I don’t want to seem like a toffee-nosed hater who criticizes U.S. soccer from behind a cathode-ray-fortress. But when I feel so strongly about something that seems painfully obvious to me, and about which nobody else complains, I feel a civic duty to raise awareness about the issue.

The issue: Frankie Hejduk might start again at right back for this weekend’s qualifier against El Salvador.

Hejduk, maybe the chillest dude on the National Team, doesn't exactly play with the same style

“What’s the problem?” You might say. “Hejduk is a veteran defender. He’s played in two World Cups. As John Harkes says, ‘He’s one of those great locker room guys.’ He’s one of the best on-the-ball defenders we have. He has the best work rate on the team. He was nails against Mexico.”

All of these things are true. I recognize that Hejduk has played a valuable role as a glue-guy on the National team for years. He still runs his pants off. In a way, he represents the larger evolution of American soccer over the past decade – from a laughing stock on the world scene to one of the stingiest, hardest-working teams in the world. I like the guy. I like his gritty, yet surfer-chic style. I like his tenacious tackling. I was pumped for him when he scored a deserving, championship-sealing goal for the Crew in the MLS Cup by making a tireless run into the box from his own half. I was pumped for his tenacious performance against Mexico a few weeks ago in front of his home Columbus fans.

Hejduk has deserved his National Team starts in the past. He was the best, and right, man for the job. And I think he still has more to give Columbus fans. But how is Hejduk still our No. 1 choice for right back on the National Team? How?

Here’s my completely unbiased scouting report on Frankie. What he does well: Run, tackle. What he doesn’t do well: trap, pass, long balls, dribble, possess the ball, basically any skill that involves a ball at his feet.

Again, he really does seem like a pretty cool dude. I’d like to hang out with him and drink a few beers. Or, as this US Access Video suggests, maybe a latte…or ten.

On this note, Hejduk says he drinks “8-10” cups of coffee a day. I’m not sure if he’s kidding or not. Somehow I don’t think he is. He plays exactly like you would expect a player who just downed eight caffeine shots to play – flying all over the field, jittery, ball springing off his feet to send him diving after it with a slide tackle.

I’m no physiotherapist, but maybe all this coffee consumption does a lot to explain the U.S.’s, or at least Hejduk’s, chronic lack of touch, calmness on the ball, and attacking awareness.

The U.S. has extremely limited options on defense, and no youngster has stood out enough to replace Hejduk. But how long are we going to stick with Frankie? The Gold Cup? 2010? 2014? Where is Spector? How about the ever-versatile Bornstein at right back? Marvell Wynne might have a worse first touch than Frankie, but he is just as fast and tenacious on-the-ball.

Compared to most European and South American teams out there, the U.S. has the luxurious option to take some risks with personnel while still maintaining a high probability of qualifying.

Qualifying in CONCACAF isn’t a cakewalk. I’m just saying, U.S. soccer has had its caffeine injection. We’re awake. We’re trying. We’re serious. Thank you, Frankie.

How about we develop better soccer players now, even if we have to start playing our green horns in big games. Is there a better way?

Hejduk’s goal (2:20) was awesome. Was it also the luckiest goal scored in the MLS last year?

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