USL-1 to MLS success stories...

[Matrim55]

Reports that Osorio and the Red Bulls are pursuing Atlanta Silverbacks star Macoumba Kandji prompted me to start this thread. According to the always excellent BigAppleSoccer (http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=15236), Atlanta are asking for a $200k transfer fee. That would be half of the the $400k we have left from the Altidore sale, $100k of which already went to the Fire as compensation for the Osorio hire.

Here's a (terrible quality) youtube of the kid in action:

fo6ljUDLwKg

Ok, so he sure doesn't look like a stiff. But aside from Brian Ching, I can't think of a single USL-1 to MLS player who would be worth a $200k allocation. No offense to Alan Gordon intended.

Other than Ching, am I missing anyone? Because given the track record it seems like Metro are making (yet another) mistake on the personnel front if they meet Atlanta's demands.

Someone please enlighten me.

[DirtyJerzey]

Reports that Osorio and the Red Bulls are pursuing Atlanta Silverbacks star Macoumba Kandji prompted me to start this thread. According to the always excellent BigAppleSoccer (http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=15236), Atlanta are asking for a $200k transfer fee. That would be half of the the $400k we have left from the Altidore sale, $100k of which already went to the Fire as compensation for the Osorio hire.

Here's a (terrible quality) youtube of the kid in action:

fo6ljUDLwKg

Ok, so he sure doesn't look like a stiff. But aside from Brian Ching, I can't think of a single USL-1 to MLS player who would be worth a $200k allocation. No offense to Alan Gordon intended.

Other than Ching, am I missing anyone? Because given the track record it seems like Metro are making (yet another) mistake on the personnel front if they meet Atlanta's demands.

Someone please enlighten me.


Galindo.

[Elninho]

$200k is a pretty steep price given MLS's transfer policy. Certainly a number of USL-1 players have become starters in MLS, but a $200k allocation, in this league, means a USMNT regular or a player of similar quality.

Kerry Zavagnin got a bunch of caps after going from USL-1 to MLS, and even he wouldn't have been worth that kind of allocation at any point in his career.

As recently as 2006, MLS, as a matter of league policy, did not pay transfer fees exceeding $150,000.

[DirtyJerzey]

Pat Onstad, I believe came from the Rhinos.

Tony Sanneh from Minnesota.

Marcus Hahneneman, Herculez Gomez, Craig Waibel from Seattle.

Dwayne De Rosario, right?

[Matrim55]

Pat Onstad, I believe came from the Rhinos.

Tony Sanneh from Minnesota.

Marcus Hahneneman, Herculez Gomez, Craig Waibel from Seattle.

Dwayne De Rosario, right?
Onstad's been great, but I don't think he'd be worth $200k of allocation money given the amount of quality keepers the US and Canada produce.

Sanneh, Hahneman, De Rosario and Waibel made the USL-1 to MLS jump in what was a different era for both leagues, so I can't really count them. And Hahnemann and Waibel, at least wouldn't be worth a $200k allocation anyway (Hahnemann for the same reason as Onstad; Waibel because he's just not that good.)

Of those that you've mentioned, Gomez and obviously Galindo are the ones I quite clearly missed. Gomez is a nice player who scored double-digit goals a few years back, but is pretty much a sub now. Galindo on the other hand would probably be worth the $200k. Good catch on that one, and thanks for the detailed response.

[jason1551]

Clyde Simms has done well with DC.

[AndyMead]

Clyde Simms has done well with DC.

As did John Wilson.

Jokes aside, Bo Oshoniyi was a serviceable MLS goalkeeper after returning from his stint in the A-League.

Neither would've been worth a transfer fee, but there are definitely passable moves.

One that might have been worth a fee - in fact, I believe Kansas City had to compensate Rochester (who apparently owned his rights) after acquiring Onandi Lowe - who was later sold to Rushden & Diamonds. I consider Lowe a success at the MLS level. He damn near single-handedly carried the 8th seed Wizards past the 2001 Miami super team, with Miami only surviving game three on goals from ex-Wizards Preki and Henderson.

[scaryice]

Jon Busch, Edson Buddle

[Sandon Mibut]

There are plenty of USL to MLS success stories.

These 15 players have been capped by the US senior national team after showing well in MLS. All of them earned their caps after playing in the USL/A-League AFTER the inception of MLS, ie, not because there wasn’t an alternative to the USL but because for whatever reasons they weren’t signed to an MLS team.

The list includes 5 players that have made a US World Cup team.

C.J. Brown – San Francisco, 1997
Edson Buddle – Long Island, 2000
Jon Busch – Carolina, 1997; Hampton Roads, 98-2000; Hershey, 2001
Joe Cannon – San Diego, 1998
Brian Ching – Seattle, 2002
Jimmy Conrad – San Diego, 1998
Herculez Gomez – San Diego, 2002
Henry Gutierrez - Rochester, 1996-7
Marcus Hahnemann – Seattle, 1996
Tom Howard – North Jersey,
Carlos Llamosa – New York, 1996
Clyde Simms – Richmond, 2004
Jonny Walker – Jacksonville, 1997
Jonny Wolyniec – Long Island, 1999; Rochester, 2001; Milwaukee, 2002
Kerry Zavagnin – Raleigh, 1996; Lehigh Valley, 1999

Other American MLSers who did stints in the A-League/USL-1 AFTER the inception of MLS but who were never capped. Several of these guys played a long time – some are still playing – and won a bunch of trophies.

Preston Burpo (Seattle), Troy Dayak (San Francisco, he’d been capped a few times before MLS started but not after), Scott Garlick (Greensboro), Alan Gordon (Portland), Carlos Mendes (Long Island, Rochester), Bo Oshoniyi (Connecticut, Charleston, Atlanta), Orlando Perez (Orange County), Brandon Prideaux (Seattle), Mike Randolph (Portland), Ian Russell (Seattle), Crag Waibel (Seattle), John Wilson (Charleston, Rochester)

And, myriad non-American players have played in the A-League/USL-1 - again after MLS started - and gone on to play in MLS, many with pretty impactful careers.

Tenyway Bonesu (Pittsburgh), Dwayne DeRosario (Toronto, Richmond), Maykel Galindo (Seattle), Ezra Hendrickson (New Orleans, Charleston), Avery John (Boston, New Orleans), Stern John (Carolina, New Orleans), Shalrie Joseph (New York), Onandi Lowe (Montreal, Richmond, Rochester), Saul Martinez (Long Island), Thiago Martins (San Diego, Pittsburgh), Pat Onstad (Toronto, Rochester), Chris Pozniak (Toronto), Adrian Serioux (Toronto), Greg Sutton (Cincinnati, Montreal)

Further, while these guys didn’t play in MLS, T&T’s Brent Sancho (Charleston and Portland) and Linval Dixon (Charleston), Dean Sewell (Connecticut, Charleston) of Jamaica played for their countries in the World Cup either before or while playing in the A-League/USL.

Oh, and Paul Stalteri (Toronto) played in the A-League before going to play for Werder Bremen (where he won a German double, as a starter), Tottenham and Fulham.

PS – the last two USL-1 Rookie of the Year winners, Cam Weaver and Jay Needham, passed on MLS after winning RoY and signed in Scandanavia.

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

There are plenty of USL to MLS success stories.

These 15 players have been capped by the US senior national team after showing well in MLS. All of them earned their caps after playing in the USL/A-League AFTER the inception of MLS, ie, not because there wasn’t an alternative to the USL but because for whatever reasons they weren’t signed to an MLS team.


You left out Richard Mulrooney (Nashville 1995-1998)

[Simply notken]

Reports that Osorio and the Red Bulls are pursuing Atlanta Silverbacks star Macoumba Kandji prompted me to start this thread. According to the always excellent BigAppleSoccer (http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/teams/redbulls2.php?article_id=15236), Atlanta are asking for a $200k transfer fee. That would be half of the the $400k we have left from the Altidore sale, $100k of which already went to the Fire as compensation for the Osorio hire.

Here's a (terrible quality) youtube of the kid in action:

fo6ljUDLwKg

Ok, so he sure doesn't look like a stiff. But aside from Brian Ching, I can't think of a single USL-1 to MLS player who would be worth a $200k allocation. No offense to Alan Gordon intended.

Other than Ching, am I missing anyone? Because given the track record it seems like Metro are making (yet another) mistake on the personnel front if they meet Atlanta's demands.

Someone please enlighten me.

I've thought this was a player who could be playing at a much higher level since I first saw him. He has a real unorthodox dribbling style, but it is very effective and he has loads of speed. I think this is a player who isn't playing in Europe purely because of asylum issues. (Basically leaving the country when you have an asylum issue pending is a big no no)

Anyway, excluding MLS's reluctance to pay transfer fees, I think this is a good buy. Just based on skill and potential I think you could sell him on for more money if he isn't what you are looking for.

[SxSxWxC]

Stern John

[Sandon Mibut]

You left out Richard Mulrooney (Nashville 1995-1998)That was all PDL in the summers while he was at Creighton.

Mulrooney never played pro ball in the USL. He was a Sr. at Creighton in the fall season of 1998 and was a rookie in MLS with San Jose in 99.

My list was only players who played pro ball in the USL in lieu of being in MLS. If you added in all the PDL players, the list would be REALLY long but the PDL isn't an MLS alternative, it's something for college players to do in the summer to get games before they turn pro.

[futgod]

Also the Puerto Rico player in Toronto, I cant remember his name. He's the first puerto rican to play in the Islanders first than play for an MLS side.

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

That was all PDL in the summers while he was at Creighton.

Mulrooney never played pro ball in the USL. He was a Sr. at Creighton in the fall season of 1998 and was a rookie in MLS with San Jose in 99.

My list was only players who played pro ball in the USL in lieu of being in MLS. If you added in all the PDL players, the list would be REALLY long but the PDL isn't an MLS alternative, it's something for college players to do in the summer to get games before they turn pro.


No, with all due respect, I think you're wrong.

The Nashville Metros were in the A-League, not the PDL, until 2002. I don't know how eligibility issues were handled, but according to their program,he was a rostered player for Nashville in that era.

[Sandon Mibut]

No, with all due respect, I think you're wrong.

The Nashville Metros were in the A-League, not the PDL, until 2002. I don't know how eligibility issues were handled, but according to their program,he was a rostered player for Nashville in that era.Trust me, I'm not wrong.

Look a the facts. Mulrooney was born 11/3/76. Are you telling me that in 95 an A-League team signed an 18-year old? Just doesn't make sense. Yeah, they had the occasional teenager on their roster but not while they were playing college ball at the same time. That's just not allowed.

Mulrooney played college soccer at Creighton starting in the 95 season thru the 98 season. From his MLS bio:

College
In 1998, was named to NSCAA All-American first team and was Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player at conference tournament…A three-time All MVC All-Conference and All-Tournament team selection…Preseason finalist for both Hermann Trophy and MAC Award in 1998…Led school to 1996 NCAA Final Four.

http://houston.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t200&player=mulrooney_r&playerId=mul563609&statType=current

How was he playing college ball if he was already a pro?

Then there's this: In 1999, his first in MLS, he...
Was an MLS Rookie of the Year finalist

How was he eligible for Rookie of the Year if he'd previously been a pro? MLS doesn't allow prior pros to be eligible for RoY. That's why the likes of Donovan, Cooper, Twellman and Joseph weren't eligible in their first season in MLS.

Also in 99, Mulrooney was taken 3rd overall in the MLS college draft and that was back pre "SuperDraft" when MLS had a separate draft for minor league pros, the supplemental draft.

http://web.mlsnet.com/history/archive.jsp?year=1999&content=superdraft

Why would Mulrooney have been in the college draft if he were already in the A-League when other A-Leaguers that year like Brandon Prideaux and Orlando Perez went in the Supplemental Draft?

Again, the facts just don't add up. Plus, there's absoltely NO RECORD of Mulrooney having played pro ball in the USL, save for the source you're obviously using... Wikipedia.

Sorry, but that's just not a good enough source. Just admit you're wrong and let it go.

[Sandon Mibut]

Also the Puerto Rico player in Toronto, I cant remember his name. He's the first puerto rican to play in the Islanders first than play for an MLS side.Marco Velez. Good call.

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

Trust me, I'm not wrong.

Look a the facts. Mulrooney was born 11/3/76. Are you telling me that in 95 an A-League team signed an 18-year old? Just doesn't make sense. Yeah, they had the occasional teenager on their roster but not while they were playing college ball at the same time. That's just not allowed.

Mulrooney played college soccer at Creighton starting in the 95 season thru the 98 season. From his MLS bio:



http://houston.mlsnet.com/players/bio.jsp?team=t200&player=mulrooney_r&playerId=mul563609&statType=current

How was he playing college ball if he was already a pro?

Then there's this: In 1999, his first in MLS, he...


How was he eligible for Rookie of the Year if he'd previously been a pro? MLS doesn't allow prior pros to be eligible for RoY. That's why the likes of Donovan, Cooper, Twellman and Joseph weren't eligible in their first season in MLS.

Also in 99, Mulrooney was taken 3rd overall in the MLS college draft and that was back pre "SuperDraft" when MLS had a separate draft for minor league pros, the supplemental draft.

http://web.mlsnet.com/history/archive.jsp?year=1999&content=superdraft

Why would Mulrooney have been in the college draft if he were already in the A-League when other A-Leaguers that year like Brandon Prideaux and Orlando Perez went in the Supplemental Draft?

Again, the facts just don't add up. Plus, there's absoltely NO RECORD of Mulrooney having played pro ball in the USL, save for the source you're obviously using... Wikipedia.

Sorry, but that's just not a good enough source. Just admit you're wrong and let it go.

No, I got the fact that he played from a Nashville Metros program from a few years ago, but you're right, the dates came from Wikipedia, and they're evidently wrong.

Corraborating the program is this (http://home.comcast.net/%7Emetrossoccer/history.html):

"Memphis native Richard Mulrooney, who played with the Metros in 1995, was the first Tennessee player to ever be named to the USA 2002 World Cup Squad."

But since they were in the PDL until 1997, you're right. My mistake. I should have double-checked that Wiki citation, which has the dates wrong.

[Sandon Mibut]

No, I got the fact that he played from a Nashville Metros program from a few years ago, but you're right, the dates came from Wikipedia, and they're evidently wrong.

Corraborating the program is this (http://home.comcast.net/%7Emetrossoccer/history.html):

"Memphis native Richard Mulrooney, who played with the Metros in 1995, was the first Tennessee player to ever be named to the USA 2002 World Cup Squad."

But since they were in the PDL until 1997, you're right. My mistake. I should have double-checked that Wiki citation, which has the dates wrong.The fact that Mulrooney wasn't on the 2002 World Cup team should have raised a red flag for you on the validity of that information.

[Huwiler's Odoreaters]

The fact that Mulrooney wasn't on the 2002 World Cup team should have raised a red flag for you on the validity of that information.

Didn't read the whole article. Serves me right for taking the shortcut.