Gerrard eyes Liverpool coaching role, says should have got badges rather than watch The Sopranos and The Office firstpost SA Positional Rankings: Francis is elite of MLS left backs Soccer America Steven Gerrard hints at coaching role at Liverpool after retirement The Guardian
Probably forgetting someone, but has an MLS team ever made a successful signing, from a European league, of a star player over 33? The only one I can think of is di Vaio, and he was never really a star. Everybody else has either flopped completely or fled the country by daybreak.
Gerard was a horrible idea from the start. He seemed to have no interest in playing. Up next, Ashley Cole.
What's worse is that they bring in old guys at positions where they have to RUN a lot. Idiocy. Di Vaio was literally the purest finisher the league has ever seen, and he succeeded because that's all he was expected to do--slot the ball into the corner. He singlehandedly won Montreal games and points they had no business winning by doing one thing. Gerrard can't do the running anymore, and Cole at left back at 35 is going to be out of gas or injured. Though I hate this aging Euro trend, I could see finishers, CBs and GKs coming over at that age and having some success. But wide players? CMids? No way.
Marco Di Vaio went from scoring 20 goals and an almost MVP season to scoring 9 and retirement the very next year. Gerrard seems to me to be talking about everything except being with the Galaxy and I don't think either has the mindset in the game at this point. Same with Drogba who first stated MLS has a long way to go then retracted and said it was a good league. By what it looks to me is they are not really wanting to remain for the long haul and either way at 35 & 37 respectively, they won't be here much longer. I also wish MLS teams would just forget about these 6 month one hit wonders because they really aren't doing their clubs or the fans much justice.
He might not fit the constraints your looking for because he did not last long but when he was here, it was hard to argue Drogba was anything but successful both on and off the field. Going back a ways, Stoichkov might fit your constraints
I agree somewhat. Looking back since the leagues inception in 1996, very few European offensive over 33 year old midfielders and forwards have been successful for a long period.
Gerrard appears pre-occupied with everything but his Galaxy responsibilities... thats fine.. Galaxy bringing in Ashley Cole is fine too.... If the Galaxy (and MLS) have to waste 2 seasons and endure the backlash from pissed off fans over failed over the hill big name players..then so be it...as long as the lesson finally sinks in, even if that does mean we miss out on guys like David Villa who still takes their responsibilities seriously.
This is a bad time to for LA to lose their way, specifically from a business aspect. LAFC will soon be providing direct competition for the sports money (which we all know is far from unlimited) and LA does not want to start a slow tail spin at the same time that LAFC will be starting up with likely lots of fan fare.
It seems to me they felt the same way when the Chivas came up. As a matter of fact, I recall LA was so scared of what Chivas might take away form them , they fired Sigi Schmid while he was in first division for Spanish speaking Steve Sampson. That move didn't make any sense the or now.
Someone above mentioned older European players coming over here and not being successful. He mentioned age 33 and over. While he didn't come at 33, Darren Huckerby had a good run in San Jose in 2008 and 2009 at 32 and 33. He is still well remembered in San Jose.
Too bad I never got to see him live. ...I mean other than on TV.... Come to think of it, I don't think I ever saw DiVaio or Henry live either.......
can we lower the criteria to 32? because I can think of a couple of 32 year old geezers who made a difference c'mon. 33 or 32. what's a year's difference?
At least a 32 year old could play another 3-4 years.....it would be a better age than signing a 35 (Gerrard) , 36 (Pirlo) or a 37 (Lampard) year old offensive player....
For the long term health of the league, I kinda hope that Galaxy stink for a while. LAFC can use the boost in popularity to get their hold in the LA market. Shouldn't need help, since LA is big enough to support 2 teams. But LA is a fickle market.