MLS General Discussion

I see where DC United signed a Brazilian forward from Olimpia in Honduras named Luciano Emilio. Don't know much about him or whether he'll have an impact but since Carlos Ruiz arrived Central American based players have not had a good track record of success in MLS.

You're right rosarino that Central American based players haven't done so well recently in MLS but Emilio supposedly is a star there so he may be better able to adapt to MLS than others have.

Chivs USA are naming Preki as their new manager today. He'll have some holes to fill as the club have lost Paco Palencia, Juan Pablo Garcia and Johnny Garcia from last season's team.

There is stil a chance Francsico Ramirez, who was one of Ricardo Lavolpe's assistants will be included in the Chivas USA coaching staff but the team opted to go with Preki's knowledge of the US league in naming him as head coach. I think that probably is a wise decision.

Chivas USA also are getting Edwin Borboa, a 22 year old forward who has found it hard to break into Guadalajara's first team due to the presence of national team players Bravo, Bautista and Medina. Borboa shows some promise but then again Chivas also thought Isaac Romo was a promising forward too and we saw what he did with Chivas USA.

Also signed was right back Jorge Barrera, whom Guadalajara had loaned out last season to Queretaro in Mexico.

Borboa is a better player than Romo but their addition to Chivas and the losses of Palencia, JP Garcia and Johnny Garcia means the team has lost some star quality. I would hope Chivas USA can bring in one or two players with more pedigree than Borboa and Barrera.

I read a blurb in the local newspaper that Columbus' goalie Jonny Walker had to retire due to a chronic back problem. Too bad as I enjoyed watching him play and remember his fine play in Chile with Colo Colo and U. Catolica prior to coming to MLS. Respect for a US player who takes the route of playing professionally in South America. Unfortunately injuries limited Walker's playing time once he returned home.

Walker was a real trailblazer and sadly more players have not followed his path of heading to South America to start their careers. I too enjoyed watching him play in goal and will miss him.

There was some talk right after Beckham's signing that Dallas was going to sign Edgar Davids but it looks now like Davids is going to Ajax and join Jaap Stam there in ending their careers. Time for Dallas' Plan B.

While bringing in those stars is great, I wonder if the MLS is ever going to start looking south for new players, and I don't mean Costa Rica. We've seen players like Erpen and Gomez (Only saying DC United players because they've been the most notable and I lived around DC) who came from South America and did well in the USA, and same goes for Donney for example.

DC United have had more success than any other MLS club in recruiting South Americans but they aren't alone in going that route in acquiring players. Colorado, coached by Uruguayan-American Fernando Clavijo, often looks to South America for players too. With the legaue opening up it's checkbooks more this year I'd expect other teams to follow that route as well. Check out the "Beckham arrives" thread for additional discussion of this topic.

Apparently Chivas USA are trying to sign Aaron Galindo, the Mexican centerback who was booted out of the 2005 Confederations Cup because of a positive drug test for a stimulant. His suspension ruled him out of World Cup 2006 but he's back playing now but is out of contract at Hercules in Spain's 2nd Division. Galindo is looking to get his once very promising career back on track and would be a good signing in my opinion.

I have a friend living in LA and he said that Chivas USA are going to do some sort of competition for some 2000 odd kids, and eventually reduce that number and sign some youth players. I must say that's a pretty interesting ploy, but if this is how clubs in the MLS are going to be signing youth players, they're doomed. Not to mention that this same friend told me that there was a fee involved in trying out for the LA Galaxy for example, which I find is ridicuolous.

I think a fee for trying out with the club is in order to get only serious players at the tryout and not some overweight guy from the local park league.

I saw this note,

Dutch Keeper Waterreus Joins Red Bulls

So are the Red Bulls becoming the "Dutch" club of MLS? But I wonder why spend a significant amount of money, I'd assume signing Waterreus wasn't cheap, on a foreign goalkeeper when there are adequate goalies in the US?

For that matter, why spend a large amount on many on buying a dutch goalie rahter than repatriate an american keeper like Keller.

I don't understand signing Waterreus either but Arena obviously feels the quality of goalkeepers available within the league weren't sufficient.

As for Keller, he's said in the past he'd like to end his career in MLS but for now he wants to remain in Europe. He's happy in his rented castle in Germany!

Toronto FC is going to announce the signing of Welsh international Carl Robinson as well as their beer sponsor tomorrow. Robinson is out of favour with Norwich, is 30 and is a midfielder. He primarily plays centrally, but has played all over with Wales and actually played in the back four in a recent FA Cup game. He was good enough to find his way into the starting 11 with Giggs, Savage and Speed a fair bit when Wales was playing quite well in the early 2000s. He has 29 caps.

Seems like Carlsberg is the front runner as our beer.

cheers,
hobbes