Major Link Soccer - Roastee Roasting Edition
by Dizzo on Aug 22, 2011 10:00 AM PDT
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PrintThe Sounders had a great win 1-0 on the road against FC Dallas this weekend. It puts the team back in the hunt for the Supporter's Shield although the Los Angeles Galaxy would need to drop a match or two. The man of the match was defender Zach Scott who did an admirable job in containing Brek Shea. You can see highlights and photos from the game here and here.
The German Connection: The hiring of Jurgen Klinsmann as the new coach of the US National Team looks like its starting to encourage some dual-eligible players to que up for the team. Current left-back for Hoffenheim, and former German youth international, Fabian Johnson recently told the press he was open to playing for the US at the senior level. Johnson is the son of an American serviceman and is eligible to play for both countries. A 23-year old left back playing at the highest level in Germany? I say cap the man!
More links after the jump:
Brazil Wins U-20 World Cup: Brazil defeated Portugal 3-2 in extra time to claim the U-20 World Cup on Saturday. All three Brazil goals were scored by young standout Oscar. I'm sure the performance is helping to raise the country's confidence after a poor showing by the Brazilian senior team in the Copa America. Also, the Mexican team defeated France to claim the third place spot.
Arsenal Interested in Ream: The big leagues are taking an interested in New York center-back Tim Ream with Arsenal reportedly putting up two bids to MLS for his services. The move would be an excellent jump for Ream, but he may not have the necessary national team credentials to secure a work permit for England. It would also leave NYRB's struggling back line extremely thin.
Sounders Academy Beats Expectations: The Sounders Academy team represents the future of the Sounders and the sport in the Puget Sound. And the future looks bright. General Manager Adrian Hanauer believes the Academy has beaten all expectations for its first year and the credit goes to the players and coach Darren Sawatzky. You can also read an interview with Academy standout Aron Kovar.
The Best of Conrad's Twitter Roast: Our own Jeremiah Oshan has compiled some of the great one-liners floating around the twitter-verse to celebrate defender Jimmy Conrad's retirement. Fittingly, some of the best lines were from Conrad himself as he responded in kind to his colleagues barbs.
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I sincerely hope Ream doesn't leave
I can’t see him going to Arsenal and seeing the field much, which is not a move he needs if he has significant MNT aspirations.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
It could still be a good thing
I’d wager that consistently training with Arsenal caliber players and getting occasional EPL time probably holds it’s own against MLS league play in terms of developing a player.
It's probably immaterial for this season at least
Ream needs quite a few more caps to qualify for an English visa. Hopefully, he’ll get them soon. I think Arsenal is a great long-term move for him and US soccer in general. And great for the Sounders. ;-)
I hope he doesn't get the caps soon
Ream has had a horrible sophomore slump season and has been terrible on the nats. he is a nice prospect but is seriously overrated. he gets burned horribly at least twice per game this season.
Win or lose, we'll always be there for you.
by johnjahafanclub on Aug 22, 2011 4:11 PM PDT up reply actions
That's generally the thinking
but, in point of fact, it hasn’t really worked that way. Several Americans have gone to relatively big to really big clubs in Europe, only to lose playing time. The training, ironically, may make them better players (particularly tactically), but form is everything in the game and once you’re out of it, it’s hard to get it back without significant playing time. Onyewu’s lack of national team time is directly traceable to (1) a very poorly timed injury (2) signing with Milan and getting zero playing time (catch 22 for him). Now he can’t get time anywhere, not even in Holland. Ask Spector about his time at West Ham.
I don’t see this as a good move for Ream. I also don’t think NY or any other team in MLS puts any consideration whatsoever on the effect the leaving player will have on the team because, ultimately, big money does more for the team and league AND we’re a development league. That’s who we are and what we do. That’ll change in time, but that’s our reality right now.
If someone offered us 6 million dollar transfer fee for Montero, he’d be gone. That wouldn’t be a bad thing… it would mean we’ve done our job well. Prepared him for the next step, gotten some real time value for him, and gotten a nice bit of money in return for our investment. In turn, we reload, perhaps get an even brighter prospect (because we now have the money), and so it goes. I’m pretty proud of MLS’s track record.
Finally, as Dizzo pointed out…. immaterial this season. If he goes, it’ll be in January.
But many have succeeded too
Dempsey, Bradley, Bocanegra. I want USMNT players to attempt to make it against the best players in the best leagues possible. I’m a big MLS booster and don’t follow Euro leagues much, but I do want US players to have the hunger to want to compete in better leagues. We don’t know if Ream will leave, or if he does, how successful he will be. He could be another Clint Dempsey, or another Freddy Adu. But I for one want him, and others, to try.
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. Our yachts are all around you, there is no escape.
Absolutely
I probably didn’t say that well….. there have been some really good fits along the way but folks have to be careful about the teams they are choosing.
Um, I don't know if you've seen Arsenal's back line lately
but they are without Koscielny and Djourou, and Squillaci is garbage. They started Miquel (like 19 years old) against Liverpool on Saturday, and desparately need a CB to slot in with Vermaelen. Like now.
It was Keystone Kop-worthy on Saturday...
…including a game-winning (???) own goal that should, during replays, be accompanied by calliope circus music (send in the clowns!).
BTW, Miquel didn’t start against LFC — he came in early when Koscelny was unable to continue.
You're right
My bad. My mind has been so gloomy and doomy lately. It’s tough and frustrating times for an Arsenal supporter.
I havent seen their back line at all lately
But it still seems a significant stretch, what I’ve seen of Ream to this point does not say he could start at the highest level and be successful. His positioning seemed suspect at times and I recall him struggling with true speedsters. Perhaps that’s more a function of who he’s playing with though, I don’t follow the energy drinks enough to know though.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Aug 22, 2011 1:32 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think Ream is up for it, either
To be honest, but I think Arsenal will slot any warm body that’s not named Sebastien Squillaci back there right now. It’s a sad state of affairs that is make Arsene Wenger look like an amateur.
Any idea why they didnt go for John then?
He seems like he would have been a better fit if they’re looking for starting worthy talent.
Nos audietis in somniis
Nos audietis in altum
by Seattle Coug on Aug 22, 2011 1:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Arsene Wenger
Is making some puzzling moves in his dotage.
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. Our yachts are all around you, there is no escape.
Henry is the connection
Wenger can probably reach out and contact Henry to get some insight on Ream. AFAIK, he doesn’t have any personal connections with FC Dallas.
True to a certain extant
Anyone in the FC Dallas is going to pick up the phone if Wenger is on the other end. However, they may or may not give him an honest opinion about a player. Wenger has a personal connection with Henry and can probably expect an honest assessment from him about a teammate.
Ream is a better passer
and worse defender, but that kind of fits the Arsenal mold
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Thanks for including the online roast discussion
I absolutely loved Kei Kamara’s comment that Conrad smacked him upside the head and told him not to run around so much!
Ream to Arsenal kinda surprises me
He’s good for sure, but not great. He looks lost in the USMNT games I’ve seen him in. NY is getting thrashed right now because of their defense. It makes me wonder why they’d go after him and not someone else like Hurtado, unless they’re specifically looking for youth to put invest in.
by chrisperry1983 on Aug 22, 2011 12:19 PM PDT reply actions
So looks like George John is gone
According to agent nearly final
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Wow
Don’t often see a team trade away its best player in a position of need in a playoff race. If FCD crashes out of the playoffs due to bad defense, the timing will be questioned.
Nos Audietis
Great for us
We’re the team that FCD is most likely to crash out to. We play them in Open Cup and likely again as the 2-3 seed battle in the Western Conference. The timing is perfect IMHO.
Not sure if anyone mentioned this before
But this looks like a MLS 1.0 franchise looking to do some profit taking, regardless of the on the pitch cost. Despite playing for the MLS Cup last year, FCD has only seen their average attendance bump up by about 2,500. Perhaps they think their attendance will stink no matter what the team does?
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. Our yachts are all around you, there is no escape.
I'm sorry, but that bump in attendance is huge
only 2500 from about 12,000?
Their new president understands marketing and they are doing a fine job of it.
I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart
Satistically, yes
But historically, they’ve only gotten over their franchise average by about 700 fans.
Thinking about this more, I was coming at this from a fan’s perspective, i.e. if I was a longtime Hoops supporter, I’d think that Doug Quinn was just paying lip service as he sold his best player out the door in the midst of a great season. I’d be furious in fact.
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. Our yachts are all around you, there is no escape.
Very surprised that they average 12K
They must be hiding in the shade, far from the pitch and the cameras.
I've read from FCD commentators
That the cameras are set up in the shady side of the stadium pointing toward the sunny side. Not surprisingly fans like to sit in the shady side of the stadium when the heat hits 100.
They've been investing in the future
FC Dallas has spent plenty of cash recently on their academy, signing young foreign players and updating their marketing. I think they’re here for the long term. If any team is going to cash out early its the Revolution whom have repeatedly shown no desire to invest in their team’s future.
I findit strange that
FCD’s attendence was lower than average for the game on the weekend. It was really important! Do you think it was the heat?
A loan back to FCD until the end of the year seems likely
by Aaron Campeau on Aug 22, 2011 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Good point
Would be bad for Seattle, but good for Dallas fans.
You will hear us on Brougham, you will hear us on Occidental, you will hear us on King. Our yachts are all around you, there is no escape.
Wouldn't it be a loan back to MLS?
Seattle should put him on their discovery list for giggles. I have no idea how MLS rights work, because nobody does.
Nos Audietis
by sidereal on Aug 22, 2011 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Actually, I think it'd be Allocation rather than Discovery
a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee
Chivas still owns the top of the allocation order.
Nos Audietis
Would a team use their allocation spot...
On a player guaranteed to leave for Blackburn at the end of the year? I doubt Chivas USA will. I suppose the Timbers would just to keep their rights (like they did with Findley and Bornstein).
More likely is the league would be forced to do some behind the scenes arm-twisting to make sure he’s loaned back to Dallas. Which is one of the reasons I don’t think he’ll come back on loan. Generally league rule-bending is reserved for the Galaxy.
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