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Report: Holden to trial with Burnley

Stuart Holden 2 (Reuters)

Stuart Holden is undoubtedly an up-and-coming player for the U.S. national team, but that apparently has not convinced English Premier League club Burnley enough to sign the now-free agent midfielder.

According to reports, Holden will go on trial with Burnley, although when the trial begins and for how long has not been revealed. Holden will train with the club and play in reserve games in order for Burnley to decide whether it wants to sign him.

While Holden's former club, the Houston Dynamo, has not given up hope on re-signing him, it will start to look at possible replacements, according to the club's chief operating officer, Chris Canetti. 

What do you think of this development? Surprised Burnley is only offering a trial at this point? Should Holden just re-sign with Houston? Where should the Dynamo look for a replacement if Holden does leave?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. This could be a masterstroke in the negotiations with Burnley and Houston. It allows Holden an opportunity to get a sense of whether he would get meaningful playing time with Burnley w/o locking in via a contract and thereby giving up on his opportunities with Houston and others, which other opportunities could end up being superior if it seems that he wouldn’t play a lot at Burnley.

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  2. Meanwhile United States midfielder Landon Donovan will check in tomorrow to start his loan deal from Los Angeles Galaxy.

    Moyes added: “I am looking forward to him arriving. He will be with us for two and a half months.

    “Landon has a bit of pace, is a goalscorer and is experienced. We will be looking for him to get a good week’s training in first of all. We know he is a very fit lad.”

    This was posted on espnsoccernet earlier today

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  3. This really isn’t a bad deal on several levels. If Stu does go to Burnley and impress and they’re relegated there’s a very good chance of him being picked up by another team and staying in the top flight. The trial gives him a chance to check out the club, the overall situation, and find out if it really is a good fit and somewhere he’d like to play long term.

    Signing a one year deal in MLS and then moving next summer would be great, but per the current MLS contact agreements a one year deal doesn’t exist. Any transfer after he signs a new MLS deal would require a big transfer fee to be paid by another club, hence why him moving on a free transfer is so attractive now.

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  4. id have to agree wit this… fact is i wouldnt know who davies is unless he woulda been selected by bob for the confed cup.. and it wouldnt be smart to try and play in smaller leagues and wait to be selected by bob because it wont happen.. imo

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  5. lets see Altidore scored 15 goals in 37 games for RBNY and was one of the best forwards in the league. hes scored 0 in 15 league games for Hull. Bolton would beat the current mls champs easily. they may not play the most attractive football, but they have way more quality than mls teams. Gary Cahill, Kevin Davies, Jussi Jaaskelainen, Ivan Klasnic ….. mls teams dont have that kinda quality. sorry.

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  6. fulham gave mls $4 million for dempsey. i think stu’s a good player with a bright future, but in no way is he worth $5 million. i would be shocked to see a transfer fee for him go over 2 or 3 million, especially if burnley is skeptical enough to make him go thru a trial first.

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  7. I think Timmy can keep a good hold on Donavon at Everton, and I think Holden seems like the kid who is humble and hard working. This along with how they play will determine if they can make it. (I really hope I’m right.)

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  8. Someone said earlier “…garbage EPL…”. After watching Bolton v Hull and a few other games that didn’t include the big 4 this past week, I feel comfortable saying that any team in the bottom 1/3 qualifies as garbage EPL. Let’s face it, drop any top MLS squad in a game v Hull or Bolton or Portsmouth and it is a wash on who wins… Go ahead MLS haters and bash me but that is what I see.

    That being said, having to play vs any of the TOP 1/3 in EPL gives Burnley or Hull or any of those bottom feeders the edge for why I suggest to Holden to go make your mark in that trial, kick arse and take names, sign that contract and PLAY YOUR HEART OUT for Burnley… Pick up excellent experience vs top flight competition and then bring that to the US in World Cup.

    The only thing that I BEG of Holden and Donovan is PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t be lazy or arrogant or show that typical sense of American entitlement in training or during games like, I think, Adu, JOhnson and maybe even Jozy have done… Go there and give 100%, be professional, don’t miss practice times and work your arse’s off.

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  9. The trial’s a good thing. It will allow him to assess himself and his options with more confidence. So, any news on Whether Donovan is gonna dress tomorrow? Is he eve over there yet?

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  10. exactly how many millions (And of what, exactly) do you suspect they are going to pay him? maybe a million pounds over three years, if he really impresses. which is still well more than MLS is offering, even at the new rate.

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  11. To re-iterate what others have said.

    1. Burnley can not afford to make a mistake. They have to cover themselves, therefore the trial.

    2. I think going into a team with a good amount of heart and the current Burnley situation is good for Holden. Let’s face it Burnley v a top 4 is similar to USA v a top 8 team in the world. Its good fire to be tested in.

    3. Even if Burnley go down, the championship is still a good place for Holden in 2010/11.

    4. Fighting for a spot on a prem team and training with prem players Jan – April.. is way better prep for the Copa than an MLS off season and MLS early season.

    Anyone catch(or more likely dvr) him on good morning america this morning? Did he mention this or was he talking about his good causes?

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  12. Holden has been alot more vocal about the need to play if he moves to Europe(at least more so than most guys that are about to leave for Europe.) Maybe he said to I’m not coming here to sit on a bench the first 3 months, and they said go on a Trial and then we’ll know. This is best for Holden IMO, if he does well on the trial he’s likely to sign with Burnley and Burnley is likely to play him some right away. If it dosent work out he can just sign a 1 year deal with MLS and leave after the World Cup or the MLS season.

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  13. 1. Sign a 1-year deal and star for Houston.

    2. Have a few standout performances in the World Cup.

    3. Attract interest from top European clubs and move away from MLS in January 2011.

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  14. Folks,…Erik Cantona was asked to complete a two week trial at Sheffield Wednesday and at the end of the trial Trevor Francis was not convinced and asked Cantona for two more weeks!

    This is not unusual nor is it insulting. Burnley is simply doing its homework. Holden should go for it. The stress of a relegation battle can only do him good (see Clint Dempsey).

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  15. Maybe Eddie Johnson can put a good word in for him.

    Being Scottish he might prefer a club more in Northern England. I don’t see the problem with a trial depending on how it is setup. A long trial would take him off the market for too long a week or so and I am fine with it. If the trial doesn’t work out for either side he has had offers from Scotland and Houston that he can fall back on.

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  16. its insulting? what makes calling a player in for a trial is insulting? burnley arent exactly rolling in dough. they can’t afford to spend a lot of money and not have the player work out.

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  17. If his only option abroad is Burnley (and a trial to boot), he’d be better off staying in MickeyMouse League Soccer. At least here he’s guaranteed minutes.

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  18. He’s to good to go on “trial” with Burnley. It’s insulting. I’d rather see him go to Houston than some club that more than likely will be relegated withing 2 seasons.

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  19. The fact that Holden has been out of season is why they need to have the trial, I would guess. Burnley can’t exactly afford to bring someone to help immediately, only to find out he might need a few weeks to get up to match fitness.

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  20. I think this is a bad idea. Holden isn’t in any game ready shape (he just started working out again after Christmas). I think this is insulting. Burnley have tape of him with the USMNT and the Dynamo. They can see he can play.

    I just don’t think this does anything for him going to a garbage EPL team on trial. He needs to find a new agent unless all the clubs over the pond are very hesitant to pull the trigger on a yank.

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  21. I’m a West Ham fan so there is hope in my comment, I want Burnley to go down ;).

    Having said that, Burnley’s goal differential implies massive upcoming trouble…

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  22. As it stands, Holden is virtually a starter for the USMNT, when Dempsey moves up top.

    But several months on the bench and limited playing time at Burnley will take him off the field and maybe even off the plane to S. Africa. He’ll be hanging on a wingtip.

    As far as replacements are concerned, we’re operating in a complete vacuum of knowledge about the 2010 salary cap. If it’s $4M, then they can bring in somebody talented and at their peak, if it’s $2.5M, then MLS will just keep losing these players in their prime and bringing in 30+ year olds or GenAd 20-year-olds.

    There seem to be relatively few MLS players 25-29 compared to most leagues.

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  23. jackie, it isn’t that simple. Many Yanks have gone to smaller leagues and are forgotten for years. There is no one correct formula. If he wants to play in England, Holden should go and prove himself but make sure there is a legit opportunity to play before signing. Nothing is given to you.

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  24. If Burnley are not convinced? He gets a chance to actually go there and prove he’s worth the millions they’ll have to cough up (they aren’t that rich). He gets a chance to assess whether the environment is the one he wants. This is a good thing, this isn’t a slight. If anything, it’s probably a gesture that they want to bring him in.

    ps. France won’t be that forgiving. Haven’t heard anything from Holland. I think this is the destination.

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  25. charlie was smart, started in smaller league and was working his way up before the accident. however other yanks never learn.

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  26. I think this is the best for Holden. Even if he doesn’t start as much as he would in MLS, I think he would garner some good experience and some playing time as the season continues. As for a replacement… there are no sure fire examples. Draft a solid College player, or entice a struggling player home (Adu) or get a foreign DP. At any rate, good luck Holden.

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  27. if burnley are not convinced !

    then even if they sign him, he will only be a bench warmer for burnley.

    he needs to go holland or france.

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