Searching for the Free - Summer 2010
by Dave Clark on Jul 18, 2010 11:14 AM PDT
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PrintUPDATE: MLS has added nearly a dozen already, to include Henry and Nkufo. Not everyone is in the post-peak time period. The new Fire DP is a Mexican National only age 26.
UPDATE: 7/18 Mahamadou Diarra is about to be released by Real Madrid. Newcastle United is looking at him, which indicates a price point that an MLS team could hit. He is a defensive midfielder who has played in a two CDM systems like the 4-2-3-1, as well as the lone CM in a 4-3-3.
We continue the search for a Free Transfers. These players are out of contract and so can be signed by any club around the world with only the player and his agent getting paid. Only once has MLS paid a transfer fee, so the Frees are the key to talent acquisition.
On May 14th we start with a US National Team centerback who will be available on the Free, who may even be likely to be moving from England. Jay DeMerit is a Free.
"Jay also has an awful lot of other things in his life outside football that he is going to think about and even what country he is going to be in next year.
"I don't even think Jay knows what is going to happen after the World Cup yet but he goes with my best wishes."
The 30-year-old defender has spent his entire professional career in England, moving in 2003, going undrafted and unsigned by Major League Soccer after graduating from the University at Illinois, Chicago. He started his career at Southall in non-league football, eventually signing with Watford in 2004.
I, and others, are going to use this post to update Free transfers that would make sense as additions to MLS and possibly to the Sounders.
We have noted already that Jermaine Beckford (CF) would be available on a Free.
I expect that this summer we will see more than 20 players added to starting lineups during the Secondary Window. All will be Frees.
5/24 - Luca Toni? He's Free and at West Ham prices supposedly.
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Portsmouth is letting a bunch go
Not that any will likely end up here, but with their administration issues, they’re letting 6 go right off the bat after the FA Cup final.
Maybe after Berbatov gets the axe from Sir Alex we could commission his services over here… :)
by chrisperry1983 on May 14, 2010 12:48 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah, I tend to target players below EPL quality
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We have deep pockets though
but I know I’m being overly optimistic. We should just send all our scouts to Colombia.
by chrisperry1983 on May 14, 2010 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
As a returning national
wouldn’t DeMerit be subject to allocation? Obviously he’s free to MLS, but more difficult for an individual team like the Sounders to acquire.
True, but he won't be the only likely retuning international
DeMarcus Beasely comes to mind, others are possible as well.
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My blood pressure goes up
Every time you hint the DMB could end up a Sounder. We have Montero, what would we need with another slow player, living on history instead of committing to playing hard today?
Wow, normally DMB gets criticized for being all speed and nothing else
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Seriously?
DMB would be a great pickup….on a free. Although, he has recently expressed his desire to stay with Rangers, who knows, they may not want him!
Beckford—Did he actually sign with Everton? He would be a good pickup I think. Tall, strong. He is used to playing in the lower leagues of England which are very physical, much like MLS. Newcastle were trying to pick him up for the Coke league campaign last fall.
DMB has been told by Rangers he won't be back
Beckford has yet to sign with Everton.
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I'm confused
which is a natural and ongoing state, but Jermaine Beckford? Why, when we already have Blaise tying up what MAY turn into a DP slot for the next three years? I’m not sure I’m following…. doesn’t it make more sense to go for a speedy poacher to complement his (Blaise’s) size or find a creative mid to help direct the offense?
DMB would be great, but again, don’t we already have Zak (who is probably one of the only players who has been fairly consistent this season) and add Nyassi and Fucito (both young and largely untested) and you’ve got three forward/mids with speed. I’ll admit that it’s hard to compare with all of Beasley’s interntional experience…. but Bease does have a history of disappearing for several games at a time (it’s why he hasn’t been playing regularly with the Rangers).
Finally, I’m still standing firm with the idea of getting a mid-table EPL c-back who has moxy, size, and can be an anchor for years to come. Don’t have a name yet, but I’m working on it. Parke has mitigated that a little, but I still feel this would be a piece that would help us on many fronts (a target on set pieces, a good field general from the back).
I am looking at any and all typical DP priced Frees
That includes defensive players.
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Oh, and though you aren't doing it
Most people seem to think the problem is on offense.
I think its on set-plays, mainly on defense myself.
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By the way defenders are traditionally undervalued
costing on average only about 60% of what forwards cost in MLS
There has been one max contract off the top of my head for a defender. Davino down in Dallas.
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Herculez Gomez is also a Free
Yeah, the guy that lead the Mexican League in scoring in their last season. The guy who has an MLS history. The guy who was a Sounder on loan from the Galaxy. The guy in National Team camp.
Oh, and DMB says that he’s willing to return to MLS if something in Europe doesn’t work out.
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Gomez no longer free
He moves up a club to Puchuca
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Two Midfield Options
First is a true free. Steven Reid, the Irish National, is being pursued by Celtic. He was last with WBA and Blackburn Rovers.
Second would not be a Free, but is assumed to be available on the cheap as his club is getting sent down – US MNT CAM Benny Feilhaber. That would be the same Feilhaber that played for Sigi at UCLA as a walk-on and was a player on Sigi’s 2005 US U-20 team.
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I would love to see Feilhaber as a Sounder
Granted, I haven’t seen him outside of USMNT play, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen. I kind of get the impression that getting Ljungberg to stay another season is a losing battle, so the Sounders could definitely use another excellent midfield option.
As a USMNT player, though, wouldn’t he go into the allocation system or something like that? Could the Sounders just sign him?
I think you're right
My understanding of the allocation system is the same as yours in that all returning USMNT players must go through it.
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by Jeremiah Oshan on May 19, 2010 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Stumbled across Ali Karimi
He’s a free and reportedly interested in the Galaxy. Dave, this is your territory, is he any good?
I follow Gulf Arab soccer, not Iranian unfortunately
So I’m going to have to say that he’s on the wrong side of 30, and hasn’t been tested much lately.
He has had success in continental play including scoring 10 goals in 30 matches in both Asian and European championships.
Iran is a strong league by Asian standards, and scoring 14 with 6 assists as well is fairly good.
Most of his time has been as a LW, CAM and WF
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Thanks
that’s a good capsule. Karimi would seem to be not much more than attack depth for the Galaxy. Bruce Arena sure likes guys on the wrong side of 30, doesn’t he? Just for the record, I meant territory broadly, I know Iranian does not equal Arab in the general scheme of things.
Due to the discovery claim rules
If he’s already negotiating with LA, Seattle can’t get him.
He’d be worth the risk on a 1 year deal plus option.
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Look out!.........Portland is gearing up!
Sounder fans need to remember that the summer of transfers and signings will be also interesting with Portland and Vancouver signing players! And what current Sounder will be on these clubs next year!
I hope they add players
Seattle only added Nyassi during the Summer window in the year prior.
Keller and Ljungberg were announced, but didn’t sign until later.
But it would be better for the league for Portland and Vancouver to have strong starts as expansion sides.
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Martin Petrov former Man City winger
He didn’t get a ton of playing time with City, and is likely dropping down into DP salaries.
He is knowns as a bit of a set-play specialist, his usualy position is on the Left Wing.
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Martin Petrov Profiled
I asked Danny Pugsly over at Bitter and Blue for a small profile about Petrov. Tell me if this doesn’t sound like the type of offensive player that could change the way Sounders games are played.
Petrov has got an excellent left foot, and although an out and out winger, he is most dangerous when cutting inside (often from the right) to unleash a shot from distance.
From set pieces he is a good striker of the ball, although didn’t get too much opportunity at City because of the competition in that department but when he did, was always a threat.
His delivery from corners also improved the clubs goal ratio in this area too.
It does look likely that he will leave, as despite his talent his age is creeping up and the position the club is now in they are looking to get younger and with Mancini preferring to play the wingers on the ‘off wing’, this hasn’t necessarily suited Petrov.
Injuries have also stalled his progress at the club, but if – as expected – he does leave, there will surely be a number of clubs queueing to sign him.
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Lefty, free kicks, corners
Check, check and check. He DOES sound like he would fulfill some important offensive needs.
Steve Ralston will be a Available
AC St. Louis’ financial troubles are so bad that they are shopping Ralston merely for the price of getting him off the books?
While he won’t technically be a Free. He is also cheaper than foreign talent. The former CAM/RM for the New England Revolution is fairly adept at set-plays.
Here’s a snip from his bio at the MLSSoccersoccersoccer site
Arguably the best right-sided midfielder in MLS history, Ralston possesses great technique, tactical knowledge and determination … debuted in the central attacking midfield role late in the 2007 season and to great effect … he has also filled in capably as a left-sided midfielder and right fullback during his five seasons with the Revolution … the MLS “Iron Man,” Ralston holds all three of the league’s longevity records – minutes played (31,600), career starts (355) and career appearances (358) entering the 2009 season … also enters 2009 ranked first in MLS career assists (128) and game-winning assists (38)
In his 67 appearences during his last three MLS seasons he has 19 goals and 28 assists
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New England still holds his rights
They offered him a contract and so retain his rights. He would have to be acquired via trade
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And NER brings him back
He’ll be joining their side shortly
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Ballack to UAE?
Several clubs in the Emirates want the former Chelsea midfielder.
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Yes, he's Free
and coming off an injury, so unlikely to get the length of deal he wants at the price he wants.
It might be a case where he has to take a 1 year deal in a secondary league. I’d prefer MLS
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William Gallas?
No, I haven’t seen any indication that he wants to jump the Pond yet, but he’s a free and seems to be dangling. The former Arsenal, Chelsea, Marseille, and France centerback is now 32 and many teams are looking to get younger.
For those looking for a quality name defender is this the type of guy you’d want?
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Gallas is too good for MLS right now, I'd imagine
by Graham MacAree on Jul 24, 2010 9:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Is he significantly better than Rafa at this point?
by Aaron Campeau on Jul 27, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I would say no
But he’s also been in command of a starting position on an elite European team more recently than Marquez has, which means $$$, higher demand, etc.
I’d rather have Rafa, but not too many clubs think like I do
by Graham MacAree on Jul 28, 2010 10:42 PM PDT up reply actions
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