Soccerway.com has an article on their site that Cocu is being pressured by Sydney to make a decision about his future. It goes on to say that he is considering offers from the US, Qatar, and Australia. He is 36, but brings another name to soccer. Apparently he is being offered $830,000 for a one year deal to play with Sydney... Would he be worth $830,000 for an MLS team? If so, wouldn't it seem likely that if an MLS team wanted him bad enough they could offer him a two year deal or a one year deal with an option year and probably lock him up?
isn't this the same guy who said it would be a sin if he were to play in MLS if he felt he was still capable of competing in Europe?
lol Phillip Cocu from PSV Eindhoven I believe they are talking about. I think Sydney offered him $1,000,000aus 1 year contract. Well worth it IMO, he may be pretty old but he was still the best player for PSV this season and just come off winning a championship and playing in a Champions League quarter final. I doubt they would get him though.
everything. note, i can't read. although, i stand by my general statement that all mid-30 or older non-MLS players that have had successful careers in Europe and have a 2-syllable, 4-letter name that starts with a "C" likely won't come to MLS as their worth/value does not fit the current DP structure/needs of the league/teams here.
You telling me Cocu isn't DP material?? The guy is a living legend just like Paginitzu said, he's 36 and still dominating in the Eredivisie. That's class. And more importantly, he will put buts on seats.
oh, i think he's DP material (and certainly was 2-3 years ago had the DP rule been around), but I think he's too old for any MLS I/O to give him a contract as a DP now. there are other (younger/more-marketable) guys out there that i'm thinking I/Os should be and are chasing, if they are looking to fill their DP roster slot. i really don't know how many paying fans Cocu would draw to MLS stadiums, but I do agree that he'd help the league here on the field, in the short term. but i think most MLS I/O's are hoping to get 2-3 (or more years out of their DP-signings {except maybe for Reyna, but that is a special US-case}), and I don't think it's likely that Cocu would sign with MLS.
You shouldnt look at all the big name signings as a way to only market the league. You should also look at the effect it can have on the other players on the team. I'm fairly sure RBNY reserves and bench players are learning a lot from Reyna and Angel in training and games. Cocu is very experienced, he has a lot to offer to the young american players. RSL needs a central midfielder who can control the field and make plays, maybe he will be a good fit there...
hey, I just think it's amusing that Cocu said that it would be a sin to play in a lesser league (I think he mentioned some other leagues other than MLS), and now that he finds he's getting no sniffs he's suddenly considering offers, from said lesser leagues. As for his worth, I think he'll be fine as MLS is played at a somewhat slower pace than in Holland (At least from what I remember since FSC decided to show nothing both EPL and boring Serie A matches), so his somewhat aged legs shouldn't have that much of a negative impact.
I'd love it if he came, but I don't think he'd be a draw on name alone. He certainly would make whatever team he was on a whole lot better.
for every old-Preki as an MLS player, there's an old-Lothar. i'm not sure where old-Cocu would fit in that scale in MLS, but I don't think any owner would be willing to take the risk (DP slot and money) to find out. Blanco was/is a similar risk as a player, but at least he's fairly certain to significantly help the Fire's attendance. don't think Cocu is at that marketability level to the US or any local MLS market. Cocu can and likely will end up making more in Qatar or somewhere else not MLS. of course, it would be great (although unlikely imo) if some MLS team could structure a non-DP deal for Cocu, similar to what brought Schelotto to the Crew.
maybe in New England? I know when Holland played there, they got a great turn out from the local Dutch population.
I asked the question but not many have answered it...is this good for the MLS? He is 36, but like someone said, he is coming off a great season for PSV and seems like he could play a couple more seasons...imagine this scenario: Beckham for 4 years Zidane for 1 or 2 years Cocu for 1 or 2 years Hold onto Donovan Reyna for 2 or 3 years I don't know what would be better for the MLS and the younger players in the league. I also think that one of the things holding Cocu back from signing the deal in Australia is that they are only offering a one year deal. If the MLS could throw a two year deal out they could probably land him.
Hmmm, I guess.. Though he probably wants the one year deal? Especially since he was going to retire this season. Sydney are also trying to sign Jay-Jay Okocha (sp?). He's not as good as Cocu, but there is no doubt that he is more popular especially since he was in EPL and that's the most popular overseas league here (and I guess it would be the same in the US?).