Or Portland the first one is a reply to a guy who is a Timbers fan and said it would be great to see him in a Timbers jersey.
sounds like he could slowly be realizing that just because he's a "star" in the vietnamese league doesn't mean you're gonna get looked at by your national team. maybe he's gonna suck up his inflated ego and come back to MLS at a low salary.
Or maybe he thinks with Portland being a new team he could make more money since they will have roster spots open.
I'm not sure about Vietnam, but with India you may not have dual citizenship. It is either Indian or another... What is wrong with that? $120,000 a year to play in Vietnam where cost of living is much less than the US? Count me in....
Well if he wants to go to them he will have to go through MLS first. And we remember the offer MLS gave him before....
True I forgot about his international caps. Anyone know the stats he has this season? I can't find anything. I think he may have 2 assists, a real far cry from what he was doing with HAGL.
I'd imagine the V-League isn't pumping out the prospects for the EPL or anything but I don't see how you can judge the quality compared to the MLS when we don't play them too often. Until MLS clubs quit getting embarrassed by the likes of Joe Public, PR Islanders and the 2nd and 3rd string teams of Mexican clubs then we should keep our mouths shut. If you're still not convinced I offer ye exhibit A: Jeff Gordon.
I'm not sure that anyone can say one way or the other. He plays in a pretty low-tier league, and either he's chosen that option or he can't get any teams in stronger leagues to invest in him.
I'm speaking from first hand experience. Unless he has gotten considerably worse in the last 5 years or so (I don't think he has), the guy has the goods to start in MLS and make a solid impact. Again, I haven't played with the guy for years, but he was very very good even at a high level.
LOL had he not been a local Texas product, I dont think you'd have as much faith in him. But yea, the kid is good. But he def. has a rep playing in Vietnam like Freddy Adu has with most BS posters with his failed stints in Europe. Lee is quality though, but he is highly techincal, and will only thrive in the MLS with the right team, and right supporting cast. He has the ability to be a ferriera, but for what I remember seeing in him, he doesnt play as 'rough' and is more finess(sp).
It has nothing to do with him being from Texas. I've had the pleasure to play with a lot of good players from all different states and Lee has been amongst the best of them.
I'm just busting your balls. The kid is good though, and I hope he gets out of the V-league to at least the K league or J league, if MLS isnt an option. He would be a great fit for the top 2 asian leagues, given the step up of play it is compared ot Vietnam. His techincal skills are good, but as time wastes... so does his chances to move on to something bigger (doors closing, teams losing faith in his skills cause of where he plays).
I watched him for a year in Bloomington and no question, he had serious talent and was usually the best player on the field by far. I'm not debating that. But he's not playing against top competition and hasn't since he left for Europe. When that's the case, odds are he's not becoming a stronger player. (Hell, the kid still can't manage to stay on a team for any length of time.) So can he start in MLS? I'm not convinced. Can he deal with physical soccer he'd have to endure? Does he want to play for a modest contract? Does he want to take the risk when he can stay in Vietnam where is gets paid pretty well, is a minor celebrity, and where he can stand out on the field? Until he shows up in MLS and shows he can do it (today - not 5 years ago), then all we can talk about is potential and what might have been.
You mean the time at IU when he had no idea that there were 10 other players on the field? When he couldn't buy into a team concept? When he believed all the hype about himself? When he refused to play defense? When every fairly challenged 50-50 ball had him landing on his butt and shaking his head at the ref? There is more to soccer than playing pretty and being technically skilled. He had both of those things in ample amounts, but there's a hell of a lot more to soccer than that. If he's grown up, and filled out, developed vision, and found some humility, then sure - he might be able to have a go at MLS. But if not, then he's safe and sound in Vietnam.
From what I saw, he still has issues with physicality, and staying up right. Even in the start of his time in Vietnam they said he was struggling a little with that. But soon after he got used to it. But Asian football, much like south american football, is not very 'physical' as compared to MLS/EPL which has similar ties, like Asian Football and south american football. Its the father/son concept. Lee did well so far in Vietnam cause its not very physical, but is more techincally oriented. He is the type of player that thrives in that enviroment. Thats why I get scared that he may not be cut out for MLS, like many latin american player rejects that can't handle the physicality of the game nor the reffing. If he ever does come back to the MLS, like i said abouve, I hope its to a team that is about good passing, keeping the ball on the ground, and has decent players that can play a more passing oriented game, then boot and run. He'd do well then.