Player
Rumors have been flying about the future of the US international and Chivas USA striker Juan Agudelo ever since he trained at Celtic in November. Now, it seems the 20-year-old's future could be close to decided.
Although vague and unsourced, Sky Sports reported Friday that Celtic are close to signing one of MLS' most-promising forward prospects. While nothing has been confirmed by Agudelo or Celtic, Agudelo's retweet of the Sky Sports article seems to add some veritas to the rumor.
Chivas USA, meanwhile, told Big Apple Soccer back in November that they weren't interested in transferring the young talent. Agudelo, who is currently training with West Ham before arriving in US camp, would likely welcome the move, if his comments while with the Glasgow club are any indication.
Agudelo told STV at that time that he would love to play for Celtic: "This kind of move has been on my mind for as long as I can remember playing soccer. Going and playing in Europe is what I would like to do. This is, right now, where the best football is being played. I would love to play here."
What do you think? Is it just a matter of time before Agudelo makes the move? Is it the right move for the young striker?
Thierry Henry simply can't be stopped.
Even though the quality isn’t great, this video of Henry in Brazil shows why he is truly one of the best in Major League Soccer.
We're sure Red Bull fans hope Henry brings some of those quick tricks back to New York for the 2013 season.
Stuart Holden is back on the field for Bolton, even if he still waiting to step onto the pitch with the first team.
Holden played 65 minutes for Bolton's reserves against Oldham Athletic on Tuesday, a huge step in his quest to return from a knee injury that's kept him out for more than a year. Check out the footage above and comments from Holden after the match below. Needless to say, he's itching to get back but also understands it's still too early to know exactly what the future will hold.
The New Year may bring another much-needed move for Maurice Edu, the former Toronto FC No. 1 pick and 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year .
In August, Edu jumped from Rangers to Stoke City in hopes of gaining valuable Premier League experience. Unfortunately, he’s only seen 10 minutes of playing time with the club.
With World Cup qualifiers inching closer and closer, Edu simply can’t afford to be sitting on the bench. But sources are reporting that Edu may be in luck – Stoke City are open to loaning him out by the end of January, so the versatile defensive midfielder doesn’t jeopardize a spot on Jurgen Klinsmann's World Cup qualifying roster.
Where exactly Edu would end up is still up in the air, but there has been chatter suggesting he could join up with EPL sides poised to lose players to the African Cup of Nations as well as several Ligue 1 clubs.
If you were Edu, where would you want to end up on loan?
As we slowly build up to Major League Soccer's 18th season – a scary thought, especially since MLS Cup still feels like such a recent event, for me at least – it's worth taking a look back at how it all started. Rest assured, the goings-on weren't always quite so polished.
Take, for example, the first signing in league history. US Soccer is counting down its top 100 moments as part of the federation's centennial celebration and included an interesting anecdote from president Sunil Gulati about what it took to bring national team star Tab Ramos to MLS. The league and US Soccer wanted Ramos – an national team player with Hispanic heritage and attacking flare – to help give the league an initial foothold with fans as well as other Americans playing abroad.
He certainly helped with both those aims, but when he committed his future to MLS, there wasn't even contract to put pen to paper on. I'll let Gulati explain.
“He was going to sign with Tigres, and what we decided at the very last moment was why not have a handshake to sign with MLS, and we would loan him to Tigres,” Gulati told USsoccer.com. “The league wasn't far enough along to have a contract or a standard player agreement or any of that, so it was just a handshake.”
Just a handshake. Imagine suggesting that to the current crop of agents stocking teams these days. You'd get laughed out of the room.
But after a year-and-a-half with Tigres UANL, Ramos kept his end of the bargain, ending up with his hometown MetroStars for the next seven seasons. It wasn't always smooth sailing – cue Red Bulls fans simultaneously nodding their heads and silently weeping – but Ramos became a pioneer in a league that he helped put on the map.
To think, all it took was a handshake and the belief that professional soccer in the US was worth the commitment.
“I was excited to come home and start a new experience,” Ramos said. “It was coming home and there was the draw of playing at Giants Stadium, where I had watched the Cosmos play and where I practiced with the Cosmos 10 years before. All those things were really important to me. Obviously, having my family here as well.
“And it was fun. It was fun drawing the big crowds the first couple of years. It was fun driving to the stadium, just to be part of the whole thing. It really truly felt like we had a professional league at home and it was going to stick.”
With rumors flying about the possibility of Chelsea FC star Frank Lampard joining the LA Galaxy – when aren’t rumors flying around the Galaxy? – it’s no surprise that fans worldwide are anxiously waiting to see where one of the past decade’s top goal-scoring midfielders will end up.
On Thursday afternoon, it seemed like a done deal that Lamps was on his way out, according to a report on the Italian website Cittaceleste.it that quoted his agent, Steve Kutner, as saying: “As for the future, the only certainty is that he will change teams at the end of the season. Frank wants to play for a great side, capable of challenging for important targets and where he could win more trophies.”
But hold the horses. Kutner later went on BBC 5Live radio and denied he had done any interviews with the website. He said he hasn't "spoken to anybody about Lampard's future and hasn't given any interview about it," according to ESPN.com.
Still, the fact remains: It is common knowledge that Lampard is moving on at the end of the season. There are plenty of rumblings about offers from Lazio, Inter Milan and, of course, LA, with a reported $6.5 million-per-year contract from the MLS club.
That's all about his future. But there was also a brilliant rumbling on the internet on Thursday about his past.
Here’s a great video that recently surfaced from Lampard’s early days, showing then-West Ham manager Harry Redknapp adamantly defending his decision to offer Lampard a spot on the team. Of course, Hammers supporters still aren’t the English international’s biggest fans, but Redknapp turned out to be 100 percent correct about his young prodigy and nephew.
Les nouvelles de ces derniers jours, souvent liées aux transferts, peuvent, comme les épisodes de la série Friends, avoir un titre qui commence par « Celui qui… » Tour d’horizon.
Celui qui a déjà signé : Carlo Cudicini au LA Galaxy et José Goncalves à New England, les deux nouveaux venus les plus récents, titulaires plus que potentiels.
Celui qui se tâte : Il y a toujours ces joueurs importants pour l’équipe qui ne savent pas trop s’ils vont tenter une nouvelle aventure. Le champion de la catégorie cet hiver s’appelle Landon Donvan, sur qui le LA Galaxy compte cependant déjà pour 2013.
Celui qui se fait attendre : À un peu plus de deux semaines de la reprise, deux équipes n’ont toujours pas d’entraîneur, Montréal et New York. Gary McAllister, souvent cité autour de la Red Bull Arena, n’aurait cependant pas reçu d’offre du club au taureau ailé.
Celui qui envisage l’aller-retour : L’hiver en MLS, c’est aussi l’occasion pour certains joueurs de décrocher un contrat de quelques mois en Europe. Ce ne sera pas le cas de Thierry Henry à Arsenal. « Il n’est pas prêt », estime Arsène Wenger. Tim Cahill, en revanche, pourrait être prêté à Sunderland.
Celui qui viendra peut-être, mais peut-être pas tout de suite : « J’aimerais, un jour, jouer en MLS ». Le refrain est connu, qu’il soit chanté par Kaka ou Olivier Occean. Dernier interprète en date : l’international polonais Ludovic Obraniak.
Celui qui est bien où il est : Pas question de traverser l’Atlantique pour les Canadiens et Américains dont la carrière tourne à plein régime en Europe. Parmi eux, Sacha Kljestan, qui préfère même Anderlecht à l’Espagne ou à la France.
Celui qui ne prend pas encore sa retraite : Il y a de ces joueurs éternels qui déjouent chaque année les pronostics prévoyant la fin de leur carrière. Montréal a eu Eduardo Sebrango, Houston a Brian Ching.
Celui qui est attendu de pied ferme : Cette entrevue de Sepp Blatter, président de la Fifa, date bien d’il y a quelques jours et non d’il y a plus de 6 ans. Le commissaire Don Garber l’a donc invité au Coup d’envoi de la saison pour qu’il constate les progrès de la MLS de ses propres yeux.
Rest assured, the flood of Honduran players to Major League Soccer hasn't reached the high-water mark just yet.
According to comments from the player himself, the Seattle Sounders are closing in on the signing of CD Victoria defender Wilmer Crisanto, who they've been pursuing for some time if the reports are to be believed.
Here's what the right back (above) had to say to Cronometro: "It is a matter of my salary, they already told me what I was going to earn in Seattle. I asked my agent to try to get a little more but if he's not able to, I'll have to settle for what they offered me, I'm not asking for much."
Of course, nothing is official until the final shoe drops, but the 23-year-old sounds pretty confident that he'll be the latest Catracho to land in MLS.
The other tidbit to come out of the article concerns Crisanto's teammate at Victoria and with the Honduran Olympic team, José Velásquez Colón. According to the story, the center back is preparing to embark on a trial with the Sounders after a successful year for both club and country.
What do you think? Have Hondurans taken over from Colombians as MLS' biggest import?
Si en años recientes, la MLS ha sido uno de los destinos preferidos de los futbolistas colombianos, hoy podemos hablar acerca de una “operación retorno” de muchos cafeteros hacia su país.
El primero en partir oficialmente fue Hernán Pertuz. El barranquillero fue presentado hace dos semanas por el Deportivo Independiente Medellín, tras dejar las filas del FC Dallas; equipo en el que estuvo el año pasado junto a David Ferreira, Jair Benítez y Fabián Castillo.
Otro que ya dejó la MLS definitivamente para la próxima temporada es Miguel Montaño. El delantero de 21 años de edad fue puesto en libertad por el Montreal Impact y ahora engrosará el ataque del Cúcuta Deportivo. Montaño llegó a la MLS en 2010 a Seattle Sounders, y estuvo a préstamo el año pasado con el Deportivo Cali.
En el campo de los rumores, varios nombres de primer nivel encabezan la lista de jugadores que podrían volver al fútbol colombiano.
A continuación analizo los puntos a favor y en contra de cada una de las siguientes situaciones; asimismo, presento en mi opinión la viabilidad de las transacciones en una escala de 1 a 5, siendo 5 la posibilidad más alta para un posible traspaso.
Juan Pablo Ángel
El exdelantero de los New York Red Bulls, y más recientemente Chivas USA, que lo dejó en libertad en noviembre pasado, podría llegar al club de sus amores, Atlético Nacional.
A favor: Se encuentra sin contrato actualmente. Nacional es el club donde nació futbolísticamente, y en más de una ocasión ha declarado su deseo de volver. Un inminente retiro en los verdes garantizaría un cierre de ensueño para la carrera de JPA.
En contra: Ha pensado en retirarse del fútbol luego de la campaña 2012. Igualmente, ha dicho que su familia está muy tranquila viviendo en Los Ángeles, razón por la cual aceptó en agosto de 2011 jugar para Chivas USA cuando Robbie Keane llegó al LA Galaxy. En ese momento el cupo de jugador franquicia de Ángel en el cuadro galáctico era necesario para la contratación del irlandés.
Viabilidad de traspaso: 4
David Ferreira
El volante creativo del FC Dallas, quien se dio a conocer internacionalmente en el América de Cali, ha sido vinculado con el Junior de Barranquilla. El MVP de la temporada 2010 de la MLS, estuvo más de un año sin actividad, luego de una lesión al comienzo de la temporada 2011, en abril.
A favor: En el Junior están buscando un “10” tras la salida de Giovanni Hernández al Medellín. La firma que representa a Ferreira cuenta en su cartera con varios futbolistas que juegan en Colombia, y tiene vínculos estrechos en el país.
En contra: FC Dallas apoyó ciegamente a Ferreira durante su lesión hasta su regreso en julio de 2012, donde no dudó en devolverle a la alineación titular. Es un líder indiscutido en el equipo texano, y es uno de los baluartes del medio campo en la MLS.
Viabilidad del traspaso: 1
Fredy Montero
Uno de los nombres que más ha sonado es el del delantero del Seattle Sounders, Fredy Montero. El exjugador del Atlético Huila y Deportivo Cali, podría llegar al actual campeón de la Liga Postobón, Millonarios, en préstamo por seis meses.
A favor: Posibilidad de jugar Copa Libertadores con el club de Bogotá, y buscar acercamientos para volver a la selección Colombia, de la cual no hace parte desde 2009. Además, las fuertes críticas a las que ha sido expuesto en Seattle, donde no superó las altas exigencias que el equipo depositó en Montero el año pasado, podrían impulsar el préstamo.
En contra: A pesar de las críticas, Montero es un ídolo en Seattle. Como todo un Rock Star es recibido en cada partido por los fanáticos de los Sounders, y su salida podría significar un golpe fuerte al club. De la misma manera, Montero, está muy cómodo en los Estados Unidos con toda su familia, y acaba de contraer matrimonio en diciembre con su novia estadounidense.
Viabilidad del traspaso: 3
Carlos Valdés
En un principio se habló de la vuelta de Carlos Valdés, capitán del Philadelphia Union, a Independiente Santa Fe, en calidad de préstamo. El club de la capital colombiana quiere a Valdés durante el primer semestre del año, periodo en el cual se medirán en la Copa Libertadores, pero el Union no está convencido con el tiempo que piden en Bogotá.
A favor: Valdés buscaría mantenerse en forma durante el receso invernal de la MLS, para ser de nuevo convocado a la selección Colombia que reanudará las eliminatorias suramericanas el 22 de marzo ante Bolivia.
En contra: Philadelphia Union lo cedería solamente hasta el inicio de la temporada regular de la MLS, que arranca el 2 de marzo.
Viabilidad del traspaso: 2
Ustedes mismos saquen sus conclusiones, y aunque no veo fácil ninguno de los traspasos, tampoco se me hacen imposibles. Sin embargo, a mi modo de ver, el que tiene más posibilidades de ser repatriado a Colombia, es Ángel, a no ser que anuncie su retiro del fútbol profesional.
Eddie Johnson lives according his own schedule, at least when it comes to announcing US national team call-ups.
After publicly confirming an October call-up for World Cup qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala a bit early, it appears Johnson let the cat out of the bag early once again on Thursday, tweeting that he'd be one of the players Jurgen Klinsmann will run the rule over during January.
While others apparently keep the good news to themselves, Johnson just can't seem to keep his excitement contained to family and friends. Clearly, those 13,852 Twitter followers need to know that their boy is headed back to the big time. And I say good for him. The guy saw some dark days and seems to be rebuilding step by step what was one of the most promising careers to originate in MLS or the US in general. He was a terror for MLS defenses this season, and a bright spot for Klinsmann in the two wins that sealed the US' Hexagonal spot, linking up with long-time friend Clint Dempsey to great effect.
Can he continue that kind of form for the USMNT? That remains to be seen, but I've got no problem with a player having a problem keeping this sort of thing to himself. Excitement is contagious, after all.
What do you think? Did Johnson make a mistake by announcing his call-up early?