Good afternoon everybody. It is noon and it is time for the first Q&A of the new SBI.
Yes, I know, I didn’t get to all of the questions in the last Q&A on the old site (I will post those by tomorrow), but with everything going on lately I felt it was a good time to do another one.
The instructions are simple. Ask one or two soccer questions, preferably short to moderately sized, and I will look to answer them. Given the increasing site of the SBI Mafia I will put a cap on questions this time around. I will look to answer the first 50 questions posted (this way I won’t take forever to post answers). Feel free to ask questions after the 50th but keep in mind there is no guarantee they will be answered. I might answer them at a later date but am not committing to that.
Whether it is U.S. national team, Americans Abroad, MLS Draft, MLS in general or international soccer, ask your questions below and I will try my best to give you some answers and opinions.
Fire away.
NO MORE QUESTIONS. Thanks to those of you who took part. I will do my nbest to get these answered ASAP
Hey Ives,
congrats on the depth and, especially, breadth of the new site. There’s plenty here for any fan of any team. Goff’s going down next year!
Do you see Red Bull spending big for a big international name this year, or riding the Angel train for 2008 with a view to getting a superstar for the opening of Red Bull park in 2009
Sorry if this has been asked, but what do you think will happen with Benny Feilhaber? Back to MLS? Do you know what held him back at Derby?
If Fulham fail to escape relegation, what are the chances Dempsey or Boca get shuffled around to another Premiership team…or are they destined to spend a couple years in the League Championship?
speculation on the new Fire fwd?
Do you know if Marcello Gallardo is coming to the MLS and if so who do believe will land him?
What does your roster look like for WC qualifying this summer?
For young Americans these days, what is the best route to take in order to go pro:
1. Play through high school/college and hope to get noticed
2. Attend Bradenton
or
3. Go the Johann Smith route and find someone to get you a trial with a European team (however unlikely and hard that could be)
Also, what is the best soccer college, in your opinion?
Love, love, love the new site, Ives. I hope this totally works out for you, both in terms of quality of life and financially.
I get the feeling that DC United is going to be very different in two weeks, once the wrapping is off the majority of their South American purchases. What are you hearing about DCU’s South American summer shopping spree?
Ives,
I read awhile back that Kenny Cooper is unhappy in Dallas and looking to move. Any word on this or was this just that a rumor?
Also, any idea why he fell out of favor with the MNT?
Thanks!
What is going on with John O’Brien?????
Sorry.. just to add to my left back depth chart question, with the play of people like DeMerit, Parkhurst, and Conrad, do you think we should consider moving Bocanegra out to left back to top the depth chart as he played there this weekend for Fulham.
Hi Ives,
Love the site!
Guzan?!
He’s on trial with Celtic FC
http://sport.scotsman.com/celticfc/Celtic-trial-for-Guzan-sparks.3692091.jp
How serious is this? Will he back in the MLS in April?
Realistically, when will Altidore make the jump to Europe? And hypothetically speaking where do you think he’ll end up?
Cheerss,
Ives:
Any predictions on an average attendance figure for Red Bull Park when (and I suppose if) it opens?
Thanks for the great site.
Argi4, I think they changed the rules. No senior players.
Ives,
This question is a little for the future, but I thought I’d pick your brain anyway. With the league’s collective bargaining agreement expiring next year (if I’m not mistaken), is there any sense that the MLS as we know it today will change drastically? I’m particularly interested in the ramifications it will have in regards to the salary cap.
I’m everyone else, love the new site! Thanks!
any news on clint mathis?
Ives,
What do you hear about Eric Wynalda? Is he getting the boot from MLS broadcasts in favor of Harkes? I hope not.
Ives,
Obviously it seems like the Twellman transfer deal is dead but just for fun could you give me a projection of how you think he’d do in the Championship? I think by his play for the US team we agree that he wouldn’t survive on a major European team but would he be an above-average striker for a team like Preston?
Who do you think the US will use as its 3 Senior players assuming we make it to the Olympics?
Sweet. The ever-present John O’Brien question!
1) 3-man Depth chart at left back for the US Nats?
2) 4-man Depth chart on US Free-kick takers? My #1 would have to be Adu.
Thanks!
Any further word on whether Schelotto is coming back? Columbus says yes, but I’m not convinced.
What do you think will happen with van den bergh? Do you think Osorio will bring in new players and trade him away or keep him for depth?
Last year we had Beckham, Angel, Blanco and Denilson brought into the league, and a lot of rumors too. Who do you think will be the next high-profile “name” player (excluding US Nats players returning from overseas) to join an MLS team and which team will it be?
What is the purpose of the MLS allocation order anyways? I know allocations are for acquiring players, but since it looks like the teams are making deals with latin american clubs by themselves, why have an order?
Are the Earthquakes really going to wear black shirts with blue shorts and white socks (as was displayed at the MLS draft)? Please Lord, say it isn’t so.
Ives,
How will MLS teams get a shot at the South American players from the combine, particularly Jonathan Sabbatini?
Thx
OK. Many of us San Jose Earthquakes are desperate to know:
what’s the real deal with Benny Feilhaber? Is he coming? If he comes to MLS, do the Quakes get first crack? Is there a single good reason the Quakes wouldn’t take him?
Is it too early to talk about the 2008 NYRB team? If not, list the current roster of KNOWN players, maybe throw in last year’s roster so we can see who’s gone. Plus of course the new faces from the draft. Thanks!
Hi Ives–love the site. Any connections at FSC or Gol TV as to why the Africa Cup of Nations isn’t picked up by either? (I’m watching Nigeria–Ivory Coast on-line). Seems like it would add to the prestige of either channel being THY soccer station in the US. Is it money? Interest? They could show on delay any games that overlap with the EPL.
Has there been any talk of what the player union will demand when the contract with the league is up in a few years? Will they be looking to raise the cap to 5 million or 15 million? Minimum salary to 50k or 100k. Thanks Ives!
Wondering if you know what’s happened to John O’Brien? In perpetual injury rehab? Still on the books with Chivas? Unofficially retired? Any word that his career will resume?
Did Osorio Bring in Blanco, or was Blanco already on his way to Chi-Town before osorio was hired?
Can a player who’s from one x country become a citizen of y country and then play for y country’s national team? Obviously, he can’t be cap-tied, but can someone just change his citizenship because he wants to play for a different nat team? Are there any rules on this? Are there a certain number years one must wait?
Thanks, Ives!
Do you think the Revs will make another move and will it be some from Europe?
Which bigger clubs would you like to see Michael Bradley go to?
Who do you see as the future of the left side of the U.S. national team midfield? It seems very unclear at this point.
Has Bocanegra really played as poorly as it seems for Fulham or is he just not good enough to be a first team CB in the premiership? In other words is he playing as well as he usually plays for the national team and it is just not cutting given the competition?
Do you think the Fire are going to trade for a second DP?
How well do you think Nyarko will work with Blanco?
What are the chances of Lapira signing with MLS (and Toronto)?
Donovan played out wide and did fairly well (crosses-aside.) I’m curious — when the US plays Spain and assuming it has its full complement of players available, care to take a guess at the starting 11 and the formation? (I am very curious to who will be the odd man out among Adu/Altidore/Dempsey/Donovan. I assume it will be Adu/Altidore subbing in for someone up top.)
——–Altidore–Dempsey——-
–Convey–Bradley–Clark—Donovan–
–??–Bocanegra–Onyewu–Cherundulo–
———–Howard——————–
Is it even conceivable to think there is a suitable lineup that includes them all but has enough defensive balance?
Hey Ives, great site! Any rumors that some more Houston players might be coming back to the Quakes? I heard that Mullan was being used as bait for the #1 draft pick (not sure about that one)and read that Yallp was talking to Kinnear about more players?
Any word on Gomez re-signing with DC United?
1) how can the galaxy afford to make all of these recent moves under the cap? getting ruiz, babayaro with becks and landon, its like they will be a four person team (i guess thats better than last year tho).
2) why did danny szetela choose racing over roma? he’s barely on the bench these days and could have learned from totti etc
Last week you mentioned that Red Bulls were close on signing two midfielders, today you reported that Osorio is back in SA, are the two mentioned signings amlost done, are is Osorio back in SA since the signings didnt materialize?
1. Any news on the new USA Jersey?
2. Any news on what moves North Brunswick, Rutgers bond foward, Ibrahim Kamara is doing? Supposubly he is at Sporting for a trial
I love seeing packed stadiums and great atmospheres at MLS games. Do you have any opinions regarding the Wizards playing in a minor-league baseball staium, and San Jose playing in a stadium that barely seats 12,000? What do you think the atmospheres will be like at these venues?
During the draft on ESPN, one of the commentators mentioned a big signing that Colorado had coming for a striker, any idea who it could be?
I’m trying to keep up with transfer rumors, and there are a few that I don’t know details of (if rumors having details isn’t an oxymoron).
Jonathan Bornstein
Eddie Gaven
Pat Noonan
Can you please explain in detail how MLS allocations work? Everyone trades for them, but I don’t completely understand them.
Ives,
What will happen tot he Americans at Fulhamerica and the other relegated premier teams? Will they come to MLS or try find spots in other premier teams or the other top European leagues?
It was rumored that beyond the 9 generation adidas players, upwards of 15 more collegiate players had already signed with the league- do you know who they are?
Does RBNY have to sign the South American players during January or do they have until mid-april?
Thanks Ives!
It’s “Super-SBI-Crystal-Ball Time” again: The first game for the Red Bulls at their new stadium will be played on XXXXXXX XX, 20XX? And as a bonus, how many coaches will RBNY go through from now until then?
1)What is the deal with the new MLS jerseys? Do you know when they will be for sale?
2)Is there the possibility for some teams to use their DP before the start of the season?
Ives,
Can you tell us what the story is with Feilhaber? Is he leaving Derby, and if so is he coming to MLS as has been rumored?