The U.S. Youth Movement - Hartford Courant (day late) Ghana Native gains Footing in US Development Program - Dallas Morning News World at his Feet - Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (2 days late, sorry) Young Star in Columbus is a Marked Man - N.Y. Times Grimandi offers Notice he's leaving - Denver Post O'Brien to play for Swedish Club - Seattle Times Real Madrid drawing Comparison to the Best of the Best - Ventura County Star (day late) Under-16 Team deals with Death of Coach - Dallas Morning News Pierce at Full Speed - Boston Globe Metros iffy on Guevara Debut - N.Y. Daily News Australia is willing to Serve as Host - L.A. Times Champions Cup hard to Hype with 6-0 Deficit - Columbus Dispatch Brown cools Fire Fans - Boston Herald
Great news... The U-17 residency program goes up to 40 players next year. It bodes well for the MLS and of course the international teams.
Timbers finalize Downing Loan, cut Three - Portland Oregonian Ref's Blunders put Pressure on Revs - South Coast Standard-Times
he should speak to lothar.... lothar had a contract, which never seemed to bother him... as for the family/personal reasons..... complete crap....i believe i remember it has to do with the war...which henry/pirres also have a problem with playing in england..... when the french gov't finally comes around, i'm sure he will too... i wonder what he would do if he's slated to start....that would be interesting...
This grimandi situation just really irritates me. If I was a colorado fan I'd be livid, but at the same time should Counce and MLS take some blame for this?
Grimandi is typical... I don't know if this true, but I get the feeling that most European players think the MLS is some kind of easy exhibition league where they can pick up a few bucks before retirement. I've read statements to that effect in quite a few interviews. Then they get here and realize that they have to run, that there's a team depending on them, and quite a few of them leave. I think it's time for the league to grow up and stop this crap.
Dang it, comments and attitudes like this are the reason he's living. You should feel ashamed of yourself! Keep up the good work.
I can't speak for all Colorado fans, but I'd be happy to let him go. Having an SI on your roster who doesn't want to be here does nothing for the team. I understand if MLS wants to press the contract, but it's disappointing for the team to have to put up with it. I just hope we don't go chasing international players for the sake of it.
Doh! too little caffeine this morning. living=leaving. Although Wankler's suggestion for the country as a whole might have some merit.
Yeah, I'm sure you guys stop at the half too. Plus, we haven't had any local games before the season this year to warm up. We'll be in better voice in a few more home games.
Re: Grimandi is typical... From ussocceruk.com on Dallas possibly signing Steve Claridge: "I was thinking of having a working holiday this summer after receiving an offer from Dallas Burn in the MLS," explained Claridge. "They offered me a contract to go and play out there and, while I've never been keen on the sun, I was willing to put up with it for a few months. "Steve Morrow is with them and the poor bloke even offered to put me up for a week. But the deal fell flat on its face when I worked out some of the figures. "I'm no mercenary, but when you consider some of their basketball players rake in 24 million each, it seems a little unfair. "Once I'd paid my air fare, some digs and found myself a motor, I'd reckon I'd have been owing them." I'm glad he decided not to sign if this was his attitude. Between him and Grimandi, maybe European players will get the hint that MLS is no vacation league. As a Rapids fan I'm livid at Grimandi for not wanting to play and wasting the Rapids time and money. This is a decision he should have made before signing a multi-year contract. He was over here twice before signing the contract training with the team, so he knew what he was getting into. Hankinson even went over and spent time with Arsenal's coaching staff, so it's not like he was a mystery to anyone involved. Now that he's made the decision though I just want him gone so we can move on.
And furthermore... Although the easiest thing would be to just cut Grimandi loose, I think the Rapids are right to let him twist in the wind for a while. Make him practice by himself and sit on the bench. FIFA will not allow him to play for another team as long as he's under contract. Let him get really upset and then he can go back and spread the word that it's not a vacation to play in the MLS. I agree that there's tons of good young African and South Ameriacn players who would love the opportunity.
To be honest, Earnie Stewart was less than impressive this weekend. He kind of looked like a guy who'd expected a friendly game of pick up in the park and suddenly found himself in the middle of an intense competitive match. I hope it was just a matter of him adjusting to the team and not more of the 'aging Euro expects working vacation syndrome.'
Re: Re: Re: 4/15/03: Roger Roger What's it to you how many songs and or chants we choose to sing? If we choose to sing one song for an entire half (which we've been known to do at times), then we might just do it to piss you off. I don't grade your teams supporters based on how thick their songbook is. I don't even grade your teams support on how loud they are or how many supporters show up. It's none of my business. I may take note of it if we happen to be in town and outshout you. I may even post that fact all over town, but I don't make independent appraisals of others teams fans based on what I saw or heard on TV. It's not good business. Heck, if songbook pages were dollars, whoever started up Sams Army would be a rich man. Ooops. Forget I brought that one up. We do have more than we used last night though. Only three or four chants, which was kind of annoying, but you forget things over the course of an offseason, such as which lo comes before which go. And how many claps are in between. But we'll remember soon. What in gods name was a DC supporter doing watching that game on TV anyway? And how did you do it, we couldn't even tape it unless we had the shootout.