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DeMerit ready to have another strong tournament

Jay DeMerit 7 (John ToddISIphotos)

photo by John Todd/ISIphotos.com

 

By FRANCO PANIZO

If there is one word that best describes Jay DeMerit, it is opportunistic.

DeMerit has enjoyed a strong year for the U.S. national team, going from the fringes of the national team radar to cementing a starting role in last summer's Confederations Cup, but it was his performance as a second-half substitute that started it all.

Having come from behind to take a 2-1 lead against Honduras in an important World Cup qualifier last June, the United States took a hit when Carlos Bocanegra suffered a hamstring injury. To replace the injured captain, head coach Bob Bradley inserted DeMerit, who played defensively stout for the final 19 minutes of the match to help the U.S. to three points.

DeMerit's performance that night, coupled with Bocanegra's injury, saw him claim a starting role in the opening matches of the Confederations Cup. His toughness and tenacity in the tournament's three group stage matches did enough to convince Bradley to keep him in the lineup when Bocanegra recovered from his knock for the semifinals tilt against then-number one ranked Spain, a game the United States shockingly won 2-0.

"It's been great," said DeMerit of his time with the U.S. this past year. "For me, and guys in my situation, it's always about opportunities. Last summer was the first real opportunity I had to step in and play a bigger role on this team."

DeMerit missed out on a chance to build on his stellar summer when he suffered a freak injury to his right eye in September while on duty with his club, Watford. DeMerit was sidelined for much of the first half of the season, but a rare surgery allowed him to resume playing by December.

DeMerit returned in time to regain his starting role and play in most of Watford's games in the second half of the Championship season, but he revealed on Tuesday that his eye has not fully healed yet.

"I'm not back to full vision at the moment," said DeMerit. "I've had a couple small procedures just toward the end of the season back in London. Hopefully in the next couple weeks it will slowly be improving. Is it going to be 100 percent perfect? No, not at the moment."

Even with his eye issue, DeMerit returned to the international fold after a six-month hiatus in the U.S. teams friendly against the Netherlands on March 3, and he looked every bit as good as he did in South Africa last summer. He was one of the bright spots for the Americans in their 2-1 loss, playing against a strong Dutch attack that featured quality attackers Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder.

Since that performance, DeMerit has helped Watford climb out of the drop zone and avoid relegation. He will head into this summer as a free agent, with Watford having new plans to sign him to a new contract.

Another strong performance in a summer tournament could help DeMerit land a lucrative new deal, but he could also limit his opportunities if he struggles. Despite everything he has riding on the World Cup, DeMerit is looking forward to the chance to show his performances last summer were no fluke.

"I don't look at (this summer) as a pressure situation, I look at it as an opportunity situation," said DeMerit. "For me it's something that excites me, and something that I really look forward to."

Comments

  1. Jay is probably the best one on one defender on the USMNT. He is technically very sound and it doesn’t hurt that he is rough and fearless. If he could just do a bit better with his passing he would be top class because he brings a ferocity and intensity to defense that I don’t see in any other USMNT defender.

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  2. Agreed, I think his technical side and the fact that he’s not getting any younger won’t draw amny EPL suitors.

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  3. Someone above said it.. Jay is a tank a bull dog.. a plug in the D. But he has little composure and can’t pass. A little bit the opposite of Spector. We need him in the starting lineup clogging it up. It’s where we are right now.. but we need others around him to hold the ball or counter quickly.

    I see him as a great signing for Leeds or like team or a pretty good one as the third CB on a newly promoted club that will be playing a lot of bunker down ball.

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  4. What’s wrong with being a defender on a bottom half team? Matthew Upson from West Ham was in Capello’s preliminary.

    No one is saying he’s going to be Vidic or Vermaelen, or even Michael Dawsonn. But any teams looking to add some depth to their back line would be willing to take a chance on a player like DeMerit, especially on a free transfer.

    It’s not unrealistic to think that a team wouldn’t pay him a modest salary to come in and contest for a starting spot, because at the very worst you’re signing a dependable backup (if you don’t agree with that, then you don’t agree with this entire article).

    I think if he was as bad as you’re making him sound, it wouldn’t be as costly or impossible to resign him as Watford make it seem. He definitely isn’t WORSE than Watford-quality.

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  5. That sounds about right.

    But with a strong cup and free transfer Jay could get a sniff at first team action in France or Germany, as a Boca or Dolo successor.

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  6. The DeMerit and Gooch CB combo is our best option right now against the big teams. I could see that combo being broken up against Algeria though. But against Czechs, Turks, and Limeys I think they are the best pairing.

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  7. No, he didn’t have a strong season when he was in the EPL. That’s just false. He didn’t embarrass himself, but it wasn’t a strong season. He has had some good performances for the US, which is great, but a few good performances for the US does not make him a star or EPL quality. You have to be realistic. People haven’t been beating down the door at Watford over the past few years to sign him. Take a closer look at his Watford performances this year. They weren’t great, and Watford barely survived the drop. Watford fans will always appreciate what he did for them in the past, but they aren’t going to miss him much.

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  8. My thought exactly! I guessed “no” as well. From what I judged, JD wanted to test the open waters after the World Cup. Some Watford fans aren’t too excited by his “lack of loyalty.”

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  9. You’re telling me beautiful (I’m assuming) women are attracted to star power and fame?

    I am SHOCKED, I tell you! That’s a cool experience for your friend.

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  10. Wow, that’s an interesting statement to want to repeat, considering he played a strong season in the EPL on a subpar team a few years ago. So you’re ignoring a good season in the toughest league in the world and great performances against Spain, Brazil, and the Netherlands?

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  11. Being from WI one of my friends was Jay’s teammate. A few years ago, the season before they promoted to the EPL, Jay flew my friend out to London. When they’d go out, he was acknowledged but not smothered. A year later when Jay’s goal secured promotion, he flew out my friend again and he told me that they’d go out to London clubs in limos with chicks throwing themselves at Jay and his teammates.

    Pretty funny what just a year can do…

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  12. I remember watching a Watford/MU game a couple years ago when Watford was in the EPL and DeMerit was a beast despite losing (forgot score,but Rooney didn’t score) and Rooney and Jay having mutual respect for each other.

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  13. Right sounds like Jay will be less than 100% through Cup. Not ideal for sure but hopefully he can play through it.

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  14. If he’s on an EPL roster next year, it will be a bottom half team and he won’t be playing much. Hey, I hope he has a good WC, but let’s not be unrealistic about the guy, he’s a solid Championship level defender, nothing more.

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  15. At best he’s cover for a lower half EPL team. Jay has had some good performances for the USMNT, but he’s really a Championship level defender.

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  16. I love this guy. There will always be a spot for him on my team. But his vision not being 100% is a little unsettling. Hopefully it will not affect his performance.

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  17. I love Jay Demerit, and would love to see the Demerit/Gooch combo with Boca on the outside on the 12th. He has the tenacity and will of a guy like Franky, only much more under control and patient…

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  18. We expect different things from him than an EPLA team would of their defenders. We’re fine with the steal and kick the ball as hard as you can up the field whereas in the EPL, as a defender you’re expected to also contribute to starting attacks and keeping possession.

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  19. I like the Gooch/DeMerit combo too, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

    A side with Wayne Rooney will give any backline problems, not the other way around.

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  20. I hope he continues his strong form as a bruiser in the back. This allows the option for Bocanegra at left back…which is a crucial option to have.

    If Bob does try to put someone at left back who can get into the attack, who does he leave off at center???

    tough decision, good problem.

    We have to keep all 3 of those guys healthy, they are integral to our success.

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  21. I just like how scrappy DeMerit is. He seems to channel a little a bit of McBride’s style of totally disregarding his physical well-being when going in for challenges. Granted, they play different positions, but the blue-collar, anything for the team attitude is definitely there with Jay.

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  22. A DeMerit, Gooch combo will cause England problems. I hope Gooch is healthy and can contribute. Nothing wrong with bunkering -if we do it right we can get a point of those Red Coats!

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  23. A must have in our starting line up. With him and Gooch there, teams find it almost impossible to break us down in our 18… Bunker Bob!!

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