Naess makes foes respect deep passes
Give Nicolai Naess a few feet to himself outside the center circle, and there’s a chance the ball will be on a Crew attacking player’s foot in a few seconds.
In the 11th minute of a 2-0 victory over the New England Revolution on Saturday, the 24-year-old from Norway took a touch, looked down the field and scorched a deep ball between two defenders, hitting forward Ola Kamara in stride.
Kamara shot high and wide — he scored two minutes later — but Naess made it clear the Revolution would have to respect his deep ball.
“I think I was just born with it. I don’t know for sure, but I have had the passing foot my whole life,” Naess said Monday. “When I was younger, I went down to the pitch and shot on goal and made passes and tried to make those hard, long passes. I just practiced it since I was a young kid.”
Midfielder/defender Hector Jimenez said he often jokes with Naess, comparing his ball-striking with that of a famous former teammate.
“I’ve seen few people that can deliver that ball. I joke with him that when I was playing with David (Beckham), he would hit the ball like that,” Jimenez said. “He’s got one of the best long balls in the league, and it helps out our team when we play like that.”
Despite facing more pressure from New England in the second half, Naess made six successful long passes, and, perhaps more importantly, performed the job asked of him by coach Gregg Berhalter: Bombard the Revolution with diagonal balls from a central position to a point where his leg became sore.
Saturday was a demonstration of Naess’ versatility. After playing center back for the first nine games, he joined Wil Trapp in the central midfield, taking on a role he played just a few times last season.
Midfielder Artur returned to training Tuesday but remains questionable for a game tonight against Toronto FC at Mapfre Stadium as he recovers from surgery to repair a broken left wrist.
Has outscored opponents 8-2 during a four-game win streak. … A 2-1 loss to the Crew on April 15 is Toronto FC’s only loss in 10 games. … Forward Jozy Altidore has six goals and three assists in nine
It’s unclear how soon the young Brazilian will return to the lineup, but in the meantime, players such as Naess and Trapp, who pushed The Crew will be without coach Gregg Berhalter (one-game suspension) but will hope to start with energy like it did in a 2-0 win over New England on Saturday. Has the Crew finally kicked its month-long habit of allowing the first goal? How much will sitting Sebastian Giovinco and Victor Vazquez against Seattle over the weekend help Toronto? For those who play two games in five days, expect heavy legs. further up the field into the central midfield position normally occupied by Artur, provide flexibility.
“It’s important, it takes some workload,” Berhalter said. “We’re thin in midfield right now, central midfield, so it’s helpful to have (Naess).”
The Crew has primarily needed Naess at center back since it signed him last July, but his ability to play two positions is one reason why the team sought him last when summer, signing him from Stabaek in Norway.
“We thought he could play two positions. We identified him as being able to play center back or central midfield and I think in this game in particular against New England, we targeted him in that position for his passing,” Berhalter said.
“I think he did a good job.”
Regardless of what that job is over the next couple weeks, Naess said he will be ready.
“I’ll come into training and wherever (Berhalter) puts me on the field I just have to think quick and be ready to do the work,” Naess said.