Thierry Henry is the biggest name joining MLS during the July transfer window, but he's far from the only one.
Henry joins Anthony Obodai, Branko Bošković, Giancarlo Maldonado and Blaise Nkufo on the list of incoming talent to MLS. Each is joining a team in different circumstances, and each one brings a different style to his respective club. Bošković hopes to be the creative influence D.C. United sorely needs in the midfield, while Nkufo aiming to be a consistent finishing up front for Seattle.
Obviously, there are a few other moves that are likely down the road. But here's a question for SBI readers: Of the new additions officially announced, who will have the biggest impact on this season? Have your vote in the poll, and share your thoughts in the comments section below.
I don’t get all the anti-Canadian comments here. If a European wrote on here calling everyone “football-ignorant Americans”, people would be freaking out. I have no problem with people disagreeing, but I don’t see a reason to be disrespectful.
Canada in Soccer is like the USA 20 years ago. This is not something to giggle about people! We must help our NA brothers develop!
Henry’s favorite sports star… Allen Iverson. Good luck New Jersey.
Fact
ha ha wat the hell are you smoking give me some you must be an idiot to think Henry will have no impact on the field . He’s easily the best player in this league right now . Donovan included.
Gunther Amadeus.
Mista hasn’t had any kind of impact for any team in years. So, no.
With all due respect, if Eddie Johnson is even in the running as a first choice forward in 2014 we are f’n DOOOOOMED. Maybe a 4th choice would be OK.
Hell, if Donovan is still easily the best player on the team in 2014 we are not going to make it out of the groups unless we get a very soft draw.
Back OT: if Henry stays even remotely healthy, he is obviously the choice for biggest impact. Hell if he stays totally healthy and remotely in form he’ll challenge for the golden boot in less than half a season. He just has so much quality it’s sick. He could have stuck with Barca and probably still would have seen some good minutes and needless to say no team in MLS comes to close to Barca’s quality.
Diego Milito.. wait, this isnt fantasy land..
so Rafael Marquez.
+1
Nkufo is the biggest impact if Seattle can start winning. Henry will help continue New York’s decent start and maybe with an additional sigining brin them a championship. But I still think it is more likely that Nkufo turns Seattle around than NYRB wins a Championship
Nkufo is going to be a wilier and more effective target forward than Jaqua for the Sounders. If he ends up having good synergy with Montero and Zakuani, he could be a huge threat and really increase scoring.
Unfortunately, there’s no way he’s going to last 90 minutes every game, maybe not ANY game. At least not with a decent work rate.
If he gets the Sounders out of the goalscoring confidence slump they’ve been in since last season, he could be the highest impact player out of this bunch. I’m of the opinion that he’ll get some nice looks and hold the ball well, but not improve the team overall very much or really impact many matches. I hope I’m wrong!
Hilarious that football-ignorant Canadians are mentioning Mista, who hasn’t been worth a damn since 2005.
But what can you expect? They’re from Moronto.
Would you care to share how a 7th grade education has to do with soccer?
Let me rephrase my previous comment:
“No. We’re talking about players that will actually make a big impact.”
Happy?
The point of the poll was to see who views these foreign players as making a big impact. I know Nkufo will tremendously help Seattle score goals and Henry will sure as heck make a huge difference at NY. When you compare Mista to these players, he really falls short of making a “big impact”.
And please don’t pull this “he’s played for Madrid and has had two caps for Spain” business. I can see him scoring 2, maybe 3 goals.
I said Nkufo b/c if he proves to be just a competent scorer, than that can turn around Seattle’s season and provide a good foil for their other attacking talent. That said, I”m not sure he’s a competent scorer–we’ll see.
Boskovic could be second on my list. DCU lacks someone in the middle of the field who can play intelligent thru-balls to forwards like Pontius and Quaranta who are smart off the ball (but not really capable of making their own chances by beating 2 players with the ball). I don’t know of Boskovic is that guy.
I think Henry is a great signing. I think he will sell some tickets (more so than the other DP’s or foreign signings). That said, I don’t think he has that much impact on the field for NYRB. I think the 3rd DP (if there is one) has the potential to have more impact. NYRB already has a proven finisher. You can never have enough goals but if you look objectively at the team, a second finisher isn’t the top priority. Instead, I’d say that a central midfielder to work with Lindpere, speed on the outside and crossing ability, defensive stopper with speed, even a better and more consistent goal keeper would all result in more wins for NYRB than adding Henry. Signing Henry is one of those things where his signing is good for the league but not quite as valuable to the team (unless you focus just on ticket sales).
im hoping maldonado is for real.
Where is my Philly DP news or opinion Ives 🙁
LOL, true. Canada could win two games in a row and they’d be back up to 50-something in the rankings, that’s how wonky they are.
Hilarious
EJ, goal.
Have not watched much Fire but saw their game last week. Very unremarkable from Pappa. Actually, Pappa terminated most of Fire’s scoring chances with poor touches and decisions.
Bad game?
I am curious to see what impact Henry has for future development. What I’m looking for is Henry and Angel to practice daily AGAINST Tim Ream. If Tim Ream could get a few years of practicing against strikers like that every day to develop, plus add in the fact he’s already very comfortable on the ball, he could become a stud defender for USA.
One could only hope……. Just go to the Dutch 3rd division and add Van in the middle of the name and Der and the end of the last name and you have our next player. Johann Van Rutder… haha.
“What 3rd division euro player are we going to put on trial next?”
Does Freddy Adu qualify?
Remember that Eddie played reasonably well in last year’s preseason friendlies for Fulham as well.
But he’s old and washed up, so…. Oh. he’s only 25.
Dallas and Seattle both have so much trouble scoring, I think Uncle Milt or Blaise COULD end up having the biggest effect on the table/playoffs.
But Angel|Henry is a competent pairing in any league–and he’s a recognizable face–so I had to vote there.
Is there some sort of fued starting here.
c) Canada is a joke
God it would be great if the Fire could actually get someone who can finish or hold the ball besides Pappa. Klopas seems to look like he is watching on the sideline by making no moves. What 3rd division euro player are we going to put on trial next?
Interesting to see Kelly play centrally. I can’t believe they actually signed Greening perminently. I didn’t think he showed much last season.
I hope Johnson can latch on this year. He showed well in preseason last year but still couldn’t get out of the reserve squad besides a Carling Cup match and sub appearance against West Ham I think.
Yes. Wow, your contributions are stunning today. You must have at least a 7th grade education. Care to offer an actual opinion in response to the question?
Ha Ha. That’s hilarious — and completely on topic. What is your point Vanessa? A)Canada should be ranked that low, the last four years have been a disaster and B) from top to bottom, the rankings are a total joke.
just a warm up against brentford, here’s the lineup
: Stockdale; Stoor, Hangeland, Kelly, Konchesky; Duff, Greening, Baird Riise; E. Johnson, Elm
well, he played some rather good soccer in greece, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he sticks around this time. They’ve got johnson, zamora, elm, kamara, and the young nigerian they recently signed. Eddie Johnson could be the 4th striker in that group, and that will get him some cup and midweek minutes. Although, now that celtic signed juarez, i dont think kamara is going anywhere. Who knows, they need a coach before they can loan anyone out!
No. We’re talking about players that will actually make an impact.
Haha… Canada is now #100 on the Fifa world rankings list.
The answer depends on what type of impact we’re looking at. For total impact, on and off the field, Henry should be an easy pick from that list.
Brazilian media reports that Flamengo and the LA Galaxy are the front runners for Ronaldinho’s services.
What’s the match?
Ronaldinho’s prime target should be a gym.
Hopefully he’ll see a return to form. Eddie Johnson for starting forward in WC 2014!!!
one word: milton. if you don’t know, you soon will!
for what its worth, Eddie Johnsons is starting for Fulham tonight. It’s prettyclose to normal line up without bobby clint or schwarzer.
Mista, he’s one of the last pieces needed for the TFC puzzle!
MLS needs to continue the momentum….Raul and Ronaldinho should be prime targets
What a brain busting question that was….
No TFC love from SBI!
mista for sure – if TFC can get consistent scoring from mista they will be one of the top teams in the league.
that’s what I was thinkin!
Mista.