by Jeff Dieffenbach
The US MNT player pool contains a solid lot of dynamic young offensive talent, both established (e.g., DaMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan, Clint Mathis, Josh Wolff) and up and coming (e.g., Bobby Convey,
Ben Olsen, and Santino Quaranta). For all the skills of this fine group, however, none appears ready to succeed Brian McBride as a strong airborne force.
Except perhaps one. Consider Taylor Twellman and the parallels to McBride’s rise.
| US MNT Air Force: Current and Future? |
| Brian McBride |
Attribute |
Taylor Twellman |
6' 0"
175 pounds |
Size |
5' 11"
170 pounds |
Physically strong,
Skilled in the air |
Style |
Physically strong,
Skilled in the air |
St. Louis
University |
St. Louis
connection |
St. Louis
native |
Parade
All-American |
High school
laurels |
Two-time Parade
All-American |
Before joining MLS,
2 years with German side
Vfl Wolfsberg |
European
pedigree |
Before joining MLS,
2 years with German side
TSV 1860 Munich |
1996 inaugural draft
first overall pick |
MLS
arrival |
2002 SuperDraft
second overall pick |
17 goals, 3 assists,
2-time Player of the Week |
MLS debut
season |
23 goals, 6 assists,
2-time Player of the Week |
Cap: March 1993
Goal: November 1996 |
First cap
First MNT goal |
Cap: November 2002
Goal: TBD |
In three outings with the MNT, Twellman is yet to exhibit the flair-in-the-air that carried him to the top of the scoring table in MLS 2002. Nonetheless, he hopes he’s won another chance to impress in the March 29 friendly against Japan. His similarity to McBride no doubt has helped him catch the eye of coach Arena.
More than a year before meeting on the pitch in the 2002 MLS campaign, McBride and Twellman nearly almost crossed paths in February of 2001. Twellman’s TSV 1860 Munich side hosted a McBride-less Columbus Crew. Twellman took full advantage of the spotlight, poking home the only goal in a 1-0 win.
Barring an extension of McBride’s highly successful stint with Everton in the English Premiership, the pair will likely meet again in the Revolution’s home opener on April 19th. While the elder striker’s career is far from done, look carefully at the beginning of the changing of the guard.
