Pope to Southampton?

[cosmosRIP]

Today's NY Times reports MLS "close" to deal to send Eddie Pope to Southampton. The amount was originally $1m, but MLS wants $2-3m.

[jkritchey]

Can't find that. Link?

[bigredfutbol]

Good for him. I didn't know he was on the radar in Europe--not that I don't think he's worthy, of course.

[Wahoo]

This would be interesting.
I like Eddie Pope as much as anyone, but he's never shown any interest in going to Europe before and to start now at the age of 30 suprises me. Maybe he's looking for a big payday before his playing days are over.

I hope it would work out for him. The last couple seasons have been subpar for Eddie, and maybe this would be just the thing to pick his game up.

[Roehl Sybing]

Christ. I'm gonna need a drink, and it's only Monday.

[cosmosRIP]

Can't find that. Link?
I don't think it's on the website, I couldn't find it.

[Wahoo]

Christ. I'm gonna need a drink, and it's only Monday.

Last day of the transfer window... expect something to happen today... and probably more rumors :)

[TAKK]

Hey Roehl, what ya drinkin?

BTW - I beieve this...not at all.

[sregis]

This would be interesting.
I like Eddie Pope as much as anyone, but he's never shown any interest in going to Europe before and to start now at the age of 30 suprises me. Maybe he's looking for a big payday before his playing days are over.


this is my guess too. more cash and perhaps a final professional challenge. on the other hand, if you knew you were about to be shipped off to utah in lieu of jeff agoos, the epl might look pretty good.

[TAKK]

this is my guess too. more cash and perhaps a final professional challenge. on the other hand, if you knew you were about to be shipped off to utah in lieu of jeff agoos, the epl might look pretty good.

CSI reasoning...starting to think...maybe with that...it's possible.

Grissom speaks.

[jri]

I think the move would be great for the US Nats. Eddie needs to rejuvenate his game w/new challenge at this point....

[IMOX77]

from the metros board
from today's nyt:

Major League Soccer is close to a deal that would send the veteran defender Eddie Pope of the MetroStars and the United States national team to Southampton of the English Premier League, according to a person close to the negotiations.

Pope, 31, the MetroStars' captain and highest-paid player last year, was in California last week training with the national team for its World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago on Feb. 9.

The MetroStars open their preseason training today in East Rutherford, N.J. Any deal would have to be completed today because the transfer period ends in Europe. The transfer amount was originally $1 million, but M.L.S., which owns all player contracts under its single-entity system, said it wanted $2 million to $3 million to part with Pope.

Pope became expendable when the MetroStars acquired Jeff Agoos, another veteran defender. Several M.L.S. clubs expressed interest in trading for Pope, and a deal was close with Real Salt Lake, an expansion team, before Southampton came into the picture. The Saints are near the bottom of the Premier League and recently hired a manager, Harry Redknapp, from rival Portsmouth in an attempt to stave off relegation.

Asked to comment on the potential deal, M.L.S. Commissioner Don Garber, in an e-mail message last night, said, ''I can't comment on that one.'' Jack Bell

[mschofield]

Good for him. I didn't know he was on the radar in Europe--not that I don't think he's worthy, of course.
he's clearly not on the radar of the english press, as i'm finding no mention of this. you'd think he'd rate a mention, even if it's only a rumor. Didn't s'hmpton have some back line injuries that could mean this makes sense?

[Roehl Sybing]

I've taken two aspirin to relieve the pressure. I have two more set aside just in case.

[Emile]

Christ. I'm gonna need a drink, and it's only Monday.

I think this is the kind of transfer deal that makes the most sense for MLS. Pope has a hefty contract, which he has earned through his years of good play. The Metros are ready to move on without him and use that cap room for other purposes, but he is hard to trade within MLS because of that salary number. Plus now, the Metros have another allocation to hopefully bring another good young international player into the league.

These players who become sort of late-career salary cap pariahs are ideal to move to Europe. The Metros can give minutes to a younger player and Pope can continue to get paid well and not be asked to take a pay cut. I don't think this marginalizes the league, and getting a few million for Pope at this point would be a bit of a coup.

[harttbeat]

2 mill sounds fair...

[mschofield]

... The Metros can give minutes to a younger player and Pope can continue to get paid well and not be asked to take a pay cut. ..agree with the logic, but the times piece noted agoos as his replacement... :D

[soccernutter]

Not too surprised by this. Pope is sold and has plenty of experience. Southampton have been fairly active in the transfer window, but not with much luck. They are also struggling and may go down. Not sure this is the place Pope would want to go.

[sregis]

Not sure this is the place Pope would want to go.

as opposed to, say, real salt lake?

[FC Tallavana]

Don't know if it's been mentioned yet but if Southampton couldn't find 2-3 million for Beasley...