Derby still after EJ

I hope Eddie, KC, and MLS seize this opportunity.

 

'Soccer 365 understands it is expected the Johnson deal will smash the transfer record for a fee offered for an MLS player set by Fulham when they purchased Clint Dempsey in Dec 2006 for $4,000,000.'

Derby better be starting him if they're going to pay that much. I don't want to see him in a similar situation as the one Feilhaber and Lewis are in.

 

I would actually like to see EJ move to a club in Holland or Portugal to get his European legs underneath him.

 

Other rumors have him going to Benfica.

 

Re: Kansas City/MLS should exercise Eddie Johnson 1 year option

http://www.soccer365.com/mls/story_4108190806.php

EJ to Derby for more than $4 mil (maybe).

Does this mean that KC/MLS exercised the EJ option?

He is now under contract for 1 more year? and won't be a free agent until January 1, 2009?

$4 mil is a lot. KC/MLS should sell/sell/sell.

 

Lewis has been starting most of the season, Benny's at least played in Derby's last three matches, and Derby just sold one of their starting strikers. So, all three Americans could be starting for Derby by the time Johnson arrives there, if he does choose Derby.

 

He'll look great in the Championship next season.

 

He'd be joining Emmanuel Villa, formerly of Tecos.

Villa is as tough and no-nonsense as a forward comes in the Mexican League. A scrapper in the box and good header. He would've been great for MLS if they had the money.

 

I think almost any move away from MLS will help him. Even if they move down maybe they can yoyo back but and by then have a squad who wil be able to fight and stay up. I dont think he should rule out teams just cause they might drop. If a better offer comes in then take it but I dont want to see him in MLS next season.

 

If that's how Derby evaluate players no wonder they're such crap.

 

Fulham is interested as well and may outbid Derby County.

 

Fulham or Derby....Not really glamour clubs but at least the money is good, lets not forget that these two clubs are in a relegation battle so they gamble on players right now.

I´m not really happy about him going to EPL though, that league destroy more players than they create...

 

Good answer.

Didnt EJ say somewhere along the line that it was a good decision to not go to Derby after the season started and it became apparent they couldnt beat the Hounslow Harriers from Bend it Like Beckham?

Benfica would be good though, I think they could teach him something.

 

FYP

 

I'd go to Fulham. They're only two points back, whereas I think you can basically stick a fork in Derby.

 

I think the Championship is a good place for him. Derby will have money to spend in a year from their previous bump and he will get some good experience running at defenders he can beat, lets be frank, EJ has done nothing, from his hot start with the national team, to his back to back hat tricks, that make me think he belongs in the Prem.

 

Can he start over Kenny Miller (Scotland international), Robert Earnshaw (Welsh international), or that new Argentine that Derby got?

 

Arguably the three players have CVs in the same area code. None of them have much Prem experience, they're all on third tier national teams (the US is the best of the three), and they're all roughly three million pound transfers. I would call that basically a 'pic em' or a rotation.

But that does bring up one oddity about this discussion--why would a team like Derby spend close to $20 Million to get three such players? They desperately need help pretty much everywhere if they're to avoid--and they probably won't avoid it anyway--going down? Where did they get this money and why wouldn't they spend it on the midfield?

My guess is that Johnson is a transfer in if Earnshaw is a transfer out. But that's just a guess.

 

i doubt Derby wants spend 4 mil for a benchwarmer.

 

I don't see anything in this. It's probably Eddie's agent pushing this anyway. He would score in the Prem, but not as well as he does here...and he's not exactly scorching the league.

Derby need defense. Buying offense is good, but I've heard better rumors in this vein, and defense is the most pressing need.

 

Why doesn't Derby go after Altidore? He's much better IMO.

 

EJ needs to move. If a KC nut job wants him to stay, he needs to get his brain checked.

 

Why? KC are ********ed without him.

 

Probably can't afford him. Or certainly, NYRB is not motivated to sell him for anything less than a fantastic offer.