Kartik has just posted Chivas signing of Swiss International defensive midfielder Rapheal Wicky. He also says he can also play on the backline. It looks like he is solid and was part of the Swiss team that didn't allow a goal in WC 2006 play. This sounds great. Thoughts?
http://www.championssoccerradio.com/ Sorry about that. Go to this site and click on the US Soccer Blog of Kartik's.
You know to think of it, earlier last Fall, Peter Brown of CSRN's Chivas Podcast had an interview with Preki while he was at an "undisclosed location" in Europe on a scouting trip. Maybe Switzerland?
This is a great signing for Chivas USA!!! This guy performs well on both sides of the ball and is a world cup vet.
That is exactly what I was thinking! I am happy with what we are doing so far, keep them coming Preki
Here is the last page of an August post regarding Wicky, just for the hell of it: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=581013&highlight=raphael+wicky&page=3
This is today news Glyco!!! 28 Jan Breaking News (CSRN Exclusive): Chivas USA Land Big International Posted by Kartik Published in Chivas USA CSRN’s Peter Brown reports that Chivas USA have come to an agreement to sign to Rapheal Wicky, a veteran of the Swiss National Team. Wicky, a defensive midfielder who can also play on the back line was a starter for Switzerland in Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006. Wicky helped anchor a defense in World Cup 2006 that did not concede a single goal in open play, the only team in World Cup to achieve that feat. Wicky, who played for several years in the Bundesliga with top clubs such as Werder Bremen and Hamburg has been playing club football in Switzerland with FC Sion for the past six months. He will be formally announced as a Chivas USA signing later this week.
its gonna be tricky. ------------- im super stoked for this. so what does this mean for nags? bench role? if we go 4-3-3, does wicky get the edge over jesse?
I don't remember him from the WC too well, but from what I can recall he's always been well-rated. Sounds like a good signing.
Overall, its great to see good talent coming into MLS. Curious to see what the terms of the contract are. Hope it's not DP type money for a defensive midfielder. Especially when you have two MLS quality ones with Marsch and Nagamura.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hC2uPcracrI check out the first shot on goal ------ switzerland plays england in a friendly next wednesday. btw, if he gets called up for the Eurocup, we lose him for a good month.
Finally...some good news. My hope would be that he goes straight into the backline. The need there is desperate. At least until Marsch gets hurt or isn't playing. Then again, maybe this is the long sought-after "push up the middle" that the team has needed to balance out its good flank play. Maybe a player of his talents has to be on the ball more. I'm still worried about the backline, if this is the case.
Good singing. It is good to see people overseas players coming over. And I can't wait for our fixtures against each other this coming season, gameplay is going to be awesome, but doesn't it concern you that he is 30 yrs old? He doesn't have much left don't you think?
Ante will be 34, Jesse will be 35, Claudio will be 40, so no it does not concern me that he is 30. Beckham will be 33, Klein is 32, Xavier will be 36, does that concern you?