Who's the Boss? Gale Agbossoumonde at Djurgården

Especially when you are struggling on the field. A number of posters have talked about how getting up late is just a typical teenager issue, and it is but...Gale does not have typical teenager goals. He is trying to be an elite prospect in a highly competitive field, competing against adults who make their living doing this. Typical teenager problems don't cut at this level. You don't find "typical teenagers" making it as elite professionals. Gale was not able to differentiate himself in this regard.

I have said it before, there is nothing "wrong" with Gale as a person. People are trying to portray him as some kind of head case. He isn't. Quite honestly, he seems like a nice kid to me. He just isn't an elite prospect at this point in time. He has some wonderful technical and physical qualities, but he has some other qualities that are not nearly as far along, and those are going to hold him back. I still think that he will learn to thrive at a decent level of the game, but he is not the blockbuster talent that some thought when they first heard of him or saw him play. I wish him luck and I know that he will land on his feet eventually, but when you build a kid up to be the next big thing, they usually end up getting torn apart when people find out that they aren't what they thought they were.

Gale is getting some of that now.

 

I don't see how that is excluded from what I posted.

 

What exactly is traffic again? I'd like some backround on it, is it like an agency? Would love some help on them lol

 

It's a Brazilian company set up to acquire players and then sell them on for profit. It's not really an agency and it certainly isn't a club.

 

This is how I understand it:

Traffic is a "player management company." You sign with them (you being a young America, Brazilian, or other South American player) and get a (pretty high) salary. In exchange they own your "rights" as a player. They will then try to get you some trials or loans to increase your visibility (and value) and hope to sell you for a big fee, or a big sell-on clause, to recoup the salary they paid you and make a profit.

Basically their goal is similar to the Tevez situation, get a player on loan with a lower-profile team, increase their value, and then sell to a bigger team, or sell to the loaning team with a sell-on clause to make back their money later.

In addition, they own several teams, where they stick their players to train if they can't find any takers for them. They own a team in Brazil, I think, whatever Miami FC is called now, and Estoril-Praia in the Portuguese 2nd division.

 

Here is their website which details the various businesses

 

A new interview with Clavijo about Traffic. The last section deals with Agbossoumonde.

 

Probably a few hundred grand at best.

They were hoping for a lot more.

I reckon the same he has been making over the last 2 1/2 years.

 

Agbossoumonde might be staying in Sweden after all. UNT newspaper write that they have received information that Gale is being chased by Superettan (second tier) club Assyriska. Doesn't say anything about whether or not this would be a permanent signing or a loan.

 

Traffic is basically a pinhooker for human beings.

 

We can showcase the player, when he fits we move him. We know we are a developmental league, the MLS is not and they don’t want to be.”

Can't say that I agree with this or his comments about PT for players in MLS. maybe a few years ago but the tide is turning ion this type of rheteric. I do like his view on developing players in south america, but I don't recall Gale spending time down there learning how to play??

 

What are the positives to Traffic?

 

I guess for a player you get paid bi-weekly no matter what whether you are signed to a club or going on a bunch of trials. Any other player would only be getting paid if they had signed a pro contract. I'm pretty sure Traffic pays for everything during the trial as well. Some clubs will pay for accommodation but not always so I'm sure that helps the player from a financial stand point. I'm sure money talks for the teenagers.

 

Traffic is not devoid of connections. I'm not sure an 18 year-old central defender gets a shot at six months with Braga on his own.

 

Aftonbladet just wrote that Gale is heading to FC Köln. They report that it's a six month contract but I'm assuming it's a loan similar to the one he had at Djurgården?

 

Just like every other Gale move I wouldn't mind him sticking

 

I'll say.

 

That'll work...................

 

I'm guessing he'll play with the U23's but who knows. At least Traffic or Traffic USA are branching out of South America.

 

From struggling at the bottom of the Swedish Allsvenskan, to a contract with Koln and possibly playing alongside Podolski..wow.

As Arsenal08 said, likely with the U-23s, but either way, its a very good environment for him to be in. I like the move.

 

Here is a report confirming the move

In this article Gale says there is no trial, he will sign straight away, and he will join the team on Monday

 

Unbelievable, he makes it sound like they want him for the first team. Would be a major step up and one that is pretty unwarranted based on recent performances.

 

Really? His physical gifts and "potential" must be better than I thought. From what I read, he was poor in Sweden.