Photo by ISIphotos.com
Stuart Holden's quest for a European club has finally resulted in a contract, meaning he can now begin working toward battling for a place in the U.S. World Cup squad.
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has confirmed that the club will sign Holden as one of two winter acquisitions, along with Manchester City's Vladimir Weiss.
Holden is nursing a minor thigh injury that could delay his transition into the team, but he could be with the squad for its Tuesday league match vs. Burnley.
Holden joins former Dynamo teammate Ricardo Clark, who has signed with Eintracht Frankfurt, as Americans to make major transfer moves from MLS this winter.
What do you think of the move? Eager to see him on the field in the EPL? Think he can play his way into a starting role ahead of the World Cup?
Share your thoughts below.
Holden: I understand this IS Bolton.
Coyle: (with the fake mustache) Yes?
Holden: You told me it was Ipswich!
Coyle: …It was a pun.
Holden: (pause) A PUN?!?
Coyle: No, no…not a pun…What’s that thing that spells the same backwards as forwards?
Holden: (Long pause) A palindrome…?
Coyle: Yeah, that’s it!
Holden: It’s not a palindrome! The palindrome of “Bolton” would be “Notlob”!! It don’t work!!
Coyle: Well, what do you want?
Holden: I’m not prepared to pursue my line of inquiry any longer as I think this is getting too silly!
Agreed, I think some people underestimate his intangibles. A lot of our youngsters are starting to really mature now, and Holden, Jozy, Davies, Bradley, Torres, Rogers, Edu, Spector, etc., will give the US a very formidable group come 2014.
Again, short term contract. If Bolton goes down they’ll be clearing out a lot of players and teams coming up will need inexpensive players to sign.
The only downside I see to this is now having to root for Bolton who have got to be one of the most boring EPL teams to watch. Hopefully Coyle can get them playing more attractive football and after paying his dues, Stu will get into the starting lineup regularly. As others have stated, his route is similar to the one Dempsey took. If he turns out the same, that won’t be too bad.
hopefully this works out well. FYI, Holden is carrying a slight thigh injury. So they said once that heals it is up to him to prove he belongs there. Which they think he does.
For all the talk about Dempsey’s , real or i say imagined, lack of hustle with the Nats, he has managed to break into the starting 11 now for 3 managers since moving to Fulham. Even after being the leading scorer before Hodgson arrived he was relegated to the bench and managed to regain his place. Most other players would have tried to get outta town but he beared down and put in the work and now he is one of the better players on the team.
I think alot of the players going overseas could learn alot from Dempsey’s example.
Tony, I agree the doubters are underestimating Holden. But you should hold onto your money.
Fact is Holden was moving on to Portugal until Gallas busted whatsisname’s ankle. All of a sudden signing Weiss & Holden became more compelling to Coyle.
Anyway, for USMNT this is a win, and yes Holden will get some minutes. If it’s just a few minutes then he moves on after the Cup to a lesser league, if he establishes himself as real contributor then he sticks.
Man, you guys are a bunch of optimists.
I know, I Know. Its just pouring rain here, so I’m a little glum. I just feel that Americans are constantly going to relegation threatened teams and failing. Feilhaber, Johnson, Jozy. I know Dempsey is doing great, and I really hope Holden follows the same trajectory.
Why is everyone ignoring the fact that Bolton has been dismal this season? I mean, a win against Burnley will lift them out of the relegation zone, but for how long? Surely I’m not the only one who doubts that the team will stay in the Premiership this season. (I’ve got my concerns about Hull, too, for that matter, but Jozy’s out of there at the end of the season.)
On the other hand, spending his formative seasons in the Championship might be good for Stu–an easier transition into the English game. Plenty of minutes, less scorching spotlight. Who knows?
slotting into the starting lineup? And who exactly would he replace?
Geek synchronicity! As Bolton manager in FM10 I signed Weiss too! But not Holden.
I think Stu is going to surprise some people, he’s one of the more creative players on the USMNT and has shown that he’ll step up when given the chance (see DeRo leaving the Dynamo and everyone writing the team off last season). The possibility of Bolton getting relegated isn’t a big deal IMO, he’s not stuck in a long-term deal and if he plays well he’d be a fantastic addition for a newly promoted team.
He may have to fight for playing time but he’s going to impress when he gets the chance. Stu, we’ll miss you in Houston, do us proud.
No one is saying that Holden will start immediately and become an impact player overnight. But when I read some comments like he will slide into obscurity or that he hasn’t been impressive yet, I really have to wonder what some people are watching. it’s shocking to think that some fans seem to understand goals and saves…and nothing else. Of course, some people complained about Claudio Reyna back in 2002 and wondered why he was selected to the all World Cup team…
I am willing to bet that by 2014, Struat Holden will be the most important player on the US team. He has a great work rate, his soccer IQ is incredible and his crossing is absolutely pin point. The guy is seriously good.
The article says he’s only signed until the end of the season. Is that correct? Surely, if they’re going to sign him, it’s for a year or two, right? What’s the point if it’s only until the end of the season?
Congrats but I can’t say I’ve been especially impressed by him yet. I feel like he’s going to struggle to get off the bench – and even then he’ll take some time to warm up in the EPL. Plus he looks like Draco Malfoy so he won’t be getting any love in England.
Great move. Holden is talented, bright, mature and takes is career very seriously. He’s making the move at the right time in his career and in a couple years I’m sure he can duplicate the success of Clint
I would be a lot happier if Weiss hadn’t also been signed. Makes his battle for minutes far more difficult.
However, I think Holden deserves to be playing in this league, and hopefully a trusting manager will get the best out of him.
Totally agree. Terrible opportunity for Holden.
I thought Weiss was really impressive in the friendly vs. Slovakia, and he was really young (19, if I remember) and also played on the wing. I wonder if he may play ahead of Stu.
I bet Holden finds more success in the EPL than Jozy or Landon for that matter.
@Steve T.
Why so negative?? Dempsey didn’t immediately start playing @ Fulham. However, he earned his keep and it has paid big dividends.
Congratulations Holden!
It’s a good move for Holden in my opinion. He fits right in with the English style of play and I’ve always said he seems to have a Frank Lampard presence to him. As he loses that pace and energy, he’ll have to develop his technical ability and tactical aptitude. If he solidifies a spot on the team, either as a sub or starter by the end of the season, I wouldn’t be shocked.
Ives, any news on the CBA negotiations (or what we can expect from an agreement)? It’s gone quiet over the past week or so.
So when can we expect that big Gooch, etc. story today, Ives?
Haha! Yeah he looks slightly ticked.
I dont know, hes more in the mold of the players that have been successful in moves. The move isnt because of hype or his phyiscal abilitys…
Why would they even sign him after being on trial? I just dont think if say Jozy would have been on trial like Holden he would be in Europe…
I think Holden will do very well with talent around him, he will not be forced to do anything and can just find space and whip in crosses, which he has EPL ability to do. Holden actually brings something to the table, and something that makes everyone around him better.
debbie downer.
Holden is much better than you think. Give him some time and he will thrive over there.
I am thinking the same thing as Art said in his last sentance, about this being another Feilhaber-Derby move. I do disagree with him on his play in the MLS as he was a good player. Great? I am not so sure of. I dont know why but just the way this transfer went, I am thinking you will see him come off the bench 3 or 4 times this season. Then everyone will be saying he should have never made the move. Especially to a team that might just get relagated. Here is to Holden though, as I hope he can be Bolton’s version of Dempsey, and hope he helps keep the team in the EPL.
The UK papers don’t get MLS at all so that is why you see these on-loan blah, blah, stuff. I hope Stu’s reps are smart enough to not do some short term deal.
As far as him playing. I think he gets minutes from Coyle. If he can do what we’ve seen in WCQ and Gold Cup he will be fine. I think Stuart is the best crosser of the ball the US has at this moment. I always take what Eric Wynalda says with a grain of salt but he compared Stu’s crossing to Becks. If he is one step down from level that it is pretty good. Also, his ability to hit shots from range out of the midfield is up there with Clint (who has been doing that for fulahm lately) and Ricardo Clark (who i hope does more that now that he is in Europe). Then take into account that Stu does not stop running and you have a really good base for an EPL player. I hope it works out.
Weight room
Now I’m really glad LD didn’t go to Club America…
Of course we’ll see DNP’s, but Coyle must have a real interest in Holden for him to bring him along to Bolton, and you’ve got to imagine that Bradley supported this move or he wouldn’t have gone through with it.
Well done Holden! Huge accomplishment for an American player to be playing in the Premier League at 24.
Coyle seems to think highly of him as well, which is only a good thing. If he can replicate his international form in this league, which he will have to do, I don’t think he’ll have any problem slotting into a starting line-up and developing into an even better player.
I’m pretty sure the article is incorrect, he didn’t have a contract with MLS.
As far as the move itself, doesn’t seem that great for him for the next 5 months considering they’re siging Weiss at the same time!
(SBI-The article is, in fact, incorrect with regard to his contract status. They incorrectly assumed he was in a similar situation to Donovan and Beckham.)
Looks like I have a new favorite team in the relegation race! Get some PT, Holden, do your thing.
Holden has the best right foot on the MNT. I hope he can expand his passing range in England and become the quarterback our midfield needs.
I don’t know about this…Holden will have to do something more to prove to me he can play in the EPL, frankly I didn’t think he was consistently all that great in MLS. Something tells me this might be a Benny Fielhaber at Derby sort of situation.
OT:
look at the bright side, even though our players are getting injured before the WC, at least theyre not getting shot in the heads. FFS!
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/01/25/salvador.cabanas.ap/index.html
This is a good move for him. I am a little surprised. I honestly thought that the thigh injury story was a way of letting him down softly.
Good for Stewart.
wait i am lost, so is he going on loan? if so that would mean he signed a new contract with MLs right? If not then would it not be a huge mistake to go somewhere temporary? IF he were to get hurt, he would be jobless? I must have missed something here
Although he doesn’t have the creativity as Dempsey. I see him having a similar career in the EPL. Remember, Dempsey didn’t start at Fulham immediately and now look at him.
I wonder if this deal was revived after Coyle got Arsene Wenger mad after their game last week. Everyone knew Jack Wilshire wasn’t heading to Bolton after that.
Players with US National team aspirations must look at clubs like Houston as a great stepping stone to international level soccer. Sure Clark and Holden were good players before, but Houston helped them hone their skills to a higher level.
There’s a lot to be said for consistency in coaching and FO of a team.
agreed. thus begins his slide into obscurity.
This should be a good move for him, provided he gets some opportunities and shows well. I think he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the US, and I expect him to perform admirably. I’ll certainly be watching excitedly.
I forsee another DNP on the Americans Abroad posts.
i love this picture of Holden. it’s like someone made fun of his frosted tips and he’s taking his ball and going home. :]
other than that, hope he gets some time on the field. good move for stu.
Good move, and aside from this, Holden should be a lock for the WC team this summer, ESPECIALLY, given the play of the group that took the pitch this past Saturday.