Eddie Johnson to Fulham for $3.2 million

Discussion in 'MLS: News & Analysis' started by jade1mls, Jan 14, 2008.

  1. AngelN

    AngelN New Member

    Oct 14, 1999
    yikes! wow, that date says it all. with mls youth teams becoming free, all that's missing is residency and the elite youth players won't be restricted by cash or geography. ncaa's days are numbered as a legitimate path for future pros, more and more and more. toquote the professor brothers, "things are gettin' sweeter!"
     
  2. #1 Feilhaber and Adu

    Aug 1, 2007
    Fulham just picked up Cousin from Rangers. Pending medical. to lazy to put up link; but its in the Fulham forum.
     
  3. dustcowpoke

    dustcowpoke Member

    Jan 7, 2006
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The truth is with all these new signings I think Hodgson and Fulham aren't confident that EJ will get a WP.
     
  4. Scorpion26

    Scorpion26 Member

    May 1, 2007
    NY
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    He should get it, because Eddie has played 72% of the US games he's, but 3 shy from 75%. So I would expect him to get it, and provide a good boost to this team. The reason why they are after Cousin is, because of Marlon King failing the Medical due to his knee not being up to par.
     
  5. Chowda

    Chowda Member

    Sep 13, 2004
    Rhode Island
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    So that explains why they paid out the butt for Cousin (on a side note, Gers may land Luke Young with the extra million pounds from the original offer).

    Johnson will still have a lot of competition at Fulham, especially with McBride coming back. Maybe Dempsey will move back into the midfield.
     
  6. NGV

    NGV Member+

    Sep 14, 1999
    I've been reading soccer message boards for about ten years now, and I've come across this kind of statement from the beginning. It's just as questionable now as it was in 1998.

    For the record, I believe that this is the full list of American players who A. bypassed college soccer in order to sign directly with MLS and B. started 15 or more MLS games in 2007: Altidore, Alvarez, Beckerman, Burciaga, Gaven, Johnson, Mapp.

    (I threw in Mapp because he missed the cutoff only due to injury).

    Did I miss any? That's seven current starters in the whole league; about one per every two teams. I doubt that the NCAA will cease to be a route to the pros in the foreseeable future.
     
  7. FC Tallavana

    FC Tallavana Member+

    Jul 1, 2004
    La Quinta

    But how many current MLS starters have four years of college behind them compared to 10 years ago?
     
  8. uniteo

    uniteo Member+

    Sep 2, 2000
    Rockville, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah but that's not what the earlier post said. NCAA soccer has a proven record as a place to nurture developing talent in the transition from club/school ball to pro ball.

    From Reyna, Harkes, Ramos, Cherundolo, Twellman, Dempsey, and Olsen to younger players like Sal Zizzo, Charlie Davies, and Robbie Rogers.

    I actually think NCAA soccer is going to make a big jump in quality in the coming years because we're starting to see an influx of talented international players who are are coming over from Europe and Africa for a free university education before looking to a pro career (Ryan Nelsen?). Don't underestimate how much sense this makes to an 18 year old who's been in a semi-pro environment but isn't on the fast track to the first team. A college degree, even if it costs a year or two as a first team professional provides the kind of financial security that most footballers outside the US only dream of.
     
  9. DaniCrew

    DaniCrew Member

    Nov 15, 2000
    Tallmadge, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The unfortunate part of NCAA soccer as a developmental avenue for young players is that the coaches at the NCAA level MUST win to keep their (rather) posh positions... this emphasis on winning with kids aged 18-19 (not as much for kids 22-23) means less development from a total soccer standpoint... don't risk trying to play your way out of the back when whacking the ball out of "danger" lowers your team's chances of losing... winning 1st and 2nd balls become more important than not putting the ball in situations where 1st & 2nd balls need to be won... you can't really fault the coaches at this level either... if you've got a good gig making $100K a year coaching a university with a decent travel budget for recruiting and good facilities, you do what it takes to keep that job... unfortunately, that doesn't bode well for the skillfull 17 year old who's magic with the ball and has a great soccer brain but can't run very fast or jump very high... unfortunately, that kid won't see the field until his 2nd or 3rd year (maybe) for fear that he might cost you a game or a tournament or a conference title...

    Are there exceptions to this "rule"??? of course... there are some nice programs who seem to find a way to help their kids develop to some degree... but i think that as MLS clubs become more engaged in developing their own players (and being able to keep or sell their developing players), you'll see a general lowering of the overall impact of college soccer on MLS... i believe this is still 10-15 years away but i do believe that it will eventually come to fruition...
     
  10. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    not sure if there's a need to mention Adu, but given his mid-season transfer out and his time away with the U20's, I'd say he also "qualifies" for your list. and if we're going to consider Adu (and his 11 appearnaces with RSL in 2007), we should also probably consider Szetela and his 6 appearances with the Crew in 2007 (given the similar circumstances of his mid-season transfer out of MLS and his time away with the U20's).

    (your list of "seven players" also under-represents those players who did by-pass college and sign directly with MLS, but have since transferred out of the league, and had more than 15 appearances -- your arbitrary cut-off -- for their pro club in 2007, guys like Howard, Beasely, Convey, Bradley).

    also Donovan didn't sign initially with MLS, but he has been in the league (and a huge success in it) without ever playing NCAA soccer.

    and Kirovski had 28 appearances for the Rapids in 2007 with six goals and 1 assist (although he also didn't sign initially with MLS, but he did "by-pass" college).

    Kenny Cooper also had 14 appearances for FCD in 2007 before his injury (so he should get on your list given the Mapp exemption you cited).

    but the best players (i.e. the "highest-earners" throughout their careers) tend to by-pass college soccer (if not part/all of HS as well).

    if you look at the list of "big" (money-paying) transfers out of MLS, those numbers seem to slant toward the "non-NCAA" guys.

    for every Boca, McBride, Dempsey, Nelsen, we have a Howard, Beasley, Convey, Bradley, Szetala, Adu (and now EJ if he can get a WP).

    the route to high-paid professional soccer seems to indicate that getting to MLS a.s.a.p seems like a quicker/easier way to get to a bigger pay-check in a player's career.

    yet every player is unique and the college environment/experience can certainly benefit a certain (perhaps large) group of players.

    of course NCAA soccer and the education that can/does go along with it are great things. but with academy systems being put in place by US Soccer and MLS clubs, it's hard to see NCAA soccer continue to "contribute" as many players to "professional" soccer as it once had. i am only comparing my thought on the future to the current short "history" of MLS, a time when the alternate options to college soccer (Bradenton, US Soccer youth academies or MLS junior club teams) weren't in place or were just getting started.

    colleges will always be a source of players for MLS (or pro leagues anywhere), but there are other routes and perhaps "better" avenues that more and more players in the US will likely take in their "careers" as the "soccer environment" grows and matures in this country.

    also, if anyone has any news on EJ's application for a WP, please share that here. last i had seen, the hearing was scheduled for today (1/23/08).
     
  11. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    won't the most "talented international players", the young kids from Europe and Africa or Florida (to tie this back in to EJ), feel pretty good about their chances to remain with club academies where they are with hopes of getting into the first team and advancing their soccer careers?

    Ryan Nelsen is a nice example (although he came from a remote corner of the world and Stanford then MLS were perhaps his only playing options at the time). Perhaps more current examples, players from this year's draft, might be Iro or Nyarko (but we're yet to see how their careers will unfold).

    I just don't see the standard and quality of NCAA soccer making a big jump anytime soon. it is what it is, and some very good players can be found there.

    but the best players (no matter where they're from) will likely continue to pursue their sporting careers without that stop for a few years in a US college to play a game for free (when they could be off somewhere earning a salary to play that same game -- often in a "better" environment).
     
  12. AndyMead

    AndyMead Homo Sapien

    Nov 2, 1999
    Seat 12A
    Club:
    Sporting Kansas City
    Bingo. Just as solid pros - and occasional hall of famers - matriculate out of college hockey and college baseball, the majority of those on a career track move directly from youth or high school into a professional environment. That's not going to change any time soon.

    And while there are European players in college soccer, the vast majority of those are not pro prospects.
     
  13. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    EJ signs with Fulham

    http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2008/January/JohnsonSigns.aspx


    ----------
    Johnson Signs

    Wednesday 23rd January 2008

    Following a hearing at a tribunal held in London earlier today, Fulham Football Club is pleased to announce that Eddie Johnson has been granted a work permit. The US international striker has signed a three-and-a-half year deal from The MLS that will see him remain at the Club until the summer of 2011.
    ---------

    congrats to EJ.

    now the Wizards need some help up front, it would appear.
     
  14. dukedevil0

    dukedevil0 Member

    Jan 15, 2008
  15. Ranka

    Ranka Member

    Apr 1, 2005
  16. Scorpion26

    Scorpion26 Member

    May 1, 2007
    NY
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Canada
    Finally its over, and I hope he makes a very good impact to the team. Can't wait to see him play a game for Fulham.
     
  17. tab5g

    tab5g Member+

    May 17, 2002
    posted this elsewhere, and I'm guessing we might have some ongoing speculation as to how much the transfer brought in to MLS.

    from slightly earlier today, don't know how accurate the 3million pound figure is:

    http://www.sportinglife.com/footbal...CCER_Fulham_Nightlead.html&TEAMHD=premiership

    ----------------
    New boss Roy Hodgson hopes to cure Fulham's FA Cup blues with a raft of new signings before their next Premier League survival test against Bolton next Tuesday.

    Having already completed the purchases of Danish midfielder Leon Andreasen and Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland, Hodgson is waiting for work permit clearance before adding American World Cup striker Eddie Johnson to his ranks in what is likely to be a £3million deal with Major League Soccer club Kansas City Wizards.
    -----------------
     
  18. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    And if Pickens gets signed by Norwich City, and it's because of the HSMP loophole, there will even be a soccer reason to come to the NCAA.
     
  19. scheck

    scheck Member

    Mar 13, 2007
    Denver
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it's safe to say the league is making money now...
     
  20. dustcowpoke

    dustcowpoke Member

    Jan 7, 2006
    Houston, TX
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well this could cover KC's operating expenses for 2 years.
     
  21. rochester rhinos

    rochester rhinos New Member

    Aug 10, 2007
    under a pipal tree
    Possible Fulham strikers...EJ will compete with some of these guys for PT not considering the rubbish stks Fulham have already.


    Johnson
    King
    Cho Jae Jin
    Cousin
    Litmanen
    Zigic
    Pantellic
    Cisse

    If anything competeing with some of these guys will only be good for EJ.Plus if Fulham go down EJ is staying most of the guys on that list would jump ship.
     
  22. #1 Feilhaber and Adu

    Aug 1, 2007

    Some of these guys only have been training with Fulham like Cho Jae Jin; there not officially part of the roster(I believe), and the King deal dident go through; thats why they picked up Cousin.
     
  23. pc4th

    pc4th New Member

    Jun 14, 2003
    North Poll
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's official: Eddie Johnson to Fulham for $6 million

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/7202841.stm

     
  24. yellowbismark

    yellowbismark Member+

    Nov 7, 2000
    San Diego, CA
    Club:
    Club Tijuana
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

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