And we're back... “People know that I came to this league as a (designated player) and this is where I want to go back to,” Jones said. “I’m a free agent now. I will sit back and see what comes. I’m not scared to go back to Europe or scared to go to Mexico or somewhere.” http://www.denverpost.com/2016/11/27/jermaine-jones-free-agent/
Mexico is full of overaged undisciplined players that think they are great. The only difference is that they can speak Spanish. Are there any non Spanish ( or Portuguese ) speaking players in that league?
It would be interesting to see a list. There are 191 foreign players registered in Liga MX this season, but there may not be many who aren't Spanish/Portuguese speakers. I took a quick look through Transfermarkt's roster listing for Liga MX and found only 2 players who wouldn't jump out as Spanish or Portuguese speakers -- Gignac and his teammate, Andy Delort, also from France. Most of the rest are from South America with a few Central Americans and Mex-Americans thrown into the mix.
Just out of due diligence I did a quick Wiki search... There is a fellow Frenchie at Tigres. Andy Delort. Djaniny is from Cape Verde and plays at Santos. We got William Yarbrough at Leon. Not sure if he speaks Spanish... Mark Tanko is a Nigerian on the books at Tijuana. These are the ones I would assume don't or didn't speak Spanish before they were there. I left off many Americans and one Brit who appeared to have a Hispanic background. Most of the foreigners I saw were Argentinian, Columbian, Brazilian or from other South American countries.
Cape Verde is Portuguese speaking. I spotted him, too. Yarborough was born and raised in Mexico. His Spanish is native. I thought about Tanko, but he wasn't on the Transfermarkt list. The rare African in Mexico.
Yep. You are correct. Knew where Cape Verde was but didn't bother to check their official language and I always freaking forget Yarbrough was born in Mexico. He throws me off. Like Xabi Alonso. Looks like my redneck neighbor don't the street. Definitely not Spanish. LOL. So....not as many as I thought but if anyone watched the Euros this summer they'd know Gignac plays in Liga MX. But not being as informative as I thought. Ima go sit down now.....
I love JJ the player - he's a winner. The issue is that he's not been on the field very much these last two seasons. I wonder what he'll get offered - DP money may not be in the cards for him. Or it will have to be an incentive laden contract for time played.
Pure speculation that he would fit in with Liga MX: Jermaine Jones (USA) -- free agent -- MF The U.S. international might have just turned 35, but he is a free agent and could offer a physical and robust presence at the heart of a Liga MX side's midfield in 2017. The former Eintracht Frankfurt player has also mentioned Mexico when talking about his future. Liga MX clubs might not be able to match what Jones, a leader on the field, was getting paid as a Designated Player in MLS, but they would likely be able to offer him more than what he made at the Colorado Rapids last season. http://www.espnfc.com/mexican-liga-...es-to-robinho-10-players-who-would-fit-nicely
He does. He's Mexico born-and-raised. IIRC he once described himself as "a Mexican trapped in the body of a Gringo."
Spanish is such a massive language, that any actor, artist, sportsman, intellectual, author and such born in a Romance-speaking country (France, Portugal, Italy, Romania) learns to speak it as soon as possible, to multiply their market several times. Gignac and Delort both speak Spanish: Also, who knows why, but most tsiganes (gypsies in France) speak Spanish. Actually, a couple of years back I was surprised at hearing on TV the leader of the métis in Canada (First Nation + French mix, usually in conflict with the federal government here) speaking to the press in perfect Spanish. It's as if it had become the sticking-it-to-the-powers-that-be language for whatever reason.
Any actor...learns to speak it as soon as possible? You're painting with a very broad brush here. Does Gignac have Manouche blood? I would have expected him to speak better Castellano. It sounds fairly cursory to my ears.
Well, TBH, Gignac doesn't exactly sound like Jacques Derrida when speaking French. I mean, sportsmen are not exactly known for their verbal prowess. And, indeed, learning another Romance language when you already speak one is basically cheating. PS: If America pushes Real Madrid to extra-time, their fans are going to be hard to endure for weeks. I can already hear them talking about the greatness of "el Ferrari" up and down and everywhere.
Not surprising at this point, but official: BREAKING: #LAGalaxy sign midfielder @Jermainejunior: https://t.co/v2WDiSQsyY pic.twitter.com/xeXgzabqxU— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 18, 2017 The first response to that tweet was a request to trade him for De La Garza.
I love JJ, but as a Galaxy fan, I hate this move. We should be trying to get younger, not signing 36 year olds.
Source: UNAM Pumas in Mexico City could be a possible landing spot for Jones.— MLS Transfers (@MLSTransfers) November 27, 2017
#LAGalaxy declined options on MF Jermaine Jones, GK Jon Kempin, MF Rafael Garcia, GK Brian Rowe, F Jose Villarreal, F Jack McBean, MF Raul Mendiola, D Pele Van Anholt, GK Clement Diop, MF Jaime Villarreal, D Nathan Smith, D Bradley Diallo.— Kevin Baxter 🇺🇦🏳️🌈 (@kbaxter11) November 27, 2017