Well, given that Oliver Luck was reportedly in Mexico City this week and now your report, we probably have something one way or the other. I guess we'll see if this year's MLS-to-Houston rumor pans out.
Club America is negotiating to buy the Earthquakes and wants to move them to Houston. Haven't we known this for months?
Maybe. But the combination this week of Oliver Luck going to Mexico City followed by El Presidente Perez Teuffer going to NY may be an interesting development. Then again, maybe Mrs. Presidente just wants to do some shopping and catch a show.
I say just give CA another expansion team if they want in so bad this year (they can pay) and give SSV a decent chance (a year? till Dec?). AEG could always move them to SA still. JMHO.
As badly as I would like to see a team here, I second BulaJacket's motion: let CA buy a new team if they want one that badly (those uppity Chivas and their LA franchise, damn their hides !), and give San Jose more of a fair shake...
Bring the Quakes to H-town, just don't screw up and dismantle the nucleus of the current Quakes team and replace with CA imports. Donovan and Ching under the Reliant Roof in 2005! Hopefully this move won't permanently send Donovan to Germany.
They will not be playing in Reliant. CA - Houston will be playin @ Cougar High. John Quinn @ Robertson stadium or some such.
It is not up to Landie Cakes (who has said he is not coming to TX) it is up to his German club that own his rights.
Well, this isn't slavery. Landon still makes the final decision. It just depends on whether he wants to either buy himself out of his contract, or breach his contract. Either way he is likely out of cash. They can't force him to go if he doesn't want to.
He has a contract. If he wants to play for a FIFA sanctioned league he plays where his clubs tells him. You are correct though if he wants to buy himself out of his contract but then again the club is not obligated to sell. He is not a free agent thus; the club DOES have the final word. You are correct again this is not slavery. He can quit any time and not play at all. He should shut his mouth, grow up, and comply with his obligations.
I sure hope a team is established in Houston no matter if it is the Quakes or not just give us a team!
That's not true. A club in the EU cannot make you go anywhere, any more than the player is not able to walk out without reprecussions. Employment law is different in the EU which is why trades, as they are understood here, don't exist (yes players are swapped, but the deals have to come with the player's approval). You can't just send a player to another team (unless it's within your contract, like reserves etc..). If Landon didn't want to be loaned to a team in Houston or anywhere else then Leverkusen would have to keep him in their system and pay him his contracted amount, providing Landon did not refuse to play/go to Germany.
Speaking of such speculation about the league's best players... some Galaxy posters are thinking Ruiz might leave before next season. If he does, that would open up a spot for Donovan that's even closer to his home.
Nah... Donovan had already bought a house in San Jose. If he doesn't head off to Germany, then he'll stay with the San Jose Earthquakes next season (in which case there's no way that he'd be traded or left unprotected in the expansion draft). -G