Andrew Gutman at Cincinnati (on loan from Celtic)

From the local paper:

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sp...re-matt-polster-andrew-gutman-steven-gerrard/

 

Offer made

http://www.americansoccernow.com/ar...d-updates-on-guttman-polster-perez-amp-sonora

 

How about the work permit question? Does he hold an EU passport?

 

I don't believe either Matt or Andrew hold EU passports.

Getting a UK work permit is a lot easier in Scotland than England.

 

something's changing.

why are euro offers being made for ordinary to good mls & ncaa players?

is it because the commish decreed us to be a selling league?

 

1) MLS is getting better, so there's more international interest in "ordinary to good" MLS players.

2) Polster and Gutman are both out of contract, which has always been a time that MLS players seek moves to less prestigious European leagues.

 

gotcha.

makes sense.

 

I'll add that any player with an option to get the ******** out of Chicago who doesn't take a serious look at it is completely insane.

 

If this move does have legs and Gutman can get a work permit, what competition does he have at LB at Rangers?

Transfermarkt has them with two listed LB: Lee Wallace (31) and Borna Barisic (26). Wallace has played 49 minutes this season and is out of contract in May. Barisic arrived from Osijek in Croatia this summer, has 4 caps for Croatia (made their World Cup preliminary squad), and has been Rangers's regular starter when not injured.

Former Liverpool fullback Jon Flanagan has deputized at left back, but has clearly fallen out of favor with Gerrard. Andrew Halliday, a DM by trade, has also filled in. He seems like a decent professional; his career pinnacle is either this stint with Rangers or his time with Middlesbrough in the Championship. He did, however, spend time on loan with Azerbaijani giants Qarabag last season, so that suggests that Rangers might not value him too much.

So, knowing absolutely nothing about Gutman, his style of play, or his ability, it seems like the opportunity is there for him to at least be a rotational option in the Rangers defense.

 

not enough quality or of course international appearances to get work permits for either of them.

color me confused.

it's all a sham. no?

 

From some (brief) research, the automatic qualification is the same as England, but the appeals process is more lenient because it takes less ability to be classified as "improving the game" in Scotland.

 

Yup.. it's all going to have to go through appeals. Which is just stating your case and convincing a board that you have the resume to justifying being a positive asset to the SPL.

Manny is going to build his case around being a key player for a strong U.S. U-20 team with a ton of potential.

If Matt accepts the Rangers deal, he's going to have to say he's been a very good MLS player for a number of years while being on the fringe of the U.S. national team

If Andrew accepts the Rangers deal he will build his case around being perhaps the best college player in the country last year at very difficult position of left back.

 

I want to add that an Occam's Razor argument too. I feel like this applies to all the flurry of movement that we've seen the past 18 months. I will also add that Gerrard looking to the MLS and NCAA confirms what we've known for awhile. The MLS is a standard far above the Scottish prem.

1) MLS's investment in developing youth combined with maybe a generational difference from the parenting side of things in terms of how early and intensely they focus on soccer has resulted in more talent.

2) The success of McKennie and Pulisic cannot be overlooked. You had two free players that were able to be rotational players for Champions League teams within 18 months of arrival? Add Sargent to the list (sans Breder being mid to bottom table).

3) Basically because of the lack of compensation fees for training American youth are the recent moneyball play for European clubs that focus on developing and then selling youth. Super low risk, very high reward.

 

I did this in Football Manager all the time, so I fully endorse this strategy.

 

Wins the Hermann Trophy as the best player in college for 2018

 

Yup.. we’ll know next week with him and Polster

 

It will be interesting to see if Gutman winning the Hermann increases the offer he gets from MLS/Chicago.

Traditionally, MLS has put a premium on signing the Hermann. They've only lose three to Europe since the league started (Wojtek Krakowiak, Joseph Lapira, Marcus Tracy) though with college soccer and the SuperDraft (and yes, I know Gutman wouldn't be in the draft) not being as impactful in MLS as it used to be, the league might just shrug off losing the Hermann winner.

I doubt MLS will match what Rangers is offering, but between an offer from a European team and the Hermann, Gutman will have about as much leverage as a college senior can have these days.

 

Will be interesting to see how the WP process plays out for these two. (Gutman & Polster)

 

From talks I've had this morning, they feel pretty good about getting work permits for both.

Here's what I know: both are probably going to decide by Sunday. Chicago wants one last meeting with both later in the week.

Celtic's offer to Gutman is a little stronger than Rangers. If Gutman makes the jump abroad, it'll probably be Celtic.

Matt also has an offer from a German team but I think Rangers have a better offer.

I'd be surprised if Matt stays in Chicago - but that is just my gut telling me that.