Look Good Play Good: Xavi O'Neil Bringing Style To Vermont
Look Good Play Good: Xavi O'Neil Bringing Style To Vermont
"I know cleats are cleats but just wearing those, I don't know it gives me some sort of like adrenaline boost or playstyle boost.”
Deion Sanders coined the phrase “If you look good, you feel good, and if you feel good, you play good.” Wingers in soccer and cornerbacks in football might have a thing or two in common.
Similar to Sanders, Vermont Green FC forward Xavi O’Neil brings flair and style to the game. He shows reckless abandon when attacking opponents and seems to have the ball on a string when maneuvering it past defenders.
He's great,” head coach Adam Pfeifer said. He's all action, a lot of movement, he's really active. You know, we'd like him to even demand the ball and run at people even more than he has been. He's only got one year of college experience so far so he's still developing. He's going to be a really good player.”
Pfeifer used to play with Boston College head coach Bob Thompson and recruited O’Neil to play for The Green. Ever since the winger has been in Burlington, O’Neil has had an amazing experience.
O’Neil first honed his craft playing for D.C. United’s Academy. He just completed his freshman year at Boston College where he tallied an assist.
But O’Neil’s confidence on the ball makes you think that he is a seasoned veteran. The winger believes that he can win any one-v-one battle (I would pay to see O’Neil and Reid Fisher go at it during training).
“I take pride in my one-v-one’s,” the winger told The Blazing Musket. “That's the most enjoyable part of my game. I like to take players on and no matter what, if I if I lose one, cool, I'm gonna go again with the same confidence again but that’s is my favorite part. Obviously scoring goals and assisting and creating chances is also important too.”
Now here is where O’Neil’s story takes an interesting turn. Thanks to
who recently graduated from BC, we got word that O’Neil was the only player from his college side not to wear New Balance cleats (NB sponsors BC).While some might argue that the player controlling the boot is more important than the type of boot, O’Neil says that his Nikes give him a boost out on the pitch.
“So cleats play a big role in my play,” the winger said. “I like to be flashy and I think Nike, especially mercurials are like a flashy boot, with the likes of Ronaldo, Vinicius Jr., and Mbappe, players like that they're wearing the Nikes. I know cleats are cleats but just wearing those, I don't know it gives me some sort of like adrenaline boost or playstyle boost.”
As long as O’Neil keeps scoring goals and causing chaos on the wing, he can wear any brand of cleats that he wants.