The Soccer Thread (IV)

I think he's misinterpreting what BB said.
It's the fact that Sochaux didn't clear him to train that led BB not to call him in -- it's not that Sochaux denied him the opportunity to compete. The simple truth is BB and/or his staff weren't willing to wait and gamble on CD's fitness. I'd have gladly traded Rogers for a 2 percent chance at a healthy Charlie, as you all know by know, but the U.S. was not.

 

I agree on Davis v. Rogers... However, the issue seems to be that Sochaux didn't give him medical clearance to join the US.

I think there is some other behind the scenes stuff going on. I bet if Bradley pushed it, Sochaux would have relented. However, I think Bradley decided it would be better to just not pursue it any further and not risk the mental anguish that might come from Davis not making the squad or injuring himself further trying to prove that he's healthy.

 

My guess is that Bradley's reports were that he wasn't ready and wasn't going to be ready. So instead of killing the feel good story by picking him in the 30 and leaving him out of the 23, he is taking the PR hit now. The combination of the French club not clearing him (which would not preclude the selection) and the comments by Davies are helping make this a non-issue.

 

is funny. So, I'm sharing it here...

 

Calling Pastor and the rest of NY SportsJournalists.com Soccer Nation. Please report to the white courtesy phone...

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/2972447/Henry-ready-for-MLS-move.html

If this is the case, I'd actually brave the insanity of the Sepulveda Pass and the rest of the ulcer-inducing, blood-pressure spike that is driving the 405 and take in the Red Bulls-Galaxy game. Landon, Henry, Juan Pablo Angel and maybe even Becks (if he's back). Has MLS ever had that much star power on one field at one time?

 

With the Euro tanking and with a lot of clubs loaded up on obscene amounts of debt, MLS might be in good position to upgrade its talent pool in the very near future. Stay tuned.

 

We were talking about the players who: 1) would realistically come to MLS at this stage in their careers (no Rooneys or Messis); and 2) would make a huge splash in the NYC/Newark area.

My list was:

1) Ronaldinho (probably two years away)
2) Raul (the Ironbound crowd could go crazy and I think he speaks English)
3) Fat Ronaldo
4) Henry -- until the handball incident, probably the best buzz in the US after Becks; among the best known European players an a goal scorer, which matters to the casual fan.
5) Zidane (too retired)

 

I already have season tickets to their stadium which is walking distance from my front door (I mean that literally as I have never driven there).

The Henry rumors were floating around forever. It started last year. Now it is slowly but surely starting to come to fruition...

However, just as an long time Metros fan... I'll believe it when I see it.

 

As Fox Soccer's Ives Galarcep pointed out last night, The Sun story cannot be correct.

If order to sign a pre-contract agreement with another club, you must be less than six months way from your current contract expiring. Henry still has a year left on his deal with Barca.

That's not to say he won't be joining the Red Bulls, but that's not the way it's going to happen.

 

Still waiting for the Metrostars to sign George Weah.

 

Weah actually lived in NY when he played in England. He took the Concord back and forth. Talk about a freakin commute.

 

Learned this nugget from the Boston page of www.gousabid.com site.

First time I've ever seen the words Foxboro and hospitable ever used in the same sentence.