Boca's been sold for €500,000 from Rennes http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2010/20100716_180846_bocanegra-a-saint-etienne-officiel.html
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window Ouch. I mean, ouch. This is not a promotion. Remember when Carlos said that he wanted to return to the EPL? Saint-Etienne is literally the opposite direction. They narrowly avoided relegation last season. Plus, the town is in the middle of nowhere. Carlos is a cosmopolitan guy, and he can't be that stoked to live in a little bourg in central France. If it's true that his career is really winding up, then why not come back and play for the Galaxy? Live close to home, play on a better team, and avoid the relegation battle.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window Freak out much? St. Etienne is a major club in France with a storied history. Platini is the most famous of the players they've produced. If anything, this is a lateral move.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window And he'll get to participate in St. Etienne's rivalry with Lyon. My favorite item from that rivalry: Lyon fans unfurling a banner at one of their games that said, "While we were inventing cinema your fathers were dying in the coalmines."
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne Anyone have any insight into the motivation for the sale? Rennes dissatisfied? I don't know the French leagues... is this a step to the side, down, up?
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne I'm sure the fact that hes already 31 had a just a llllliiiiitttttlllle to do with it .
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window It's not really a question of chilling. The fact is that Boca would go from a team that finished 9th to a team that finished 17th. I'm not sure how that's a lateral move. The point is that I'd like to see him at a stronger club as his careers winds down. Relegation battles are tough, and that's likely what he'd be facing this season.
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne Seems like a step down given the relative places in last year's Ligue 1 table. Also, yeah, his age has a lot to do with the low fee.
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne As someone who is knocking on the door of 40 ... this is a little distressing.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window St. Etienne is probably the French closest equivalent to Borussia 'Gladbach, minus the European success. Lots of Ligue 1 trophies from the seventies and early eighties, struggling abit right now. A reasonably big club by French standards, one with a history and strong fanbase.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window No, Newcastle hasn't won a top-flight title in a very long time. But don't tell that to your local geordie.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window Uh, what? How is it spazzing to say that Boca is going from a 9th place team to a 17th place team. Just a fact. Would anyone say that this was a step up for Boca?
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne In terms of present quality it's a significant step down, although if your in to ancient history Saint-Etienne were once a major club. I imagine the motivation is that Rennes have a younger LB of comparable ability and wanted to get something for Bocanegra while they could. This is a pretty good move for Les Verts considering the reported fee. For Bocanegra, well, he'll most likely be a starter, but I can't really bring myself to say Saint-Etienne is a good move for any player.
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne I wonder whether they will utilize Bocanegra primarily at center back or left back?
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window It's a slightly smaller and a slightly less ambitious club. But I think at this point in his career most of us are happy that Carlos will play for a few more years at a high level, for a club that wants him. Is it a step sideways or a step down? I'm not sure those terms have any meaning here. He'll be competing against the exact same teams and he'll be at a club where he'll likely get regular playing time. I don't think there's a whole lot of variability in his development at this point -- he is what he'll be -- so why worry if the club is slightly smaller and slightly less talented?
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window It's raining out. But back to Boca: I'd hoped to see him in the EPL once more. But I wish him continued success in Ligue 1.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window I think you misunderstood me. I'm not saying go outside. Go do something. Anything. Just get away from your 'puter. Don't touch it for a couple of days.
Re: 2010 Summer Transfer Window 1) How do you know this? 2) Rennes' population is...30k more. At least St. Etienne is close to a "cosmopolitan" city. This has been rumored since last year. It sounds like St. Etienne really needs/wants him. Sure, they were 17th last year, but it was just one season. I see it as a lateral move, too.
Re: Carlos Bocanegra to Saint-Etienne this was coming, we knew St Etienne wanted him since January. Theyve got some good players like Matuidi and N'Daw who are as good a young central midfield pairing as you will find, and they just sold Dabo who was one of the best right backs in the league. They have had trouble finding the net though. I do remember that Saint Etienne was the other club after CD9 along with Sochaux. Good place to close out an overseas career, storied club thats for sure. Hopefully they can re-establish themselves soon instead of relegation scraps like the past few years