He might not be USNT eligible (yet?), but Alonso Osvaldo is a Yank nonetheless: Seattle’s Osvaldo Alonso training at West Ham And The Sun says he has impressed: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...aldo-Alonso-as-Mohamed-Diame-replacement.html
If the price really is a million pounds, WHU would be absolutely nuts not to buy him. However, I'd be surprised if the price were a million pounds.
This guy always gets underestimated then proves his doubters wrong. I won't be at all surprised if he impresses West Ham enough to get an offer.
Big Sam, "See, Ozzie, here's the ball. Hit it as high and as far as you can. Attaboy. This is what we call here in England "our preferred style".
No surprise he's impressing. People who have seen a good number of his games already know that he has the ability to play in one of the better leagues and play well at that.
My "rule" on MLS-to-Europe player moves is this. Proven MLS standouts are a very good deal. Euro clubs have a potential arbitrage advantage if they focus on bringing in proven MLS stars. (Signing MLSers based on potential has proven to be a poor investment.) To me, Alonso has been a great MLS player for the last season and a half. He'll make it. I don't know if England best fits his style, but IMO he's so good he'll make it there anyway. I love this guy. Best of luck to him.
as the link says, he'd maybe be a natural replacement for diame. diame is, it must be said, a great epl center mid. terrific on the ball, ferocious in the tackle, a good passer. probably whufc's best box to box mid and destroyer. there's a lot of buzz going around that he's going to get picked up in january. he could probably help any team in the league... that said, i hope alonso lands there. they do play a bit, and it's not all just mindless route one.
He is a rock solid central mid at any level. If I was a decision maker at a club and I could have him at that price, it would be done yesterday.
Without a doubt I'd sign him if I were at West Ham. He is a really good center mid. Very under appreciated I must say.
I think the issue is not so much what was said as what was omitted. Strictly speaking, I also agree with most of the observations. It's true that Donovan doesn't take defenders 1-vs.-1 very well. However, it's also true that Donovan has very good pace, excellent vision, and a world-class ability to pick out the right pass, and because he had these attributes, he immediately became one of the better right-sided attacking players in the EPL. The description of Holden's skill-set is pretty much accurate. But it ignores the fact that a top-notch motor and very good tackling ability are what separate average CMs from the sort who win team MVP awards and lead the EPL in tackles. Etc.
Agreed. Sam Allardyce's style isn't my favourite, but to describe it as route one, let alone mindless is silly. Allardyce's teams are smart, organized, hard-working, with pretty good disciplinary records. They do lack flair and imagination, and are extremely direct, but primitive, no, not at all.
Fairly useless article that says a decision will be made next week: http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/west-ham-make-osvaldo-alonso-decision-3710501
It amazes me how many American/MLS fans underrate Ozzie. He is the best true defensive midfielder in the league. He'd play consistently for the USMNT if ever granted that possibility. And he'd play well in the Prem if ever given the chance.
I remember seeing him in the Gold Cup when he scored against Mexico and being really impressed, even if he hadn't scored. So after he defected I followed him at Charleston and everytime I watched a USOC game against an MLS team on a web-feed, he was having a strong game. Then I saw him play in person for Charleston down there when I was on vacation and again in the USOC final at RFK and I was like "why aren't MLS teams all over this guy?" Then he got to MLS and he's been one of the best players in the league at his position the past 4 years. And yet he keeps getting underestimated. I think if given a chance he could do well in England (or elsewhere in Europe) and I would love to see his case for playing for the US appealed to FIFA because I think he could make the national team better. (I'm also quite curious to see what FIFA would rule.)
He's not mediocre. He's very good. But he's competing with Danny Williams, Jermaine Jones, and Michael Bradley for a spot in the midfield. Bradley is much better. Jones is much better for Schalke, and Klinsi has a man-crush on him. Williams is poor right now, but significantly younger and with a higher ceiling. No one doubts that Osvaldo is good. He just is competing for playing time with some pretty good players in their own rights.