This time it is to Newcastle United. NU and DCU say training, but the tabloids say possible transfer... http://www.planetfootball.co.uk/article.asp?id=116573&Title=DC+play+down+Newcastle+link
I take it then that any previous relationship established between Santino and ManU was strictly informal and short-term at best. Either way, the opportunity might be there, but I really wonder how willing MLS would be to allow these guys to depart for a long term arrangement. I can't imagine an overwhelming offer being put forth, and given MLS new marketing doctrine of developing and retaining young, local talent I think these "training sessions" are likely to remain just that. Unless of course it became a PR problem for the league.
Speculating on market value, I would say they are probably worth 1-2 million each at most. But this is just me off the top of my head. In other words, this is what I think MLS would take to get them out of MLS. Take into accout they wanted somewhere in the range of 3-4 for Mathis, 2-3 for DMB, I would say, Q and Convey would be in the 1-2 million dollar range. I think MLS should sell them in a minute if they get a 1-2 million dollar offer. But that is another thread.
Quaranta can get a WP because he can get an Italian passport. Convey is going for training, and maybe to keep SQ company while SQ and Newcastle look each other over. Period. Convey can't get a WP. I disagree that MLS would sell SQ so low. I don't know what SQ is worth, what Newcastle might offer, but it'd have to be at the top end of your scale to happen. Either that, or a bonus-laden transfer fee. $1m+ up front, $250K for 10 league appearances, $500K for 15 goals, something like that. I take all that back if SQ's contract runs out December 31, 2003. If SQ says he wants to go, it's probably better for MLS to get some coin, even if it's in the very low 7 figures, than lose him for free 12 months hence.
If the Toon buy him, he will get to train with players that are near his age but at a higher skill level. Ex: Chopra, Jenas, Amoebi, LuaLua, Bramble, Viana (and they all see time in first side or reserves).
Except for Chopra, hardly near his age at all... and I still remain to be convinced that Lua Lua is significantly better than Chris Albright. Tresor Lomano Lua Lua is precisely the EPL's answer to Albright!
Good thought, but while Convey can't get a WP outright, he has national team apps and might/would get a WP on the future potential clause.
I think the smarter European teams will try to wait out the contract expiration for both of these kids and pick them up on a free transfer. That way, they can take a chance with very little risk. I can't see Convey getting a work permit, and Quaranta's acquiring a foreign passport is much-rumored, but I haven't seen him actually go and try to get one yet. Both would be good deals for a free transfer, but I doubt the European teams value them as highly as MLS will ask for their transfer fees.
I think both Convey and Quaranta (and and Donovan and Buddle and Beasley et al) are worth more to MLS than they are to just about any major Eurpean team. What is going to promote the game here, IMHO, is young US talent coming up from the ranks. In the UK and the rest of Europe, these are just two hot young prospects among many. Here, in the smaller pond, they are more important in a relative sense. MLS would be better off paying more to keep guys like these and paying less to aging international super stars. Obviously, the chance to train and possibly play on loan with EPL and other top flight clubs is one that shouldn't be passed up, but it can have its price. Ask Ben Olsen
Gotta say, I really doubt we'll see either of these guys in England too soon. Convey won't get a work permit and Santino is nowhere near ready to be a big contributer to a Premiership team. Until he starts putting up some bigger numbers in MLS, I can't see him scorching the Premiership. They're both marginal contributers at best in England, but key guys in MLS, amking their value to MLS much more than to the English teams, keeping them home for now. Maybe if Santino breaks out and starts lighting up MLS, something that is yet to happen despite all the hype, he'll get a shot in a year or two if he gets the passport. Convey's gonna have to wait until he establishes himself on the senior US team for his chance.
Albright Albright is quite possibly the worst forward in MLS, he lacks creativity, vision, and particuliarly confidence..that you can see that on his face every time he f's up, When compared to Lua Lua the best that Albright could do is put a shine on his boots before and after each practice. Lua Lua scores in premier games, Albright could maybe be the ballboy at the games.(No I don't support Newcastle if anyone is wundering)
Anybody else tiring of these threads? I don't mean to be cranky, but how many freakin' times have we had guys from MLS go over to train in England or Germany or Spain in the offseason? How many of those have actually turned into any kind of formal arrangement? It's interesting to note that they are training, but don't any of you guys tire of the rote speculatory responses?
I know what you mean. Really, the only guys who would have any sort of shot at doing anything in England are the very cream of our crop, the guys who were big parts of the WC team like Claudio, O'Brien, Donovan, Beasley, Mathis, Pope etc... The rumors about how guys who don't even light things up in MLS are going to the Premiership for anything other than practice are pretty silly really. There's a big difference between a club scouting a guy and answering politely when asked if the player was impressive and a club opening the pocketbook and writing a check.
Hopefully what this can accomplish is to light a fire under Santino re training and learning from some of the top players in the world. I'm not saying he doesn't have drive, but surely he can benefit from being in such a highly competive, excellent environment.
If you're expecting them to step in and play right away, yes, you're probably right. But at 19 & 18 years old and at the beginning of the WC cycle, it would be a great time for either of these guys to go to England with the intention of practicing with a first team and seeing limited playing time for a season or two, developing their games, and then breaking into the lineup in a big way. Call it the normal growth process in this and almost any other professional sport. With Bobby and Tino's technical and physical skills, there's no reason to think they can't compete at the EPL level once they get used to the speed and style of play. As for keeping young US stars in MLS...occasionally we've got to let them go so that the next wave of young US stars can strut their stuff.
I dunno about that. If Robson is fairly sure Quaranta will eventually help him (even if that role is as limited as being a regular on the matchday 16, but not a starter), then he's worth more to Newcastle than he's worth to MLS. And if Robson decides to be penny wise, ManU can outbid Newcastle, and leave Sir Bobby pound foolish. The transfer is not just to get a player early, before he's available on a free. It's also to get a player before open bidding breaks out for the player. If it's a European team, then yeah, it's probably smart to wait (unless MLS decides to sell low because they know the player won't re-sign with MLS.) But if it's more than on club, you gotta pony up the dough.
Hardly near his age? Viana is 19. He was named the top young player in Europe last year, and was named to the Portuguese national team at the last minute to replace a suspended player. He was actively recruited by the likes of Juventus, Inter, Celta Vigo and other major European players before signing with Newcastle in the summer for ~$13M. Like Convey, he is left-footed and plays central midfield. He began the season in the starting lineup at left wing due to the absence of Laurent Robert, and since Robert’s return has been a late game sub. He played very well on the wing, and Robson is hot on this prospect even though he realizes that Viana is getting very frustrated as a late sub.
Re: Albright Albright is a brilliant comparison. Sure Lua is a better player, but the key similarities are lots of ability to create and do everything but score. Lua Lua is a better finisher than Albright, but my forecast is that Lua Lua is just too wasteful in front of goal to be as successful as his skills indicate he should be.