The Resident Expert Part 2: OWU coach Jay Martin on the MLS

NOTE: See Jay Martin's biography below. Also this is the second part of a two-part series in what will be a weekly feature.

5. Can you briefly describe your role/position with the Columbus Crew and how many years you worked for them?

I was the radio "analyst" for the first 11 years. The summer that Greg Andrulis replaced Tom Fitzgerald I trained the team every day at practice and helped Greg in games. I have not had any contact with the Crew the last two years.

6. Looking at the upcoming 15th MLS season, what are your predictions as far as favorites, playoff contenders, players to watch, and rising stars to look out for?

The MLS is built for parity and it has parity!!! I think that LA will be a factor, they have confidence after last year and the best American player - defense will be a problem. Neighbor Chivas will give them a run - new coach and new assistant coach Nick Theslof (who coached two years at OWU) will make a difference. They were on Jurgen Klinsmanns staff at Bayern Munich last year.

New England will bounce back from a tough year!! (Steve) Nichol is a legit coach. But my sleeper is Seattle. Good coach, good organization, unbelievable fans and support and a veteran Freddie Ljungberg (former Sweden international).

7. Throwing out a hypothetical say the MLS could pick either format, would you prefer the American-style playoff format that the MLS currently has or would you prefer to see the European format where teams only play for regular season league championships but with the stipulation of relegation for the bottom side clubs?

I prefer the European style relegation model BUT it will never fly here. There is too much money at stake and too much tradition. The US won't buy it, but how cool would that be??

8. Can you assess where the MLS is in its 15th season?

The MLS is surviving. Reports are that only three teams make a profit - although Seattle should be a fourth. The TV package isn't great - although last year was the first year that ESPN actually paid for the rights. The labor problem is a real problem - I believe that MLS players want it all NOW i.e. Kobe like contracts. They don't know the history of pro sports - ALL pro sports struggled at first and did extraordinary things to make it, the MLS does NOT make any big effort. The relationship with the communities and the MLS teams is not good in many MLS cities - except Seattle who have adopted a "membership situation for fans" and they actually get a vote on some issues!!!

The good news is the last two franchises cost $30 million, so there is optimism. The MLS must continue to try to get the best players possible, but watch the influx of international players

9. Is the fact that the league will soon be expanding again from 16 teams to 18 teams a good sign or will that water down the competition?

The expansion is a good sign and demonstrates that the MLS is the ONLY sports league in the country that is still growing. The dilution of talent will be a challenge. But anything that gives more Americans a chance to play is a good thing.

10. Do you feel the league is a good place to continue to develop world class Americans or do they still have to go over to Europe to develop to make the U.S. a viable threat on the world stage or some combination of both?

I have watched many training sessions in the USA, Europe and South America. The intensity of training outside of America is unbelievable - ask Landon Donovan. Jürgen Klinnsman used the term "nasty" to describe Bayern München practices when I visited there last year - and they were nasty. We must do something to improve the intensity. American players can get better in the MLS, but must still go to Europe to get to the international level.

11. If you were the league commissioner, what would be your next step to continue to grow the game to make it more popular and viable with the other major American sports?

As a commissioner you can't force soccer into the main stream. That would be a mistake. It's like Title IX forcing women's sports in colleges - the PRvalue back fires! But I would work on the coaching. Coaching in this country is AWFUL. Our coaches don't know the subtleties of the game and, therefore, can't teach them to the kids. Coaching is terrible.

12. Do we have any Battling Bishop alums in the MLS or playing professionally anywhere else?

Chris Vorenkamp is playing in Iceland - his 8th year. Cris Gilmore is playing in Den Haag (The Hague) in Holland. Clay Smith is playing in South Africa. At this time there are no OWU alums playing is the MLS. But we have had 29 grads play at all levels of American soccer.

The Resident Expert Part 1: OWU coach Jay Martin on the U.S.

NOTE: See Jay Martin's biography below. Also this is the first of a two-part series in what will be a weekly feature.

1. It seems to me the U.S. gained little if any real information of value in the Honduras game other than it's not a good idea to get a red card in the 17th minute with your second-team squad against a first-team squad with perhaps the exception of a solid performance by Jon Bornstein.

With so many big injury issues to the U.S. squad, how important do you feel the upcoming friendly with El Salvador will be for the completely MLS-based 23-man U.S. roster and who do you feel of those players will make a push to earn a World Cup roster spot?

Here is the list of Players Jeff Cunningham; Omar Gonzalez; Robbie Rogers; Chris Pontius; Sacha Kljestan; Geoff Cameron; Brad Evans; Heath Pearce; Marvell Wynne; Conor Casey; Jonathan Bornstein; Eddie Gaven; Troy Perkins; Michael Orozco; Kevin Alston; Brian Ching; Brad Davis; Zach Thornton; Nick Rimando; Dax McCarty; Kyle Beckerman

I don't think the Honduras game was worthless. When selecting a team it is just as important to eliminate players as it is to add players. The game gave Bob Bradley a chance to eliminate some of the guys who were on the bubble. Jeff Cunningham, Jimmy Conrad, Sacha Kljestan all played poorly and probably played themselves out of the picture. The red card should have caused some of these players to pick up the work rate and intensity - they didn't. So even though the game was a disaster, it was not meaningless and afforded Bradley with a look at some people.

The El Salvador game is huge. It is important for the players you listed, important for Bradley and important for the final WC squad. It is hard to predict which of these players have a chance. There is so much that goes into putting a team together and much of it is known only by the coach. What style will he play? What formation will he play? Who are we playing (we already know this and it is big)? These questions will impact the choices. My guess? Rogers, Cameron, Bornstein, Evans, Perkins, Ching, Davis and McCarty have a chance and this game will be huge for them.

2. What do you believe Bob Bradley will be emphasizing, concentrating on, focusing his interest in this game?

He will focus on the "bubble players." He will watch their preparation, professionalism and work rate. He will watch them off the field to determine how they interact with teammates. He will watch poise and how they handle problems. He will use this game to make some crucial decisions. This is a relatively weak team. I expect no more than 4 or 5 making the WC team. One thing a coach has to do is "give players a chance to make the team." You don't want to have a player tell you "I had no chance." BB is giving these guys a chance. The end.

3. What signs should the common fan look for?

Work rate, combining with teammates, energy, confidence, effort. That's what BB will look for.

4. Reportedly Clint Dempsey has a torn post cruciate ligament (PCL) and will be out until May. Charlie Davies is recovering at an unbelievable pace from his horrific car crash, but is still a doubt despite his comment that he can "easily be ready by the World Cup," and should be ready to play for his club in France by April. Oguchi Onyewu will be out until at least April with his torn patella tendon and may see little playing time with his club AC Milan when he returns. Jay Demeritt appears as if he is back from his injury issues with Watford in England, but has missed significant time since bursting onto the scene in the Confederations Cup last summer.

Of these players, who do you think will be have the most difficult chance of earning a World Cup roster spot? What type of effect/impact would their absence have on the U.S. team? And how would their absence affect the chances of the U.S. getting out of the group stage into the knock-out round?

The question is: will they be "game ready?"

Oguchi will have a huge problem making the team. His was a bad injury and the rehab is brutal.

Even if he is fit - the injury is healed - he will not be game fit. His absence will be a problem. He is not the best soccer player on the team, but he is a physical presence in the middle of the field and will be missed. He is intimidating for forwards. He will be missed.

Davies has multiple injuries - not just one. I would be surprised if he plays. His speed and creativity will be missed. He brings great energy to the team. That energy was missing vs. Honduras.

Dempsey should play. The PCL is NOT like the ACL. The rehab is shorter and not as extensive. He should be ready to go. If he isn't, the US will miss the second of only two "well rated" attacking players. Dempsey has shown steady improvement since his arrival at Fulham. He is a true threat - as is Donovan. Without Dempsey opponents can and will key on Donovan and that will make it more difficult to score goals.

If both Onyewu and Dempsey are out, it will be VERY hard to get through....

Ohio Wesleyan University coach Jay Martin biography

As promised Red White and Blue Army is here to give you up to date information based on the links we are reading ourselves, provide you with our own opinions, and give you inside information from the experts here in the states that you cannot read anywhere else.

One such expert that will begin a weekly question-and-answer series with our site is Ohio Wesleyan University soccer coach Jay Martin.

Jay is a legendary coach in the college ranks and is currently the active men's Division III winningiest coach with a 548-109-45 record. Amongst his many accomplishments, Jay's teams have won one national title (1998), been to the final four seven times, and been national runner's up twice.

His 548 wins rank fourth all-time in men's college soccer. Jay was also the seventh college coach to reach the 500-win mark, according to records of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and the National Collegiate Athletics Association. Of the six coaches who preceded him to 500 wins, none did so faster than Jay, who reached that milestone in his 29th season at Ohio Wesleyan.

In addition to his remarkable coaching career, Jay served as the Columbus Crew radio "color analyst" for the team's first 11 years. The summer that Greg Andrulis replaced Tom Fitzgerald, Jay also trained the team every day at practice and helped Greg in games. Retiring recently from those posts, Jay has not had any contact with the Crew the last two years.

Two more impressive features on Jay's incredible resume, he has also served soccer with a term as president of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as well as a 6-year stint on the NCAA Division III selection committee, including 4 years as committee chair. And he took over as editor of the NSCAA's The Soccer Journal in January, 2003, becoming the publication's third editor since its establishment in 1950.

Later tonight I will post the first of my two-part interview with Jay, which deals with the U.S. national team. Tomorrow I will post the second part, which deals the MLS.

For more information on Jay Martin's illustrious career in the game of soccer check out the link below:

http://bishops.owu.edu/martin.html