Yeah, no MLS team ever sells a player to Europe, especially not the Red Bulls, who feature Tim Ream in central defense.
I'll perk up as soon as MLS teams stop doing things like this. Signing Ronaldinho because he's Ronaldinho is one thing, but Tim Cahill?
As someone who follows Everton closely, this isn't good for them as he's still a key part of what they do, which means it's very good for NY. I love this for NY. I get the impression some don't actually watch much EPL action, and instead simply looked at Cahill's stats for last year and shrugged them off. This guy can still start and contribute well for a top 10 EPL club, so imo he's a great pickup for NY, and MLS as a whole. Someone said Cahill can barely hack it as an EPL starter now, or something along those lines. Puh-lease. He was a key part of a team which finished 7th last year. While he didn't score much, he was key in many buildups, linked up with players all over the pitch and was more than a steady presence who Everton played though. Someone also said they hope he doesn't become the next Marquez. I just don't see that, at all. Cahill doesn't have the prissy attitude Marquez has, and didn't play at a Barca type club which just adds to Marquez's self absorption. Is he the ideal signing that many want? Nope. But he's considerably better imo than a number of older Euro's we've brought over and still has 2-3 high level years left. I might be pointless for me to say all this as the proof will be shown on the pitch, but my guess is NY will become even more potent, Cahill will impress, and fans of other teams will become jealous. I'm just glad some MLS clubs are going after guys who are current EPL level players and starters, rather than going after guys who are 36/37 and are being ushered off their Serie A team, on their last legs. We'll see, time will tell. But in general I've been pretty critical of some of the guys MLS targets, but I like this move both for both NY and MLS. The more current EPL level players MLS brings in who are 31/32, like Keane/Cahill the better, imo, as within a few years the target age range might slowly fall, where in a few years by 2015 MLS might be able to get a few 30 yr olds who are current EPL starters, and maybe a little beyond that nab a few guys from the top 4 league who are 28/29 and still in their prime. Steps.... Also, anyone thinking he's just over the hill and Everton don't currently rate him, read this from two days ago, obviously prior to the announcement. http://footyscene.com/?p=696
How do you mean? In some ways isn't this an improvement in the sense that it's all about the on the field considerations?
Who woulda thought we get to the day in MLS where people are complaining they are spending to much money!?!?!?!?!
Cahill is good, I think he's in the same class as Donovan in terms of quality I really like this pickup for NY and for followers of MLS
Surprising and good signing for NYRB and MLS! There were rumors that RBNY were trying to get Kaka. Whether that was un-realistic / to soon, remains to be seen. Certainly will enjoy watching him play on this team, like I have watching Henry
There defence is still crappy. Get rid of Marquez & get a defender & they wil be an even greater force.
Now this is a good challenge everyone can play. Surely there are more than two: Tim Cahill Troy Perkins (only after he had first been sold to there)
It's understandable to have reservations about Holgersson, although I like him at this point. Big, strong leader in the back -- he's our captain when Henry's out -- and it looks like he's figuring out MLS, because he's been limiting his mistakes lately. He can't move the ball well, but he's been a solid defender. I think Conde is a monster. though. Takes full advantage of his size and speed, is very technical and reads the game well. Besides McCarty, whose done a fantastic job at DM, he's our most important player when on the field, imo. Problem is that he keeps getting injured. You could say similar things for Pearce and Barklage, an All-Star and a breakout player who just haven't been able to stay on the field lately. It sounds weird, because we've given up more goals than just about everybody else in MLS, but on paper we have a pretty good defense... when healthy. And, of course, Keane...
That's my thought. I can't figure out a functional lineup that includes Letoux, Henry, Cahill, Cooper and Lindpere. They might be able to get by with that if they had a DM who is very, very fast and quick and aggressive. Their DM is Dax, who has turned into a pretty good #6 but is kinda slow. And he's got to cover for Marquez, who really should be the DM. This is a very, very poorly constructed team. To me, the whole is far less than the sum of the parts. A management team interested in winning rather than branding their sugar drink would move heaven and hell to ship Marquez to a team that needs a DM (where he can actually help an MLS team) and bring in a functional, hard nosed, speedy central defender. This team is built to hold possession, but is one of the slowest in the league. That is the exact opposite of the formula for winning on cold playoff nights.
and for reportedly 3.300.000 £ (if the below link is accurate) -- http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/robbie-keane/transfers/spieler_3144.html And apparently Donovan cost LAG a good chunk of change (880.000 £) to buy him from Leverkusen: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/landon-donovan/transfers/spieler_68.html Any other obvious (or not so obvious) buys in MLS's history? Not certain how complete and accurate, their list is, but you can search by team at the transfermarkt.co.uk site. DC United spent (small) fees to acquire both Dejan Jakovic (Red Star 158.400 £) and Hamdi Salihi (Rapid Vienna 352.000 £) in recent seasons: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/d-c-united/transfers-alle/verein_2440.html
And fwiw, here's the source that DC United paid Valeranga a fee to re-acquire Perkins in 2010 -- three years after selling him for $650,000 apparently: Again, using what may be an incomplete or inaccurate source (http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/vancouver-whitecaps/transfers-alle/verein_6321.html) Other MLS players purchased from a European club seem to include: Season 2012 Vancouver Whitecaps Kenny Miller Cardiff 563.200 £ Season 2006 Toronto FC Andy Welsh Sunderland 176.000 £ Season 2003 FC Dallas Cory Gibbs FC St. Pauli 105.600 £ Season 1999 New England Revolution Arne Tammen Unterhaching 8.800 £
I think you are exaggerating somewhat and lindpere doesn't really fit in your list, but I do agree that the Richards trade makes less sense now and the rumors of lindpere for Shea may have some substance I guess. I suspect le toux may be super sub - is depth on offense a bad thing? We've all spent a lot of time bashing energy drink for holding on to Marquez but the truth is - why would Marquez want to leave and who would take him? If Cahill works his butt off in the midfield and doesn't try to just sit in the hole and get in Henry's way like DeRo did, he should improve the team. but where you play Marquez is anyone's guess.