Objectivo.com

Andrew Jacobson, the Latest MLS Draftee
to Leave for a Foreign League

Here’s a good question: If there isn't a guarantee that a drafted player will stick around, or at least leave the team that drafts him with a transfer fee or a future draft pick or something, why have a draft at all?

If the MLS wants to prioritize developing American talent (either to increase the level of domestic talent in MLS or to send more US players aboard and build our international reputation) they need to invest in these players. That means raising the minimum salaries and successfully developing or exposing young talent and sending them abroad at the right time. Yet, the MLS is very restrictive in the instances in which they allow certain players to leave. Thus, signing a contract quickly after or before the draft doesn’t ensure the player of having the best situation to succeed in football.

Maybe I'm way off on this, or just don't get the draft, but it all seems like a lot of work and expense for nothing. No other league in the world host’s a draft for players coming out of their University or for kids reaching the age of eighteen. The MLS should coordinate with the NCAA for a time period after a player decides he is leaving college, when he can sign with MLS teams, or another professional team. This will ensure that a player will be playing in the MLS or if he decides he wants to play abroad, he can make inquires into that.

That might not be the best solution, and it might not be the solution at all, but something new and different needs to be installed before this happens on a more massive scale? What are your thoughts on the matter?

By: Christopher Chantland

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Michael Bradley

Michael Bradley has been having a wonderful year in the Eredivisie. He took some time to talk about his past year playing in the Dutch league and on the US Men's national side. You can here it here at usscoccer.com.

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Eddie Johnson is the new addition to Fulhamerica over in the English Premier League.

Eddie Johnson on the Move

Johnson now makes the fifth American on Fulham’s books, and looks to be another American about to be playing in the Championship. Fulham are sitting nineteenth out of twenty places and have only taken fifteen points out of twenty three matches, and hasn’t won an away match for over a calendar year. Yet, it isn’t an entirely bad situation for Eddie Johnson, nor was it a bad move for Eddie to make the jump now.

If Fulham is relegated into the Championship, Soccer by Ives has released information that the club will not be shy in spending money next year and push for the club to be promoted the year following. Johnson also is great friends with Clint Dempsey and if they can form a good strike partnership, it will benefit not only Fulham but the US National Team as well.

So what’s your opinion on the Johnson transfer ?

By: Christopher Chantland

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Well it looks as though Michael Bradley will be leaving Dutch football at the end of the season. Bradley, who has done very well in Holland, hasn’t signed a new contract which the club has offered. His current contract is up in 2009, and the club understands they need to sell him before Michael get’s away for less than he is worth. Bradley has scored seven times in the eighteen matches he has played in, including a hat trick. Not a bad return considering he is being played predominately in a holding midfield role for Heerenveen.

Michael Bradley has Impressed
for both Club and Country

Bradley has a desire that I haven’t seen in any other young player in the United States. He eats, drinks, and dreams football, and then he goes and plays the game. The most revealing example that convinced me that Michael was serious about playing in Europe, and staying there, was this interview below. When a twenty year old American kid goes abroad to the Netherlands, the last thing you would expect is him to do is learn the native language and use it? I can’t wait to watch this young player’s career progress and evolve, because I see something special in him.

Reports have him linked with a move to the Bundesliga with club side Hamburg.

By: Christopher Chantland

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Troy Perkins Transfer from DC United to Norwegian Club Valerenga IF is almost fully finalized. I am among the group of believers that going abroad is the right way to further your career in football.

Valerengra IF Badge

Perkins, playing the only position in which American’s have thrived in abroad, is getting closer to those bigger clubs by playing in Norway. True, it’s not in England, Italy, Spain, or even Germany, but he can learn what it’s like to play in another country, and assimilate into a different culture. Perkin's soon-to-be new club finished the 2007 Eliteserien season in seventh place. The Bohemians have also added Norwegian midfielders Martin Andresen and Lars Iver Strand from Brann and Troms respectively in the offseason.

This year was an off year for Valerenga, where the last few years, they have finished in a Champions League position, thus, the offseason moves. This is another aspect to take into consideration by moving to a smaller club, but a top club in the country. This gives him a chance to play against some of the best talent in the world, and in the best football environments in the entire world. Perkins then can be seen first hand by many of the big clubs, and if he performs well, he could find himself moving into top flight leagues.

From the perspective of the MLS, their losing another young player to a league that is probably not as competitive as the MLS. For the season ticket holders of DC United, they have lost another young talent, after recently losing Freddy Adu, and missing out on Juan Sebastian Veron. The club has now lost three of their top prospects, and will be harder to draw in more fans to the matches. Yet, the MLS and its fans must understand this is the same predicament the French League and Dutch league have. They have very good young talent as well, but once the young player is presented with going to an Italian, Spanish, or English club, they jump at it. Troy Perkins is just an example that the league has a lot of growing to do, if it wants to keep all of its homegrown talent.

All in all, I believe his move will do him well, and keep the young goalkeepers who might compete for the USA, in top form. I appreciate the fact that he is eager to get over to Europe, and compete on another level. What is your opinion on his move to the Norwegian Club?

By: Christopher Chantland

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Last week, when Marcus Hahnemann played for Reading, he let seven goals in; this week was a different story, as Hahnemann posted a shutout as Reading defeated Derby, 1-0. Two other Americans were in that game, as Benny Feilhaber started and played 65 minutes for Derby County. As Feilhaber was subbed out, another American, Eddie Lewis, came on for him, playing the final 25 minutes of the match.

Here’s how the rest of the fellows did:

Over at Fulham, Kasey Keller played all 90 minutes in the 2-0 loss to Portsmouth. Also playing a full 90 were Carlos Bocanegra and Clint Dempsey.

Tim Howard played the full game in Everton’s 3-2 loss to Newcastle. Howard made nine saves.

Brad Friedel played 90 minutes in Blackburn’s 2-1 win against Birmingham.

Giuseppe Rossi was a busy man in Villareal’s 3-2 loss to Osasuna as he started, scored, drew a yellow card and played 90 minutes.

Steve Cherundolo played all 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-0 win against Stuttgart.

Jay DeMerit started and played 90 minutes for Watford in a 3-1 win against Scunthorpe.

Michael Bradley played the first 72 minutes in Heerenveen's 9-0 victory against Heracles.

Oguchi Onyewu started and played 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 3-1 win against Germinal Beerschot.

Gregg Berhalter played a full 90 minutes in 1860 Munich's 2-0 win against FC Carl Zeiss Jena. Josh Wolff didn’t dress for 1860 Munich.

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Lets see how the handful of Americans who played in Thursday's UEFA Cup matches did:

Michael Bradley played 58 minutes of the game. Unfortunately for Bradley and the rest of the guys at Heerenveen, they lost the series to Helsingborg on a 8-6 aggregate.

Another American who didn't have such a good day yesterday was Oguchi Onyewu who scored a goal, but was shown a red as as Standard Liege lost to Zenit St.Petersburg. Zenit made it to the next round.

Everton's Tim Howard made seven saves in Everton's 3-2 win against Metalist Khrakiv. Everton won the series 4-3 on aggregate.

Danny Califf's AaB won their series against Sampdoria.

Brad Friedel started and played 90 minutes in Blackburn's 2-1 win. Unfortunately, the win wasn't enough as Larissa won the series.

How do you think the Americans have been playing in the UEFA Cup?

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With the largest collection of American players, Fulham FC and American goalkeeper Kasey Keller was able to keep Chelsea to a 0-0 draw. While Keller made an agrument to keep the number one spot, Carlos Bocanegra probably had one of his stronger games of the season. Clint Dempsey was on the field as well, and although he didn't score a goal - he did collide with Chelsea captain John Terry, causing a fractured cheek bone.

Here's how the other Americans did this weekend:
Everton's Tim Howard earned a shut out against Middlesbrough.

Reading's Marcus Hahnemann played in the 7-4 loss to Portsmouth. For more on that game, check out Highest Scoring Premiership Game...EVER.

Brad Friedel played the full 90 minutes in Blackburn's victory of Sunderland.

Eddie Lewis played 84 minutes in Derby's 1-1 tie with Bolton. Watford's Jay DeMerit also played in a 1-1 tie with Blackpool.

Steve Cherundolo played the full 90 minutes in Hannover 96's 2-1 victory against Duisburg.

Michael Bradley started and played 90 minutes in Heerenveen's 2-0 loss to Feyenoord.

Danny Califf played 90 minutes in AaB's 3-2 victory against Viborg.

DaMarcus Beasley played the final 34 minutes in the Rangers 1-1 tie. While Freddy Adu played the final eight minutes in Benfica's 0-0 tie against Sporting Lisbon.

Frank Simek played the 90 minutes in Sheffield Wednesday's 1-0 victory against Norwich City.

Oguchi Onyewu played the 90 minutes in Standard Liege's 0-0 tie with St. Truiden.

Gregg Berhalter played 90 minutes in 1860 Munich's 2-2 tie with Koblenz.

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Freddy Adu came on as a second half substitute for Benfica, and scored the goal that would put the team into the next round for the Carlsberg Cup. In the 90th minute, Adu converting a penalty kick, and also converted one during the shootout.

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Bobby Convey scored his first goal since coming back from a knee injury in Reading's 4-2 loss to Liverpool in the third round of the League Cup. Reading should be thrilled to have Convey back, who proved to be a vital member of the team since joining them from DC United.

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With another weekend of European matches in the history books, here is what the Americans abroad did:

As noted in Michael Bradley Scores Again, Bradley was the only National Team player to score this weekend, but another American born player found the back of the net twice. Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi helped his team to victory against Murcia.

Over at Fulham, both Clint Dempsey and Carlos Bocanegra played the 90 minutes in the 3-3 draw against Manchester City. Bocanegra even drew a yellow card for his efforts. On the bench was Kasey Keller.

Benny Feilhaber came in during the second half, while Eddie Lewis played the full 90 minutes in Derby's 5-0 loss to Arsenal.

Jonathan Spector played the final 10 minutes for West Ham United.

Marcus Hahnemann was in goal for Reading and drew a yellow card in Reading's 2-1. Bobby Convey played 27 minutes for the team.

Brad Friedel was in goal for Blackburn's 1-0 loss to Portsmouth. Jay DeMerit played the first half in Watford's 1-1 tie. While Frank Simek played the full 90 for Sheffield Wednesday.

U.S. National Team midfielder DaMarcus Beasley was on the bench for the Rangers this week.

Steve Cherundolo started and played 90 for Hannover 96.

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