Claridge turns down Burn

What a tool. "I've never been keen on the sun."

Thank God we didn't wind up as the destination for his working holiday.

 

"They offered me a contract to go out and play there and, while I've never been keen on the sun, I was willing to *put up* with it for a few months."

BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTEEEEEEEE ME!!!!!

Also, the article says the temperature often gets "above 28 degrees" frequently. That's 82 Fahrenheit. Yeah, at midnight, if you're lucky.

 

Personally I'd rather have players who want to play for the benefit of the league and the game rather than just their own. If he just wants good money, let him go elsewhere.

 

"I was thinking of having a working holiday this summer after receiving an offer from Dallas Burn in the MLS," Claridge revealed.

37 year old striker? Who does he think he is, Teddy Sheringham??

If true, I am surprised Dallas even considered him. 37 is darn old for a forward and I doubt he woudl have been any more effective than Bobby Rhine or EJ.

Screw that guy - enjoy Milwall.

 

Does anyone really take this seriously? This guy sounds like he had a few too many pints and started running off at the mouth.

"Working Holiday" my ass. God, I hope and pray every damn night we draw England in Germany.

 

This one sounds like a definite joke. Maybe it was written on April 1?

 

doubt if it was a joke but another example of a Brit who thinks little of the colonials and their brand of footie (along with a bunch of the Euro burn outs).

Hey, he just said outloud what most of these guys have been thinking for 8 years. But I'd rather have those who were smart enough to keep their mouths shut.

However, he does have one good point: the pay here sucks. However, it sucks more for YOUNG AMERICANS than for old, worn out foreigners who seem to be the answer to many MLS team's prayers.

(I also like his deep perceptions of American sport: equating the MLS with NBA; and
American weather conditions...and they say we Americans don't know what's going on in the world)

I don't know which this speaks more to:

this guy being a d*ck

or the thinking of the Burn management

 

You guys are totally misinterpreting what Claridge said.

First, Claridge does have a good point when he's talking about money. For a 37-year-old striker, he's not making bad money at First Division Millwall. Then consider that Claridge has only recently gotten off of a terrible gambling problem and now it wouldn't be a bad idea to get into a decent financial situation.

Second, yes it would be something like a "working holiday" for Claridge. His contract offer was for sh/t pay and only for a few months. Why would he leave Millwall, who play in a nice new stadium and have promotion aspirations next season, to go play in a high school stadium for peanuts? The only reason I can think of is that he'd use Dallas to show other teams that he can still play well for 90 minutes.

And finally, you're making fun of Claridge's comments about the sun when you obviously don't know what the fvck you're talking about. Claridge has had heart problems for his whole life and in the mid-90s was diagnosed with a thyroid deficiency. The medications that he has to take render him incapable of playing in bright sunshine.

I hope you have a better understanding on why Dallas probably wouldn't be the best place for Steve Claridge to spend this summer.

 

Oops.

Seems some people here missed the medical record posted alongside the article.

Nope, wait a minute... it's there, just can't see it cause of the bright sun.

 

It sounds like sour grapes by Claridge. The Burn probably were initially interested but then decided this guy would not fit well with the team. Instead of accepting the denial of the Burn, this guy has to make a bunch of excuses for not wanting to play in MLS. I doubt seriously the Burn were going to offer this joker anything. Mike Jeffries is very methodical in selecting international players. I just don't think he would waste his time on a 37 year old has been. This is not how the Burn operate.

 

Yes, if there's anyone in this league who is to be commended on his player personnel accomplishments - it's Jeffries.

I'm sure this guy was a quick read, no matter what the circumstances.

 

Eesh.

I guess meeting me would shatter that illusion.

 

If he truly does have those health problems and I'm certainly in no position to argue that he doesn't, why in the world would he waste everybody's time in even considering Dallas. Is it some deep secret around the globe that Dallas + summer = sunny, hot days?

 

But he would have loved all the glistening anatomically augmented breasts!

 

Dont show your lack of football savvy here people. Anyone that followed Leciester City during the Kasey Keller era would remember Clairidge. He was the striker that fired them to initial promotion and scored 17 goals in the premier league that next season. He has since transfered to Wolves, and most recently, Milwall, where he continued to bang in the goals for them on a regular basis. I believe he was their top scorer last season, and the fact that they wish to retain the services of a 37 year old speaks volumes. He would be a good fit for the Burn, and I would imagine he would do quite well in MLS. However, I can completely understand why he would turn down such an exotic move, given the location and the lack of salary. We all know the English dont tan well, and with Texas generally over 100 degrees in the shade during the summer, he decision does not surprise me at all. But to say the Burn can do better, based upon all considerations, is fantasy.

 

We're not trying to disrespect his accomplishments. It's just that, yes, we do expect to do better than bring in a player who considers playing for us a "working holiday." Any self-respecting team would demand better than that in my opinion.

 

There are three type of foreign players that I would seek to have play for the Burn if I were Andy Swift.

1. Those players who see the MLS as a step up from their domestic league - read Joselito Vaca.

2. Young players who see the MLS as a way to become noticed or repair a once promising career - read RoB.

3. The seasoned veteran who brings a coaching mentality along with his strong desire to continue playing the game - read Steve Morrow.

I have no time for the hoildaymakers even if they may help us in the short-run.

 

I would think the Burn would get a player from Central or South America. I do not think that Andy just wants a guy from that area; rather, I think the player might want to come here. The palyers in the big leagues in Argentina and Brazil make a lot more then than they could make here. What about Venezuela? Or other, smaller nations? There is some talent there. Coem to MLS, and you know you will get paid, and you know that the government will not kidnap you and force you to work on the oil wells.

 

I wouldn't be so sure that Brazilian or Argentinian players make more than they could here. I think that in many cases, they are simply holding out for a chance at the really big money of Europe and think they have a better chance to get it coming from their leagues which is probably true. When we can manage to change that dynamic and establish a reputation as a potential jumping off point to Europe, we will see a flood of players wanting to come here from South America.

 

Brazil and Argentina have some teams that promise thier players a lot of money. Many times, however, the cheques are not quite up to the promise. So players from either nation might consider the MLS as a viable option.

Even if the player is just looking for a few years in the MLS, the Burn should make sure he wants to be in Dallas. I am happy Claridge turned down the half offer from the Burn. He might have created as many problems as Teddy Sheringham did at City Ground.