Juan Agudelo in "search" of a Club

Traore has been called into his national team in the last year. He might not have played, but he clearly was in the plans. Agudelo hasn't been called in since January. I don't think he played in a Hex game or any of the Gold Cup games. That might have made a difference. Maybe the PFA wants players who are part of the current national team set up.

 

I'd say their careers aren't too similar.
Traoré transfer history: Monaco, Anzhi, Kuban, Cluj and +$50mn in transfer fees
Agudelo transfer history: MLS and $0.0 in transfer fees

 

Perhaps ignorant but 1 has to wonder why is it always so difficult for US players to get work permits in the UK. Gooch got a Belgian passport after 3 years of playing over there. Surely the US and EU have some kinda benefits or relationship that might ease this transition for us. Or maybe I'm just hoping for preferential treatment for our boys when they don't see any reason for it.

 

Gooch's case means nothing. It's just easy to become naturalized in Belgium, though I think they have since become a little more rigorous.

 

So, are Utrecht decent? I dont know many of their players. I remember de Ridder from Southampton, hes very fast but not very good, and I see they have that fat keeper that used to be at Ajax

 

3 points behind AZ in the table, but have the joint-fourth worst goal difference in the league.

 

A quick glance through their history gives me the impression that they are the most midtable team in the Eredivisie. They seem to finish 9th or 10th a lot.

 

I think this works out great for Agudelo. We have seen Altidore develop his game in Holland. Hopefully the same applies to Agudelo.

 

Is that good or bad?

 

2 different issues. To become a naturalized citizen, you generally have to live & play in that country for an extended period of time (or perhaps marry a local). Belgium offers the quickest path with 2 years to become naturalized. Spain seems to offer a similar path to those with South American roots & there are some other exceptions out there, but, other than that, it's 5 years or more to become naturalized -- usually difficult because players bounce from league to league.

UK work permits are just difficult right now if you don't have the number of caps on the national team. For the most part, it hasn't been too difficult to get one (Shea got one from the appeals process), but they are cracking down a touch (and the US is a deeper squad these days, meaning players like Juan are left out even though there is EPL interest).

There aren't many EU/US workarounds on labor migration. Even NAFTA doesn't help Canadian & Mexican citizens move around on the sports front. And I doubt Congress would even look at any changes in the near future.

 

He could be an EU citizen by February if this goes through

http://www.workpermit.com/news/2014...seeks-power-to-prevent-malta-citizenship-sale

E 650k to the maltese govt
E 150k in Matlese government bonds
E16k property rental contract for 5 years
E 890 and he's guaranteed a work permit.

 

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dope&defid=699185

 

I hear Malta is beautiful this time of year.

 

Not in squad for the Cup game today vs NEC.

 

This guy playing striker for Utrecht today is the shortest target man I've ever seen. Or maybe it's just my crappy stream.

 

Our John O'Brien spent some time on loan and played at Utrecht before he broke into the first team at Ajax.

 

Paperwork still has to be done. Looking like he'll be good to go vs. Ajax

 

Malta is beautiful at this time of year. Highly-recommended vacation spot.

 

I assumed it was pretty nice sitting there in the Med just sunning itself while the rest of us have cold snap after snow storm pass over.

If I did anything but work, I'd really hate winter. As it is it makes me feel better knowing nobody else around me is enjoying the outdoors either.

 

what position is target man?

 

A target man is a center forward who usually plays with his back to goal as the target of long passes. Usually you want them to be strong and tall so they can win the ball in the air and hold the ball up. They usually wear the #9 shirt. Of course often now teams have shorter speedy forwards (so called "false 9s").

 

It reeeeeeeeeally sucks Utrecht took a crap in their cup loss at sad lowly NEC, who ended up getting by far the kindest semifinal draw (vs. Zwolle instead of either AZ or Ajax). Really quite a pathetic performance tonight and it has cost them big time.

 

so they are not target forwards. My point is that "target man" is just one way to play soccer and a rather crude one at that.

 

I agree that it's just one way to play, but I don't think it's inherently crude. Don't get me wrong, the game has evolved to be more skillful that just long balls, but target forwards still have their uses.

Perhaps he was saying that they were playing the ball to him like he was a target forward, when he was short for that role. Regardless, I looked it up and Steve De Ridde played CF that game and his height is listed at 5'10" which isn't big but plenty of shorter guys play the position.

 

Good to see that this loan move make it through. It sounds like it could be a good fit, and it'll be all up to Juan if he sinks or swims.