http://americansoccerreader.com/2008/06/20/bocanegra-signed-with-rennes/ "USA International defender Carlos Bocanegra has signed a three year deal with French side Rennes. Bocanegra joins Rennes after being released by Fulham last month, after spending four years with the London Club." What do you guys think? I think its a good move, he'll be a guaranteed starter every week, and has the possibility to see some European action. They finished 6th last season in Ligue 1, so he moves to a competitive team, shouldn't have to worry about relegation.
Good move. I kind of like to see some guys play in the more "continental" or technical leagues: Spain, Italy, France, Portugal. Less in England, Scotland, or Germany.
I agree, he'll get more playing time, and be exposed to a different style of play, and he's got a good shot of reaching Champions League or UEFA cup next season.
Well i figured it directly effects the USA nats, and I wanted to get everyones views on the move and its potential impact on Boca playing for the national team.
Well, if I were Boca, I'd ask to sit this Sunday. Why go turn an ankle on what will be a crappy pitch?
Great move, wish he done it a long time ago. Agree with the other posters that want more YA playing in leagues other than EPL and SPL, Germany is still pretty good. Good luck to him.
Good move, I guess...as long as he gets consistent PT!! But I would've preferred a EPL, Bundesliga or Erevdivise club!! Just not much of a fan of the French league!!
Well I don't think there was much chance of him moving to another EPL club since he wasn't exactly tearing it up at 17th place Fulham. France is a good league, not the EPL, Serie A, La Liga or the Bundesliga but if can play everyday for a decent side (which Rennes is) it's a good move.
To be fair I highly doubt we'll see any NT-caliber players playing in Scotland in the forseeable future unless it's for one of the Old Firm clubs.
It's about time we had a key guy in France. Hopefully there will be more. There are some guys in our pool who I think would benefit. (Though he may be out of decent European chances, Benny comes immediately to mind.) I'm definitely with some others in thinking that we've got enough guys in England and Germany, and a league like France (if not a superleague like La Liga) would be more beneficial to some of our guys.
Now Coach Bradley should trot out this lineup. Howard (England) Cherundolo (Germany) Onyewu (Belgium) Califf (Denmark) Bocanegra (France) Beasley (Scotland) Bradley (Netherlands) Szetela (Italy second div.) Donovan (United States) Adu (Portugal) Altidore (Spain) Perkins (Norway) Orozco (Mexico) Mathis (Greece) Davies (Sweden) Jaqua (Austria) All kidding aside, I've always enjoyed keeping track of all the leagues American players end up at.
I think younger/developing players could benefit by playing on 2d. tier Scottish sides, whoever perenially finishes 3d & 4th. (Aberdeen?) I mean, if Holden (or Edu?) could nail down a regular starting spot, would he be better off there? Get a season's worth of hardscrabble games against opponents who probably have a little more savy in the "gamesmanship" aspect of the game. And, 4 times a year, you get to play against a comparative Giant of a club. And, do the Scottish clubs go to the Uefa Cup? Those would be good games for Holden. And, I definately think that there is almost no Yank that wouldn't benefit from playing in the French league (if they got regular minutes). Maybe Cherundolo & Pearce are better off where they are. Howard is better off staying. But, after them, who else wouldn't be better off? Dempsey? He might be able to find a team in the French league where he's "the man" and he carries the team. Bradley? French league is probably better top-to-bottom than the Eredivisie. Beasley? I think his game would improve more in France. Those are the only ones where I think it's close.
After Rangers and Celtic, the Scottish teams aren't really any better than MLS. I don't know how much of a benefit that would be, unless they were in turn able to earn a transfer to one of the Big Two or down to England.
Yeah, really the only reason to make the move would be if you're trying to use it as a stepping stone. Then again guys use the same justification for leaving MLS for the Scandinavian leagues, but off the top of my head I can't think of a single American player who's moved from MLS to Scandinavia to a big 4 league.
If a young prospect of ours goes to Rangers, I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm partial to them after what Gattuso became.
They go to Scandanavia as a stepping stone that pays better than MLS for similar quality players. Or maybe it's the women...
Heath Pearce? I'm not arguing for playing in Scandinavia. I'm just sayin' Heath Pearce played there & moved to Germany. (Is Germany "Big 4"?)
Yep, I don't think Aberdeen, Hearts, or Hibs would necessarily win the Supporters Cup. My point is that if you went to Aberdeen, Hearts, or Hibs, (yes, those are the only non-OldFirm Scottish teams I can think of off the top of my head) you'd get to play against Rangers & Celtic four times a year. You're not going to face that quality in MLS. And, you'd have a shot at Uefa Cup play. Again, you'd be likely to face tougher-than-MLS competition. And, I believe, but can't prove it, that the players in the Scottish league are better at cheating. Better at faking a foul, stalling, retaliating at the right time. It's part of the game and for a long time the MNT suffered for being poor cheaters. But, that's not my main point. My main point is that in non-OldFirm Scotland, you may not be playing on a better team (or worse), but you'd be facing tougher competition.
I'm surprised someone used Big 4... considering there is no consensus Big 4. Let's just stick to Big 3, guys.