Like most agents I suppose, I heard Gartlan is a big BS'er and tells players everything they want to hear over drinks and beers. Not sure how successful his track record is though.
With the roster that the Revs have assembled, I agree, it does seem like a step back. On the flip side, I think AJ could potentially be one of the better defenders in Norway which could led to other interest from the continent. I guess that could be the selling point.
If - if - he joins Stabek it's a step down. The real issue is what happens after. At the end of the day, Norway is a selling league and is well-scouted, so if he proves to be a top performer a move to a better-paying league than MLS could well happen in 12-18 months. Call it stepping down in order to step back up higher. On the other hand, if he proves to be only Tippaligen average he's stuck in Norway until he (metaphorically) limps back to MLS at the end of his contract.
Stabaek also confirmed to me that AJ Soares is on trial. It's not just a training stint #NERevs— Seth (@SethMan31) February 9, 2015
He was probably underpaid for a starting MLS CB on a good team last season. I imagine he could get a decent bump in Norway, but then again I would think the Revs' offer also included a raise. (Anybody know?) He might also be able to get a short-term deal, which (assuming he performs well) could help him down the line. With that said, the Revs don't seem to have replaced him with anything near his quality yet. Even if Farrell is an upgrade at CB, they're still weaker as a unit for the time being... Interestingly, they appear to have experimented with a three-back setup in a recent preseason match.
He was on $160K at NER last season. Stabaek's wages probably top out at around $400K but he's not going to get anywhere near that. Also, with the Euro passport, he doesn't need to go to Norway anyway. Maybe on a six month contract, I'd agree.
This is a step down. The rumored Marquez saga is too bad for Soares. If true, the club is to blame for such a stupid clause in Marquez' contract. I don't believe Soares actually has what it takes to move up after going to a European selling league like Norway. I think the EU passport really helped him get interest from a team like Verona to begin with. I hope he can move up eventually, but I am not expecting it.
Agreed. Spain or Portugal or France should also be options. Sucks that it seemed Verona might have been the best fit and them WHAM
And he scores... in a friendly: http://www.thebentmusket.com/2015/2...ares-stabaek-friendly-start-score-strommen-if
Very odd that Bob said he won't sign for them, but he actually plays in a real friendly for the club. If he was on trial I would understand, but if indeed he is just training, I don't understand why Stabaek would allow him to play.
Clubs have guess trainees all the time. It's not unheard of. You make all sort of personal connections as a player and coach so throwing a bone to a guy to stay fit while he looks for a club is a nice gesture. Players usually have no issue with guess trainees. It's part of the gig and comes with the territory. Oh, trainees are ALWAYS on trial despite the way players, coaches, agents, and clubs spin it. I'd be willing to venture AJ has Stabaek is his back pocket if things that are brewing don't come to fruition. He would be crazy not to and so would Bradley. But publically you have to be PC and say the right things.
i think you're right about AJ probably having Stabaek as a back-up option. Because training with a club is common, but for Stabaek to actually play him in s friendly -- if they are sure they won't sign him -- seems like a waste. Every game, even friendlies, an opportunity for a club to improve, so why not play one of your back-ups or academy players in AJ's spot? Maybe he will sign for Bob's team.
It does make you wonder. However, I won't pass judgement on Stabaek until I know who played. AJ could have been in the lineup with youths for all we know against this club who are in the 2nd or 3rd division. Nonetheless, I'm of the belief that we will see AJ at Stabaek on some sort of short-term deal a la what Ale Bedoya did at Helsingborgs. it parlayed him into a nice gig at Nantes.
I am sure Bob is rotating his squad and, should there be problems defensively, take another look at AJ. Meanwhile, AJ gets some real life action in front of scouts. He does well and generates more interest, even if only in Scandinavia. This isn't that uncommon. And, maybe it's a bit of a favor to AJ too.
I seem to recall that the last MLS CBA said that a team would retain rights to a player if they made a "bona fide" offer, "bona fide" meaning a %5 raise. Don't quote me on that, though, because I may be mixing it up with talk about the new CBA (though I feel pretty confident that I'm correct). I'm not sure if that offer would legally carry over if the player turned it down, or what the time frame for accepting the offer is. It could, conceivably be (though fully speculative on my part) that he has until the end of the MLS primary transfer window (until May 12) to make a decision on that bona fide contract offer from NE.
There are probably several reason why he started in that friendly. The team has a normal training session even on matchdays during the pre-season and they substituted the entire back-four at half-time. Our U19 team is on a training camp in Barcelona at the moment so sevaral of the youngsters who would normally play in a match like this were unavailable. (They beat Barcelona 3-1 by the way.) Besides, we have lost many players since last season, including more than half of the starting eleven, and not replaced them yet so the squad is pretty slim. And, as sidefootsitter said: Maybe it's a bit of a favor to AJ as well. I do believe Bob would like to sign him. I think the reason why the club is cryptic about it is that they are currently working on selling a few players to make funds avaliable for signings and there is a lot of uncertainty at the moment and many pieces that need to fall in the right place before they can even concider offering a contract to AJ. A new CB is not a high priority but I'm sure they want AJ to get a good impression should the situation change and an opportuninty to make him an offer arise. (I'm guessing it would be a short-term contract, probably only to the next international transfer window, or one year tops.)
Some news today: It seems his stay at Stabæk is over (at least for now). Today he is travelling with another Norwegian club, Viking to their training camp in La Manga, Spain. Viking's budget is substantially bigger than Stabæk's; I guess AJ signing for them is more realistic than Stabæk was. They are not a very successful club, however. Year after year they struggle to make their spending bear fruits on the pitch.
AJ Soares to trial at Viking of Norway's Tippeligaen. Sporting director "it will surprise me if he is not good enough for us"— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) February 13, 2015