OSvaldo Alonso Gets US Citizenship

Some news that may be relevant. The best holding midfielder in MLS got his US citizenship. Alonso plays for the Seattle Sounders and defected from cuba to the US during a gold cup game against the US in Seattle.

dont have the news story yet. But local soccer beat writer Joshua Mayers is twittering it.

Interesting player of the same caliber as Beckerman yet in my opinion more useful as he his presence is more spread out in the field than Kyle.

I think he would make for an excellent backup to Bradley and company and also he plays always very very well against concacaf competition (CCL). May be useful in the qualifying.

Deserves a look imho.

update:

http://www.sounderatheart.com/2012/6/19/3097538/osvaldo-alonso-gains-us-citizenship

2 things here that may get FIFA to allow him to play for US:
1. He only played for Cuba so that he could defect & live his life in America
2. Perhaps his defection rescinds citizenship & caps for Cuba

But if he gets the green light from FIFA I will be so happy. He's the best holding mid in MLS by far. Beckerman is definitely 2nd but Alonso is so much more diverse in the amount of things he does on the field. He covers alot more space. He'd be a much better option than Edu aswell. Heres to hoping FIFA gives him some sort of break for extenuating circumstances.

Thanks for the posts and link. Congratulations to Osvaldo! It looks like we'll have to see if Cuba rescinded his citizenship, thus making him eligible to petition to play for the US.

If Alonso is deemed eligible, he enters the pool as a prime-age top tier center mid, above Edu and just below Bradley and Jones in the pecking order (if I'm in charge...which I'm not).

Doubt seriously that FIFA gives a hoot about Cuba rescinding his citizenship. He's represented them in an official capacity prior to having citizenship with The U.S. Pretty cut and dry by regulation.

He's a professional soccer player who plays in The U.S. Maybe, if changes occur in Cuba, he can become an international again someday.

As I recall, there is something approximating a "defection rule" in the cap-tie rules.

(goes and looks at the statutes)

Here's the governing text (from Article 8 of Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes, August 2011 edition as downloaded from fifa.com) : "If a Player who has been fielded by his Association in an international match in accordance with art. 5 par. 2 permanently loses the nationality of that country without his consent or against his will due to a decision by a government authority, he may request permission to play for another Association whose nationality he already has or has acquired."

So it will hang on whether he has permanently lost Cuban nationality, and if so, whether it was without his consent or against his will. I don't think it's open-and-shut.

On the contrary, FIFA does care about it. See immediately above.

I think this mixed with the possibility that he only played for Cuba, again, in order to come to the US & become a citizen could make it a stronger possibility than many think..

Alonso is another Rico Clark. Not sure how he'd make the squad since even Kljestan can't make it.

He's also a bit of a headcase. The same thing people knock Jones for, except not as talented.

Disagree with the Clark comparison. I think Alonso has a ton more skill than Rico.

What? No... Absolutely not. How many reds does he have in his career? 0... Absolutely 0. He is actually a very diligent, mature, & respectful player. The only negative thing he's ever really done is that 2 footed tackle that MLS suspended him for 2 games for on grossman.

He gives up silly fouls in dangerous positions and loses his composure. In MLS he's one of the best but I can't see him making the bench for the US.

Nice find.

Now the question is, does Cuba have a habit of rescinding the citizenship of those who defect from it. Also, would FIFA consider defection as voluntarily putting oneself in the position to lose citizenship. Lots and lots of gray areas to play in here.

He's a good player. It'll be interesting to see how this pans out or if anything even comes of it (soccer-wise of course).

If Beckerman got the looks he did, Alonso would get alot more. I dont know what you're referring to with the whole "composure" & "hothead" thing. He is quite composed & controlled emotionally compared to most holding mids, especially compared to ours. Look at last season compared to Edu (who faces weaker opposition than MLS most of the time), Edu has 65 fouls committed to Alonso's 51. They have the same amount of cards but Edu has a red.

alonso's workrate is what is amazing. all game long everywhere. makes every defense better (not linearly, but exposnentially)

anyway...just wanted to give peeps a heads up. A decent player. No phenom, but a good filler player if eligible and would help against those frustrating CCL opponents.

god what a feeling it would be as a SSFC fan and Nats supporter to see Ozzie shut down Mexico.

You think Alonso can play the "6" in Klinsmann's system? Not being sarcastic or rude, just asking. Personally I'm tired of seeing Edu pass to the other team. I'd like to see Danny Williams or Jones tried there.

Absolutely. I really think so man. & no, I understand its all good, but my main reasoning is that Edu, Williams, & Beckerman are only ones competing with him. I think Jones is kind of refusing to play there. He has refused in the past for Schalke & I have a feeling its why Jurgen hasnt played him there much. Williams is the one who really challenges him imo, & even though its tough to compare Danny & Alonso, my experience watching the 2 says, Alonso, for now at least. That would probably be something a little too tough to call until camp. Williams is still young too & who's to say (even though he looks more likely to be a DM) he wont be converted into a CB next season at hoffenheim..? All things to think about but I think Alonso certainly beats out Kyle & Maurice fairly easily

they asked him about this...see video...one thing is for sure-he is a quiet guy LOLz..

http://www.soundersfc.com/media-lib.../120619-alonso.aspx?autoPlay=true#videoplayer

they are sending a letter to FIFA to request to play for US.

i've watched him play, he's a good player. Ideally i'd like to see danny williams take the #6 role eventually, but i think he can at least provide a nice alternative to what we have

This is an incorrect, oversimplified analysis.

He is not Rico Clark at all. He has much more skill on the ball, covers more distance, and is a better distributor. Kljestan and Alonso have different roles completely. Also, he is in no way a headcase rather he's a quiet, humble, yet hardworking and tenacious player. I refer to other commenters for his card count as proof. He would make an great option for the Nats especially against CONCACAF opponents.

If he IS able to switch I would see Klinnsman calling him into camp to battle it out with Beckerman for the last spot, which I think he wins.

I agree. While he might potentially help at some point, we have other guys he's in line behind for that 6 spot who've proven they can excel there in leagues better than MLS. Jones/Edu(to a certain extent)/Williams should all be tried there first.

But, if allowed to play for us I have no problem bringing him into camp in Jan and seeing how he fits in. But i just hope BS posters don't act like they usually do with their "shiny new toy" where anyone else ahead in the pecking order can be tossed to the side.

Let's also not forget Holden in addition to the three mentioned above who might get a shot as early as Nov in Russia(might!) but probably will be back sometime next winter. Beckerman might have gotten some looks before, but he's looking closer and closer to being on the outside looking in, for whoever used that example.

He will definitely get looks.

FIFA make exceptions to the rules due to political reasons ALL THE TIME.

You really thought you could get away with putting "cut and dry" and "[FIFA] regulations" in the same sentence?

Too late.