From a press release: Crystal Palace FC USA is pleased to announce that Val Teixeira has joined Crystal Palace Football Club in England on trial in an effort to boost the team's attacking capabilities. Link: http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3710638 This seems like a stretch for a couple of reasons, among them that Val was born in Portugal and is 31. That said, he has lived in the States since 1994 -- went to high school here -- and it seems possible that he's acquired citizenship since then. Also, an amusingly written tidbit/cheap-shot from the club website: "Without his incredible no-look pass to Matthew Mbuta for our second goal against Harrisburg in the Cup, we wouldn't have had the chance to knock the New York Red Bulls out in the next round." Link: http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/News08AUG29-TeixeiraUKTryout.php Just figured I would put it out there in case anyone knows something.
Good for V. Teixeira, if he is playing well at the moment and can help Crystal Palace even if only in specific moments, then good for him. USA not being a large soccer country doesn't have a great demand for soccer players. There is no great search by USA teams for players who may not already be established in their national system becuase the leagues and number of professional teams are so few....many good players fly under the radar or are under appreciated simply becauase the USA doesn't have enough soccer teams hungry for players... The few existing teams generally look for players established through the USA system and not really those players that are contribuiting at the moment in high form on the field. Foriegn clubs are buying up a lot of under the radar USA players. hmmm there is a business opportunity here somewhere!
A well-informed fellow in the USL forum says he's a citizen; seems plausible. At any rate, he's out at Palace, but went to Chesterfield and scored a hat-trick in a friendly: Warnock said: “He’s done well, he’s got something but we don’t feel he’s going to be just quite right for the Championship at the moment. “He’s actually gone up to Chesterfield and scored a hat trick in their reserves yesterday I think. http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/sport/football/3666457.No_Palace_deal_for_Val/ Palace's loss is Chesterfield's gain as Teixeira has made an immediate impression after netting a hat-trick in their 4-0 reserve win over Wolves on Tuesday. Spireites boss Lee Richardson is likely to have been impressed with the striker's display, although he has refused to state whether a contract will be in the offing. "I was impressed with the lad and it was our best performance of the season. We could have had seven goals," Richardson told the Derbyshire Times. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11750_4131576,00.html
Good news, perhaps: Chesterfield boss Lee Richardson is keen to conclude a deal for striker Val Teixeira before the weekend. Link: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11746_4155114,00.html
The "Spriteites" made an offer to Val, pending international clearance (which, assuming he still has Portugese citizenship, shouldn't be an issue): http://www.chesterfield-fc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubAnnouncements/0,,10435~1395665,00.html Didn't make the weekend's roster, though, and isn't on the roster page yet either: http://www.chesterfield-fc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10435,00.html
I have to say that I'm very encouraged and intrigued by this potential move, if a USL-2 player is good enough to sign for a League 2 club. It certainly provides a bit of evidence to counter my hypothesis of where American leagues stack up in the English football pyramid: See the following thread & look for my two posts on the first page --> https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=695039&highlight=justin+thompson
He was on the bench for the Morecambe match last weekend. http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10435,00.html Played about 1/2 hour vs Brentford on 9/27 http://www.chesterfield-fc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10435~43982,00.html
Val has made 4 substitute appearances thus far for Chesterfield in League 2 play, the most recent a 7 minute cameo in a 5-1 win over Aldershot yesterday. It's really nice to see a USL-2 player getting playing time for a League 2 club in England.
According to this CPUSA press release, Val's only there on loan: The loan is currently set to end in January 2009. Link: http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3734313