TFC did setup a strange deal for Doneil with Apollon Limassol in Cyprus, wasn't that related to getting him a UK work permit? I.e., he was nominally on a Cyprus squad for a year (even though loaned back to TFC), which might have gotten his foot in the European door?
Yep. He would have received a cypriot passport automatically in another month or so, so they rubber stamped it. The rules there basically say you don't ever even have to set foot in the country, just have a certain level of investment there, which can included secured deposits.
Maybe not. There are more and more 'developed' players via MLS/NCAA who aren't finding room in the league. There is an opportunity for NASL to scoop up players anywhere from 18-24 who may have not been deemed good enough but with a season or two could prove to be very good players. It would come down to scouting however, and for example, could have maybe signed Mael Corboz or Callum Irving which would probably improve the player pool.
http://www.espnfc.us/german-bundesliga/story/2839056/hertha-berlin-frustrated-with-us-over-john-brooks-injury
Another example of Klinsmann over-training/being dismissive of injured players. You just know Altidore is playing 90 minutes tonight.
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To be honest I find it weird that a Canadian team and quite a few people that live in Canada have such a hard on for USMNT players. Team would be better of going to South America, introducing some flair into the team and going away from these overpaid, untalented americans.
With Americans, while they are overpaid, they are more of a known commodity. With South America you can end up with either a JPA type MLSer or a Vitti. You roll the dice with what you get from down there and that's not even counting in the home sickness and league, country, weather adjustments. Much more risk but possibly higher reward (or bigger bust).
Yep, this is it right here....there's skilled players all over, but character is what separates the ones you want from the ones you don't.....unfortunate thing about that is firstly, you often can't find out until the player is already on your team, and then throwing 7-8M at them beforehand will never change character/desire.....TFC did their homework on this with Seba, and any team should imo, especially in MLS with DPs.....
Say what you will about American players being overrated and this, but imo as far as they're concerned, desire/heart is almost always there.....a USNT player does not often mail it in from what I've seen.....characteristics like heart are drilled in to athletes in NA.....
This is it for me too. If they had almost any other manager you wouldn't see training injuries during every one of their camps. International matches and tourneys are part of the package if you want really good players and that's how it is but always worrying whether players will come back injured or burnt out so an injury is looming is part of the JK football manifesto.
I won't even get into those times when he schedules friendlies on non-international dates or calls camps that are weeks long and full of two or three a days in the spring.
I'm not 100% certain but I'm pretty sure both of these issues more have to do with the USSF and pre-date the Klinsman era. The latter has to do with the fact that the USSF need to wring every dollar out of their TV contract possible, leading to them scheduling as many games as possible. The former is almost always used as a pre-season camp for MLS and u23 players, the only problem now being that Klinsman is an awful conditioning coach and runs the MLS players into the ground before the season even starts, putting them at an even further disadvantage when the summer tournaments come around.
yeah I get that...all fair points.....but it becomes tough also to get players from SA with the tricky transfer rules they have......might not be a big deal for other teams to add the extra Mil or 2 to the player's agency or whatever they do there, but could be different with MLS teams....bit of a moot point anyways because stuff like that shouldn't be a problem for TFC....
from the TFC perspective, they're brutal for sure, but necessary.....the US is always at a disadvantage fitness wise in spring friendlies.....
I would go South for a lower salary DP (Mexico, Caribbean, south America etc) and maybe take advantage of the "young DP" rule. With the $$ available we should be able to pull a very good player out of Europe at a decent age, Gio can't be the only player with exceptional skill at a top English, Italian, German or Spanish club who would love to get playing time and be "the man".
Bradley and Jozy are good players and top MLS players but when we only get them for part of the season i wonder if its worth it.
yup all makes sense that way....
as far as the bolded goes.....if MLS would finally start recognizing FIFA dates (at the least), that would go a long way too.....its silly how they want their teams to have top domestic talent, but then handcuff them by not allowing the team to maximize their investment....
They started giving teams options to play or not play on FIFA dates this season, which is why we don't play during WCQ times. WC/WG/Copa are all month+ long tournaments in the middle of our season and it would be near impossible to avoid them they are taking a 2 week Copa break this year.
avoiding, yes I agree impossible, but minimizing is what needs to be done....and teams are finally getting some leeway there....I'm not too bothered by having our USNT players missing out on a game or 2 max during the season.....happens to pretty much every team (though not necessarily with USNT players) so things level out....its losing them for extended periods that hurt the team and league.....
nah im good thanks. Not a fan of how often Jozy is injured but hes adecent player for this league otherwise.