link "I would love to play for a Premier league side again, a middle of the table club, for example," he added. "I'm ready for a last challenge. "May be I could also go to the United States. The season starts in April there. And I should be free from any link by February." Obviously not his first choice, and very unlikely, but it would be cool to see him here. He could still be a very important player for the right team, maybe the Metros with Djorkaeff?
Like you said, Metrostars are the obvious fit. Even though Desailly's only looking to play 1 more year, I'd jump at the chance to have him and Djorkaeff on my squad. The level of professionalism and experience they'd bring would be great for the younger players to be around. Maybe they could teach the staff a thing or two as well. Of course, it always comes back to the argument that signings like this make MLS look like a retirement league. So be it. As long as players are coming here for the love of the game, they're still good enough to contribute to a team, and they're not being paid obscene amounts of money, I'm glad to see them give MLS a shot.
From agoos to Desailly? I'll take it. I saw him last year HK all star team vs brail NT and he was still pretty good. I say as good as Pope.
I don't know. I love Desailly and he was at one point the most dominant player at his position, but man he's old. I think he's a year or two past his sell by date. It's not like club soccer in Qatar is the grueling grind that the EPL is or even to some extent MLS can be. Also he said in the article that playing about 15 games or so would be the right amount for a guy of his age. Do you really want to pay a max salary for a part-time player? I say MLS says thanks for the interest but we'll take a pass.
With older players it is always a gamble. I agree that if the player can make a major positive contribution, not matter the age, then it is a good signing if the price is right. Anything that will help promotive further professionalism, better training methods, more sophisticated tactics, etc. It doesn't just have to be about the on-field numbers, but gaining from a player's entire career-worth of experiences. I won't try and predict how Desailly would rate in these categories, but I don't think we have to worry about retirement league labeling just yet. Old players play in every country.
Ronaldo (39!!) tore up the Brazilian league this year, leading the league (iirc) w/ something like 20 goals.
Yes, but MLS teams have turned down a few in recent years, like Frank Leboeuf (Desailly's '98 WC teammate) and Mustapha Hadji (also a '98 star). There are plenty of mentors that MLS can hire, but sometimes a younger player - an on-field exemplar - is more useful to the players on the field and in the stands. Still, I greatly admire what the '98 French team achieved and embodied.
Desailly is old AND slow. He's 36(?) now. But he'd get to join Djorkaeff in the World Cup '98 Retirement Club that is the Metrostars. All that's left is for Paul Ince to want to play midfield...
Signing a player who says he's good for "15 games in the season" doesn't sound like a good move for MLS.
How good are his English skills, and does he have the temperament to be a coach? If so, then perhaps an MLS club could sign him as a player/assistant coach.
Signing an old player with big name is ok, the club will be taking advangtage of it, it will be written in history of the club and will make the club getting more recognized around the world just as the Metro Stars that has signed Mathaeus, Djorkajeff etc ... i bet the Germans & French people know about The Metro Stars after those signings....
He was really great for me at Greenock Morton after I signed him in early 2006 in Football Manager...
In Chicago, our greatest success came from a combination of older euros and young Americans. I believe that Peter Nowak was 33 when he came to us, and clearly had a couple of years left in the tank. Lubos Kubik also had a couple of years left. The key is that they both really wanted to be here. It's something of a crap shoot, but the teams need to evaluate the person and the level of play immediately before the person expresses interest. I think we should also be pressing these guys a little harder a year or two earlier. Get them when they are 32-33 instead of 36-37. A prime time will be in the summer transfer window. There will be a boat load of players coming off of what will be their last world cup, but at 30-34 they would still be stars here. Identify those players, particularly the ones that have expressed interest in coming here, and let them know that we are interested in them as well. But, we are interested in them NOW, and not when they can't get an English 3rd Division contract (I'm talking to you George Weah ). We should be able to do this if the "Beckham" rule is implemented by MLS so that the dollars are not so far off from what they can get elsewhere. Beckham would actually be a great place to start. You can sell him on increasing his star power here while he can still play, and the fact that this will likely be his last WC. Once he sign someone high profile who is just a couple of years past their absolute prime, the other dominos will fall.
Franco Baresi is also available........he's without a contract and could do a nice job for the metros......
Maybe he would follow Youri's lead and not be a max cap player....particualrly if he only planned to play a half season. His experience would be invaluable, and there have been plenty of ageless wonders in MLS history (and, no, I'm not forgettting the flops either). I wouldn't recommend putting him at the Metros as well, dont want an OAP core, but what about at Houston? A decent name for a 'new' team, whjo also have a big gap following Califf's departure to AaB. As always, if the terms are right I'd give him a go.....
Desailly is worthless. If he wants to come play for pennies just to see the states, let him. Otherwise, ship his ass to Qatar or UAE.
And there will be a lot less once he's gone. Just like I'm mildly interested in Standard Liege's fortunes, but will completely forget about them once Onyewu moves on.
the only problem i see with this is that Desailly is 64 years old but im not sure if there are any rules against senior citizens playing for mls teams.