Is this just another agent talking up a move or does this one have any legs in it? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6649305.stm Just one line about it. Can't find anything else to prove / disprove story at mo. This dude has to have the best beard / hair combo in soccer. (sorry Alexi)
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy If true, his hair would at least take away some of the spotlight from Beckham.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Well, we did just trade away a SI defender which was followed by hints from Alexi that experienced defensive help would be on the way....
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Yeah, I could see him joining the Galaxy... And here's the action figure giveaway given to the first 5,000 fans in attendance at Xavier's first game:
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Poor Cobi.. His hair just won't mean much for his last year if both Xavier and Beckham are here... That paper puts out a lot of non-stories but here's his Wikipedia page for those wanting to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Xavier
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Xavier just told Middlesbrough that he would not be signing a new contract. He is one of the better right backs in professional football. He has a great "eye" - meaning that he plays slightly off attackers, giving them the impression that they are unmarked, but he has an uncanny ability to keep just within range to run over and nick the ball away. He was a consistent starting choice by a manager who was recently a central defender (and therefore a very good judge of defensive talent). He also had some very successful years at Everton and Liverpool. Would undoubtedly be one of the top defenders in the MLS. However, in terms of financial value, he is not equivalent to, say, Juan Pablo Angel, i.e. I'm not sure he is worth a very scarce salary cap exception (IIRC, it's a "DP"??). But, as you can see in the picture above, he is certainly a visual marketing tool for the MLS as a whole - adds color and interest.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy I don't think Xavier would be a DP player. More like Schelloto (am I even close to spelling that right?) in Columbus - an aging but still talented player who could contribute for a year or two at a high (but not DP) salary.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy He had a decent season with Boro, I'll give you that, but he's never stayed around anywhere for that long, had the handball in the Euro 2000 semi, and tested positive for steroids. No thank you.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy His name has been linked with a move to MLS recently. I'll believe it when I see it, cause I didn't know Gremlins could play soccer.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Abel Xavier isn't needed here. Albright has done alright job, the team needs a centrel back or a classic sweeper. Xavier is better off to a team like Dynamo or Toronto FC
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy No, Los Angeles is just being Los Angeles. No need to be New York when you have Hollywood in your backyard. You make him sound like a character. He's gonna stick out in this league.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy What would lead you to think that? The longest he was at any club was for three seasons, and that was at his first club, back from 1990-1993. 10 clubs later in 6 different countries...do you really think he wasn't happy in Italy, Spain, England, or Germany, because he was waiting to come to MLS?
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy hasnt this guy has already gotten two bans for testing positive for cocaine during his career? maybe he and Tyrone can get together make as much bank as Beckham dealing herb to his teammates.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Now, why would you slander Tyrone Marshall like this? Has Marshall ever been linked publically in his career to smoking or dealing doobage? Or, is it because he's Jamaican, you think it's OK to stereotype that he's dealing ganja?
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Alel Xavier is a good player, a exemplar profissional http://janeladecontraste.blogspot.com/
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy He is here http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx...er+joins+Beckham+in+LA&channel=football_home&
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Well, then that has to mean Chris Albright is a goner. Which must mean the trade for Ruiz is going to happen. This makes me sick.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Yep, it's just been reported on eurosport as a done deal also. He's a right-back to my knowledge(and a slow one at that), so this does look like the end of Chris. I'm anxious to see how this will all end up.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Ruiz trade? Edit: Oh sorry just saw the other thread. That's what I get for ignoring BS for a day or two, especially with this team.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy If these two rumors pan out (and they are still just rumors, let's not forget) then I guess the question is: Is Xavier and Ruiz greater than Albright and Jaqua? I really don't know. I haven't seen Xavier play in a long time, and the only game I've seen of FCD this year was our home opener - so I haven't seen much of Captain Hooters recently. Going to be interesting to see how this all plays out if either of these rumors come to fruition. Although, clearly, if Xavier is coming to LA then that makes Albright our A+ trade bait to get the missing pieces that we need. Unless the plan is to convert Xavier into a center back....
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy I'm honestly sick to my stomach right now - just the THOUGHT that this might happen. My favorite Galaxy player for a diving hack and a questionable in-and-out-of-rehab hack.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy Trading Albright and Jaqua for Ruiz = trading Ruiz for DP spot in the offseason. Either that, or we are swapping Donovan for Ruiz because the team doesn't think they can get a DP.
Re: Abel Xavier to Galaxy This is a possibility since he is tall. We'll use an allocation on him to knock down part of his salary, but still, I would think someone in Europe could pay him more than us. But it is consistent with Thomas being traded and Alexi saying we are getting another defender. The Ruiz part of the rumor just seems odd to me. 1) Ruiz still should count as a DP next year - his guaranteed salary is above league max and people have reported him as one of the grandfathered players. 2) Assuming (1) isn't true, he still has a big salary number and I'm not sure we can afford three max players 3) Assuming we can afford three max players, Ruiz is not a Yallop kind of player and Frank seems particular about who he brings in. Still, there is a certain sickening logic to it: Xavier and Ruiz to us, Albright and Jaqua to Dallas, they pick up Guevara with the extra cap space, and one of their young defenders to the goats.