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Reliable Simms Took Unusual Path To MLS
Clyde Simms was one of the few positives for a beleaguered D.C. United squad last year. He'll need to repeat those performances for United to succeed this season, says Goal.com's Steven Streff.
Mar 22, 2009 11:51:46 PM
By Steven Streff
For D.C. United, consistency was a problem that plagued the entire team in 2008. Injuries and inconsistent play caused the team to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Couple that with disappointments in the CONCACAF Champions League and SuperLiga, and the only bright spot for the team was the U.S. Open Cup victory in an underwhelming season for one of the flagship teams in MLS.
But one of the positive revelations to come out of the season was the emergence of defensive midfielder Clyde Simms. Simms, who joined the team in 2005, started every league game for United, and played 2,967 of the 2,700 minutes in the league. He also set the record for most minutes played by a United player, logging 3,847 minutes in 45 appearances in all competitions.
Such consistency helped United with the success that they did enjoy. His presence on the field helped replace the loss of Ben Olsen, who was out for the season with ankle problems. Although United conceded too many goals throughout the season, Simms did his part to help prevent even more, and contributed with a few rare goals as well.
Season Preparations
The 2009 season has already started differently for DC United, with the team not having to worry about preparing for the Champions League, due to their failure to progress from the group stages. With that, United was able to ease into their preseason training, which according to Simms, “was a much better situation” because of fewer injuries that the club has had.
Without the rush of trying to prepare for games before the MLS season even began, Simms said, “we were able to ease into things a little bit more, and we were not in a hurry to get into game shape”. This year, that could be the difference between a successful start to the MLS season, or slow, season condemning start.
In the team's first match of the season, Simms started alongside the recovering Olsen in a midfield tandem that helped United take early control of the match against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Eventually, the team had to settle for an away draw as a late Landon Donovan brace tied up the score in the last ten minutes.
Route to the MLS
Simms is entering his fifth season in the MLS, all with United. But his route to the MLS was a road less traveled. Simms played at East Carolina University, before making the roster for the Richmond Kickers in the United Soccer League. Simms was then called in to the national team during a dispute between the regular national team players and the U.S. Soccer Federation. The conflict was resolved, and most of the players in that camp left, as the regulars were brought in.
But then-coach Bruce Arena kept Simms in camp and alerted D.C. United about the player's abilities. United placed a discovery claim on Simms, and eventually signed him. Simms played once for Arena and the national team, against England in 2005, but has never been called up since.
However, Simms remains focused on his play with United, and admittedly says that the national team is “one of the things that I try not to think about too much”. Simms is also grateful for the lucky breaks that have fallen his way since his college days, as he said that, “I did not think I was going to be playing professionally anywhere actually.” Several years down the road now, however, and he is one of the most important players to D.C. United.
If United are to have a successful season in 2009, it will depend largely on the consistency of Simms.
Steven Streff is a contributor to Goal.com
For D.C. United, consistency was a problem that plagued the entire team in 2008. Injuries and inconsistent play caused the team to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2002. Couple that with disappointments in the CONCACAF Champions League and SuperLiga, and the only bright spot for the team was the U.S. Open Cup victory in an underwhelming season for one of the flagship teams in MLS.
But one of the positive revelations to come out of the season was the emergence of defensive midfielder Clyde Simms. Simms, who joined the team in 2005, started every league game for United, and played 2,967 of the 2,700 minutes in the league. He also set the record for most minutes played by a United player, logging 3,847 minutes in 45 appearances in all competitions.
Such consistency helped United with the success that they did enjoy. His presence on the field helped replace the loss of Ben Olsen, who was out for the season with ankle problems. Although United conceded too many goals throughout the season, Simms did his part to help prevent even more, and contributed with a few rare goals as well.
Season Preparations
The 2009 season has already started differently for DC United, with the team not having to worry about preparing for the Champions League, due to their failure to progress from the group stages. With that, United was able to ease into their preseason training, which according to Simms, “was a much better situation” because of fewer injuries that the club has had.
Without the rush of trying to prepare for games before the MLS season even began, Simms said, “we were able to ease into things a little bit more, and we were not in a hurry to get into game shape”. This year, that could be the difference between a successful start to the MLS season, or slow, season condemning start.
In the team's first match of the season, Simms started alongside the recovering Olsen in a midfield tandem that helped United take early control of the match against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Eventually, the team had to settle for an away draw as a late Landon Donovan brace tied up the score in the last ten minutes.
Route to the MLS
Simms is entering his fifth season in the MLS, all with United. But his route to the MLS was a road less traveled. Simms played at East Carolina University, before making the roster for the Richmond Kickers in the United Soccer League. Simms was then called in to the national team during a dispute between the regular national team players and the U.S. Soccer Federation. The conflict was resolved, and most of the players in that camp left, as the regulars were brought in.
But then-coach Bruce Arena kept Simms in camp and alerted D.C. United about the player's abilities. United placed a discovery claim on Simms, and eventually signed him. Simms played once for Arena and the national team, against England in 2005, but has never been called up since.
However, Simms remains focused on his play with United, and admittedly says that the national team is “one of the things that I try not to think about too much”. Simms is also grateful for the lucky breaks that have fallen his way since his college days, as he said that, “I did not think I was going to be playing professionally anywhere actually.” Several years down the road now, however, and he is one of the most important players to D.C. United.
If United are to have a successful season in 2009, it will depend largely on the consistency of Simms.
Steven Streff is a contributor to Goal.com
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