'Newcomer' Taylor keen to shine on MLS stage

Gordon Williams, Gleaner Writer

GEORGIA, United States:

The numbers should never lie. But in the case of Jamaica's national footballer Jermaine Taylor, at least one stat just doesn't add up.

With zero official Major League Soccer games under his belt, Taylor is officially listed as an MLS rookie. That usually means young, raw and inexperienced. In a professional competition like MLS, it translates into a vulnerable target to be exploited by opponents.

But Taylor, just days from his MLS debut with the Houston Dynamo, hardly fits the stereotype.

"I don't think he's a rookie," Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said after Taylor started and played an hour against the Columbus Crew in a preseason loss here last week.

"I think it would be very unkind to him to put a rookie tag on him. He's a newcomer. How's that?"

That suits the veteran international just fine. He understands the label, but doesn't think it fits either.

"It's the first time really getting the chance to play overseas," said the former star with St Georges Sports Club Premier League team in Portland. "... (But) it's just being a rookie in the league for just namesake."

Kinnear and the Dynamo are banking on the "newcomer" to bring stability to the club, especially in defence.

Houston allowed 49 goals in 30 MLS games last year, a huge factor in the team's woeful fortunes that featured only nine wins against 15 losses. That total earned a second-to-last finish in the MLS Western Conference and no play-off berth.

FINDING HIS WAY

Taylor is already starting to find his way.

"I think he's had a very good pre-season with us," said Kinnear.

Yet, against the Crew, Taylor showed he's still catching up. A mistimed challenge from the central defender set striker Andres Mendoza free to score the winner. Two minutes later Taylor bundled over another Crew to earn a caution. A couple times he was loose on his marking of fellow Jamaican Jeff Cunningham, once allowing the St James native and current leading active MLS scorer to slip the ball through his legs with a pass that created another Crew chance at goal.

But for most of the hour he played, it was clear Taylor is moulding into the heart of the Dynamo's defence. He helped organise at the back, used the ball effortlessly and asserted himself on opposing attackers, including Cunningham and Mendoza. Except for the caution, he never seemed rattled.

"I'm not nervous playing against anyone," he said afterwards. "All of us are football players, soccer players. So when I play against anyone, no matter who the name or what the guy might be, I don't really fear anyone."

Taylor has faced many famous names on the pitch, starting from years as a national youth player. In 37 senior internationals he has matched skills with countries such as England, Argentina, the United States, Ecuador and South Africa. He's played World Cup qualifiers and in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

READY

Last December, Taylor was a key member of Jamaica's Digicel Caribbean Cup (DCC) winning team.

During the DCC, Kinnear took closer notice of the 5' 10", 180-pound player and became convinced Taylor could help fix the Dynamo's defensive problems.

"He's played in some big games," the coach said. "So he's not in over his head or overwhelmed by anything here. He's very confident, calm. Good defender."

It appears Taylor is set to make his MLS debut when Houston kick off its season on Saturday. But his road to this point was not easy. Taylor was involved in a well-publicised row with former club Harbour View Football Club (HVFC). He sat out the 2008-09 local premier league season, which forced his return to his hometown club St Georges.

That decision cost him games with Jamaica and painted him as a disruptive force. But back then, Taylor was convinced he had no option.

Today, HVFC said it has no hard feelings towards Taylor. The club believes he was long overdue to break into the overseas professional ranks.

"We're happy for the player," said HVFC general manager Clyde Jureidini. "We thought Jermaine should have been playing overseas three years ago. And we think he deserves the opportunity to play internationally at the highest level, both for club and country."

The feud could have halted Taylor's professional career permanently. And, while he admitted a few years ago he regretted some of the fallout from the incident, like HVFC, Taylor has moved on.

"I don't have any problems, I'm good," he said of his step up to a higher professional level.

DOOR

At age 26, Taylor understands that MLS is the door he cannot afford to close on him.

"This is the chance and so I just have to grab on to it and do my best," he said.

So far, Houston is pleased. Taylor, assisted by former HVFC and current national teammate, Lovel Palmer, has fit in well with his team.

Palmer, currently in his second year with the Texas-based club, has been keen to show the "newcomer" the ropes. Yet, he also understands that, when it comes to football, Taylor has the handle.

"I wouldn't compare Jermaine as a rookie," said Palmer laughing, "because Jermaine has been playing international football for quite some time.

"... They love him (at the Dynamo) and he's fitting in well because he's been around ... . I never really had a doubt and I still have no doubt that Jermaine will do well here."

Palmer does offer key reminders: "I just like say 'Jermaine, don't (be) late. Just make we keep the (Jamaican) flag high'."

It's advice Taylor should heed. He has set goals, including trying to make the MLS All-Stars team and helping Houston to the play-offs in 2011. Yet, despite his experience, the step up from the local Digicel Premier League to MLS can be tricky. The player has taken notice.

"It's a pretty much more faster pace now," he said of the league's playing style. "... (But) I can adapt to any kind of situation; the type of game playing, the type of style of play. So, there's nothing much to it."

Kinnear wants Taylor to be more vocal on the field.

"I think sometimes he can talk a little bit more," the coach said, "be a little bit more loud on the field ... It's important to be a big voice back there."

Yet, Kinnear believes the player will adapt quickly.

"(Taylor's) gonna learn as he goes," he said, "because it's different forwards, different style of play."

For Taylor, there are other adjustments to be made as well. It's already clear that habits from home don't work in MLS.

"With the pro level comes a lot of discipline," Taylor explained. "Back home in Jamaica there isn't much discipline in terms of, you know, staff among players and players among players and all that stuff."

Rookie or newcomer, he knows the chance to shine as a pro has come.

"It's just my time now to just go showcase my talent," Taylor said.