...For now, at least [Not to say that he won't be playing in MLS when he's, say, 40]. Cliff Notes version: While he is here in the US [he makes his home in Miami], Joe-Max Moore won't be staying long. Formerly with Everton FC, he has a deal in place with an English First Division team and will be returning there soon. What's surprising in all of this is that MLS officials never made an effort to talk turkey with JMM.
likewise. I was referring to this: "What's surprising in all of this is that MLS officials never made an effort to talk turkey with JMM."
Danizinho's proven his credibility in the past as a source so I have no reason not to believe him in this case. Question is, what is the club, and if true, why didn't MLS entertain an effort to bring him back? The Magpie
What was Moore's salary with Everton? I heard it was in the $600,000 range. If so, since he's been in England for so long he could dodge the dual US-English taxes and pull down an attractive contract with a 1st Division team. I doubt that MLS could match his salary and possibly the English football atmosphere has something to do with his decision.
Chris Bergin who talks a lot with JMM says that JMM love MLS, still follows it closely and wants to return to finish out his career. But he also has a young son and has economic interests to consider. He wanted MLS to give him a 3 year contract at the Max and they counteroffered less. While the debate was still on with thr rumor being that it was hoped both parties would move a bit in the negotiations he got an offer for more money than he could make in MLS and took it. We will not see Joe-Max for a few more years.
does that mean he will have to go fight for a new work permit in england or will he get a new one quite easily??? how does that work? i had always heard stories about how you had to play XX% of all your home countries internationals etc etc
Wasn't Eddie Lewis playing mainly for the reserve squad for a first division team last year? When he was, he made it quite clear that he'd rather stay where he was, even if he was sitting, than come back to the MLS because the money was so much better.
Soccer Doc is accurate and, as usual, Danizinho is not. JMM wants 3-4 guaranteed at full salary. The league asked around and there were no takers under those conditions. JMM may still show up if he can't get a new deal overseas. It's in the best ineterst for the league for JMM's possibilities to play themselves out...their offer may end up being very enticing. In case anyone hasn't notice, MLS teams are trying to avoid long term, guaranteed deals for players over 30 unless they are a very sure thing. JMM is Nicol's kind of player and I would be surprised if Stevie has had several chats with his mates at Everton regarding JMM's capabilities. By the way, Danizinho, it's very unbecoming to toot your own horn, especially at the very moment you prove yourself to be uninformed. THERE ARE NO SUCH THING AS INSIDERS. I ONLY KNEW ABOUT NOWAK COMING TO THE REVS LAST WEEK BECAUSE I ACTUALLY HEARD IT FROM DAVE SARACHAN HIMSELF. AND THAT WAS A ONE IN A LIFETIME NUGGET OF INFORMATION.
People who are close to people who work for the team or the league (amongst them media reporters) definitely learn about many ongoings before they become has-happeneds. Note: my name is not IN_Sider. But there is such a thing, clearblue, and we're lucky that some choose to occasionally share glimpses of that info here.
Clearblue. There are such things as insiders: if you have access to or engage in (usually discreet) relationships with people who have access to information not immediately available to the mainstream then that makes you an insider. The funny thing is, the pool of such information is shallower than most people think and everybody swims in it together. I learned that firsthand when writing for POCM and a number of other publications. I also learned that it's quite easy to be manipulated by such parties who also pass along disreputable information; it's the nature of the game. JMM wants at least a 3-year deal at the league max but he's not going to and won't get that. He's certainly within his rights to demand it, his options back in England allow for him to set a competative figure, but right now the marketplace in MLS won't support it. Let him play a season or two in Division One, perhaps with a mid-table team where he could see regular minutes, and then he could call upon MLS again where conditions, both personal and professional may be favorable to his return. As for Danizinho, I'm speaking from experience when I say I trust what he has to say. There we seem to disagree. The Magpie
http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/soccer/socc01052003.htm Moore, said he forwarded a proposal to MLS through his agent, Paul Stretford, about a starting point for negotiations. But the forward said the league hasn't even made a telephone call back. ``I don't know what's going on,'' Moore said from Miami Friday night. ``I'm interested in possibly coming back to the league but they haven't even responded to my agent's phone calls." Ouch. That's gotta hurt. And by the way - I'm generally not a Gus basher, but eight paragraphs on the team's preseason trip to Brazil, and ONE FREAKIN' LINE about the Nowak trade???
I'm guessing that with all the goings on over Cap troubles and the fact that the Swap/Drop list from Fridays deadline still hasen't been released has a little something to do with the League not answering JMM's offer. Until they have settled who has what in the League and current roster moves it's hard to see that they would be adding new players. It's interesting to note that Nowak "has come to terms" with the Revs. I guess he will be in a Rev Kit in 2003
Clearblue: Big props to you on what you've been able to bring to the table [*Capobianco signing, Nowak deal, etc]. For what it's worth, I don't keep scorecards, nor have I have ever trumpeted my predictions or ever advertised myself as an "Insider" - if anything, I'd be the Bob Uecker of so-called insiders [Miller Lite commercials, circa 1979]. I've been fortunate to acquire information, and by extension, am happy to share that knowledge with those here who appreciate it. But, without checking back, I'd venture to say that I've been pretty reliable. I've been wrong [Damned sources! ], but if this were baseball, Ted Williams would be a distant second. It's obvious that you and a few others got some sort of problem with me. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about that [As for the Moore information, the story in today's Boston Herald would lend at least of modicum of credibility to what was posted yesterday: http://www2.bostonherald.com/sport/soccer/socc01052003.htm ] I hope you post with more frequency [scoops and inside dope, sans vitriol]. In any case, I look forward to your posts and scoops. Finally, to those who posted words of support: Thanks! Warm regards... and, Toot, Toot! Dan, heretofore known as TUG [The Uninformed Guy] *Personally, I never thought they'd re-sign Capobianco given the fact that he was given his walking papers twice, I believe [I may be wrong], by the same people who previously employed him. As for Nowak, that was a good call by you [Move over Jeff Bradley and Ridge Mahoney].
Ah come on Dan. I was hoping you would "call Cearblue out" and we could see the two of you go at it with Krispy Creams at 10 paces. After all with the League office sitting on all the Swap and Drop info there sure is much else exciting to watch George
If things were just a little bit better in $$$ terms we could have much better teams with an interesting mixture of geezers like Nowak and kids like Twellman. I think that the mixture is what makes pro soccer so great, players next to one another who a literally a generation apart. I know this goes on in all pro sports but the wise old heads on a soccer pitch often dictate a kind of game that is more fun to watch. If Nowak actually does come and gets to play rergularly with Ralston, Hernandez, Serna/Wolde and Taylor, plus Kamler/Griffiths on the left, we could have a lot of fun watching. JIM DOW
I think MLS is making the right move by taking a pass on Moore at this juncture. The league needs to be hardnosed in its negotiations. It bodes well for the continued existence of the league. Still, it's unprofessional to not return phone calls.
Just noticed this: From Marc Connolly's 1/2 Column: "Who comes back from Europe? There could be a long list here. Earnie Stewart and Joe-Max Moore are virtual locks at this point to be roaming around MLS fields this season. But sources have also said that Gregg Berhalter, Conor Casey, Frankie Hejduk and Eddie Lewis have all looked into playing at home in the near future." Funny all the contradicting stories about this one. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=253661&cc=5901
Danizinho, The point of my comment is that all of this is pure fun and speculation. No one starting with FDA and Martins knows what reallt is said. I apologize if it sounded offensive. Does any of us truly believe JMM when he says that absolutely nobody at the league has not returned any calls. Joey, please! The realty is that MLS coaches cannot afford to take on full salary players, that are over 30, with multi year guarantees.This is a good sign. It means that teams and coaches are learning from mistakes of the past. Personally, if Twellman agrees to a new deal at say, $130k, he's foolish. The league is going to tack on more years to the deal. If Taylor goes out and tears it up in MLS and becomes a National team regular, do you think the league is going to re-structure again? No way. He's better off keeping his current contract, kicking ass with the national team and then ask for more money. He'll end up with more if he waits a year. The MLS cannot afford to make the mistakes baseball makes. That is, pay excessive amounts of money to a player on the strength of one season. Kudos to the MLS
I agree. About not returning phone calls, that's the Herald's account of a conversation with Moore about a conversation that he had with his agent - and we know an agent would never fib to a client! I predicted that Joe-Max wouldn't get a warm reception if he wanted to come back at the same status that he left. The league tried their best to keep him from leaving and they clearly want to discourage players from "trying their luck" elsewhere. Besides, the gate attraction for players of his generation (pre-2002 WC veterans) is clearly not a factor any more. If the league didn't return the agent's calls, it was probably to send the message "get real"!
My guess is that he had pretty much written the whole article, and just before the deadline the Nowak trade was announced, with little room to add much more. Then again, you could argue that Gus should have known that something was coming down the pike in terms of moves that would be worth a mention. Then again, if the "big trade" was between other MLS teams, could you justify giving that precedence over what the local team is doing to prep for the season? Funny, I had expected that more deals would go down this weekend... Tom
I think there has but something is holding up the press release from MLS Central. There had to be a bunch of swaps and drops to get teams in Cap compliance . What's holding up the release--who knows??? George