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This is my first project for you the readers.
I’m going to start it off, but this will take effort from more than just myself. Quite simply what we have here is a quest to find those players who will be available on Free Transfers this January. These are the guys who could be had at merely the expense of a contract with MLS and a well placed Discovery Claim or Allocation. Some might require a Designated Player slot, but I will try to avoid those, as Sounders FC currently has used their only slot.
Oddly, there is no “master list” for Free Transfers. Recently I asked Adrian Hanauer about how any club can go about finding Free Transfers.
We work with many agents, scouts, and other types of contacts around the world, who are hopefully keeping us abreast of the situation with various players in whom we might have interest.
There are tens of thousands of professional players in the world, just maybe Sounders FC will find the next break out one.
Philippe Christanval according to Wikipedia he has been linked to TFC. If brought to MLS it would certainly be as an injury rebuild process and not the money. He’d be possible for less than DP money.
Edgar Davids is now an older midfielder with fame, that makes him a prime candidate to leave Europe, but he’d likely be out of playing shape as he hasn’t been with a club since June of ‘08.
Franklin Salas if you recognize the name, its because of his time with LDU who just placed second in the Club World Cup, though Salas was injured. As a 27 year old South American he is exactly the kind of talent that MLS should target. He has tried Europe once already. If he’s truly a free, get it done Garber.
Ahn Jung-Hwan this South Korean national will be 33 when the league takes off, but has marketing panache in Korea. He’s a borderline DP level talent, but would likely sell jerseys. Read his wiki, dude is constantly linked with Europe, but never quite makes it. MLS might just be his latest tool.
Ishmel Demontagnac was released by his League One club Walsall. The 20 year old has appeared with the English U-19 and U-18 national teams. One rumor says that he’s been “discovered” by TFC. Of course if another team put a claim in then the league gets to resolve it.
Gerard Lopez is a former Barcelona Defensive Midfielder who is out of contract. Injuries cut into his playing time, but he’s only 30 on First Kick, so might have some life left in him. A large non-DP contract would be all he deserves. He hasn’t been on top form for some time.
So go out, peruse the ‘Net and look for those players whose contracts are up and who aren’t likely to be hunted by the any European League with two or more slots in Champions League. Those are the targets, and hopefully in light of today’s news regarding MP&Solis we may just be a bit more likely to find one or two in Rave Green. Also, feel free to include the U-23 kids, though their transfers aren’t free they are minimal.
Here’s a nice guide to the standard transfer process. By searching for Frees it reduces the complexity for MLS and the MLS club.
A poster on goalseattle mentions Henrik Larsson, a different former Swedish captain and solid foward with time at Barca and ManU.
Larsson is free, but seems to have a desire to stay in the Swedish league.
As yet again another Ecuadorian player is mentioned, I can’t get them out of mind. I’d love to see Sounders FC, especially, develop a connection with Ecuadorian futbol–it’s a country becoming increasingly developed, but still has a ways to go. One possible avenue I’ve been thinking about for going accomplishing this is through the defender Ulises de la Cruz whom you probably know from his latest stint at Reading. He has a wicked cross, has 98 int. appearances and is still being capped as of July 08 – wiki,and is loved in Ecuador because of the charity he established – good article here.
The downside is his age, and with two aging players in Ljunberg & Keller, SSFC may not want to take this risk. The upside is he’s an experienced veteran, every source I viewed points to him as being out of contract yet still capped this summer (unfortunately I can’t guarantee he hasn’t ‘retired’ but that would seem quite abrupt…), and would give SSFC a chance to be involved with an international charity establishing a footballing and social connection with a developing country, specifically the Chota Valley region–one where 11 players on the past two Ecuadorian WC sides come from. Just think of the sporting benefits if SSFC got involved at the ground level with de la Cruz’s ’sports and community center’… once these players have developed themselves in Ecuador’s domestic, and maybe some time in Mexico or Colombia, we could have discovery dibs on some potentially tremendous players down the road.
So, in the light of worldly humanitarian action (Seattle can’t be the only focus) and player development, I’d love to see SSFC sign de la Cruz for a two year contract or until he runs out of steam, and then keep him on board in some facility or another as an ‘ambassador’ type, he wouldn’t have to remain living in Seattle, but SSFC would retain a formal connection with the man and his work. May be out on a limb here, but enjoyable speculation. Please speak up if anyone knows something more concrete on his current playing/contract status… or if these comments are way off base.
damn, I suck at those tags… apologize for the work this creates…
-forgot closing ‘>’ in first link attempt
-I wanted a second link on the word “established” to this page: http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/Charities/0,,10306~1193652,00.html
-the third to the bbc page (which the entire last 2/3 of the post is currently linked to) is supposed to be applied to the word “article” in the parenthesis after the unlinked word “good”
-think that’s it, again I’m sorry
-is there anywhere for the poster to edit his posts? …it’d be nice if you didn’t have to fix this stuff
Zack, I will look into adding a comments plug-in. Something with insert link, bold, italics basically.
I think I cleaned that up for you, and it wasn’t actually tough, but you are right, I need that plug-in. As I’m able to drive to work again, it might be Boxing Day before I can get to it, but its on the short list.
And DONE
Robbie Fowler is out of contract. 6 months ago he was only offered “pay as you play” deals, so a last guarunteed deal pre-retirement may entice one of the EPL’s best goals scorers in history to jump over the Atlantic.
He’s 33 on First Kick and hasn’t been in top form for a while, but has seemed to be interested in being a player/coach being linked with League Two club Grimsby.
He once got a hat-trick in 3 Minutes. Certainly not at DP levels any longer, but he would be a bit of a draw for crowds, and might just have enough in the tank to be a second scorer in MLS. That’s if his hip is good.
Wow, this plug-in will make things much easier. Thanks for the fix above, and for so quickly taking care of the larger issue. Happy Holidays all!
Well, the not being able to get my car moving again probably helped me get a move on the plug-in and actually inspired to upgrade the overall software for the site.
Robbie Fowler, would you take that risk?
I don’t think I would. Tough call though, I believe he still has it in him to come off of the bench and score, but two things are holding me back: 1) he’s injured… and has been going on half a decade… does SSFC need another injury-plagued veteran? 2) allardyce recently assessed that the premiership is ‘two-levels’ too high for Robbie, and he has been linked with player/coach role in league two–it seems like one of those classic, slightly acrimonious, but inevitable, fading end to a footballing career because a body is just too beat up.
Beasley may be available on a Free, as Rangers seem to be tired of him and aren’t getting offers for transfer.
Ives claims that he is eyeing MLS, but would want DP money. While he may not put butts in the stands, the quality of the league would go up, and that will long term help more than the short term seating boost of a Beckham.
The best answer would be to find a way to bring US MNT guys that aren’t regular subs back to the States where they could play regularly.
It looks as if Bobo Balde is available on a Free from Celtic. Last August he rejected a 2 year deal with Birmingham, but the Daily Mirror says that they are going to chase him again. He is currently making ~1.5 M $ per year (if it was an annual deal).
That’s large for a non-first teamer in the SPL.
Probably the funniest name I have ever seen as a possible free… Denilson, not the Arsenal one, the one that was a total failure for FC Dallas.
Denilson: absolutely not! (although some may believe in ‘fresh starts’…)
Beasley: would be tremendous, but who thinks he warrants DP money? For me, I realize that may be the only way he comes back over, but not having any offers may give MLS substantial leverage in convincing him otherwise… deflate that ego, you’re hardly dressing!!
It looks like former Houston Dynamo player JOSEPH NGWNEYA is available on a Free. Houston may still hold his rights, I am unsure.
Marca.com points out (via google translate) that Ivan Helguera had his contract terminated by Valencia. He’s 33 but supposedly the Galaxy are interested, as well as another MLS club. Of course several Euro-clubs want him as well.
Lucas Neill is reportedly going to be released by West Ham. He’s an Australian national, team captian and mainly plays RightBack, but also as a Center Back.
He is 31 on First Kick. His wages are in the 85-95% of Max range. So he’s Free and he was not being paid DP level wages, and he’s Premiership side’s CAPTAIN.
MLS should TRY for this one, and try HARD.
Jared Borgetti is out of contract and has been linked to MLS in the past. 35 on First Kick. Prolific scorer, big name with Mexican population and has Premiership experience. This suggestion came from a conversation with Steve Clare of ProstAmerika.
At this time of year it is key for GM to pay attention to the rumor mill, because players might pop as Frees that might be good fits.
Today there is a rumor that El Hadji Diouf and Pascal Chimbonda might be released by Sunderland. Each are players in their prime with serious resumes, but if dropped, could fill needs. Neither would likely draw fans, but with French connections on the club already might be intriguing additions.
That second DP slot would be great right now.
Looks like the Fire are offering Fowler right at Max Cap money. Could be a hell of a get, though old, in this league he’d likely produce.