Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Starting still Alberg’s priority
Dutch midfielder looks to put supersub role to rest
“I want to play every game, even if it’s a friendly. My mindset is I want to play every game, every competitive game. I’m motivated and it’s what I said, I’m excited for the season and I’m going to show myself.” – Union’s Roland Alberg
CHESTER >> It was June 18 in Yankee Stadium, after Roland Alberg finally scored his first MLS goal in his 11th game with the Philadelphia Union, that the Dutch midfielder unapologetically stated his intention for the remainder of the season.
I came here to play, Alberg told the assembled media in so many words, disavowing a stretch of four straight substitute appearances that saw him play just 15 minutes in two months.
That assertion hasn’t changed, and rather than meeting the depth-chart resistance it did last year, Alberg’s ability to establish himself as the full-time No. 10 in the Union’s rotation is vital to their 2017 aspirations.
“I want to play every game, even if it’s a friendly,” Alberg said Friday. “My mindset is I want to play every game, every competitive game. I’m motivated and it’s what I said, I’m excited for the season and I’m going to show myself.”
Alberg required a few months to get up to speed last year, as many foreign imports do. But then he went on a tear, coinciding with Vincent Nogueira’s departure for France. He scored five goals in a week in June and his tally grew to eight by the end of July. The arrival of Alejandro Bedoya in August limited Alberg to just two starts the rest of the season, and both of his goals from Aug. 1 on came in substitute appearances.
Admirable as his super sub role was, Alberg is looking to shed that tag.
That’s borne of necessity with the Union squad. Alberg
enters preseason as the only player among 23 under contract with bona fide credentials as a No. 10. Other possibilities include Bedoya playing slightly out of position, but that would expose an arguably thinner central midfield corps, at least until the return of Maurice Edu. Attacking midfielders in camp include fourth-round SuperDraft pick Santi Moar and trialist/Red Bull Academy product Adam Najem, neither of whom are near ready to fill the shoes of Tranquillo Barnetta.
So that leaves Alberg, who played 28 games last season but started just 13. The limited minutes heighten the impressiveness of his nine goals and three assists.
Combining the benefits
of a more consistent run of games with Alberg having endured the pains of MLS acclimation seems to favor his chances of building on a strong debut season (which, after all, was the second most prolific ever for a Union midfielder in the scoring department, trailing only Chris Pontius).
That begins with a full preseason, which Alberg lacked last year with his deal from Dutch club ADO Den Haag sealed Feb. 4.
“To be honest, preseason is always hard,” Alberg said. “You have to train a lot, get yourself going and going every day, two times a day sometimes. But it’s good. I’m so happy to be back in Philly. I’m excited for the season, I’m ready for it.”
The soccer dynamics of the offseason were novel for Alberg, who said he took three to four weeks completely off before resuming workouts with a personal trainer. That’s a longer hiatus than he’s ever known in Holland. Alberg and his girlfriend also welcomed their first child Dec. 15.
That seemed a fitting capstone to a year of extreme change. But having absorbed those lessons on the field and succeeded nonetheless, Alberg has reason to be bullish about the future.
“Last year, everything was new for me — the traveling, the guys, the way they play, because we play different in Europe,” Alberg said. “This year, I’m ready for it and I’m going to show myself.”