Another silly season of transfer disinformation has started
by Steve Davis on Dec 27, 2010 4:07 PM EST
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Would you like to play for a Major League Soccer team?
Step One: Hire an agent.
Step Two: Along with Andy Agent, find a pliable member of the media. Inform this ninny that you “are in talks” with MLS sides.
That’s it!
Will it get you on an MLS team? Of course not. Let’s face it, you couldn’t kick a ball into the ocean from the beach. You’ll never play for an MLS side.
But that shouldn’t stop you from making a fuss about it. It shouldn’t stop you from trying nor from getting yourself some pub about the efforts. It's like taking out an ad for yourself, but then not having to pay for it. Free press!
Yes, it’s about to be the silly season. Again. The transfer window is about to open, so every arm of player representation is opening the agent playbook and running the base play.
So once again we are reminded there is no shortage of cunning reps nor of lazy journalists who would abet them, happily spreading the bogus word even if they know the real deal.
Here is a partial list of players are “linked with” MLS sides or “in talks with” them or perhaps just “interested in playing in America:” (click on for the list ... )
AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovi, Mexican forward Guillermo Franco, Irish international Robbie Keane, Sporting Cristal midfielder Anderson Cueto, Romanian international Adrian Mutu and Australian international Harry Kewell. Ronaldinho remains a factor, I suppose, until he sings on the dotted line for Brazil’s Gremio. In his case, I think there really were substantive talks with the Galaxy, at least.
I’m sure there are other names floating around out there. But I get tired head from seeing the reports and may have just steered right past it without even making a mental note.
Might a couple of these guys actually land in MLS? Sure. But I’d say that four of five you read about or hear about will never see the inside of an MLS ground – unless it’s in August as one of the high-profile summer tours that we all get hot and bothered about.
Heck, I’d say that half the guys you read about “considering” a move stateside couldn’t point to most MLS cities on a map.
By the way, it’s only December 27. That means we still have a few days before the window even opens. Sigh.
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Do you suppose it's the Texas Ranger syndrome?
Big league pitchers whose contracts are up for negotiation always seem to throw the name of the Texas Rangers out there as a club they would “like to play at”. Usually though, it’s just a ploy to drive up the price for the other interested teams. Most pitchers really want to avoid Texas because of the summer heat and the hitter-friendly ball park.
Perhaps it’s the same with MLS. Maybe players or agents use it as a bargaining tool to make Euro teams pony up the cash. Though why that would be effective, I am not sure. MLS doesn’t have much moola to toss around (relative to Europe anyway).
by DissidentAggressor on Dec 28, 2010 11:15 PM EST reply actions
All about perception
Some people still believe that MLS is paying Beckham $250,000,000. It’s really around $25-30mill over 5 years (the rest was potential endorsements). A player that may (rightly) feel that their onfield contributions are greater than Beckham wants that kind of money and uses MLS as a threat to Euro clubs.
The really funny part is that the majority of these players float LA and NY as potential destinations when both are nearly tapped out on the salary cap. I agree with Steve, most of them would have no clue where to find KC, San Jose, Columbus, maybe even Dallas or Houston.
