Long time lurker; first time poster. My compliments to all the regular posters to the board. I've been enjoying your wit and wisdom for a long time now. The website soccer365 is reporting that Portugese giant Benfica snuck under the transfer wire and snapped up Zach Thornton. I didn't see that one coming. Matt Pickens (recent draftee and I think the only GK now on the Fire's roster) must be excited (or nervous).
Interjecting some Revolution content: anybody think Matt Reis might take a look at this opening? The Magpie
That was my first thought too. Chicago fans seem to be interested in either Doug Warren or D.J. Countess, or maybe just going with Henry Ring.
Scott Vallow would be another possibility, but under the circumstances, Reis looks like a pretty good option Warren and Countess are still pretty raw.
released, but its great to know the worse keeper ever in MLS (12.00 GAA) was a Fire player. Its intresting, Chicago is faced with a difficult situation. Go with Ring? Sign a A-League keeper? Trade a so-so player for a so-so keeper? Trade a top player for a top keeper? The last option I don't see happening. I don't know what Chicago's plans are for this season. They lost their best defender, they lost their goalkeeper (that made their defense look better then it actually was, the defense you saw with Curtis in net is more accurate). I think they'll be a contender, but not for the Conference title. If they think they will be, then they'll need to get a top keeper, meaning they are going to have to trade a top player like Marsch, Razov, Beasley, Armas, or even Curtin (although I think you'll need more) to get a top keeper like Rimando or Countess. I think they'll go with Ring and struggle to stay in the hunt. As for an outside signing, you wont see it happened because the Transfer Window closed last night, and Thornton just squeezed through.
Re: Re: Thornton to Benfica Benfica's keeper coach is Dan Gaspar, former head coach of the CT Wolves. He coached Thornton on the Olympic team(Gaspar was the keeper coach), maybe at other times too. He's very familiar with the keeper situation over here, and knows exactly what he's getting. The fact that Zach was available on a free was a very important part of the signing, I'm sure. There are better keepers/prospects in MLS, but they would have cost $$. Also, remember that just a short time ago Thornton was the #3/4 keeper in the national team pool. He had a tough year last year(by his standards), but maybe Gaspar thinks he can round him back into form. Or maybe he just thinks he's cheap cover for an injury. We'll see how Zach does, I guess. Lee
Who's Next? What is the prospect of a run on US keepers at the end of the European season? If Thornton has a decent second half on top of Tim's first season, our keepers may be worth transfer dollars. Our man Adin has to be high on the prospect list. While he's not going to be eligible for the EPL, is there a prospect that the Bundesliga would salivate for such a quick, big keeper? Maybe we should be hanging on to Reis pretty tight. David
I'm hoping that Thornton does great stuff for Benfica and maybe that can help break down some of the disdain the local Portuguese community seems to have for MLS.
Riding the pine, for now Benfica's goalkeeper is Moreira. Maybe the best or 2nd best Portuguese keeper. He is the GK of the U-21. Zach was hired till the end of the season because the backup, Bossio, has been injured although he still dresses up as a sub. Zach's chance would be in a lesser team for the next year or if Benfica is offered Mega$ for Moreira. Actually, Mega€.