CARSON, Calif. -- Gyasi Zardes' promising first eight months with the US national team has whetted fan excitement and raised expectations for the 24-year-old attacker.
His club coach isn't buying in, not yet.
Zardes has started 12 and played in 15 of the Yanks' 16 games this year, contributing two goals and four assists and emerging as something of a force on the flank. It somewhat mirrors his rise last season with the LA Galaxy, and some observers appear ready to anoint the Southern California product as something special going forward.
“Gyasi's making progress, yeah, but a game, a season, is not a career,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, a former US national team boss, said this week during the buildup to LA's home clash Saturday night against the Montreal Impact (10:30 pm ET; MLS Live). “For all of these young players, everyone in our country overreacts, because we've not had enough good players. When there's a hint someone will be good, everyone overreacts.
“So I'd say in the case of Gyasi, as would be the case with other players in his category - where they're young and just kind of starting their professional career -- my advice it to give it time. Don't draw any conclusions over one season or one game. Let's see what happens over time.”
Zardes, who won his first national team call-up in January following a breakout, 16-goal campaign as the Galaxy marched to the MLS Cup title, doesn't disagree.
“That's what I'm working on: consistency,” he said following Thursday morning's training session at StubHub Center. “I know that as a young player, you have good game, bad game, good game, bad game. But I'm trying to grow and be more consistent.”
Teammates rave about Zardes' skill and, more so, his mentality and desire to absorb from the more experienced players around him, and his mostly steady play for the Galaxy and the national team bodes well for what's to come.
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“He's improving. The line is going this way, which is good,” Arena said, motioning with his hand a steady rise. “It's not that” -- he motions up and down and up and down -- “it's either flat or going up a little bit so that's good. ... I'd say he's past 'raw,' but he's got a way to go. He'll get there.”
Zardes, as he has with every step forward since signing as a Homegrown Player with LA just before the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, is taking it all in stride. When it's suggested he's become an automatic selection -- and starter -- for Jurgen Klinsmann, he demurs.
“I'm thankful to always get called into the camps,” he said. “I try to take these opportunities seriously and learn as much as I can from the coaches and the players. ... Nothing's guaranteed, you know? Nothing's guaranteed. Another person could be called up, and another person could have your spot. So I'm just trying to work hard every chance I get.”
Zardes, who was targeted by clubs in Belgium and England before the European transfer window closed last week, is a natural forward, his preferred position, but he's played on the wing more often for the national team and for the Galaxy since Giovani Dos Santos' arrival. Arena says the best spot for him “remains to be seen” and that he will continue playing wide and up top with LA.
Arena notes Zardes needs to be “a little cleaner with his first touch and a little better in the penalty area,” and the youngster says he's “trying to work on everything.” That work is paying off.
“Once you have that mentality, to keep [learning always], you're only going to get better,” Galaxy captain Robbie Keane said. “Certainly someone like him. He's a good kid, he's always willing to listen, always wants to learn, and he's certainly improved a helluva lot."
Arena preaches patience.
“Steven Gerrard did it for 18 years. Robbie Keane did it for 18 years,” Arena said. “Those are guys that you can label as big-time players and successful players. Our young guys need a lot more time and experience."
