In a recent Soccer America MLS Insider it said that former Arsenal player Gilles Grimandi was looking at possibly signing with MLS. At icons.com Grimandi said on his page that it's the Rapids who are interested in him. Apparently he was in Denver a week ago to talk with the front office and trained a bit with the team. He said that he got along quite well with Spencer.
The link to it on the homepage is hilarious: "Grimandi: Tempted to join Mile High Club" Pretty interesting, though. Sounds like he was a little intimidated by the altitude and running around in the thin air. "I trained with the team and that was a real eye-opener. Their training ground is so high up in the mountains it is difficult to breathe because the air is so thin." He makes it sound like we play in La Paz. But it's cool that he was impressed with the players on the team and with Valderrama. I'd love to see him in a Rapids jersey next season.
Gilles Anywon know how old he is and if he is out of the EPL because of injury (i.e. not the player he used to be?). Since we're not gonna get an allocation for him from missing the playoffs, we'll need to trade or get one. Next who'll we lose on the salary cap side. You know the NFL always has it's cap situation available, but with MLS we never know that stuff. This may be a good thing, too, but in the past LA and NY always seemed to have extra cap room when they needed to boost attendence with a new player.... RLH
Re: Gilles From his website, dated 4/10/02: <<I'm leaving Arsenal "I'd like to announce that I plan to leave Arsenal at the end of this season. It's not been a very easy decision to make for me, but I feel it is the right one. I need to play football regularly and with the strength of the squad here I have had to be realistic about my chances." >> This is true, he wasn't getting a lot of playing time in the first team. I think he's very picky about where he ends up. He passed on some offers in Japan and is being looked at by some Serie B teams at the moment.
Re: Gilles He left Arsenal because they have a midfield that consists of Vieira, Edu, Silva, Ljungberg, Pires, Wiltord, Pennant and other. He was out of contract so he wanted to find a place where he would get PT. He's been picky about where he wants to play. He also is being looked at by Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga. He is 31 and the Rapids should be able to pick him up as a Discovery. No allocation would be needed.
If they don't get him as a Discovery player, they would have to eliminate somebody. Who do they let go or trade away for a future pick?
No news on what his trial yielded, but the latest SoccerAmerica MLS Confidential doesn't sound that encouraging: GRIMANDI GOES BACK: Midfielder Gilles Grimandi has returned to Europe after training with the Rapids. He is out of contract and has drawn interest from clubs in England and Holland. As an out-of-contract player he is not bound by transfer restrictions that would otherwise prevent him from playing with a European team until Jan. 1.
I don't think that says very much. He wasn't planning on signing anything immediately, he just wanted to take a look at the club and see what it was all about. I think the chances are pretty decent...seems like he had a good time with Spenny and loved playing with Pibe.
I dunno ... I think it would be quite fitting, having El Pibe and 'the Grim Reaper' as partners in midfield.