http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/sports/soccer/mls/san_jose_earthquakes/4977855.htm "With Joe Cannon's tryout with Dutch club Feyenoord ending without a contract offer, the Earthquakes goalkeeper has moved on to France, where he is working out for Lens. Defender Wade Barrett, meanwhile, is training with AGF Aarhus of Denmark. Both players' contracts with Major League Soccer expired after last season. Earthquakes General Manager Johnny Moore said that though he hopes to re-sign Cannon and Barrett, he went into the draft Friday with their possible departures in mind. ``The fact is, we have to take care of our club,'' said Moore, whose team drafted Stanford left back Todd Dunivant in the first round and Cal goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the fourth. But Coach Frank Yallop noted shortly before the draft, ``You can't replace players like that.'' The international transfer window closes at the end of the month and the Earthquakes open camp Jan. 27, so Cannon and Barrett should be making decisions soon. Midfielder Ronnie Ekelund also remains unsigned for the Quakes."
You know, this is one of those things that us Quake fans were hoping wouldn't be stretched out the length of the transfer window...it almost seems the best scenario now is to say au revoir to Barret and enter the crapshoot to see if Cannon will be coming back at all.
Two more articles today. Sounds to me like the French club is pretty serious about signing him. http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=128474&cpid=24&title=Cannon+shoots+into+Lens "LENS have handed a trial to San Jose Earthquakes keeper Joe Cannon. The 28-year-old has travelled to France after failing to impress Dutch giants Feyenoord, and will be put through his paces by coach Joel Muller. Feyenoord felt he needed to improve before being good enough for the top-flight, but French outfit Lens have not been put off by the assessment from De Kuip. The custodian will spend a few days training with the French outfit before a decision on whether to offer him a contract is made. Lens are searching for a keeper, following the large number of errors made by Guillaume Warmuz this term, and Cannon could win a deal if he impresses. Cannon is no stranger to France, having had a trial with Metz early last year. He has a lofty reputation, having had a trial with Manchester United in October 2000, and seems determined to win a move to Europe." http://iis2.domicile.fr/rclens_domicile/2003_janvier_20_cannon.asp (en francais)
I hope Joe makes it. I don't believe there is as large a difference in skills between Le Championat and the MLS as some other Euro leagues. And I've always felt he's always been a bit overlooked in the MLS And beside, maybe he wasn't good enough for Feynoord. Or maybe they're actually holding out hoping to be able to get Dudek back from Liverpool.
More from Lens http://iis2.domicile.fr/rclens_domicile/ Another day, another article from the Lens website. This one has a short interview that seems like the same one that was used for yesterday's article (fans are enthousiastic, it is time for me to try Europe, etc) and makes note of the fact that Joe "isprogressing every day in the language of Moliere". It further states that he will take part in a reserve match tonight (I guess - it says Tuesday) and finishes with comments from the coach Joel Muller. M. Muller states that the backup goal keeper Chaubert will have an operation on his shoulder with the aim that he will be 'competitive at the start of the next season' so I guess that means he is done for the year. Muller concludes by saying "I hope with all my heart that he (Cannon) is a super keeper, who will push Charles ( Itandje the 20 year old current first choice keeper) and eventually help push his level of play".
Joe in training http://iis2.domicile.fr/rclens_domicile/actualite_flashs.htm A short note about the Lens reserve match. Cannon played "two thirds" - apparently for some reason the game was split into thirds. He kept a shutout although he was "well protected by the young Lens guard" (the writer of this web site copy uses a lot of literary phrases and allusions). Michel Ettore, who must be the reserve team coach, is quoted as saying the he was "satisfied" with Cannon's play even though "there were too few opportunities to really see him at work".
Latest from Lens http://iis2.domicile.fr/rclens_domicile/actualite_flashs.htm Another short note saying that trainer Muller expects to make a decision "by the end of the week" on whether to offer Cannon a six month contract.
If he goes, will San Jose get anything for him or Wade for that matter? I know they were out of contract...but wasn't there a precedent set for this sort of thing earlier by MLS?
Looks like the six-month thing may be a done deal. http://www.lequipe.com/Football/20030124_184015_01.html Lens has made sign a six month old contract to the American guard Joe Cannon, with the test for a few days. Its arrival should compensate for the departure of Guillaume Warmuz and the unavailability of Sebastien Chabbert (operation of the shoulder).
Lens website confirms. http://iis2.domicile.fr/rclens_domicile/actualite_flashs.htm (second down) Through the end of June.
I kinda like the name "Joe Cannon" for a band. I"m suprised Joe would go for only a 6 month, backup deal. I guess in June he'll look for a new team for the Fall. The frogs must be ponnying up a lot more than 100K.
a 6-month back-up deal might be a safer option than a potentially 3-year-long back-up deal, eh? This way he can still get out of there if it looks like he's permanently on the bench. He has 6 months to make them sign him to a longer contract or go on a free. Everyone should be happy - even Jon Conway (current eQuakes backup GK).
If Sebastien Chabbert is having the operation in early February that would imply Cannon gets his chance on Feb 5 against Bordeaux. Bordeaux is currently 9th in the table, Lens is 10th. Is there any indication he would go before that?
I could be mistaken, but it's my understanding that Lens has at least one other GK that is available and has been receiving play - a 20 year old. Cannon is not necessarily starting for Lens, but since the original #1 is out for surgery (I think it already happened?), it means that the position is up-for-grabs. I would guess that Lens will not rush Joe into the starting line-up, especially since his last match was in September/early October. But then again...?
Cannon I just read that Lens lost to a second division squad in the French cup 1-0. The report I read made it sound like the Lens keeper, not our Joe, palmed a shot to the nearest attacker, not solid keeping. I know that you can't blame a keeper for a first division side's failure to put several in the second division sides net, and just reading about a play is not the best evidence of poor goalkeeping, but these are the types of events that allow a backup keeper to get on the field, fairly or not. I sure hope Joe gets to play and soon. I bet that they will be happy with him. There really could be a flood of US netminders going overseas. I know Joe is good but I think that there are plenty who are better and would leap at the chance to play and live in Europe.
Re: Re: Cannon Maybe we will. Who knows? This will end up as an extended French class for me. I have to finish learning this language and now that Joe is in France until June I'll have to start reading more in French.
Does anyone know how long we retain his rites after he's been abroad? is it for just 2 years or whatever like draft picks or do we then go through the lottery draft or allocation process or whatever is going on now?
You don't have any rights to him at the moment. He's out of contract. I suspect Lens will play him for a few matches to showcase him and see if there are any takers at another club. Even a small transfer fee for Cannon would be worth something to the club. Sachin
If Cannon re-signs with MLS then he would play for the Quakes as they have his rights. http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/5029390.htm