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With January here, the winter transfer season is upon us and while the moves of big European stars will rule the headlines, there are a bunch of American players in dire need of loans or transfers this month.
You know it's not an ideal trend. Seeing so many European-based Americans recording 'Did not Play' and 'Did Not Dress' in our Americans Abroad section. For many of those players, a loan or transfer is absolutely imperative because another half season of sitting on the bench will hurt their careers and, for some, their national team standing.
Here is my Fox Soccer piece on five U.S. national team pool players who absolutely need loan or transfer moves this winter. Most of them are expected to move, but these aren't the only players who could potentially use a change of scenery.
It should also be noted that there are some players who people might think need moves, but who are better off staying put. Here is a look at some other American players who could make moves, players who could use moves and some players who are unlikely to move:
Eddie Johnson, Fulham
He garnered some playing time for the Cottagers thanks to a slew of injuries, but with Fulham forwards returning, Johnson has been pushed to the side again. It's probably time for him to pack it in and look for a new club.
Kenny Cooper, 1860 Munich
Having just recently recovered from a broken ankle, Cooper is back with an 1860 side he seemed destined to leave before being sidelined by a long-term injury. His career has hit the skids since leaving FC Dallas and you have to wonder if it's time for him to come back to MLS. Whether he comes back or not, you have to wonder how long he could last in Germany.
Eric Lichaj, Aston Villa
You might think it's crazy to include Lichaj on this list, but given Gerard Houllier's recent rant about Lichaj's mistakes in Aston Villa's loss to Manchester City, and Lichaj's subsequent benching, you wonder if he'll have a serious chance to play much the rest of this year. If he isn't, Lichaj could be well-served to go on loan. He had a pair of productive loan spells last year and needs to be playing. Of course, if Aston Villa sells Luke Young, Lichaj could wind up sticking around to provide cover.
Marcus Hahnemann, Wolverhampton
When you lose the starting job on the worst team in the English Premier League, it's time to move on. You figure Hahnemann will return to MLS eventually, and this winter is as good a time as any.
Jozy Altidore, Villarreal
Many U.S. national team fans are frustrated by the fact that Altidore doesn't see more playing time, but the fact remains he's on a top team in a top league and is still getting minutes, and in cup play, he's getting starts. The bigger concern is his lack of goals, but the fact that Altidore is still getting playing time suggests he is impressing Villarreal's coaches. With Brazilian star striker Nilmar sidelined by a knee injury, Altidore could benefit with even more minutes. In short, Altidore is in a good spot and doesn't need to go anywhere.
Michael Bradley, Borussia Moenchengladbach
When Bradley failed to make a transfer move last summer it was seen as a missed opportunity for a player who enjoyed an outstanding World Cup, and that feeling has only intensified as Bradley's club sits in the Bundesliga relegation zone. As much as Bradley would be better served to be on a better club, Moenchengladbach won't be selling in the middle of a relegation fight. Bradley is much more likely to move this summer, when he'll have just one year remaining on his contract.
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Which players are you hoping make moves this winter?
Share your thoughts below.
But isn’t it like Lynn Swann taking ballet lessons while he was an NFL wide receiver? If his feet weren’t fast and nimble before, they sure were after! Same with that type of training Altidore is getting…He’s learning a very quick style and that’s a good thing. Question is; how long does he stay?
that’s a good idea!
Spector’s natural position from back in the day until recently has been an attacking player.
Does it have to be a warning? Maybe it’s a lesson the other direction. If you can just get hot for a couple of months, you can sign with a top flight european club.
Whether he belongs there or not, he’s making a lot more money than he would stateside. Athletics as a livelihood has a very narrow window of opportunity. Get yours while you can.
You gotta also figure in what his attitude is like playing back there and how his chemistry is with the team/coach. It could be awful! This is his worst year by far, so I think it’s just a lack of respect for that team/coach and he wants to bolt. Did you not see his game against Man U at center mid??? Blind if you think he played horribly…or you didn’t watch it all.
I’d buy that.
For the love of everything holy, I wish people would get off of Altidore’s jock!
The kid is what, 21, 22? What striker is world class at the age of 21?
Messi? Aguero? Bojan, arguably? You could throw Vela in there, but by then it’s crystal clear that you’re really straining the definition of world class.
Let the guy develop for a few years. If by Brazil he turns out to be a bum, clip his strings and start sticking your knives in the next new kid on the block.
Anyone can go anywhere at any time, if the price is right.
Sometimes teams capitalize on a player if their upside potential appears to be high. Buy low, sell high, isn’t that the American way?
If a team wants Stu badly enough and they’re willing to throw enough cash Bolton’s way, he’s out the door. Period.
The quote was “nightmare”, referring to Lichaj’s game.
i believe there is a significant gap at the median and below payscale when comparing MLS (top flight USA) and top flight UK and continental Europe.
for example, not sure what demerit worked out but if he took a paycut moving to vancouver form watford (2nd tier) I don’t think it was significant. should eddie johnson return to MLS, he will need to adjust the life he has become accustomed to in west london.
do i have this wrong?
Second.
altidore is the fifth striker on a team which only plays south american players. He has not adapted to their style of play.He has to go into a system which suits him. He is too slow for that system and he does not flow with other players. He seems to be confused with the style of play. He needs to go a team like Stoke fc and become target man.
“hard work’? Anyway…
Eddie should be a warning for other MLS players that just because you get hot for a few months doesn’t mean that you belong in Europe (looking at you Edson Buddle!).
Remember when everyone was arguing over whether Cooper or Casey was a better replacement for Ching on the national team?
Neither made it, but at least Casey now has an MLS ring.
Generally, yes there is a wage difference. However, the Red Bull organization could sign a player to Salzberg then loan them to the MLS with Salzberg paying most of the wages. Of course this would assume that Red Bull thinks it would be worth it to see their boys in the MLS Cup but I’m not really sure that compares to the boost they get internationally from showing Theirry Henry in their jersey anyway.
This story is not complete without mentioning Eddie Johnson. Perhaps he can transfer to the Minnesota adult co-ed YMCA league. Hopefully, with some hard work, he could break the starting lineup for one of those teams.
I’d say there’s a chance that Owen Coyle jumps to Liverpool and takes Holden with him a second time!
Now see, that’s a rumor!
I think that CD9 needs to at least go out on loan. Get some playing time and see where the chips fall at the end of the season.
Kenny Cooper can thank his dad for where he career has gone over the last couple of years. Talk about a players value dropping to about nothing.
He was injured against Chelsea…. there is no chance Holden goes anywhere, he’s clearly preferred to Mark Davies
Adu Time: 23 Minutes.
You’re slipping Adu lovers.
Look on the bright side, since Colorado traded Mehdi Ballouchy they have an opening for a very frustraiting to watch slight player who can show promises then be knocked off the ball at the last moment.
Wait, wasn’t Lichaj’s mistakes created when the midfielder blew his assignment on the City players?
No wonder Villa’s in the tank, their coach is irrational.
Carlos Vela to Bolton on loan, that is what I want.
It’s sad that Freddy is tweeting everything about his life these days but soccer.
No. If you saw his play during the Newcastle loan stint and the AC Milan friendlies in the USA, you would have your answer.
I don’t think Gooch’s future at AC Milan was that defined. We all knew it was going to be difficult for him to break the starting lineup, but with an aging backline and few worthy prospects, it looked like a reasonable time.
Probably the biggest thing to remember is Gooch took the risk and went for it, breaking new ground for US players. Would it have been better for him in hindsight to go to Ajax? Probably. But it was a historical stepping stone, and US players can’t be afraid of opportunities like these.
Charlie Davies is another. Even though he’s been rehabbing and playing reserve matches, he doesn’t look like he’ll come off the bench for a while … and it may be personal. Sochaux management made a comment about his maturity when he had a row with the physio over his fitness prior to WC. Then when he had the speeding incident they made another comment of disappointment in his character. He may have ruffled feathers internally.
He also has competition from new strikers, especially Brown. There’s little chance Davies will regain his starting role.
If I’m right, though, you owe me a million dollars.
Who?
I’m actually a fan of Spector, he works hard, wins his headers, and has nice ball control skills for a bigger guy, but after seeing most of West Hams games the last few seasons I am positive that he is not a prem level player… Grant gave him a couple starts in CM after the Man U surprise, and in my view he played poorly in both, he is a very poor passer, and constantly takes 1 too many touches.. add that to some substitutions appearances at LB where he could not complete a single pass, and I’m not sure he’s been treated so unfairly… I’d like to see him move to a lower level and play center back
General question for those of you calling for bench-warming americans to return to mls:
Is that kind of loan feasible for euro-based players still under contract? Wouldn’t their higher wages prohibit mls squads from taking them?
For players out-of-contract, doesn’t a return to mls come with a ridiculous paycut?
I honestly have no idea what the financial differences are. I just assume there’s a significant wage gap between europe and mls.
Do you REALLY think that a Bolton team that actually has a chance to earn a European spot is going to transfer it’s reasonably priced starting central midfielder? Really? For the record, as I recall, he was injured in the prior match. Not much of a mystery
If it was confusing, you need to work on your reading comprehension. The article is very clear that he will be setting forth some players who people think may need to move, but he doesn’t.
This is the official start of a rumor I’ve come up with: Stuart Holden is transferring from Bolton. To where, I don’t know. I thought of it because of his unexplained “injury” that came on as soon as the transfer window opened. Probably bogus, but who knows?
Jozy has to stay in my opinion. He’s finally found stability at a club and getting some minutes here in there – from here it’s up to him to earn more, the coach is giving him a chance.
Too many of our young players bounce around teams trying to get more minutes instead of working hard to earn those minutes at a proper club.
Never saw gooch as a last 16 champions league caliber defender for milan. Or even a weekly fixture in serie a matches.
Figured he was cover for an aging back line on a team involved in three competitions simultaneously. And his price was right.
So, no, I didn’t think he would get much of a chance either. His injury may have cost him some domestic cup appearances though.
Yeah, it was confusing. I do agree that Jozy should stay, except that VCF is in the later stages of the Copa del Rey, and they play Valencia tomorrow. It’ll be interesting to see if Jozy starts, as Ruben/Rossi went yesterday.
I agree. Lots of people are talking about Agudelo not turning into a Freddy Adu or Jozy Altidore. But I can’t see why people think Altidore is in the category of Freddy Adu? Altidore rode out a full EPL season, and is now training hard, making sincere statements on developing and maturing for the long run, and earning mins at one of the best clubs in the world. Just b/c people are fed up that Altidore is not the next Ronadlo Phenomo doesn’t mean he is pissing off every club he touches.
I agree, but I also agree in including Altidore and Bradley because they are hot topics in the whole transfer/loan scheme and addressing their non-likely winter, but eventual moves in regards to the many who want to see those two move soon is appropriate.
The title of the post is what is wrong here, but the content is good.
I think Freddy Adu and Gale Agbossomunde would be good additions to this list. Maybe what the future holds to Mike Grella too. I am also interested to see if Jose F Torres makes a move (Spain?) to keep in consideration for a crowded midfield pool
(SBI- The headline and lead of the post refers to my Fox Soccer column on that subject. I then go into discussing some other players who are popular topics when discussing Americans and potential transfers/loans.)
Adu and Gale should also be on the list.
Jozy has actually stated that he likes where he’s at in his development. He says he’s improving daily with Villareal. Unless the club forces a move, he wont go anywhere.
Not to mention with the current string of injuries, i cant see Villareal wanting to part ways anyhow
Only thing you forgot to do is sing kumbaya.
I saw it as a mixed thing. He played really well in Confed Cup. I thought he would sometimes start, sometimes not. Some games he really gets praised for, some games he is critized for and doesn’t see the field for a stretch of games.
Kind of like Spector at West Ham, not a big success but not a failure either.
I guess I’m confused. The article is entitled “Americans who need to make winter moves” and you include Jozy Altidore saying “In short, Altidore is in a good spot and doesn’t need to go anywhere.”
Ditto, but less glaring, for Bradley.
(SBI-The headline referred to the Fox story I wrote. After addressing that there’s a pretty clear distinction about what the players after the jump signify. I’ve clarified it a bit for anyone else who may not be able to keep up with that transition.)
I think Jozy has to (and will) stay at Villarreal to the end of the season. His career has been too chopped up, and I feel like he is where he should have been in 2008 instead of Xerez and Hull.
Jozy should stay put, train hard and well, do the Gold Cup this summer, and if he isn’t really a part of their plans do a loan in the fall when La Liga starts back up, hopefully in Spain still.
Assuming he’s still relevant, Freddy Adu needs to go somewhere — anywhere — where he can get minutes. I’d suggest MLS, but sadly, it may be that MLS has already passed him by. Scandinavia?
Did anyone ever think Gooch and AC Milan was going to work? Even without the injury I don’t think he wasn’t going to get much of a chance.
he’s in the article ives linked to
didn’t see the Houllier rant vs Lichaj. Quotes anybody?
…
Would love to see Feilhaber move to a bigger club/league this Winter
Can’t see Bradley moving until the Summer, plus he’s playing every match. Jozy could use a loan. Spector will probably be sold. Hopefully Houllier is axed so that Lichaj can stay where he, if not I would rather he get sold.
I would also like to see Mo Edu move this Summer.