Robert Pires to Philadelphia ... that doing anything for ya?
by Steve Davis on Apr 22, 2010 12:50 PM EDT
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Another aging Euro is being taken off the grocery store shelf, having his price reduced and added to the MLS cart.
We hear today that former Arsenal man Robert Pires is likely bound for
Personally, I wince at the prospect.
Taken individually, these aren't crippling moves for MLS, although they could foul the locker room air. Young, enterprising up-and-comers who share small apartments because they make $40,000 a year won't particularly enjoy seeing older guys with pricey loafers and pretty hair earning $140,000 a goal.
Can a 37-year-old Pires, who was marginally successful in a limited role at Villareal this year, contribute a little to a young team? Possibly – so long as no one expects him to be any sort of dominant force.
Could Patrick Vieira do a little something to anchor an MLS midfield, if given the proper role and the right kind of support around him? Probably – although he has said flat-out that he’s not thinking about MLS just yet.
Can Thierry Henry come in and slice through MLS defenses like a sharp knife through a piping hot French croissant? Nah. But he’ll score some goals, stir up some buzz and create a smidge of an attendance spike, although not as much as some people might assume.
Individually, I don’t have any trouble with these guys, assuming they are paid commensurate with their declining skills and potential to miss a few matches due to age-related injuries – although I highly doubt that’s the case.
I have the biggest doubt about Pires. Success in MLS, for better or worse, depends on speed and strength. Ask Freddie Ljungberg, who reckoned that he needed to add a few pounds of muscle to cut it this year. I guy like Pires, who prowled the wings and depended largely on speed in his salad days, is going to find tough sledding here. In MLS, it’s generally OK to simply get in the way of a player who tries to run by you. I hate it, but there it is.
I have a little more confidence that a guy like Vieira, a tempo setter and field general who can manage his affairs without being overly reliant on speed, can impact matches and command a locker room. Even then, as I mentioned, his role and expectations must be carefully managed.
In the bigger picture, I just hate more and more of these guys coming over and turning MLS into the last chance saloon. It’s not good for the league’s image, and that matters in the big picture. FYI: on the same story that says Vieira, at 33, isn’t ready to call it a day and move over to MLS includes a summation of how the rest of the world has and will continue to see MLS:
Jens Lehmann and Real Madrid star Raul have also been linked with a lucrative career-ending pay days.
Nice, huh?
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Because he's absolutely insane
I don’t necessarily want him on my team (Union), but his antics would be great entertainment.
by phillyhoosfan on Apr 23, 2010 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
Would it matter?
Long term it would be great if he is willing to spend time helping the younger players, but short term I think LA was a great example of one player can make a difference. Not always the one you want, that locker room became the stuff of legends, or Grant Wahl’s imagination.
I am all in favor of bringing in more talent to the league.
respectfully disagree
I don’t think it will end up being as bad as you say. I can’t be the only guy who enjoys watching aging European stars come here and not succeed. I think it shows the league is higher quality than Europe, heck everyone, thinks. Even though Europe (and most Americans) won’t pay attention to that fact. Still some of the rumored Frenchman coming over have something left in the tank.
Some random thoughts on the rumored guys:
1. Jens Lehmann is totally insane and it would be awesome to watch him completely freak out at Baldemore Toledo and the rest of MLS over the course of a season. Of course there probably is a backup keeper somewhere in MLS right now that is better than him.
2. Pires: This is a win win situation. Either he still has enough in the tank be a good starter in MLS or we can watch Wilman Conde slide tackle him into retirement.
3. Henry: I think he will be a bigger deal than you think. He clearly can still play. Of course he could end up like Ljungberg; complaining about getting fouled. Novak vs Ljungberg has been the most entertaining off field thing to hit MLS In a while so Henry turning into a whiny Euro crybaby could entertain.
4. Vieira: He could be big time in this league for a year or two. Think of this guy in an environment where physical play is allowed. I think he would be a great fit for anyone in the midfield.
5. Raul: Either will flame out or be awesome. Really I don’t care what happens because either way it will be spectacular.
Gotta disagree with you on one point Merwin…. “I think it shows the league is higher quality than Europe” REALLY? As much as I love the MLS, and I love having these names come over, if it shows anything, is that the league is still much lower in talent than Europe. These guys only come here because nobody else wants them for the money they demand. These guys are still decent players, but a mere shadow of what they were in their prime. Even on their decline, they’re still a step above 80% of the players in the MLS. That’s not a knock on the MLS, just a fact. The league is still young and needs to start somewhere. Bringing these guys in is a great move for immediate recognition. It’s a starting point. Hopefully in 4-5 years, we can stop pulling in these “past their prime” guys, and start pulling in some guys who are still in their prime. That will be step 1. Step 2 then is making sure we can keep our young stars here in the MLS.
yo nuno I didn't mean that I said
I think it shows the league is higher quality than Europe, heck everyone, thinks.
Thinks is the key word in that poorly constructed sentence above. I’ll rephrase: It shows that the league is of a higher quality than what is normally thought of it by European players, agents, and teams.
I don’t think MLS is higher quality than Europe. Its a fun league that deserves more props locally but I’m not delusional.
Bad Moves
These guys are old and fading – not the best time to be “adjusting” to the MLS hockey-style play. Steve’s spot-on that any player relying on speed or technical ability to beat players will struggle with MLS officiating. Players that can sit back and spray passes while avoiding physical play may have a chance – Becks, anyone?
Look at Freddie Ljungberg in Seattle…a player I love who came from from a team I love…turning into an injured (ok he’s always been injury-prone), whiny, frustrated player due to the style of play in the MLS. I worry – contrary to Merwin’s point that it will show the world how much better we are – that it will instead show how physical and poorly-officiated it is.
Freddie was crocked
long before he decamped to the US. Check out his stats the two years previous .
As for the rest: only Vierra would still have something worthwhile to offer MLS, in my opinion, outside publicity and reflected glamour.
Should go for young talent..
What would be wrong with going to EPL teams and asking for loan deals for their 18 year olds? Wouldn’t cost much. Most of those players get loaned out to lower division teams anyways. And MLS are just as good, if not better, than most of Europe. That’s right, I said it. Who would you bet on if Real Salt Lake played Bolton Wanderers? Or Atalanta? Or Mallorca? Sure all teams couldn’t beat the big clubs, but the lesser clubs? Of course they could.
Chad the Ref
