brian mcbride upset with MLS

[Dixie]

Originally posted by FootyMundo


McBride is 30. If we don't have him replaced and off the team by 2006, we have some real problems in developing competent strikers. Twellman, Donovan, Razov, Wolff, Mathis, Kreis are all younger than McBride. And there are other guys out there as well. I understand that only Razov might be considered a "target" guy in this group I've listed, but I just don't see a 34 year old striker contributing much to our team. And before anyone points to a guy like Batistuta - let's be real. McBride isn't even remotely close to the player Batistuta is and was.


34 is not too old to come off the bench and also to provide leadership for the younger developing players. We might have done fine without him at Honduras but thats not what I was saying. We can't just discard the 30 year old players now because they'll be 34 in 2006. Some of the younger players need to be eased into the fray and we can't expect them to all perform as well as Mcbride would at a game in Costa Rica. By 2006 they'll be ready but we have to get to 2006 first and Mcbride will most likely help us get there.

[mark madden]

what kind of dolt would turn a debate over the pros & cons of MLS players going overseas into a dissection of typing styles with a major focus on capitalization? oh, of course, a broad posting on a sports msg board! stick to the topic, or get back in the friggin' kitchen!
(by the way, i rarely capitalize when i type for a msg board. msg boards are informal, and since i have to carefully type/edit when i write columns for the pitts. post-gazette, i really don't wanna be bothered here. see, i am a "real journalist." not just a "sports talk host.")

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by Mike Segroves


What's next? Promotion/Relegation?
Ask and ye shall receive

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=3237

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by 352klr
No way Brian"I'm perfect in every way in the eyes of crew fans" McBRide could actually be doing something like this. It's just impossible. The man wants to play in Europe. MLS should let him. $1mil is reasonable for him.
Easy for you to say. It's not your money.

[superdave]

The impact of McB's development on the USMNT will be trivial, at the MOST. He's going to be 34 then, right? Or 33. He's going to lose a step or 3. Once he's that slow, he's a shorter Niall Quinn.

But MLS needs to be careful. The importance of this has almost nothing to do with McB. It's Freddy Adu et al.

If MLS gets the rep. of being unfriendly to players, it's going to be that much harder for them to sign kids. The performance of Landon and Beasley in this World Cup sent about as clear of a message as you could hope for: American kids should sign their first contract with MLS, because they will play and develop there.

Being a hardass to McB negates that message.

I'm not taking a position on the specific issue, because there's too much I don't know (price? willing to wait until MLS season over?)

[Casper]

Originally posted by mark madden
what kind of dolt would turn a debate over the pros & cons of MLS players going overseas into a dissection of typing styles with a major focus on capitalization? oh, of course, a broad posting on a sports msg board! stick to the topic, or get back in the friggin' kitchen!


What kind of a dolt would turn a discussion about typing styles into a sexist rant?

Good to see you here, though.

[Lab Mouse]

Originally posted by mark madden
oh, of course, a broad posting on a sports msg board! stick to the topic, or get back in the friggin' kitchen!

Excuse me, but you might want to read a few more posts before making that kind of a judgment on women on sports boards. The majority of us "broads" who post on these boards really do know something about the world of sports and soccer specifically. There are, of course, the exceptions (the San Jose board has quite a number of them for obvious reasons, but they're generally harmless), but I think you could actually learn a few things from the rest of us about women fans and what we know.

That said, and I'm probably repeating stuff here, I think McBake is right in trying to find the best deal for him. Sure, we do love him in Columbus, but I think if he wants to take opportunities elsewhere, that's OK (sorry all). MLS has turned down more offers than just those to him--offers for Beas have been rejected as well, and for Clintinho, etc. We've had players go to Europe who have met with success (Stewart, Friedel, Keller, etc) others who bombed, and others who weren't really allowed the chance (in this latter case, think Donovan, Twellman, maybe Frankie a little, etc) and even a few who are still working on it (Gooch, C. Casey, Kaslauskas). There are teams that are failing financially in Europe, footy over there is in dire financial straits in some places, and they can't offer MLS the kind of money they want to take our "Strike Force" away. MLS is also not in the best of financial situations (although supposedly better off than some of the Euro leagues) and they don't just want to settle for any old sum. I'm willing to let a few US guys go to Europe to play and keep the ones who want to stay here--I mean, we can't send all our top players over, or MLS will remain consistently below the top Euro leagues or simply become the Euro testimonial league. We need not only players from outside the US, but some of the best Americans, youth and experienced, as well as fan support to make MLS continue to work.

I don't know exactly how I feel about McBake not doing interviews, but I do know that I am glad he is still with the Crew for the moment...we'll wait and see what happens after the season is over.

Mesabi

[dark knight]

Let's stick to soccer folks.

[JohnW]

Originally posted by Dixie


34 is not too old to come off the bench and also to provide leadership for the younger developing players. ...

Players who will provide leadership in 2006:
John O'Brien
Landon Donovan
Clint Mathis
DMB
Pablo Mastroeni

Maybe Freidel-Keller and/or Reyna

Players who will be receiving said leadership:
Conor Casey
Taylor Twellman
Various BS flavors of the month--Quaranta, Johnson, Buddle, etc.

Players on ESPN pregame show:
Brian McBride

jgw

DK: Are you sure we can't have just ONE more post on who knows more about typing and journalism?

[spot]

Originally posted by Alberto


There is another issue that needs resolution. When will the MLS get out of the position of acting as a super general manager and allow the clubs to transfer players and act on their best interest.

It would be nice to see this, but I don't see how it would change the circumstances in question. If the Crew had the power to transfer McBride for a mill would they? It's not a simple question really. The Crew may think that with McBride they'll win games and make a nice playoff run, and without him they're toast.

I agree it's tough on players not to get what they want, but the people at the club and league level have different goals. The best thing McBride can do is play his heart out in the remaining months and hope that his play will bring suitors from Europe in the off season. Getting involved with all the crap will not help him find a team once his contracts up.

McBride should also recognize that while his interests and the leagues have currently diverged, this has been largely a matter of circumstances. I'm not sure McBride would be getting the interest he is today without MLS. No they haven't paid him a lot, but then they haven't been exactly making a lot for themselves either.

[352klr]

Originally posted by SoFla Metro

Easy for you to say. It's not your money.

Apparently it's easy for all the clubs in Europe that aren't exactly falling over him to say as well. If he were worth more than that, then we'd see bids for more than that. He's out of contract in December anyways. Why waste money on a transfer fee for an injury-prone 30 yearold when you can take your chances, wait until mid season, and get him on a free? Once again, another player is going to walk away without MLS seeing a dime b.c. they're scared of being viewed as a developmental league.

[prk166]

the crew PR guy told us that brian is upset because MLS will not let him leave to go overseas (presumably to everton) and so will not do any more interviews which he perceives as promoting MLS.

If this REALLY is true, the PR guy was being extremely unprofessional. Why would the guy say something that makes both the league and brian look bad? It's a loose/loose situation. My gutt feeling is this a bunch of bull. Why does Moyes buy McBride? The transfer $$$$ bubble has burst and everyone's being very, very cautious in trying to figure out true player evalutations for clubs that aren't interested into going belly up.

[Bigfoot]

So how is giving an interview after last night's game not helping to promote MLS?

Either he blew off Pittsburgh or this is more BS at BS.

http://biggsoccer.homestead.com/files/McBride.jpg

[Chris M.]

Originally posted by Elizabeth
Where are the mods?

BELLBOY!!!!!!

[Minnman]

Originally posted by 352klr


Apparently it's easy for all the clubs in Europe that aren't exactly falling over him to say as well. If he were worth more than that, then we'd see bids for more than that. He's out of contract in December anyways. Why waste money on a transfer fee for an injury-prone 30 yearold when you can take your chances, wait until mid season, and get him on a free? Once again, another player is going to walk away without MLS seeing a dime b.c. they're scared of being viewed as a developmental league.

Could you please list the players MLS has lost without "seeing a dime." I know there are some, but I suspect that the numbers are tiny, irrelevant even. MLS does a far, far better job of retaining league talent than many people seem to realize.

[RSwenson]

Originally posted by Minnman


Could you please list the players MLS has lost without "seeing a dime." I know there are some, but I suspect that the numbers are tiny, irrelevant even. MLS does a far, far better job of retaining league talent than many people seem to realize.

I'm sure that others can come up with some... but Joe-Max Moore was one... I actually think that Everton paid two chickens and a pig to get him released slightly early (his MLS contract went beyond the end of the season), but it was basically a free...

I don't remember the details of Sanah's transfer, but it wasn't for much money... maybe someone can enlighten me...

rand

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by RSwenson


I'm sure that others can come up with some... but Joe-Max Moore was one... I actually think that Everton paid two chickens and a pig to get him released slightly early (his MLS contract went beyond the end of the season), but it was basically a free...

I don't remember the details of Sanah's transfer, but it wasn't for much money... maybe someone can enlighten me...

rand So there's two...

[Excape Goat]

Originally posted by FootyMundo


Why? Presumably he's honest and is reporting facts. If anyone screwed up it was the Crew PR guy.

Would a PR guy say the kinda of things to a radio host? It is his job to provide good PR for the league. Wouldn't it be very unprofessional for him to provide bad PR for the league. I always thought the PR people can come up all kind of excuses for things liked this. He is not going to tell the truth if it would be a bad PR for the league. He could easily tell the radio host that McBride does not want to do interviews.

So this thread can either be fake or the PR guy should be fired.

[FootyMundo]

Well, I know Madden isn't a fake. He's a real person. So perhaps the PR guy should be fired, or perhaps he just blew it. It happens.

[kyledane]

Originally posted by Minnman
Could you please list the players MLS has lost without "seeing a dime." I know there are some, but I suspect that the numbers are tiny, irrelevant even.
I believe Razov left on a free as well.

Hejduk's departure was similar to Moore's, BL paid a small fee for MLS to release him from the last three or four months of his contract.

Just the four players listed, since all are/were national teamers, make it hard for me to label the group as "irrelevant." However, I'll agree that generally MLS has done a good job keeping it's talent.

Has it done a good job keeping it's talent happy, though? Of that I'm not so sure. From what I've read, there are quite a number of disgruntled current and former MLS players (whether McBride is one or not). That's a reality the league is going to have to deal with at some point.