Photo by Howard C. Smith/ISIphotos.com
The Montreal Impact tried their hand at picking a forward and getting trade value in return once again.
After picking Brian Ching from Houston in the expansion draft only to deal him back to the Dynamo for a draft pick, the Impact used their place atop the MLS allocation order to select Eddie Johnson before promptly dealing him to the Seattle Sounders.
In return, the Impact received forward Mike Fucito and winger Lamar Neagle, while Johnson's latest attempt to resurrect his career will take place at CenturyLink Field as a complement to Fredy Montero. The last two players to have gone through the allocation process have both wound up in Seattle, as the Sounders traded up to snag Sammy Ochoa last August.
The Colorado Rapids had publicly expressed their interest in acquiring Johnson, but they sat in 14th in the allocation order, needing Johnson to be passed over by 13 teams if they were to select him. Seattle sat in 15th position but instead swung the trade to land the one-time U.S. national team striker.
Montreal, meanwhile, used its spot and moves to No. 19 for the next allocation order process in hopes that Fucito and Neagle, two attack-minded players who showed flashes of effectiveness in spurts last season and were extremely popular among Sounders fans, make the deal worthwhile.
The Vancouver Whitecaps are now in pole position in the allocation order, followed in order by the New England Revolution, Toronto FC, Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes. The entire order entering today's proceedings can be found here, with every team moving up a spot while Montreal goes to the back of the line.
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What do you think of Montreal using its allocation spot to pick Johnson? Do you see Johnson reclaiming success in MLS? Think Johnson and Montero can form an effective strike tandem? Which team got the better end of the deal?
Share your thoughts below.
Sanyang is not a winger, nor does he have promise.
As a longtime Sounders fan I like this move because it flies in the face of how other Sports teams have been run in this town. Too many feel good players have been kept on here as an attraction for the fanbase. Fucito seemed as tho he was reaching this status. I knew early on there was going to be a move. We need a different dynamic. I will miss Neagle.. the guy’s got skill
Wrong. Maybe only three yeaars in the MLS, but the club has been around since the late seventies.
I couldn’t care less, and either could anyone else. He’s not really a soccer player. None of the other teams are wishing that they had a shot at him.
You’re not only a pompous soccer dork, you have no sarcasm detector.
For Impact fans, if I’m not mistaken, Fucito assisted Neagle on the first goal v Crew in the 6-2 win last year…
Neagle has more upside IMO.
Sounders have so much firepower, needed roster spots for more young talent. Won’t be surprised if FO saw more upside in Rose, Duran, Sodade.
Impact now have five former Sounders, they must be doing something right!
You are clearly not Jewish, because you have absolutely no sense of humor. Not even enough to detect humor when you run across it.
Thanks for being a jerk…
First, I wrote “after the season in Europe”. That ends in May. Our MLS allocation does not reset then. So, it does matter.
Second, I mentioned Robbie Findley, That should be a cue to anyone with half a brain that I was being snarky. NO team is holding on to its allocation in hopes that Findley will make a never-awaited return to MLS.
Why Sounder fans should be worried.
2008–2011 Fulham 18 (0)
2008–2009 Cardiff City 30 (2)
2010 Aris 16 (5)
2011 Preston North End 16 (0)
2011–2012 Puebla 0 (0)
A very Adu type wandering.
Another Sounders fan here (get used to it, there are a lot of us). I have no problem at all with this deal. I like Fucito, but there’s no way the Sounders get past the Galaxy with Fucito next to Montero. Johnson is a gamble, but IF it works out it fills the one problem spot for the Sounders and allows them to compete with LA. I’m excited to see him with service from Rosales and Montero (who comes back to midfield a lot). Neagle is the bigger loss in terms of future potential. But the Sounders midfield is stacked.
Good trade
Its a gamble, a roll of the dice.
I can understand why he wouldn’t want Findley or EJ.
Two serviceable players for one streaky head case? Absolutely.
If Sounders think Eddie will be their solution, our prayers are with you.
EJ is a very emotional player. If the Sounders fans welcome him the way I expect them to, this could turn out to be a great love story.
It’s taken me 12 hours to stew and come back with a rational post.
Both my wife and I really like fucito, he’s got the heart of 5 men as you can see by the effort he puts out – it is fun to watch. I’ll miss having him on the team.
Neagle, on the other hand, I’m having an easier time coming to terms with. He has some talent, but I never felt like he was going to be a true impact player for the sounders, more so just good depth. Hopefully this move indicates they feel good about zakuani’s progress.
At the end of the day, I am a bit excited to see Eddie Johnson’s progress. Hopefully he developed some skills to go along with his speed during his European experience. If he scores 8 goals in year 1 I’ll be happy. Soundes management has does a good job for us I the past, no reason to expect different this time. At the very least, it will be fun to watch up close and personal.
Best of luck to mike and Lamar, we’ll miss you! And Eddie, we’ll be behind you.
Seems a sound move on both sides. There was enough interest in Johnson around the league to make it a good pick-up for Montreal. Montreal needs some depth and is on a 3+ year plan. Getting two young players who are certainly not out of place in the league is a good way to go about building depth. Seattle gets someone who has had success in this league in the past, and, on a very good team, should find more this season.
Rumours in the Canadian media are that a fairly significant DP (forward) will be on board, if not for the start of the season, then in the next European transfer window. One hears names like the aforementioned Ballack, and a string of aging Italians. No one really knows.
I think, that if you compare Montreal’s roster to the rosters of the other recent expansion sides, it compares favorably to the better ones. I’ll be surprised if they finish last in the east.
On the other hand, I suppose that giving up the allocation order spot is a bit of a gamble, because who really knows who will be coming through next. Nevetheless, it is not in any way a “bad” move on the part of Montreal.
By the way, it looks like Montreal will sell out the worst stadium in North America for their home opener, and apparently they have sold significant numbers of tickets for rest of the games at the Big Owe before they move to the expanded Saputo Stadium. There is a good chance Montreal makes the hoopla that one heard about Toronto’s attendance in their first year much ado about nothing!
Probably because the Timbers own his rights. Thanks for paying attention to MLS.
It’s true. Most have no idea what the NASL or USL was.
Probably because the Timbers own his rights…or do you not know anything?
Truth be told, the vast majority of fans have been following for 3 years.
I’m not rippin’ , I’m a Seattle fan that really
likes this trade. I thought that was pretty clear in my post. This being the intronet everybody is assumed to be a smarta** : Neither of those two showed in their opportunities that they we’re going to be “special” players, depth at best IMO, & EJ has the potential to make a big “impact” for the Sounders 🙂
you sound scurrrrrd
The guy has a lot to prove..
Good Gamble
SSFC baby!!!!
Try since 1974, Google can be your friend.
Findley’s rights are owned by the Timbers from when they drafted him in the 2010 expansion draft.
As a hardcore Sounders fan from Day One … I’m fine with it. If nothing else, EJ will make this season interesting if nothing else.
Fucito and Neagle have loads of potential. Good luck to them both.
After the season is over, the allocation spots will change anyways so it doesn’t matter.
I can’t understand why Montreal would give up that first slot so easily, when there’s still a chance Robbie FIndley might return after the season in Europe…
Absolutely crazy! WHY would you give up that first allocation slot, when ROBBIE FINDLEY will probably return in a few months?? Or, possibly, just maybe even CHRIS ROLFE???
WHY?? WHY???
I’m glad someone can look at it objectively. I love Fucito but he is the kind of player that works really hard but doesn’t have that high of a ceiling. Johnson was never really good enough to cut it in England but hes proven himself as a prolific scorer in MLS. All the coaching staff need to do is get him playing anywhere near the level that he was playing at before he left MLS, and the trade will be worth it.
I hope Edie revives his career.
Marsch might be right, just not here.
one of my favorite national team players in my younger years, i hope he can turn his career back around, just hope he doesn’t score against the quakes!
like i said plenty of time to get fit
Another guy riping on Seattle fans. Glad you guys keep yourself amused.
Most of Seattle is pretty upset actually, butdont let the truthget in the way.
Joe is a moron or an idiot….I dont see any middle ground
He had an interview on Seattle sports radio and said he was training for two months before the Pueblo situation.
WoW! This totally stunned me…I like it! SSFC
in the big picture, can sounders fan really be at the upset, your club is 3 years old..
That’s why you’re not Sigi Schmid, or coaching an MLS team for that matter.
As a Sounders fan, I really like this trade. I was a fan of Fucito and Neagle, but I like the idea of Eddie surrounded by this talent and coached by Sigi.
Geez, am I the only one who likes this trade! ha ha
http://www.sportsradiokjr.com/player/?station=KJR-AM&program_name=podcast&program_id=gas.xml&mid=21832098
Here is the interview
Yes, but this team is also much more talented than the Kansas City team he was with. He is going to get more chances with the players they have around him.
Considering EJ said he’s been training at Bradenton for the past two months–and the Sounders just happen to be at Bradenton for a week, they obviously know whether or not he’s in shape. Game shape, maybe not, but I doubt Sigi & Co. would have signed him if he looked porky.
The other thing people are not considering is the possibility that one or both of these players has been surpassed in preseason training.
Lolz. If you “” someone, it’s best to actually quote them instead of saying something with an entirely different meaning.
I agree with Sammysounder. He will either kill it or they will rue the trade.
any issues this talented player has should be helped greatly by sigi schmid and the wonderful fans of seattle sounders fc
I agree. Either this doesnt work and Sigi gets blamed for letting young talent go or it does work and it takes Seattle over the hump.
EJ just did an interview on a Seattle sports radio station. He said Beasley called him on his cell phone and sold him on the idea of Puebla, and said the coach was very interested. Ej goes down there, he’s promised a contract, but the team technical director over-ruled the coach, insisting on a Mexican striker. Ej insists he’s in shape and that he NEVER even took a fitness test. Interesting stuff.
They don’t make it to the CCL KO rounds without Neagle and Fucito…
Watched the Sounders all last season and liked both Neagle and Fucito. EJ was good in the qualifiers in 2005. That’s the extent of it. I don’t know how a guy who should be smart like Sigi could make a move like this.
GAM!!!!!! 😀
+1