Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISIPhotos.com
BY ADAM SERRANO
Oguchi Onyewu is returning to the Low Countries.
The United States national team defender is joining Dutch club, FC Twente on loan until the end of the season from AC Milan. At Twente, Onyewu will be reunited with his former Standard Liege head coach Michel Preud'homme. The pair helped Standard win the Belgian title in 2008 before Preud'homme departed Standard for fellow Belgian side Gent.
Onyewu will be expected to provide needed defensive cover and challenge for a spot on the first team immediately. Twente is currently second in the Eredivisie, just a point off of leaders PSV Eindhoven. Twente is also involved in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32, where it will face off against Russian club Rubin Kazan.
UNION FIND SHIRT SPONSOR
The Philadelphia Union announced the first shirt sponsor in team history on Tuesday, Mexican baking company Bimbo. The Union's deal with Bimbo is for a total of four years and $12 million, adding needed funds for a club that did not have a jersey sponsor last season. The Mexican bakery has close ties to Pennsylvania, as its American headquarters are based in Horsham, Pa.
Per the agreement, Bimbo becomes a sponsor for Major League Soccer, which could lead to future advertisements and promotions at all MLS stadiums.
GALAXY DEAL FOR CRISTMAN
As Edson Buddle departs for Germany, the Galaxy acquired D.C. United forward Adam Cristman. Los Angeles dealt their first-round pick in the 2011 Supplemental Draft for Cristman, who scored two goals and had one assist in 17 appearances for United last season.
Cristman is a four-year veteran of MLS, scoring 12 goals and six assists while playing for the New England Revolution, Kansas City Wizards now known as Sporting KC, and D.C. United. Cristman has made a scant 68 appearances, having missed most the of 2008 and 2009 seasons due to injury.
FIRE SIGNS PAIR OF PLAYERS
The Chicago Fire added a couple of new additions on Tuesday, signing Daniel Pladini, a 26-year-old midfielder from USSF D-2 side Carolina Railhawks, and Croatian defender Josip Mikulic. Pladini comes to the Fire after a successful career with the Railhawks, having twice been named to the league's Best XI. Mikulic has spent the last five seasons for NK Zagreb in the Croatian first division.
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Happy that Onyewu is finally out of Milan? Ready for loads of jokes due to the Union's new jersey sponsor? Will a Cristman/Magee forward pairing have success for the Galaxy?
Share your comments below.
Nice, Jeremy.
ah, so that will never happen. for those not familiar with yuengling, it challenges bud and miller for dominance in PA and on the east coast (I’m in delaware)…
Gang, acutally Bimbo sells all over the U.S., but they typicallay use pre-existing name brands. I see Bimbo trucks here in Indianapolis all the time. However, this is a name (like Nova, which means “won’t go” in spanish) that don’t work across cultural lines. My wife died laughing the first time she saw (is it Club America in the Mexican league that has Bimbo as their sponsor?) Bimob on someone’s shirts. I think during that mini-tourney pre-season last year.
Quick! Quick! Let’s all jump on the faux-hysteria train!
They effectively got Cristman for a reserve player. That’s what a pick in the Supplemental Draft is designed to do. Populate the reserve team. This guy is better right now than most guys they would get for the reserves. It may have been timed to look like he is replacing Buddle, but it is really just another depth move.
Yes but you DC fans are a different breed than the plastic fans from LA. Different gene structures, etc.
typo “don’t hate”
I’m guessing the Union don’t have any women in their front office b/c this is a huge slap in the face to their female fans who are going to have to deal with the sexist jokes that accompany this word in our society for the next few years.
#MLSEPICFAIL
Losing Buddle was a true loss. He was a real talent who could make his own goals and finish other’s work.
As it stands, I think the Galaxy are strong enough in the middle that Donovan can play up front. If JPA signs, I presume the Galaxy are solid. Very solid.
I think I’m one of the few who date hate upon Magee. He is a solid MLSer and can fill in as needed. Just don’t make him shoot with his left foot. Anyway, look how well the galaxy did, with Alan “almost” Gordon playing regular minutes. All hope is not lost. Renew your tickets. Enjoy the ride, not the destination. ie sit in the supporter section and have a beer.
It’s “fans” like this who leave a team because they won’t have the best frontline or the best defense or have a DP that still forces MLS to be a niche market.
My DC haven’t been a force for far too long but I’ll still continue to drag myself and friends to each match.
LOL WARM BODY IS BEING NICE…YOU GOT HOSED.
@Lorenzo
Since this loan is only until the end of the season are you saying this is the last year of Gooch in his “prime”?
juan pablo angel? fresh donovan. healthy beckham. is juninho out after his loan? more attacking options than the two you mention
JPA?
Negative…. Gooch will smoke so much diggety dank in the Netherlands and get fat.
Good thing it’s only Jan. 11th
cristman is like alan gordon without skill. e.g. he is like alan gordon. magee just sucks.
bowen is gone, buddle is gone, so do you know something i don’t? because i’m getting calls every day from the galaxy asking me to spend several thousand dollars and based on their current roster that ain’t gonna happen.
Your reasoning is flawless. I always forget that signing a player means he will play 30+ games for the team. Nevermind the fact that Cristman and Magee would likely never lead a frontline together.
“I think the Dutch league could be a good fit for him.”
Understatement of the Year
Except that the stadium has a beer deal already with AB … Budweiser signage everywhere.
A player becomes cup tied by playing in a cup game. Milan never had him on their CL roster and wanna say it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, since Europa is not CL.
a cristman/magee pairing up front for the galaxy is just pathetic. two fifth rate players with moderate skills who can’t score.
i will NOT be renewing my season tix.
He’s been in the league 4 years it says, and Galaxy will be his 4th team….
Bimbo foods are all over in Texas (I imagine the same is true for southern CA and the southwest in general). I had no idea they own Mrs. Baird’s bread. It’s a positve sign they are interested in MLS and hope they can bring in more viewers south of the Rio Grande. Our league will benefit and improve if children all over North and Central America dream about playing in MLS, and that will only happen if MLS is spanish-language accessible. So far, the amount of info available in Spanish on MLS’ website is fairly substantial. The FMF may be looking at the back of MLS here soon.
Is he eligible for twente’s europa matches? I have no idea how a player becomes cup tied.
Would he be affected if milan had him registered for champion’s league?
This is huge for USA Gold Cup 2011. Absolutely huge. Gooch will have some form going into it.
Plus, you want to see him finish up his career prime playing, not sitting at Milan.
Good news for Gooch. ESPN Deportes broadcasts games from the Dutch League.
his free year was an extension on the end of his contract..so he is getting paid now
I think Gooch was playing free for AC Milan, so since he is on loan now, will he get paid?
Does anyone have any insights into Cristman? Is he just a warm body, or does he have any unique talents or unique way he will fit into the galaxy?
Awesome move for Gooch. This will hopefully get him fit and ready for the Gold Cup.
huge deal for Gooch … all year too .. can’t wait to see him back in action and how this will benefit his play this summer!
Just glad we got rid of him. Hope our FO can now pick up a striker who can actually strike the ball…
i believe that MLS does not allow beer co. to sponsor jerseys. something about only having one national sponsor.. just one of the reasons of why MLS is holding itself back!
I guess you don’t like watching Mexican soccer then…
It’s too bad they don’t have the advertising budget for that. A Yuengling Union jersey would sell better than the Cliff Lee Phillies one.
Perfect move for Gooch. Reunites with former manager and gets some much needed playing time. I wonder if the loan deal gives Twente the option to buy at the end of season. I think that the Dutch league could be a good fit for him.
Any word on CD9 going out on loan? I know that his club pretty much came out and said that it would be the best move for him.
good for Gooch. not too much of a step down from Milan but still above Standard Liege. good luck!
When was the last time Gooch played in a club match? Champions League in September 2009? Just curious. Great deal for him. Dutch league suits him well and he will get European cup action.
first the away jersey is diarrhea colored, next BIMBO is your scrawled across the jersey? sorry philly but have BIMBO emblazoned across your chest is hilarious.
Very true. And in Eastern PA that’s just Lager to you.
^Cristman
Somehow I don’t think Cristmas ever played for “Sporting”…
Finally, Onyewu will get a better chance of playing time!
The perfect sponsor for the Union would have been Yuengling (beer)…
it should be Tasty Kake but they are having hard times now…
I am so happy for Gooch, he will do well.
I think Bimbo is only fitting for Philly.
Finally! Now Gooch can see the field on game day, in uniform!
I was hoping Philly would have landed a sponsorship deal with Urban Outfitters. I hate to see grown men running around with the word BIMBO on their shirt.
…Philly got Bimbo! BAHAHAHA
i know they lost 3 CMs but they still have 3 to rotate would really be nice for the Fire to sign a forward where they only have 2 listed Carr and Castillo..