I could be way out there, and I don't know exactly how his suspension works. His appeal got denied (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/soccer/03/18/bc.eu.spt.soc.ferdinand.ap/index.html) and he's still suspended until Sept. I think to include domestic and national team stuff. So here's my question. I this a chance to try to get him on loan for this season in MLS as a way of keeping himself in match fitness while he can't play for Man U or England? Again, I'm not sure this is even possible. Maybe someone else can enlighten me more on what Rio can and can't do. It just seems like an opportunity to get a world-class player for cheap for at leats 3/4 of the MLS season.
If it was possible for him to play, what makes you think that MLS will get him over the 100+ other teams in Europe who can offer him better play and more importantly PAY?
Why not? Have MU pay his salary - don't they have to pay his "base" salary anyway? MLS is not part of UEFA so fewer bureaucratic obstacles there. Similar language to England. Chance to play in D-1 soccer. Chicago already looks like it needs a replacement for Bocanegra. Drugs cheap and freely available in the USA (you knew someone would bring that up anyway).
I think this is a brillant idea and might not be as hard as it may sound. Someone call the Commish and tell him to do it. If Man U picks up the tab, I think this makes sense.
Doesn't work that way. First he has to get permission and clearance from the FA. He's under suspension, so this won't happen. Any club screwing with this would be sanctioned heavily and hard by FIFA, their local Confederation and the Federation of their country. Sanctions include fines and possibly banned from participating in Confederation competitions. It means United wouldn't be playing in Europe and that they would feel in the pocket books. Note anyone playing outside of their country has to get permission from their Federation, regardless of whether they've represented their country. It's usually a formality but not having it means you don't play outside of the country and it's often the problem when a player has to wait longer than expected.
There's enough stupidity in the world of soccer, Rio being a part of it. Destroying your own league is not the stupidity you want because that's what would ultimately happen but then it wouldn't even get that far. He ain't worth it and IMO, United paid too much for him in the first damn place. He's maybe a top ten defender in Europe and that's maybe. Fonsos
Puff, puff, give. =) It's just one of those things that won't happen. He's not the kind of guy that would bring a lot of excitement to MLS other than for a few diehards. Now if we could bring in Henry.....
Like I was saying, it was just a thought. I might add that the court of appeals and FA officials suspended him for not showing up for a drug test. They said that he was clean of drugs. And besides, Rio pales in comparison to what's going on with MLB right now.
Even assuming Rio wanted to do it (highly unlikely) and if there weren't any rules against it, is there any chance ManUre wuold let one of their most valuable players come over here and potentially be injured, thus damaging their investment considerably? Absolutely none. I would think they would want him practicing with their club, so at least he was getting practice with some of the club's players, and schooling some of the new guys a little. Assuming he's allowed to practice. There's no free lunch. I hope MLS will spring a bit more for good players. While teams are allowed to spend quite a bit more on individual players, the overall cap has been pretty stagnant going in to MLS' 9th season. I suppose even if you could hire a big boy you'd have nothing left to pay everyone else. Hopefully things will at least moderately change soon. I think it's about time.
Wow...couldn't disagree more. My only evidence: Man Utd's league position pre- and post-ban. Rio is a world class defender. Worth every penny.
There's a big difference between being fit for practices and fit for matches. You need to play real games to keep up that quick first step, your timing, etc. Rio coming over here also wouldn't bring along the kind of press that Europe would. He could maintain his form while being pretty much left alone from the press. I just don't know how going 8 months without playing in a real game against other teams is going to affect him. These are the reason why there's would ever be a chance Man U would let him come over here and also pick up most of the tab.
Apologies for not posting this to some existing thread. No, your biggest problem in back is the fact that it's a line so dependent on one damn player. In regards to the World Class player remark, all I have to say is the Flash of Ronaldo last year in Champion's league. And this guy is referred to as Gordo in La Liga. World Class defenders don't get smoked that badly. Maldini is a world class defender and he's considered an old man. Now, let's get back to the original thread and if you want to debate this issue, start a new thread and we can do so.
Do you really think FIFA isn't going to extend this ban worldwide, particularly with the 'interest' Blatter has shown in the case?
Absolutely. Ferdinand's ban is a huge loss for England at Euro '04. A quality central defender as he illustrated time and again in WC '02.
Hmmm, he's one of the few defenders with a satnd-out reputation, but he would probably be a bad investment for MLS. The mainstream Americans MLS really wants to convert are not complaining that there are just too many goals in soccer.
Guys, its not like Rio is sitting on the sofa, twiddling his thumbs all day waiting for the phone to ring. He's in training just the same as all the other players, and the benefit he would get from playing first-team soccer in MLS is outweighed by the fact that he would be away from his team and their training regimen for several months. While I think it would be cool to see him here, I'll wait till this summer when he comes over wearing a Man United jersey. Oh and as for FIFA intervening in America, I doubt they'd do anything to harm their cash-cow that is just waiting to burst open and make them all rich. Everytime Blatter looks over the Atlantic, his pupils must glze over and turn into euro signs.
This is just not possible. The FA imposed the eight month ban, but Fifa was pressing for a year. There is ZERO way Fifa would let Rio get a license to play in the US.