The Soccer Thread (Version 8)

[Inky_Wretch]

Gold Cup is finished. MLS just had the All-Star Game. WCQs loom on the horizon. Europe is gearing up.

Oh, and Deuce is reportedly heading to Seattle.

http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1512434/clint-dempsey-join-seattle-sounders-tottenham-sources-say?cc=5901

 

[Webster]

Why would be do this? He goes from forcing a transfer to play European soccer to this?

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

This is ****ed up if true.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Everything is pointing to it being a done deal.

 

[Gehrig]

Maybe it's because he wants to raise his kids in the United States?

Just spit balling here.

 

[TrooperBari]

Everything is pointing to it being a done deal.

Curious. It's certainly a coup for MLS if it happens, but if Klinsmann is consistent I expect him to sit Dempsey down and read him the riot act for moving to what he views as an inferior league at just 30 years old. No doubt one or both of Seattle and Deuce's reps will throw out the line of him wanting to help MLS grow and reach "the next level," whatever that may be. It just seems an odd move after he had at least three or four Premiership clubs trying to sign him last summer.

 

[spikechiquet]

Shocked, to say the least. Huge get for that neon team though.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

This has to be seen as a negative for the USMNT, right?

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Maybe it's because he wants to raise his kids in the United States?

Just spit balling here.

Yeah. Three kids. Wife might want to be closer to family.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

$9m transfer fee for Tottenham, $32m over four seasons for Dempsey.

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/02/clint-dempsey-seattle-sounders-transfer-latest-news-rumors-tottenham-spurs-usmnt-usa/

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

 

[Inky_Wretch]

Corruption? Eh, we might get back to it in 2014. Maybe.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/fifa-investigators-put-probe-of-alleged-corruption-by-chuck-blazer-on-hold-until-2014/2013/08/02/ede93c14-fb9d-11e2-89f7-8599e3f77a67_story.html

 

[UPChip]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

I read an article on ESPNFC this morning essentially imploring American soccer fans to cut the self-loathing as it relates to the domestic game. If he opted for MLS 10 years ago, or even five years ago, that would be one thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to opt for being among the best at home as opposed to sometimes playing time in the PL. Also, I don't mind him having the winter off and having a third of the season on the tires as opposed to the whole thing when he gets on the plane to Brazil.

 

[deskslave]

That we're up to the eighth one of these is making me feel a little aged, I gotta say.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

I read an article on ESPNFC this morning essentially imploring American soccer fans to cut the self-loathing as it relates to the domestic game. If he opted for MLS 10 years ago, or even five years ago, that would be one thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to opt for being among the best at home as opposed to sometimes playing time in the PL. Also, I don't mind him having the winter off and having a third of the season on the tires as opposed to the whole thing when he gets on the plane to Brazil.

I saw Ives on Twitter making a similar argument. And yeah, MLS has improved dramatically over the years. It's not on par with the top leagues, but it's getting there, and it's certainly a respectable place to play.

For me, it's really just a personal and cultural thing. I don't have the emotional investment in the USMNT that most here do, so the question of whether Dempsey is challenging himself and developing his game isn't really that central to me.

He has a chance to continue playing with and against the best in the world. He can play meaningful games in Old Trafford, San Siro, the Nou Camp. He can see Europe and encounter all the different cultures.

Or. he can play the Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew.

I get that the appeal of Europe will be different to different people, but personally, I just can't fathom going for option number two. It just seems to be throwing away an amazing opportunity.

 

[UPChip]

Opening Day in the Football League today:

spikechiquet should be happy as Wigan stamp out Barnsley 4-0 away today. Forest with an unspectacular but effective three points, beating Huddersfield 1-0 at home. All the demoted sides won today, as both QPR (v. Sheffield Wednesday) and Reading (v. Ipswich) won 2-1.

 

[spikechiquet]

Opening Day in the Football League today:

spikechiquet should be happy as Wigan stamp out Barnsley 4-0 away today. Forest with an unspectacular but effective three points, beating Huddersfield 1-0 at home. All the demoted sides won today, as both QPR (v. Sheffield Wednesday) and Reading (v. Ipswich) won 2-1.

You must not be friends with me on facebook (but I am tooting the horn on twitter)! LOL Yeah, it's a good day to be a top the table. Better in a year when they are back with the big boys!
Was surprised they picked 'Arry for the game to show on TV. Guess winning the FA Cup doesn't have much clout. LOL

 

[Webster]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

I read an article on ESPNFC this morning essentially imploring American soccer fans to cut the self-loathing as it relates to the domestic game. If he opted for MLS 10 years ago, or even five years ago, that would be one thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to opt for being among the best at home as opposed to sometimes playing time in the PL. Also, I don't mind him having the winter off and having a third of the season on the tires as opposed to the whole thing when he gets on the plane to Brazil.

It's a vastly inferior level of competition and I'm surprised that he would be happy to be a huge fish in a tiny pond.

 

[UPChip]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

I read an article on ESPNFC this morning essentially imploring American soccer fans to cut the self-loathing as it relates to the domestic game. If he opted for MLS 10 years ago, or even five years ago, that would be one thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to opt for being among the best at home as opposed to sometimes playing time in the PL. Also, I don't mind him having the winter off and having a third of the season on the tires as opposed to the whole thing when he gets on the plane to Brazil.

It's a vastly inferior level of competition and I'm surprised that he would be happy to be a huge fish in a tiny pond.

This link quotes a ranking of leagues that puts MLS on par with the Eredivisie and just ahead of Ligue 1 and the Argentine league. About 2/3 of the Dutch roster that made the final in South Africa played club football in the Eredivisie at the time of the World Cup. I don't think anyone is saying that going from Spurs to the Seattle Neon X-Box 360's is a step up in competition level, but is it really that bad?

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/23/mls-ranked-seventh-best-soccer-league-globally-can-it-break-into-the-top-five/

 

[PCLoadLetter]

I struggle with understanding this, and the same thing when Donovan did it. Bottom line, it's his life, and if he'd be happier in Seattle in MLS instead of in Europe, it's really not my place to judge.

But for the life of me, I do not get passing up the opportunity to play for a good European team to sign with a domestic team. I would gleefully take a spot in Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, England, France, you name it. Your career's not that long. Pack what you can into it.

I read an article on ESPNFC this morning essentially imploring American soccer fans to cut the self-loathing as it relates to the domestic game. If he opted for MLS 10 years ago, or even five years ago, that would be one thing, but I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to opt for being among the best at home as opposed to sometimes playing time in the PL. Also, I don't mind him having the winter off and having a third of the season on the tires as opposed to the whole thing when he gets on the plane to Brazil.

It's a vastly inferior level of competition and I'm surprised that he would be happy to be a huge fish in a tiny pond.

This link quotes a ranking of leagues that puts MLS on par with the Eredivisie and just ahead of Ligue 1 and the Argentine league. About 2/3 of the Dutch roster that made the final in South Africa played club football in the Eredivisie at the time of the World Cup. I don't think anyone is saying that going from Spurs to the Seattle Neon X-Box 360's is a step up in competition level, but is it really that bad?

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/04/23/mls-ranked-seventh-best-soccer-league-globally-can-it-break-into-the-top-five/

Keep in mind, though, that ranking isn't strictly caliber of play. It also includes attendance, finances, and other off-the-field considerations. It's a good gauge of the improving health of MLS overall, but not the level of competition. The top end of the Eredivisie and Ligue 1 is quite a bit better than MLS, though the bottom of those leagues can get pretty weak.

To be fair, I have no idea what his options were in Europe. I have to think there were some that would have been a lot more impressive than Seattle.