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Rogers, Leeds United mutually agree to part ways

Photo by ISIphotos.com

It is safe to say Robbie Rogers did not plan on it going this way.

A year after signing with Leeds United, the Championship club announced on Tuesday that it had mutually agreed to part ways with Rogers. The 25-year-old midfielder had recently been on loan with League One club Stevenage, but failed to break into the lineup on a permanent basis during his five months there  before recently returning to Leeds.

The former Columbus Crew midfielder ends his time with Leeds United having played in just four league games since signing a deal with the Whites in January 2012. Rogers suffered an injury in his debut match with the club back in February and that sidelined him until late in the season.

Rogers made only five league appearances since being loaned out to Stevenage last August.

What do you think of Rogers and Leeds parting ways? Should he stay in Europe or return to MLS? Would you want your MLS club to pick him up?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. He needs to go to a team where he can play on a regular basis. He’s in a great postion to go pretty much anywhere. I would think since he’s in England now, use January to trial with some clubs there, maybe through Feb. since he was a free. And if he can’t latch on, then maybe look to come back to MLS.

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  2. Rogers is a good player but just needs to be in the right situation. He struggles away from home and this is the second time that Europe didn’t work out. That’s why all of USMNT is from Europe because it’s a 100 times more difficult than MLS…not just the football but the living condidtions and how foreigners are treated. Most are just not up to it. RR is a very talented player but has to be in a comfortable setting like MLS close to home (California).

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    • What? it’s not 100 times more difficult then MLS, if it was Cameroon would have ended up like Rim. Findley had one good year in MLS, Robbie Rodgers was an okay player in MLS. Both were not, elite MLS players.

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  3. so a player leaves an MLS club on a free transfer and if wants to return to MLS the MLS club he left (and is not under contract to) still holds his “rights”? WTF?

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  4. Why the Rogers hate?

    He has one gift that sets him apart … SPEED! If he can be humble, work hard and find a coach that will give him opportunities for success, he will be back in the USMNT discussion BECAUSE we have NO REAL Wingers.

    On the left: Shea and ….
    On the right: Donovan, Gatt, Gyau and …

    He could be back and then we all will have to eat crow. So let’s save the hate and hope he finds a GREAT place. I would go watch him and Shea switch wings in Dallas every weekend.

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    • On the Left: Shea, Gyau, and possibly Aron JĂłhannsson.
      On the Right: Zusi, Gatt, Bedoya and possibly Donovan.
      On either side: Corona & Zusi
      Hell I’d take Beasley over Rogers.

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  5. The PRODIGAL sons are returning home (after wasting their “fortune” in Europe), Robbie Rogers and Robbie Findley. They need to call Bornstein and they all join one team (on a serious note that’ll be a good team),…… too bad “Daddy” is in Egypt.

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  6. From scoring vs. Mexico to discarded by Stevenage. Tough stretch – hope he comes back to an MLS club where he can contribute. I think he’s a Marvin Chavez type player who can definitely contribute in the right situation.

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    • Shea did all the hard work on that goal vs Mexico (in fact he created both goals vs Mexico in the Klinsmann era), Rogers had an easy tap in. Rogers could have suddenly died of a heart attack right there and the ball would have hit off his body and gone in for a goal.

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  7. Turned out better than Johann Smith. Not sure how he did compared to Sal Zizzo. The wingers of that U-20 team didn’t really knock it out of the park.

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  8. The Fire may be shopping around for a wide mid if Flacco leaves as rumored, but I don’t think we need Rogers. He’s like a funhouse mirror version of Marco Pappa in terms of consistency – even more erratic. Plus, he developed a real habit for flubbing shots towards the end of his time in Columbus (many of which he did create to be fair), if my memory serves correctly.

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  9. His next contract certainly won’t be at the same $$ level as the one he just tore up. That’s shows some good self confidence. He’ll need to bounce back and prove his worth wherever he goes next. Guess its not all about the $$$, which is refreshing, but maybe not a smart choice.

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  10. The Robbie Rogers.com didn’t make it over in Europe? I’m shocked! Shocked, I say! I am disappointed though. I was hoping the Crew would never see him again. Hopefully Warzycha pulls his head out of his rear end long enough to get a draft pick or two for Rogers instead of keeping him.

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  11. Between Mike Grella and Rogers, Leeds seems to be a tough place to crack, huh?

    Well, it was sink or swim in England for Robbie………sunk. Took the chance, good for him. Unlucky with the injury but took a chance. All you can ask for in a player. Was willing to leave the relatively safe haven in MLS he had in order to push and test himself. Can’t knock him.

    Unless Kilnnsmann can pull some strings, I can’t see him going anywhere else than back home.

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    • He basically left his existing job for more money knowing that if he fails he could always go back to his existing job. Not much of a risk.

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  12. Rogers is an odd player, I think he has very nice ball skills, and decent quickness, but his ability to be a creative force in games is very low. He is very weak on the ball, I am shocked he thought low level English football would be a good fit. I actually think his skillset is better fit for a low level Mexican league team, where he can have more time on the ball to make decisions.

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    • How are “balls skills” different from how he is “on the ball” (weak, as you say)? Just wondering how you’re defining your terms.

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      • i’m guessing he refers to strength in regards to being pushed off the ball. i.e. being able to handle contact and physical defenders.

      • Not my original comment, but generally “balls skills” refer to someone’s technical ability – trapping, 1v1, 1st touch, whereas “weak on the ball” means he’s easily pushed off the ball by defenders. Someone like DeMarcus Beasley at his prime had great ball skills but was still weak on the ball, which is probably a big reason (among others) why Scotland wasn’t a great fit for him.

    • Lower leagues in England are all about high work rate. Not much skill. Dudes with skill usually get their legs broken if they get too cute or have too much time on the ball.

      RR should try the Benelux countries (again), Portgual or even 2nd div in Spain.

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  13. I always thought Rogers had no soccer IQ, just a guy who can run fast but has no vision. Yet these “average MLS player at best” guys keep finding their way into the national team, and then going over to Europe, and them predictably failing in Europe. Robbie Findley being the other one who fits that description.

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    • Who recently do you speak of? Please don’t mention Beckerman – he’s above average MLS player, just not fast enough for a higher level.
      Rogers has the intangible speed, was young, and as I saw in 2009, he can beat people on the wing. However, I’m not convinced that his soccer IQ is above average; quite the opposite me thinks. Prove me wrong Robbie! Brek has proved me wrong, somewhat. I used to think he had 0 soccer IQ. Now I think he has a few points.

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      • I speak of Robbie Rogers and Robbie Findley. I mentioned them both by name.
        Shea has a soccer IQ, as does Beckerman, he’s just getting old and already moves at a snails pace.

  14. Can’t wait till he goes to some above average team, has a half decent year, and gets called up to the NT again. Having all these European rejects who failed in better competition getting NT minutes sure looks good!

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  15. How is his concussion situation? Is this a player that can continue to play for a number of years or will he have to call it quits for health reasons?

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  16. Not a very good player. He was lucky to get a contract from Leeds in the first place and many of us said so at the time. He’s an average MLS player at best.

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  17. I was never high on Rogers; couldn’t for the life of me understand the fuss. But I wouldn’t have predicted that he couldn’t get on the field for *Stevenage*.

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    • Biggest Yank abroad failure? A young, once USMNT player lasts one season, making a handful of games and not even seeing game time in the lower divisions.

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      • He got a concussion in his first match when he came on as a substitute, then when he finally recovered he hurt his hamstring in his next appearance. Also Leeds sacked the manager who brought him in in February 2012 and brought in Neil Warnock who had just been in the Prem with QPR, so I don’t doubt he didn’t think much of Rogers. I’m not saying Rogers lack of success wasn’t an indication of his limitations or that it wasn’t his fault, but there were a lot of things that didn’t go his way too. Hopefully, whether he comes back to MLS or goes somewhere else, his next club situation is a better fit for him because I think he still has some talent.

  18. looking at this glass half-full, the guy is only 25 and still has some productive years ahead of him. but prolly not at a higher level than MLS or a scandinavian league

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  19. Would like to see Rogers go to Houston, always felt like he was the type of player that under the right coach and system could perform really well on a consistsnt basis. At the crew he was good but inconsistent so hopefully he finds a club where hecan get regular playing time.

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    • With Wilhelmsson gone, he seems like the ideal fit for his boyhood team, the Galaxy. While Wilhelmsson was not great, he proved how a true winger can open the field up for them.

      If Landon doesn’t return, I seem them going after a loan deal for Fabiano.

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