Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS I think when MLS signs young players, draftees, they make them sign with options. As a returning UMNT player there may be some kind of rule if you pick him up, where you retain his rights. Yeah, that's very probable.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS What an idiot, didn't he understand all these years that he has no future in Europe ?
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS You beat me to it. I always referred to EJ's first touch as his Barn Door Touch. He has the worst first touch I have ever seen in first division soccer. He never traps the ball within 10 yards of his body. If Klinsmann gives EJ even one call up then all the happiness I had when Klinsmanns signed will be completely gone. Surely a coach with his knowledge would never call up a player that is that low quality.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Strange but in the end Aris is where he had his best stint... So I don't know. EJ to me is a has been so I could careless where he plays.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Looks like Motzkin responded on Twitter shortly after the article came out. Imo, MLS compounded its mistake by finger-pointing after its premature announcement. "Re Eddie Johnson, we were in the final stages of negotiation with MLS but had never 'reached agreement, subject to formal documents'." http://twitter.com/#!/RichardMotzkin/status/103885981559697408
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS The most interesting thing is that MLS usually is VERY circumspect with regard to player signings and announcements. Although one should "never suspect malice when stupidity will do", maybe this was a shrewd negotiating ploy on MLS' part to test interest in EJ's return from the soccer public. Ej and Richard - there's no salary cap in the NASL.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS I wouldn't doubt this. As I said before, MLS has gotten more sophisticated in signing players. They have learned that guys like EJ aren't all that marketable, and what they add to a team is not absolute. The, "let's sign US guys no matter what days are over." They have to be the right price and there has to be enough interest. I think it's a safe bet to say that there aren't many suitors for EJ. If there are...good for him. Take the best job, but it's not like he has any juice or leverage outside of maybe 2 BS posters at this point. He's gonna have to earn it. I wish him well, but it's not exactly hard to turn him away either. Is it?
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS I say good for the MLS. Guys like EJ have to earn it, especially after their rough past. I'm surprised Benny got such a big contract, but atleast he's a Nats regular when healthy. I don't think EJ has the game changing ability right now than say a movtivated but aging Jeff Cunningham.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Not a chance. You can test interest by floating a rumor, but what MLS did was different. They actually announced that a player was on his way before the deal was completed, which is unprofessional. They then compounded their bad behavior by attacking the other side in the negotiations and probably by leaking additional information to Steven Goff. Plain as day, MLS screwed the pooch on this deal.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS I think they were backed in a corner by the JPA/Keane deal. Chivas was likely one of the teams with cap room that could sign an EJ or take on JPA's salary. If more teams were in a position to take EJ and wanted him, it would have remained quiet until finished. However, since the list was VERY short - MLS had to move it along quickly so a resolution could occur with the JPA deal before Keane showed up. Every indication (removed story, no announcement, comment by Chivas that a decision would be made Thursday) is that Chivas was considering either JPA or EJ once the announcement came out. I agree not the best of media handling; but it is what it is.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Montreal should sign him before they have to play by the player acquisition rules.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS They would still have him count against the cap next year which is all they care about. And here is the kicker, do they even want him? You would think they could find better forwards than Eddie Johnson. It seems the problem is that there was almost no interest among MLS clubs in Eddie Johnson. There is very little he brings to the table at this point. MLS has improved a lot more than we think. That said, the way MLS allocates Nats(Johnson shouldn't even qualify here) has to be readdressed.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS How'd that work out for Vancouver with Cody Arnoux? Hint: Arnoux is now with RSL.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Do you disagree with the allocation system in general or do you just think that it needs to be tweaked? Arnoux was already offered a contract by MLS. This would be more like Vancouver's signing of Demerit.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS I may be wrong but aren't expansion teams at the top of the allocation order anyway?
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Yes. So the point of Montreal overpaying EJ to get him in their D2 team is...
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS Not saying Montreal should overpay, but the top allocation spot is a valuable asset. If they can sign a player without giving it up, they should.
Re: Eddie Johnson to MLS They would have to use the spot on EJ either way. Signing EJ now would just mean they would have to burn the allocation spot on him after the D2 season is over...