Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

columbus...

 

Anyone interested in these players returning to the MLS?

For Eddie and Frankie, I would answer with a resounding yes. After all, Frankie is one of the most decorated American internationals we have ever produced. I still remember the day he left the Mutiny, and I was thinking we had lost one of our better players overseas. He would be one of if not the faster players in MLS, his crosses can be deadly, like Eddie's, and overall vigor for the game goes unparalleled.

 

I think it would be awesome to have those 3 come back...Actually made my day reading that, and I had heard about Earnie before...

Where does everyone think they would end up if all 4 came home??

Heres what i think:
Joe-Max Moore - New England
Eddie Lewis - ???
Frankie Hejduk - San Jose
Earnie Stewart - Dallas

Does anyone find it interesting that more and more players want to RETURN to MLS...Gio wants to come back to the MetroStars...

Musa Shannon last season...

 

I have a feeling that MLS would want these guys to replace some current MLS stars going abroad.

And if New England needs to make room for Joe-Max, KC will gladly take Twellman of their hands.

 

Get ready to add some other names to the list. . .

I think Reyna is just about done in EPL. Sunderland is headed down, and I think Claudio wants to get back and be a part of MLS. Don't look for him on any other overseas team. He has had too many injuries.

The big issue is the money. Remember this, MLS lost half as much as the year before. They have some room to maneuver on player salaries.

 

Joe-Max may not be talking about the immediate future here.

If Oklahoma got a team, I'd imagine him a shoe in for allocation down there, and now that things are picking up on possible expansion, he might be interested in opening discussions with the league.

Of course, JMM going back to NE would be awesome I wonder if Colo's doing anything these days?

 

never, wont happen...

sunderland might be heading to relegation, and claudio might be injured but after coming back from the surgery and therapy successfully he will be back in the epl. he has shown to be a very good midfielder at sunderland since his arrival and will find a place with another epl team when he regains his health and fitness if indeed sunderland loses the relegation battle...

 

Stewart to LA. New strips, New digs, New star.

 

Most are over the hill or just not that good, but name recognition would be nice for MLS. Hejduk can still run and is the best of the bunch, but he needs to get back into game shape after not playing for a couple of seasons.

BTW, Eddie Lewis is the most overrated player in the US pool of players.

 

Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

If by deadly you mean crushing one or two fans sitting in the stands behind the goal then by all means his crosses can be deadly.

His play in the past WC notwithstanding, his play in MLS and for Bayer have been less then stellar. If it wasn't for 1 or 2 good runs with no results in France he would still be hacking down people in MLS.

 

Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

I won't argue with the Bayer (actually Bayern) coment, but are you for real with your MLS remark? These aren't bad seasons:

Year Team GP G A P
1996 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS) 9 1 2 4
1997 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS) 23 1 6 8
1998 Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS) 18 3 1 7

 

Weird, I was going to post a thread speculating about this very thing.

I think Joe Max and Frankie have to be the most eligible candidates. JMM doesn't appear to have much hope of ever seeing the field in the Premiere League again, and given his age I can't imagine many teams in D1 taking him on. Frankie is now in what could be considered a third tier league of Europe and I think I read recently that he had been on the bench the last two games.

I still think Eddie Lewis can make an impact for Preston, but if he wants to return that's fine.

I imagine the only reason these guys might choose to remain overseas is if the easy money keeps coming in. Outside of that I think they could make solid contributions over here, as well as add some solid experience for the younger set.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

5 goals in 3 years isn't a fvcking great year either. And Bayer own the team. I know what they are called.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

Bayern is a totally different team, in Munich.

Leverkusen is in fact owned by the German Bayer company, the ones who invented aspirin. The US Bayer company was confiscated from them during WW II.

They are also know as perhaps the most famous company to have lost their trademark on their brand name "Aspirin" because it became used generically, a major reason companies like Coca Cola go to court to minimize any 'generic' usage of their brand name.

Note the team logo at their site
http://www.bayer04.de/

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

Hejduk played as a rightback in MLS. Steve Ralston was the wide right midfielder. Tampa Bay played 4-4-2 (mostly) at the time.

I'd be happy to see JMM, Lewis, Hejduk, and Stewart in MLS.

JMM could come play in Los Angeles, which is where he played high school, club and college soccer. He will not be too old to play in MLS next year. He will be 32.

I heard Stewart wanted to play in California, not necessarily in Dallas (where his father is from). Another one that has another two or three years left in him. In a few publications, he was a Best XI last season in the Netherlands. If Valderrama can play in MLS at 40, Stewart can play at 34.

Hejduk is not a bad player either. He should still play in defense for most - if not all - MLS sides. Hopefully nobody moves him into midfield in 4-4-2. He just doesn't have the ability to be a decent player in attack. Playing as a wingback in 3-5-2 (like Hendrickson in LA) would be a good move, however.

Of course Lewis is from the LA area as well. He is not overrated. How can people say this? He played well at the Gold Cup and the World Cup. He is a good solid player.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

He also has the ability to do what few American players are capable of: consistently put in quality crosses. That alone would make him a welcome addition to many clubs.

 

There's also the mentoring thing.

I think all of these guys would probably prove fairly useful on the field for any number of MLS teams, but an additional advantage to bringing them back into MLS (or into the league for the first time, as the case may be) relates to their leadership and educational value for young players. Guys who have made a living in Europe for a few years will probably bring a sense of professionalism and knowledge that would benefit the young Americans in the league. Of course, foreigners can also often provide an expample of professionalism and teach young players what it takes to succeed at a higher level, but sharing that knowledge from the perspective of an American who's gone to Europe and figured these things out may be even more helpful for young American players.

 

Hejduk would be a natural fit for a Metro team dying for speed along the backline.

 

Realistically, Stewart and Joe-Max Moore are the only ones likely to come to MLS any time soon. The last I heard, both Hejduk and Lewis were getting regular first-team play with their sides. Stewart is getting on the older side, and his coach has been subbing him out at the 60-75 minute mark. Joe-Max Moore seldom sees the players bench, much less the first team.

And considering how few goals DC United scored this year, and how low they were in the standings, I'm surprised no one has mentioned them....

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

I'm really getting sick of people listing games when we have the actual minute figures.

 

Joe Max Moore is done! Give me a break. Stop talking about this guy. We now have very good 20 year olds that are more exciting to watch than this guy ever was. Joe Max had his day, but we are now a nation that produces some good soccer players. Let the youth get their experience. I for one have no desire to see JMM play in MLS. Eddie and Frankie......maybe.

 

Would love to have all those guys in the MLS, if for no other reason than their name recognition in the US and abroad. Players who contributed to the US being one of the top 10 in the world, playing the MLS. It should help us with attendance, if nothing else.

I love JMM and would love to see him back in NE, BUT we have a bigger need for speed at a wingback and IMHO would be a much better fit for Frankie. I would rather see him at left back than right. I know he typically has been a right back, but with hopes of USMNT and Sanneh entrenched at right, perhaps Frankie wouldn't mind playing left back?

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Return to the MLS - Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Joe-Max Moore?

No shite. That criteria was posted by someone else if you noticed. Eitehr way its still bunk.