Ozzie linked with EPL clubs
This is in spanish unfortunately. Alonso is quoted as saying "I know that I’m being looked at by several teams in the Premier League, but I’m concentrating on working here [in the USA] and if something comes about, I’d welcome it."
No clue if this is completely unfounded or not or if 'El Nuevo Herald' is legit... but came across the link and thought I'd share.
5 months ago
chrisperry1983
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I addressed this on twitter, which obviously isn't enough
Cuba is a bad team. In general a player needs to be a regular on a top70 national team to get a work permit.
Cuba has 7 or 8 months in the top 70 over the past 6 years, and only 3 of those since Alonso defected.
There’s also that defection issue. The UK has a less adversarial relationship with Cuba, so there may be issues with him being a criminal in Cuba (their official position) that would be complicated.
So not only would Ozzie need a waiver, he’d have to accept that he would no longer be protected from Cuba.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
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by Dave Clark on Dec 15, 2011 12:45 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
The logical side of my brain is nodding along as i read this...
but the emotional side is yelling “NOOOOOOO!” so loudly my logical side is giving up…
"The fans are excited. And the stadium, well, it ignites with explosion."
by DarthGreedo on Dec 15, 2011 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Aaron has pointed out that he would have some protection from Cuba
Not the level that he has in the US, but still some.
I failed to note. He’s also undercontract with the Sounders so there would be a transfer fee.
There’s a ton of paperwork involved with this guy, how many English teams are going go though that rather than find an easier to acquire talent?
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
The whole protection from Cuba issue is surely nonsense
No European nation is going to extradite anybody to a country from which they defected. Besides, Alonso has traveled to Europe and Central America without any fears,
by AAAA on Dec 16, 2011 6:28 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Visiting for mere days is a very different situation than moving there for years
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
Sure
But you really think there is a risk of getting extradited to Cuba from a EU country?
And also, if there was even a small chance of getting extradited, I bet a Cuban defector would not visit even for a few days.
by AAAA on Dec 16, 2011 8:24 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Most EU nations have much closer relations with Cuba than the US
I’ve been looking into the legal specifics as I can, but I think that a transfer of a Cuban refugee would be particularly onerous on the legal staff of the acquiring team.
They can probably find players without those issues.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
Implying that Alonso would take a risk by playing in Europe is completely absurd
I can guarantee that no EU country is going to extradite anybody to a country where they face possible imprisonment due to having defected from that country.
by AAAA on Dec 16, 2011 8:52 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Dave. I can't deal with this kind of stress.
Glad that I read this comment. As I just yelled no a few dozen times in my office.
Anyway. Yeah.
Sports.
The thing is
everywhere I read whether it be a journalist or people on the internet, everybody has a different idea of what’s required. I don’t know who to believe. What you are saying here is opposite of what others have said. I’ve even heard he gets some kind of amnesty for defecting from a nation, that he almost gets a rosier picture because he left Cuba. I also can’t help but wonder that even with these roadblocks, there’s gotta be ways around them.
But, with these statements coming from you and I know you are a trustworthy source, I am very excited that it would be more difficult than expected.
by chrisperry1983 on Dec 15, 2011 2:48 PM PST up reply actions
Even if his status makes a trasfer possible...
…any transfer would have to be a bit of a red tape festival in that he’s not a typical case. And while he’s very good, and I love him for the Sounders, I have to imagine that he’d be unlikely to crack the starting 11 for an EPL team, barring injury on the squad.
Anyway, given his long-term deal with the Sounders, I have to imagine that we can ask for the moon if people are asking about him.
No way
I’d bet he could get significant time for half the teams in the Premier League right now. Regarding his contract though…the league owns it. I don’t know all the technical details behind that, I’m sure the team the player is on has a say…but I’d bet they are way less attached than we are, with the suits looking at it as a business transaction from a 30,000 foot level.
by chrisperry1983 on Dec 15, 2011 4:48 PM PST up reply actions
MLS controls sales in the last year
MLS can sell players out from under their teams in the last year of their contract. Outside of that, the Sounders would have to sell him. Also, in my opinion, Ozzie will never be able to get a Euro permit. It would not be possible to justify him the way they do other players. If we lose him, it would be to Mexico or South America (or perhaps a non-EU European nation).
by Iam333 on Dec 15, 2011 5:52 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
EU work permit will not be a problem
At least the fact he has not played for the national team recently wont be a problem.
For example, there are dozens if not hundreds of Brazilians who have never played for their national team playing in EU countries.
The UK has strict rules for non-EU players. Other EU countries do not.
The claim is that EPL teams are interested
so your non-issue is an issue
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
I was responding to the claim that a Euro work permit is impossible
The post that I replied to clearly talks about how the poster does not think playin in any EU country is not possible.
Correct
I had a quick trigger
My bad
He can get a permit, it is just more complex than a vast majority of athletes. But numerous players from minor soccer nations, but with higher levels of success than Alonso get waivers denied.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
But the waiver issue applies only to the UK
In many other EU countries there are far lower thresholds for football players to get work permits.
by AAAA on Dec 16, 2011 9:00 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Which is why I said
Correct I had a quick trigger
My bad
Which you ignored
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
No I did not ignore that part
It lead me to believe that the rest of your reply referred to European transfers in general, not just UK.
This is my Nightmare
We could sell any other player and I would be happy to have the cap space and mounds of allocaton money but not Ozzie. He is the perfect club player in that A. He’s really good. and B. as a result of his defection we never have to worry about him missing games for national team duty. And to top it all off he’s priced in at a very resonalble contract level.
I wonder if it's Everton looking for another offseason loan...?
They have to be creative about getting new blood because of finances, and he certainly seems to fit well with their aggressive midfield. The question is whether there’s a reason for us to do it and risk injury. Just a thought.
Most likely the other side of Stanley Park...
…since Liverpool just lost Lucas Leiva for the year, and is very thin at holding midfielder.
by regnaD kciN on Dec 15, 2011 11:17 PM PST up reply actions
Ozzie's price?
If this were to happen what price do you think the Sounder’s would demand? My guess is it would be north of $5million.
God I hope this doesn’t happen.
Yes, but if we ask for $5 mil, and the EPL side counters with $1 mil...
…are the Sounders really going to hold a player here against his will? That would definitely be bad form for the soccer world.
I think we have to get used to the idea that any and all of our big names will fly the coop as soon as there is a solid bid from a top league…and a “solid bid” is going to be for a lot less than we would want.
by regnaD kciN on Dec 15, 2011 11:20 PM PST up reply actions
Yes, I think we can bet the Sounders would turn down $1M
What would make you think otherwise? Letting guys like Friberg or Montano go is a lot different than a core player.
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Dec 16, 2011 8:26 AM PST up reply actions
It would depend a lot on what Alonso wants to do
If the offer is something that Alonso wants to take, it becomes hard for the Sounders to turn down a reasonable offer.
They aren't going to let Ozzie go out of the goodness of their heart
Editor/writer at Sounder at Heart, MLS editor SB Nation. Follow me on Twitter. You'll Never Yacht Alone.
by Jeremiah Oshan on Dec 16, 2011 9:55 AM PST up reply actions
They also do not want to have a player that is not happy to be a Sounder
It is a tough equation where sometimes you have to let a player go for less than you would have hoped to get for them.
Also, the player always holds a lot of power in these, because they always have the option to wait out their contract and go on a free transfer.
El Nuevo Herald = The Miami Herald
So yeah, it’s legit.
Sigh.
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Losing Ozzie would set us back 2 years to the middle of the table, he’s trained over there with no issues that we know of, so I would think if a team really wants him, they could make it happen.
that's my fear
Despite all the supposed hurdles, I’m getting there are ways to make it happen.
by chrisperry1983 on Dec 15, 2011 8:16 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Training and working full time are very different permit processes
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter
I would love to see Alonso
retire here in Seattle but I really don’t think we could hold on to him that long. It’s very rare that one player stays at one club for the entirety of his career. As crucial as he is in our squad, he isn’t irreplaceable. If we could get a 5mil transfer fee or more that could finance 2 DP’s in allocation and salary. If we can start buying low and selling high we can start signing young talent before they leave for Europe and maybe find the next Honey Badger.
The key phrase here, to me, is...
…“I’d welcome it.”
Don’t expect Ozzie to be around here for long. Honey Badger don’t care.
Here's the deal.
Ozzie is good enough to play in the Premier League. I think we all know this. From as objective a standpoint as possible, as an Aston Villa fan he would be the best defensive midfielder on the team and probably th best player in the center of the pitch. (And for the record, as much as I would like Villa to find a solution in central midfield, I would prefer HB stay put. Obvs.)
BUT! As good as Ozzie is, he’s not much better than a lot of dudes in the second or third tier of Europe playing similar roles. And that’s aside from the obvious future-stars tier of guys like Wann M’Vila, Jack Rodwell, Javi Martinez, etc. And there’s a good chance the gray area and potential headaches scare a lot of clubs off. Ozzie leaving is plausible, certainly; but given the headaches, it doesn’t seem probable.
by Aaron Campeau on Dec 16, 2011 12:28 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Thank You.
You’re right about this. Ozzie is a good player, and he is great in MLS. But there are better players, with MUCH less hassle, that European clubs in general (EPL and other leagues) can go after. Nothing against Ozzie, but Arturo Vidal makes Honey Badger look like my grandmother, and with no work permit issues and only ~10 mil Euro expense. I think Ozzie should be here another few years at least, no need to get panicky now.
La Vecchia Signora Forever!
But regarding guys like Rodwell and other prospects
I’d wager most of the big clubs have their eyes on guys like him. Why wouldn’t a smaller team (say, Villa to use your example) take on some of that hassle to grab a guy nobody else is looking at?
I mean, that’s why Hanauer is scouting African nations, after all. It’s more work and more hassle to go to those ends and probably look at a ton of not-so-great players, but he’s looking for that diamond in the rough. Nobody else is really looking there, so why not us?
by chrisperry1983 on Dec 16, 2011 7:42 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Well, there's that first tier of guys like Rodwell.
Then there’s a second a third tier of guys that will offer just as much as Alonso without the headaches/risk.
by Aaron Campeau on Dec 16, 2011 9:00 PM PST up reply actions
There is nothing new in the El Nuevo Herald article
We know that English Premiership team will be looking at players like Alonso. That does not mean that they are about to put out an offer for him. They keep an eye on a ton of players.
We even knew that Alonso trained with Everton last year in the off-season.
And of course we knew that almost any player in the MLS would welcome an offer to play in the English Premiership.
There is no more cause for panic after reading the article than there was before reading it. Of course he could get an offer this off-season. But that was always true. The El Nuevo Herald article is no indication that it would have become likelier. The article is a feature on Alonso that summarizes his whole career, covering the deflection, playing in Charleston Battey, and so on. The article was not written because it had turned out that English clubs are interested in Alonso. Rather, it was written because Alonso visited Miami for some kind of a 100 years of Cuban soccer celebration.
by AAAA on Dec 16, 2011 5:49 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
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