happy.
Impossible as it appeared, and ultimately so it proved, Toronto FC could be three points closer to the Major League Soccer playoffs. Chad Barrett’s inability to convert two clear cut opportunities into goals was frustrating for the fans and the coach - but no one was more irritated than the player himself.
I like that. I like that a lot. Barrett’s self-criticism is refreshingly honest. His bright start as a Toronto FC player has already earned him a four-year contract - some would say too long and too soon for a youngster whose career goals-per-game ratio to date does not bare close scrutiny.
Yet here we have a player who knows he’s not the finished article and is not afraid to admit as much. Part of the problem has to do with match fitness - he’s struggled to complete games on the artificial playing surface at BMO Field and though the dilemma is easing, we probably won’t see the best of Barrett, fitness-wise, until 2009.
But more than that, in my opinion, it’s to do with what Barrett expects of himself and how far he’s prepared to push himself to improve. He has two major factors on his side - namely age and ability.
At 23 he has virtually all his career ahead of him and certainly he’s not close to reaching his peak - in his late 20s we should expect to see an experienced veteran whose mere presence on the field worries opposing defenders before a ball is kicked.
Barrett is also blessed with two good feet. Despite the near misses in both recent games against Chivas, he has shown me he gets himself into goal-scoring positions and is prepared to shoot from any angle. He is not reliant on getting the ball onto his dominant right foot - he is equally prepared to try his luck with his left. Many of the world’s finest goal-scorers do not possess such a gift - Barrett has an advantage few can take for granted.
Moreover, Barrett understands when chances come his way, and in any given game they will generally few and far between, it is his job to bury them. No ifs or buts or maybes - that’s his job. It’s what he does for a living and when he fails to do his job he lets down not only himself but also his teammates and the fans still clinging to the belief that the post-season is not yet out of reach.
Practice makes perfect they say - but that only gets you so far on a soccer field. Barrett can practice his finishing morning, noon and night - it will hone his skills but it also impossible to simulate the match atmosphere and split-second decision making which must be taken under pressure, with a burly defender bearing down on you when the weekend rolls around.
The mental toughness required to score goals regularly is key to Barrett’s future. It’s the confidence, bordering on arrogance, needed to turn a roster position into a successful career. There’s only one way to gain that vital ingredient and that’s by scoring goals - regularly. It is, unquestionably, a vicious cycle but it is one Barrett must believe he can master if his potential is to be truly realized in this or any other league.
Chad Barrett will continue to miss chances, but we’ve already seen what is possible when he hits the target. When he stops beating himself up, Toronto FC fans can start celebrating while the rest of MLS will be afraid. Very afraid.
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About the Author
Nigel Reed lends his extensive experience, passion and knowledge of the game of soccer to his role as play-by-play announcer for CBC’s Major League Soccer broadcasts.
Reed has more than 20 years experience covering soccer, most notably a five-year stint from 1999 to 2004 where he was a host and producer for the English Premier League for BBC. He also covered English Premier League giants Liverpool and Everton for BBC Radio and provided analysis for both BBC TV and the BBC website.
More recently, Reed served as play-by-play announcer for CBC’s coverage of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He also hosts The Soccer Show for the Toronto sports radio station the Fan 590.
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- Barrett's one for the future
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Comments
Postreader1
Toronto
The trouble is that if he amounts to anything, he will be on the transfer market in no time due to ridiculous MLS ownership structure and salary cap.
Posted September 17, 2008 02:12 PM
Bobby
so Barrett's walking, instead of running, has to do with game shape on fake grass - not attitude? I hope you're right!
p.s. Check out Canadian Ross Smith,fierce defender on the USL's Rochester Rhinos ... this guy defines what mental toughness and skill can deliver!
Posted September 15, 2008 02:27 PM