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Jose Francisco Torres has seen his playing time at Pachuca diminish and it appears the U.S. national team midfielder ready to look at new opportunities, including a potential move to Major League Soccer.
Torres told MLSSoccer.com that Pachuca has given him permission to find a move, and MLS is a definite possibility.
So where would Torres be a good fit? The Houston Dynamo make the most sense given the club's need for some central midfield strength. Chivas USA will also be mentioned but you wonder if the presence of impressive rookie Blair Gavin would make Torres a less viable option.
While those two clubs make sense, there are plenty of other MLS teams who could use a player like Torres. Among them you have teams like Portland, Chicago, New England, Los Angeles, Seattle, Columbus and Philadelphia.
Is it time to leave Mexico? A move to MLS makes plenty of sense and there would be a long list of teams interested in a player with his qualities. He's young, talented and already has a following in the United States. He's marketable and could also develop into a player teams could sell. For Torres' part, he knows he needs to be playing to stay in the U.S. national team picture so a move to MLS wouldn't exactly be a setback for him.
Where do I see him going? The Houston Dynamo definitely need help in central midfield and Torres is the type of marketable player the team can build around as it moves closer to opening a new stadium. It probably doesn't hurt that Torres is a Texas native (his hometown of Longview is about four hours away from Houston). Also, the Dynamo have seen plenty of him in CONCACAF Champions League play.
Dallas is the closest MLS team to Torres' hometown of Longview (about two hours), but Dallas would need to find the money to squeeze him onto its salary budget, never mind the fact Dallas would have to trade with someone to move up the MLS Allocation order (unless Dallas made him a Designated Player, which wouldn't seem likely). He would be a perfect replacement for Dax McCarty, but Dallas has already pegged impressive rookie Eric Alexander for that role. No, Alexander isn't as good as Torres, but in the MLS world of limited salary resources, Alexander's value as a reasonably-priced option makes him a good option compared to a high-priced option like Torres.
Where would you like to see Torres wind up in MLS? Hoping he makes a move to Europe instead?
Share your thoughts below.
Agreed, but the previous Pachuica coach never used Torres in a “reynaesque” role either.
Just because you have excellent ball skills it doesn’t mean you are creative.
I’d love to have him join Houston. His distribution is what we need and comfort on the ball to replace Rico Clark and a little of the attacking prowess of Holden to boot. Maybe Torres and Cameron in the midfield together, but we’d need another solid defender to pair with Boswell or else we need Cameron back there. We are in a definite rebuilding period and Torres would be a great step in the right direction. DP status would be fine with me as long as we get a 2nd, higher profile/higher quality DP (hopefully a forward) for 2012 to go with it to help open our new stadium.
Oh, and I think Houston, Chicago, or Real Salt Lake could use him( although I’m not knowledgeable of Salt Lake’s status in the midfield or financial steadiness).
I think there is a lot of people who still have Torres’ role confused. People still think he’s an out-and-out attacking midfielder meant to slice the defense wide open with a good pass or provide driving runs from the midfield. His job is to link the defense to the attack through the midfield with his precise passing and vision, allowing better possession and transition play. Michael Bradley’s role is actually the same except that he’s more likely to make off-the-ball runs from deep in midfield, follow the play up after he links play with a pass, or drive directly at the backline with the ball, perfect example being his long run right before he scored the goal against Egypt or his late run on his goal against Slovenia.
Every game Torres has played in Houston, I have shouted to him that he should “COME HOME!”
This is a perfect fit. He appeals to almost every fan base in Houston. He is young and talented. Torres plus an older big name DP would be a great match.
I think being one of the first subs on a top 4 team in arguable the top league at such a young age with team stacked at his position is pretty good to me, but word on adu what’s good with randers?
No you’re right, I heard that too.
I have him on Villareal on my FIFA11 he see plenty of playing time. but thats neither here nor there. That being said I think he should take a stab at Europe.
He should stay in Mexico. It’s a better league. End of discussion.
Galaxy will be overpaying for Ronaldinho soon. Toronto has the money but not a clue how to spend it. Every team in MLS could use him and have been highlighted here but truly the best fit is in Philadelphia with Novak.
Torres to Dynamo would be great and if Felix Garcia ever gets comfortable with moving away from home and playing his potential, they would make a killing. Felix keeps getting called and has even gone to Dynamo practices scoring like crazy but needs to commit completely!!!
with juninho, donovan, beckham, and torres in our midfield and buddle and another good striker with gonzales, aj, franklin, and dunivant in the back….that is a very solid team GO LA GALAXY COME HERE WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE U TORRES
To SBI’s point, midfield is really the only area where DC United is reasonably set. We desperately need finishers up top and much better defending.
Torres is an exciting player and I think he and MLS would be good for each other, but there are teams that would be a better fit for him than DCU.
Houston would be crazy to not try to get him (at the right price, of course).
I am a big Torres advocate. The kid’s got something that the rest of the nats do not and it’s already been mentioned by others in these comments. I hope he can move somewhere to further his game, and that’s all I can say.
Hell my 2010 USA kit is a Torres jersey.
Torres to Chivas USA. End of discussion.
I agree, this would be great. The only problem is that he doesn’t really seem to be impressing and putting himself in the shop window enough to warrant looks from Europe. If he can find a situation in MLS where he can really impress and build on his potential, I think it’d be a very good move. It doesn’t seem like he’s progressing much in Mexico at the moment.
He should go to Turkey and link with Altidore
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Bursaspor manager Ertu?rul Sa?lam has revealed that Bursa are in negotiations with American striker Jozy Altidore
No offense to Europe but playing in MLS is better than riding the bench in Europe(if youre lucky) Many have gone but few have had success. Europe’s been a bust for Altadore and Adu so far (other than $$ that is)
What I could find out about that deal was Pachuca was throwing him in to try to get Omar Bravo. Not exactly sure how much real interest there was on Depor’s part–not saying there was none.
Gring-go, Gring-go ,Gring-go
I will drive all the way from Austin to Houston and I will drag two people with me pay to go see Jose Fransisco Torres play for Dynamo.
Give Nery Paco’s work ethic and (especially)humility and he could be very good. Or give Torres Castillo’s speed and strength and JFT could be pretty good.
Right now, though, for the sake of a team, even an in form Nery with his attitude isn’t worth it.
RSL for sure… oh wait, RSL already has the most ridiculous midfield in the league. My bad.
The new coach doesn’t have Chaco Giménez, Damián Ãlvarez, or Jaime Correa(the one central midfielder who actually defended). Considerably less talent can do a lot to a team’s form, no offense to an aging Braulio Luna.
I think of JFT as more fundamentally sound than creative or having great vision. I think his size(not) and speed(not) make mid to low table Mexico the best fit for him as a professional player.
On the other hand, he’s fought his way back into Tuzos starting lineup more than once, including this liguilla, and onto the WC squad when the midfield looked pretty stacked, so I wouldn’t count him out, either.
Come to Houston! It would be a perfect fit.
+1
I’d like to see him go to Europe, not MLS
Sadly there is no money for this if he is looking for DP money. Seattle already has 3 DPs in Nkufo, Montero and Fernandez. We just upgraded Montero to it like 3 days ago
Regarding Spencer’s comments about a USMNT player, my gut says he might be talking about Benny Feilhaber. Some of the signs point right to him. Though, I’ll admit Torres would be a great edition to Portland but it almost sounds too good to be true.
+1. Though, not as a DP. I think Spencer says that if we get a DP, it’ll most likely be a European CM.
However, this makes a lot of sense considering Spencer’s recent statement was to bring (would be) “best midfielder in the league” and have him sign with Portland. But who knows, maybe Portland is reaching higher.
Sorry, *Himself. 🙂
I like Torres.
Unfortunately about any time you say something like that around here, people react is if you said you think he’s the second coming of JC himself to the soccer pitch or something. But I like what he generally brings to the game, that “link it up” sort of thing that was mentioned above. Would like to see him play in MLS and when we head out to DSGP next season, even if he’s on the opposing team. Hope the move happens for him, too, especially if he’s just getting less and less playing time in Mexico.
I rather agree.
So far Bradley has simply not known how to exploit one of our most talented players.
I agree: Torres is too good for the MLS. An ideal move would be to a place like Holland or a lesser Spanish side.
My two cents: Torres had a mediocre 45 minutes against Slovenia. But both goals were on Onyewu. In any case, just as Bob Bradley has not known how to best exploit Dempsey, Torres has been mishandled in the national team set up.
Best places for Torres to succeed. Houston and San Jose, possibly Portland… Would be very intriguing with Colorado & RSL.
Teams that need him the most… Toronto, FC Dallas, Chivas USA, Columbus
Dominic and Frank are exeperienced, players coaches. They would work with him, help build his confidence, make him a focal point of the team. For those knocking his natl team performance, I think he’s a victim of the style of play and timing. USMNT runs through Donovan and is not a team that plays with style and grace, plus if you’re under the type of pressure the team/Bob Bradley was under when JFT did get his chances and didn’t do that well, it’s not BB’s goal or job to give him more minutes and more time. JFT has to do that on his own, with his club. Yallop and Kinnear would be great working with him. Spencer doesn’t have the coaching pedigree/experience of Kinnear or Yallop, but he’d likely take a player like JFT and allow him to be creative, make some mistakes,and not pull him immediately from the starting lineup, which is what would happen in NY, CHI, DC, and LA because the club and coaches are under the most pressure to win.
Klinsman likes the young, creative players and you can bet your $$$ he knows who JFT is. I wouldn’t be surprised to see TO make a play for him. FC Dallas could def use his talents, but Hyndman prob not the right coach for him. Hyndman’s approach and style prob wouldn’t be best for his development nor would Warzycha’s, but both teams could use him.
If CO could land him, call them Back-to-Back MLS CUP Champs!
+1
The Quakes keep trying to get that creative central midfielder role… not sure they’ve got the answer for next season. Maybe Luiz if he’s healthy? When they have someone doing well in that role, they become a formidable team.
How would Torres link up with Convey? A lot of Convey’s value is lost without a great distributor in the middle
Given Dynamo’s history and working relationship with los Tuzos, Torres might just find the skids greased from there to Houston. We’d love him here.
I like JFT’s skills, but I believe when he has played for the Nats, his link-up play is still too slow at times and he doesn’t defend his position well enough. His best games for the Nats have come when space has opened up in the midfield and he has room and time to look up and pick out passes. When he has to play teams that press, he has struggled (ie Dutch friendly, Slovenia game, Costa Rica away WCQ). Also, he leaves gaps in the midfield that allows runs and space for long distance shots.
He’s good and has unique skills for an American, but he’s not the finished article yet, and still has holes in his game that preclude him from the starting lineup for the US.
Agree with the people who are saying Torres should be looking at Europe. Didn’t Torres almost have a deal with Deportivo de La Coruna two years ago?
Will he get more PT in the MLS?
-YES
Will he make an MLS team better?
-YES
Has the MlS proven to be a viable option for WC players?
-YES
I see no reason for him to not come
I would love to see him in MLS playing week in and week out, but BB prefers his Euro-based players. If he found a move to a European club and he actually played, he’d catapault back up the CM list (where with the emergence of Jermaine Jones, there’s even less playing time to have).
But he has to be playing and learning to defend his position better and learn to link up faster, which is what I feel he has done wrong when he plays with the Nats.
The 1st mile marker is like 880! It takes an entire day to drive it. Wasn’t there Torres interest in Spain at one point? Unless I’m mistaken, I recall hearing something to that effect
I agree. Yallop seems to prefer having two deep-lying central mids. They certainly need somebody who can help with possession and switching the point of attack. Add to that they dumped a whole lot of salary via the expansion draft/releasing Geovanni – I think it would be a great fit.
How will MLS ever get better if good players dont come?…. this is the time for moves like this to occur the league is ready to pop off big time and he could def help with the progress
CHIVAS USA we need a latino USA world cup player.
Torres going to the MLS would be a big mistake IMO. He should try to workout a training session with one of the Spanish teams so he can adjust to their playing skills so he can become a better football player and adjust his improvements to the USMNT.
I am a diehard RBNY fan but Torres to seattle is exactly what i want to see…. That attack would be absolutely amazing and would make the league that much more interesting…. A Good Seattle=A Good MLS
it’d definitely be interesting to see him here with FCD, but i doubt it’ll happen.
With the way he’s been playing, yeah in a heart beat. Of course there’s always the possibility that he regains his form. An in form Castillo or an in form Torres?
torres was a starter for much of pachucas previous championship runs as well as libertadores and club world cup. All this under ojitos meeza. New coach came in which means new system. Hes used more as a defensive midfielder. JFT isnt a pure defensive midfield player. He is more effective roaming free as an attacking center mid linking the play between the defense/defensive mid and the forwards and wingers. He has a very good touch and his vision is excellent. Its not uncommon for him to switch the point of atack from one side of the field to the other with a quick, pinpoint accurate cross. Hes exceptionanly gifted with his left foot on the dead ball situations. Im a huge fan and a player like him is exactly what the mls and national team need.