They just had a piece on Sky Sports News..looked like footage of DC training for the Tottenham game since Agoos was shown. Anyways they interviewed Ray Hudson and he said talks still continue, that Gazza can still play football and how he really impressed on the field and in the locker room on his trip to DC earlier in the year. Same old same old about Paul wanting to play football out of the limelight and that it's still a possiblity for DC to sign Gazza. Ray commented that there were a lot of good footballers out there right now and it's all about getting a good value for your money. That was about all the story was about 2 or 3 minutes, just thought I'd share with you all!
I saw it as well and cringed at the mere thought of bringing in what will be a 36 year old attacking midfielder who plays no defense, at maximum salary no less.. Don't we already have one of those? So much for moving forward..... I'd take the Gazza of 10 years ago 11 times out of 10 but it seems rather clear that he is waaaay past his prime.. If Gazza is willing to sign for less than $100k a season, well, that's a whole different ball of wax.. But it's highly unlikely that he will come to MLS for less than the maximum salary.... There has GOT to be someone younger and cheaper out there.....
I wouldn't expect Ray to say anything but what he said to the English press. There's no point in saying anything controversial before you're about to play against the guy in a charity match to which you have been invited.
I am no more enthused by the idea of Gazza coming. I don't doubt the guy could still contribute, but I think there has to be a better alternative out there. However, everything I've heard indicates he would be getting less than the maximum...I don't know how much less though.
The one aspect of Gazza that is appealing is that he must have about zilch for bargaining material after the way things went here. Washed up or not its kind of surprising that he yet to sign anywhere... I would think that if he was still dangling around before next season we might be able to get him at a bargain basement price. (If he really wants to play and has no serious takers why wouldnt he play here under the minimum? Especially with the deflated market) No matter what he should be cheaper then what he was originally asking for. Who knows? This Spurs game could actually determine his future for us. If Gazza goes out there and crushes us, say scores a goal or two, then Ray's interest may resurface. Personally I don't think he is the "best" option, but after all the hype from last year, and the shabby (in my opinion) way DC United treated him... We could sign worse. (and before anyone rants on me, I mean that the team laid out some really bull$hit excuses after they decided not to sign him. Saying that there just wasn't time left in the season was a HUGE cop out. In my opinion it was really bush league. We knew how much f-ing time there was when we invited him over. If Ray got scared by the overblown drinking "incident" or just had second thoughts, he didnt have to sugar coat it. Say he wasn't the "right fit" and be done with it. At the very least we wouldnt have to keep reading these speculation threads... )
Who says Barra members are just a bunch of drunks? McO hits it right on the head. Last seasons cloak and dagger stuff got old as the year progressed. Daglish, the Brazilians, Gazza, yadda yadda yadda....Don't get me wrong, I love Ray Hudson, but towards the end there he spoke ad nauseum and didn't say a thing. It was obvious from the start of the season our hands were tied with the salary cap. Just give it to us straight Ray, we can take it. That's what three years of sucking ass will do to you.
The whole Gazza thing on Sky Sports smacks of simply someone in the press asking him. The British press are not going to ask him about US players or Central American players. They are going to ask him questions about Gazza or Ginola or any number of UK known players. Sky Sports will then duly air such 'news' because their audience is UK based and doesn't care if DC United is about to sign Freddie Adu or THamlin19. It has been interesting to note that everytime Gazza gets mentioned on Sky Sports over the last few months, they show the clip of him kicking the ball around in a DC United training kit. They also say something like "Paul Gascoigne, who recently tried out with US club DC United, blah blah blah blah."
But, Ray is used to the constant babble about transfers and such. I thought it was nice to have as many rumors surrounding the club as the top European teams do. There was a new rumor almost every week and we constantly had guest players and tryout players. It was nice to even see DC United rumors on English news. But, we pretty much new the rumors were crap at the time.
Perhaps one of the basic problems is that Ray talks too much. This applies to when Gazza was trying out and to the current trip to England. The reporters love Ray because he creates stories even when there are none, but I don't think it really does the team any good. You have to wonder whether most of the players have simply learned to ignore 110 percent of what Ray says. If they haven't, they're likely to end up as basket cases.
I think Gazza still has a bit left in him, he has been looking after himself l8ly and really does luv the game, i think he could do well in the states the only problem is he likes a few beers just as much...but still he is a great character and would have him bak @ the lane n e time.. even if it would b pullin pints
Hey just to be clear. I also enjoyed the rumors. To a POINT. (I also tend to agree with Chico, it was annoying as a fan when they didnt seem to be serious after a while) Of course many were just things to think about, which they werer clearly presented as, but the Gazza thing went WAY to far. He was brought over to much acclaim. The press was all over it and reports of signings were imminent. Then POOF. it went down faster then a shot placed in front of him. Thats fine except in THIS case the team DID lead us fans on and in my opnion Gazza. Why ask him to come all the way over here, subject himself to a huge media blitz in England and then turn him away because "there isn't enough time" Then say things like we probably wont pursue it next year. It lacks balls and class. We certainly knew how much time was left when we finally did have him over. So we are either liars or wimps. I don't like either.
From today's Post: Gascoigne, who trained with United during the summer but wasn't offered a contract, has reiterated his interest in playing for United, but Hudson said the chances of that happening are "less than minimal." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37337-2002Oct16.html K
If it was his private life that was (mostly) responsible for blowing the deal, then Ray, by keeping vague about it, handled the situation with class.
no, not really - supposedly he was rehabilitated (-ing?). ray did handle the situation well. I'm running on speculation, like everyone else but what was ray supposed to say - no, sorry, he's still a lush? i still hope gazza works out his life...
Maybe... I adore Ray so I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps it was a combination of the lifestyle and play. Gazza really wasnt that impressive today. I suppose he could have looked much the same with the team.
Big Ditto here, except for that part about less than 100k. No Gazza in DC. Retire for pete's sake! You're a legend!
If last weeks game at Tottenham don't kill the rumors, I don't know what will. He looked terrible out there. End of discussion.
Gazza is done. Judging from the Spurs/DC game, he's got nothing left. I don't even think he could make the team at DC. He would be like that guy Colorado signed with their allocation and then cut before the season started because he didn't make the team.