Looks like Wolfsburg but Schalke and Werder Bremen also interested. http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-n...rmer-watford-skipper-set-shock-wolfsburg-move
For the record, Italian international Andrea Barzagli and the very young Danish international Simon Kjær have started the first 2 matches for Wolfsburg this season at center back. On paper that's a tough pairing to jump ahead of although Wolfsburg lost both matches.
Fabian Johnson, who could technically play for the US is also a defender there as is World Cup starter Arne Friedrich. Tough to say no to the wages Wolfburg will be able to offer, but Schalke and Werder Bremen will have less competition. Has anyone else noticed the German league is bringing in a ton of very good players? I say it's clearly overtaking Serie A and as a whole you can already argue that the Bundesliga is overtaking La Liga (in terms of top to bottom). The money is really being spent-responsibly. Hopefully we get more German soccer on free tv.
very funny to hear English rags called it a 'shock move'. Jay is good enough for BL + he's proven he can go overseas, and gut out the toughest of situations already. McClaren, being English coach, will naturally look for some he is familar with....but there is a shockingly low amount of English who ever even think about going to the BL and actually do it...so if there was ever a risk- its taking an Englishman to try to succeed in Germany, not Jay. We actually have a history there (unlike the English).
The Bundesliga is going to pass Serie A for #3 in the UEFA coefficient rankings this season. Next year, their poor 06/07 campaign falls off and they'll have a decent shot at Spain. If Germany does well the next two years and England stumbles, they could even challenge for #1.
can't see him getting in over Mert Naldo or Prodl at Bremen, which would put him at least 4th on the CB depth Chart at Bremen.
You never know. But it'll be a nice payday for him regardless He probably doesn't have too much of a USMNT future left so it'll be nice to see him rewarded playing in the big time even if he only gets occasional playing time.
Screw the Nats. The man is getting P-A-I-D. This is the culmination of the most amazing successful YA story.
I'm completely shocked. I'm still not willing to believe it. I was surprised that there wasn't an lower EPL side or two interested in his service, but these teams are very good.
I don't think he's starter material for Wolfsburg but as a 3rd or 4th choice CB, I think he's a very solid option to have.
No. And no offense to Jay, but I don't see much validity to any of these three teams beyond some lazy English journalist just putting two and two together and drawing conclusions based on incomplete information. Werder signed Mikael Silvestre last week to act as their 3rd choice CB and temporary cover for Naldo while he's recovering from an injury. Their search for another CB stopped as soon as that signing was made. And no offense to DeMerit, but he is a class below both Per Mertesacker and Naldo, and would almost certainly also be behind Silvestre and possibly Sebastian Prödl in the pecking order. With Wolfsburg, they are set for starters with Simon Kjær and Arne Friedrich, once he's healthy again in November. In the meantime, Andrea Barzagli is more than apt to hold down the fort. DeMerit would certainly be behind all three of those guys, and probably also Alexander Madlung, who was an undisputed starter for all of last season, and is only on the bench now because Kjær and Friedrich are around. I suspect the Schalke mention is only coming up because Christoph Metzelder has been less than spectacular in their first two league games and the club is having a generally "disastrous" start (if 2 losses in 2 games can be called disastrous) with all the usual overblown press garbage and questioning every person involved down to the ballboys going on. They aren't looking to replace Metzelder after just 2 games, and his usual partner Höwedes is not in question either (one of the big young CD prospects in Germany). Maybe if Magath is looking for a 3rd or 4th guy to cover in league play in the off-chance of a severe spate of injuries or cards (too late for new signings to be registered for Champions League) it could be possible, but even that seems like a long-shot. Maybe I'm wrong, and in a way I hope I am since it would be great to see DeMerit in the Bundesliga, but I just don't see anything to this...not with any of these three teams.
Great news. I'd imagine DeMerit would just be added to teams of that stature as "depth" but better GLORY and pay than playing in the Championship or PL relegation fodder clubs. I hope he goes for it. Wonder what Spanish and Italian teams those could be?
Not really a shock. People go down hard on him because he played in the championship and hasnt signed on yet. He has a pretty impressive resume against who he has limited internationally. David Villa, Fernando Torres, Rooney. It was obvious he could play at the level. It may not be these teams, but it probably will be a decent club. Like Bob, he has a lot of respect in Europe than in the USA.
If he can catch on as a relatively cheap (for the clubs), battle-tested No. 4 CB at any of these places, he should do it - it's a good contract for him; his earnings started later than a lot of his peers. It'd be decent money, a good experience, a chance to play at a larger club and a new environment, and he seems like a real pro who would accept his role and work hard. Sounds like a fine situation for all parties really.
Friedrich's injury is much worse than you state here. He had back surgery and could miss the entire season. DeMerit as cover makes a lot of sense for Wolfsburg
A quick note for all those attempting to trust UK rag writers with no divulged sources: Bundesliga rules dictate that a free agent signed now could not be registered to play until January (think back to Kamani Hill and Wolfsburg).
I have wanted a Bundesliga move for Jay for the longest time. I have always felt he could find his niche in that league. I like the names of the clubs mentioned. I do not know of thier needs at CB per se but I do know that Wolfsburg has looked particularly poor in the back in the first few games. It would be tough to break into the lineup but with Wolfsburg's league and Euro schedule games could be had for Jay. I like this option for Jay but if it doesn't materialize maybe there's an option further down the bundesliga table possible like an Eintrancht Frankfurt, St. Pauli, Hannover, etc.
The most recent thing from the club I read after the surgery was saying Friedrich is expected back in late-November - unless there's been come complications since then that I've not seen. I could see Wolfsburg maybe wanting to pick up an inexpensive veteran 4th option behind Kjær, Barzagli and Madlung in case they decide to take it slow with Friedrich (or are planning to offload one of the backups in winter). But generally speaking, they are pretty stacked at CB and Jay would have a hard time getting much time at all on the field - especially with the team having no European play this season. As others have said, however, if they are offering a huge payday to primarily sit on the bench, one could hardly fault him for taking it.
Damn if that's the case. But I thought the BL had gone away with that rule on free agents. However you would know better than me.