Robbie Rogers Wants To Go To China...

Columbus Crew left midfielder, Robbie Rogers, is leading his team to the top of MLS and wants to prove a point. He didn't get to help the US qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics but his early season form should help punch a ticket to China this summer. U-23 coach Nowak can not afford to ignore 5 goals in his first 7 starts, especially when wing play was one of the poorest parts of the team that qualified.

For those who didn't realize, Robbie Rogers is an American college product. He spent his freshman season with the Maryland Terrapins and won the 2005 NCAA championship. As a freshman he started 20 games, played 1,400 minutes, scored 7 goals and made 5 assists. Those are some solid numbers for a freshman on the best team in the country. For fun, take a look at who else was on that championship team. Yeah, Maryland knows how to produce pros.

Rogers decided to go to Holland in 2006 before his Sophomore season and signed a professional deal with SC Heerenveen. He signed the same year Michael Bradley joined the Dutch club. Fortunately for the Crew and MLS Rogers decided to boomerang back to The States and signed with the league in early 2007. The Crew got his rights through a special draft.

The 2007 season was tough for the Crew and Rogers. In 10 appearances he scored 3 goals and made 1 assist. A lot of American soccer fans asked the question, what makes this kid so special? Robbie is showing what makes him so special. Did you see his goal from this weekend's match that is nominated for Goal Of The Week? It was pure clinical finishing expected from a late twenties marksman, not a 21 year old kid. (By the way, Happy Birthday to Robbie! Today happens to be his 21st birthday. No, I didn't plan that.) By the way, to celebrate the big occasion Robbie decided to score two goals over the weekend, one of which tied the game and one that put his team ahead.

Rogers didn't find European success but he's back to prove skeptics wrong. He's winning games for the Crew, will undoubtedly feature in the American quest for Olympic gold and will probably get another chance to play abroad if he wants to. Who knows, maybe he'll develop a Landon Donovan Been There, Done That kind of attitude and will dominate MLS instead. I look forward to watching this young American develop.