Why so much negativity for Union's Ruiz?

Thursday, May 26, 2011
Posted: 11:11 a.m.
By Dave ZeitlinCSNPhilly.com Contributor

CHESTER, Pa.Perhaps the only thing more impressive than the ridiculously stunning 40-yard, left-footed half-volley Carlos Ruiz scored in Saturdays 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire is how ridiculously underwhelmed the Philadelphia Union striker has been by all the commotion surrounding it.

When the game ended, he admitted there was some luck involved in scoring the wonder goal. And as some Union fans continue to watch the video of it over and over and over again, Ruiz said Wednesday hes seen the highlight only one timeon SportsCenters Top Ten Plays.

So why is he not showing much interest?

Like I say before, I really dont live for what people say, Ruiz said. I dont read any comments. In the beginning of my career, I was like that. But after that, I learned when things are going good, everyone is going to talk good. And when things are going bad, everyone is going to talk bad.

Its probably just as well Ruiz isnt paying attention to what people are saying about himbecause its doubtful hed like it. Ever since the Guatemalan striker signed with the Union in the off-season, it seems, fans have targeted him as the primary culprit for the clubs offensive struggles.

Theyve called him lazy. Theyve said hes not worth the money. Theyve even questioned why hes needed on the team, considering how good forwards Sebastien Le Toux and Danny Mwanga were last season and how mediocre theyve been this year as they try to mesh with the new acquisition up top.

While Ruiz has turned a deaf ear on all of these harsh words, Peter Nowak has not. And the Union manager believes the criticisms are unfair, unfounded and unwarranted.

I think weve been very fortunate to bring him here, to have him playing on our team, Nowak said. Hes still capable of doing many little things that are not really visible.And I dont really understand some of the critics or whatever saying hes a one-dimensional player. Carlos has his game and his way of doing certain things, but I can tell you that he is great every day in practice and great every day in the clubhouse. Weve been very happy and pleased with the work hes put in over the past five months.

Its hard to argue with Nowak here. Blaming Ruiz for Le Toux and Mwangas early-season struggles seems misguided at best, and calling him lazy is certainly subjective. Besides, good strikers have the leeway to slack off at times, so long as they pick their spots and pounce on good scoring chances. And Ruiz, one of the top 10 goal-scorers in Major League Soccer history, has proved time and again he can do just that.

Simply put, the 31-year-old Guatemalan knows how to score goalsand as Saturdays game showed, he knows how to score goals in stunning, unpredictable fashion.

You can never count him out, Union defender Danny Califf said. It doesnt matter how many balls he loses, it doesnt matter whats going on in the game. Hes always a threat. At any time, he can score a goal. Thats a big pressure to put on a defense.

If Ruiz wasnt producing at all or was a problem in the locker room, perhaps the criticisms lobbed against him would seem more warranted. But the striker leads the team with three goals (two of which have been game-winners) and, by many accounts, has been a good leader in the locker room, both by words and example.

Day after day in practices, he will show us things weve never seen before, rookie Michael Farfan said. So for him to get one of those goals, it isnt a surprise to me.

It wasnt a surprise to Nowak either, who said hes seen Ruiz score other wonder goals like the one he scored Saturday, both on YouTube and in person. Naturally, then, the Union manger dismisses the idea that the goal was a fluke.

Whatever he says, I think he meant to do it, Nowak said, before later adding: Hes capable of doing these things. Its why hes so dangerousbecause of these surprise moments. No one suspects hes going to pull something like that out of his sleeve, and then all of a sudden it happens.

Is there room to improve? Certainly. Ruiz has said time and again he needs to find a way to better blend with Le Toux, the teams leading scorer from a year ago. And this week, the Guatemalan admitted he has to score at a higher pace for a team that is still tied for last in the league in goals.

Personally, I think more goals have to come for sure and I have to work harder and harder every day and every game to try to help my team win games, Ruiz said. My job is to work hard for the team and to score goals. I hope in the next game, Ill be more helpful and try to score more goals.

That next gamea Saturday afternoon affair vs. Toronto FCwill be Ruizs last chance for a while to score for the Union. After that, the Guatemalan will join his national team for the Gold Cup and could miss anywhere between two and five club games.

Perhaps when hes gone, the same fans that were ripping Ruiz will realize what theyre missing.
Dave Zeitlin covers the Union for MLSsoccer.com and writes a weekly Union column for CSNPhilly.com. You can e-mail him at djzeitlin@gmail.com.

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