The Chicago Fire reconstruction project has already brought the Fire new additions Julio Martinez and Krzysztof Krol (as well as head coach Carlos De Los Cobos), but now Chicago could be moving closer to adding a new striker.
Former Fulham striker Collins John is set to join the Chicago Fire on a trial during the club's training camp in Phoenix, sources told SBI on Friday. John was a teammate of Fire star Brian McBride at Fulham, but has seen his once-promising career hit the skids. He most recently played for Belgian club Roeselare, which released him in December.
John, 24, first made a name for himself after scoring 11 goals for Fulham during the 2005/2006 season, but never quite lived up to that high standard again, bouncing around five different clubs since.
Here are some other stories to get your Friday going:
PLYMOUTH COMPLETES COOPER SWOOP
U.S. national team striker Kenny Cooper's loan move to English side Plymouth Argyle has been completed, 1860 Munich announced on its website.
"I know both coaches at Plymouth, Paul Mariner and John Carver from my spell in the MLS," Cooper said. "I know I am getting my chance to recommend myself for the World Cup squad of my country. Hopefully I'll be able to score goals to help Plymouth win."
The loan deal came together after a falling out between Cooper and 1860 Munich manager Ewald Lienen over playing time. German reports cited an argument between Lienen and Cooper's father, Ken Sr., with ultimately leading to a move being made.
It remains unclear when Cooper will be eligible to play for Plymouth.
PHILADELPHIA UNION TO AIR MATCHES ON 6ABC
The Philly Union scored a major coup by sealing a deal to have its matches shown locally on network affiliate 6ABC, the club announced on Thursday. The Union had already added respected play-by-play announcer JP Dellacamera to its staff.
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EUROPEAN ROUNDUP
Juventus fires Ciro Ferrara
Eidur Gudjohnsen signs with Tottenham on loan
Anderson on verge of Lyon loan deal
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What do you think of these developments? Think John could revive his career in MLS? Glad to see Cooper heading to Plymouth? Think Rafa Benitez will wind up at Juventus?
Share your thoughts below.
The Dirk Nowitzki of soccer?? I’d take that from Cooper.
deciding whether to sign with NYRB still, BUT he is going with them to the La Manga in Spain to check it out in the pre-season so there is a good chance he will be impressed….the talent NY has on the team and has on trial now is more impressive than what Millonarios, coaching as well…..i will be shocked if he doesnt fancy it after La Manga
What I was saying is…Blanco can have an impact on the game despite not fitness any more… John can’t..his game is based on speed and occasional finishing skill…he will never see the field for Chicago IMHO… He is a selfish, lazy player with no drive at all…abusive to his coaches as well.
I’m with you. who is this kid? iiiiiiives? you know you’re thinking about him.
agreed. he must suck too, not sure why people are so excited.
Yep. EJ the GAM gets flak for only being able to score against minnows yet Cooper gets praised for his “incredible” strike rate. Coop’s four goals have come against Honduras, Panama, Guat, and Denmark in pretty low pressure games. I think one of those goals was a pk too. I’m not trying to hate I just don’t understand why some think KC’s going to come on and change the striker situation for the Nats.
I think its pretty obvious why Bob doesn’t give him games.
$$$
millionarios havent signed him yet. VIVA COLOMBIA!
baloney
Come back to Dallas Coop. We’ll let you start over here.
His father is not his agent. Sr. may act as de facto agent but Kon Schramm is actually the agent. Given Sr.’s background he’s well qualified to handle Jr.’s matters but the agent work is done by Schramm.
Does anyone know about guy Daniel Williams who plays in the Bundesliga for Freiburg? Yanks Abroad is reporting he has dual citizenship?
I just thought it was funny, certainly not a big deal. Ives, I love reading the SBI. Best blog on the ‘net.
I think regular FSC is in HD now on cablevision. Anyone else see this?
I think Anderson should come play in the MLS….
Everyone makes crazy assumptions that young Americans not playing should come back to the MLS, why not young brazilians?
Maybe the law firms in England don’t require bluebooking/proofing, eh? I KID.
His Dad is his agent and a former professional footballer himself. If I’m lead to believe correctly, his father, as his agent, approached the coach about more playing time in an attempt to position himself for a world cup spot. I don’t think he was trying to tell the coach how to do his job, but nevertheless the coach was insulted by the approach.
It is tough being THE MLS, with not enough supporting soccer in THIS country, but I hardly think that Landon, Beckh, Ljungberg, etc. are failed European players.
Maybe the last two ( and the etc. ) are past their prime, but they are still VERY capable of playing in Europe.
yeah. i was trying to eat with chopsticks in one hand and type with the other. so much for multitasking.
Aahh — ya beat me to it.
Does anyone know how the economics works on these television deals ?
The Sounder’s games play once live on an NBC affiliate, then replayed 3 times on the regional Fox station for every game.
Are they making bank, paying bank, somewhere in between ?
It is great for the exposure, what about the pocketbook ?
I think they have higher editing standards there.
poor typing. sorry. that’s “get me transferred” and “law firm.”
If Juventus buys out Rafa’s remaining Liverpool contract, then I think we can go beyond “could very well be gone” — unless they’re planning to loan him back to coach Liverpool for the rest of the season….
I’m going to ask MY DAD if he can me transferred to a law frim in England.
I completely agree with your assessment of Cooper. he does not know how to use his body and be a target player. I liken him to the 7ft basketball player that wants to shoot from the wing instead of post up. Learn to use your body.
I agree on that comparison
Does anyone know anything about this Plymouth team?
The only thing I know about them is that Shaun Wright-Phillips’ brother plays for them.
You guys put too much mind to “the MLS.” Garber says it all the time.
It looks like this year the MLS is getting failed European players. Is the MLS Europe’s graveyard?
One more thought. The reason Casey is in front of Cooper (although I don’t want either in SA) is because Casey can function as a target forward. He doesn’t have Cooper’s skills, but he knows how to be a big man
Collins John could light up MLS if he finds some work ethic. Given that he has not gotten it so far, this is an interesting gamble for Chicago. Cooper is not worthy of a spot on the USMNT even with the lack of depth at striker.
Did Kenny Cooper really say “…the MLS”? If so, he’ll fit in quite nicely in England.
(SBI-It was a quote taken from the Munich website that a British website then edited, so the quote itself is probably not quite what Cooper said specifically. Also, people say “The MLS” all the time, it’s incorrect but it’s not THAT serious.”)
Is calling someone “no Blanco” an insult? All Blanco did was jog around the pitch making his team mates look like a fool if they made a bad pass. Then go take a free kick and kick it out of the stadium. Corners barely make the near post. I would rather have John than Blanco.
The best description I ever heard of Cooper is that he’s six foot three 220 pounder who thinks he’s a 5 foot tall Brazilian. He clearly has some skills, but he is not going to dribble past top flight defenders and he has never shown the passing vision needed by a forward who likes to take the ball wide and dribble into the box. Even in years when he has scored lots of goals in MLS, he took so many shots and was so selfish I wondered if he didn’t cost his team more goals than he scored.
I think he will have some success with his new club, but he is not versatile enough to include on the WC squad.
Probably not faster. Well maybe, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he plays. I agree with everything else, although as to on the field effectiveness IMO they’re both about the same if you were to play them in the World Cup (Casey gets the slight edge for performing in a high pressure situation against Honduras). Hopefully neither one sees the field at the WC.
If he hadn’t realized it yet, Collins John has hit rock bottom in terms of his soccer career. Usually it’s Americans/MLSers having to trial everywhere they go in Europe…now he’s not even guaranteed a spot in Chicago, that must suck.
Collins John is the laziest sick note you will ever come across… when he was loaned out from Fulham to NEC… the NEC coach said he was so unfit that he could not last 25 mins on the pitch… And mind you..he is no Blanco
Rangers agreed to transfer terms with Sporting Lisbon for Pedro Mendes. One fewer person in the pecking order for Edu to overcome for playing time.
Please let Cooper kick Casey off the plane. I want to see that lazy sasquatch gone. Cooper has far more technical skill, is faster, and inarguably has better striking technique.
Should Toyota Park put a cottage in the corner of the stadium? It’d have to sell empanadas though.
Kenny Cooper=the Adam James of soccer? How was his father involved?
Good move by Philly.
Collins John should be good in MLS.
I have never been a big Coooper fan. I hope Bradley does not pick him for the World Cup. Who wants a dad tagging along fussing about playing time.
I’m more interested in seeing what happens with Juan Agudelo. Any updates there?
He’s only 24 and has already scored many goals on the biggest stage… this guy could do great things in Chicago… hopefully.
cool I get 6abc, looks like I’m gonna get to watch them.
Too much tweeting for John causing the downturn of his career?
If Juventus buys out Rafa’s remaining Liverpool contract (like has been rumored), he could very well be gone. If not, Liverpool doesn’t have the funds to buy him out.
Based on his Wiki page, seems John is a bit of trouble. Was a good talent back in his Fulham days and if he can find some form with McBride, we may have a very solid partnership.
wow… collins john could be a 15+ guy…
plus he is young… wonder why his career went south