FC Dallas defender George John has established himself as one of the best young defenders in MLS, and a player worthy of U.S. national team consideration. His success caught the eye of the Greek national team, and now has caught the attention of English club Blackburn.
Here is my Fox Soccer story on Blackburn making a bid for John, a bid that stands a good chance of being accepted.
Give the story a read and let us know what you think of a potential John move to Blackburn? Like the idea of him making such a big move? Worried what it will mean for FC Dallas?
Share your thoughts below.
Nah. We don’t need him on the national team when we have Borstein, Bocenegra, Churundelo… lots of good defenders. He’d be a nice sub though.
“Bradley capped a boatload of folks early in his tenure, then as usual when he stuck around too long as coach, he also stuck too long with his favorites. Is that still up for debate? Not imho, case closed move on.”
What are you talking about? Your point has nothing to do with this.
oh come on, the guy was born and raised in washington.
i have a very hard time believing that he would play for greece
He’s too old to break into the Greek national team. Most of their defenders play on teams where few American defenders would get a sniff on the field. Their veterans are George’s age, and the youngsters are starting for good teams at 19-20. The US has aging and rusty CBs, so I think he can break into the US lineup sooner.
I don’t get ir. So if Omar Gonzalez was a euro and name dropped it; he’d have I freest from a European club? Is that how it works?
Wow Bradley defenders need to let go, be happy for him in Egypt if he lands the gig there.
And obviously Bradley didn’t cap ‘everyone,’ or an MLS defender wouldn’t be getting calls from EPL before USMNT.
Bradley capped a boatload of folks early in his tenure, then as usual when he stuck around too long as coach, he also stuck too long with his favorites. Is that still up for debate? Not imho, case closed move on.
If a young US-eligible CB moving to the best league in the world is worthy of a yawn, what news that would be reported here is not?
So then why are you even reading this site?
Don’t under estimate what fatigue can do… George John has played in every minute of every game this season. That is every game… MLS games, Open Cup games, and Champions League games.. Go back and look at their schedule. Allow George to play the typical 1 game a week and he will return to his early season form.
If you are a Blackburn fan sure.
But strictly from USMNT fan’s point of view, the Championship is still a very talented league with greater competition than MLS.
And, if he does well and they keep John( you would have to think he would be on the low end of their payroll) he would still be making more money than he does at Dallas.
So his circumstances could still be an upgrade from where he is now.
I’m a straight dude, but I’ve gotta say that John kinda looks like Michaelangelo’s David in that picture with the pose and all. Greek, Roman, whatever.
It wasnt his first cap, but the gold cup did cap tie Lichaj to the US. (Supposedly Poland was interested in him). BTW, I have absolutely no reason to believe this is the case, but it is possible that Bob Bradley did ask George John to the join the Gold Cup roster and he declined because he did not want to get cap tied to the US at the moment.
Ives I know you are not a big fan of John, but if we don´t call him asap, Greece will and we might end up losing a great player.
(SBI-This is such a myth. I think very highly of John, and was big on him coming out of college. I thought he really struggled as a rookie, and while I wasn’t as high on him in year two as some others, he removed all doubts in my mind early this year with his form. The guy is the real deal. As for your concerns, I’d say it’s a safe bet he plays for the USA.)
“But, actually, you make an interesting point. You might be right, maybe an Internet voting system for USNMT’s rosters would have produced better rosters/results than some of BB’s rosters.”
So you prefer an “American Idol” solution? Too bad the USSF wasted all that money on hiring JK.
“It’s water under the bridge that should never return.”
By definition water under the bridge never returns.
What do you think Bradley is coming back to manage the US? Maybe marco, you should move on.
John was unlikely to be called up for the Gold Cup because having missed the January camp, calling him into a Gold Cup game would have meant bringing in a guy who had never played with the team before. A rookie in central defense. Never a good idea.
This was also the apparent rationale behind not calling in Whitbread.
If you want to blame someone blame those two for getting hurt and not being able to make the friendlies they would have been called up for before the Gold Cup. Sometimes things just don’t work out.
Bradley’s policy was you don’t give first time caps to players in competitive games such as the Gold Cup. And at the time John wasn’t playing at the level he is at now.
If I had been manager and I knew how well he was going to play these last few months then maybe I take that chance but basically this is a criticism that is easy to make with 20/20 hindsight.
You can’t cap everyone, though Bradley tried harder than most.
Better cap him now, otherwise Greece will come calling.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/9204683.Blackburn_Rovers_boss_closing_in_on_trio_of_new_signings/
according to this he should be @ blackburn today for a physical
GW “And I don’t know what happened with the Gold Cup but that is all ancient history now.”
I believe you know some of the defenders Bradley called into the GC, yes? You do know some were not playing or playing very little, yes? It’s water under the bridge that should never return.
To Cacuzcatlan, yes, he’s a dual citizen, Greece/US, he would likely be very much divided between his Greek roots and American-ness. I’m sure it would be a painful choice for him no matter which way he went. And that’s straight from a mutual friend who grew up with him.
and Louis Z, yes, that would work. I’m sure he’ll be called up by both Greece and the Yanks for their games on 9/2 and be forced to decide.
He might not be capped tied but if he is sees that he is part of the US’s plan going forward it would make him less likely to play for Greece. The longer he goes with getting a cap the more likely he would be willing to play for Greece.
Here is my question…can he hold dual citizenship?…use his greek passport to play in England right away but still be available to play for the US?
335,
I don’t doubt you are right.
Hype has nothing to do with facts.
The fact that maybe Ream didn’t deserve it and John does is irrelevant as far as this situation is concerned because playing well for Dallas (in John’s case) or NYRB (in Ream’s case) does not guarantee that a player will do well for the USMNT (or Greece or Blackburn).
The only way to know is to give the player an extended run of games.
I like John but it seems to me there are a rather large number of candidates for the two US centerback positions for 2014. There are probably some out there we haven’t heard about yet. I certainly was surprised at how well Orozco played. I though he was going to be awful.
You seem to think John is the best of the lot.
He may be but I don’t see how anyone can know that for sure at this time.
And if Greece really rates him and John is willing then the whole thing will be over by September 6. And there is nothing anyone else can do about it.
You all seem perturbed that Bradley missed the boat on John but he did call him to a January camp (and John was hurt). And I don’t know what happened with the Gold Cup but that is all ancient history now.
If he wants to play for the US I hope he has spoken with Jurgen; I would think he would have by now.
When the Greece thing first came up I read that one reason he did that was to raise his profile for a Euro move. If the Blackburn transfer happens, playing for Greece won’t be necessary.
And it is a good thing because it tells other guys that if you have an outstanding season in MLS the Europeans will notice.
I do not disagree with that but to my knowledge no player suited up for their first US appearance during this Gold cup.
Could he have brought people like John in sure but why would he not having had him play with that team before.
There were lots of things Bradley did wrong during his time as coach but not getting John a cap that counts is not one of them.
No, Mrs. B, I don’t think Web forums should be the criterion for choosing USMNT rosters. That is the coach’s job. Just trying to make the point that John was on the radar screen as a top prospect for the Gold Cup of a lot of USMNT fans, but not on BB’s screen. Blackburn’s strong interest just a few weeks after the Gold Cup tells me that, in this case, it is possible the fans were right and BB was wrong. As Marco notes, wasting roster slots seems to have been a recurring problem in BB’s tenure.
But, actually, you make an interesting point. You might be right, maybe an Internet voting system for USNMT’s rosters would have produced better rosters/results than some of BB’s rosters.
I suggest you watch some more games…
Who is your favorite MLS team? Who do you think is best attacking player in MLS?
Rewatch their/his game vs Dallas and pay attention to Johns play.
Your opinion will change
hmm…You would have a point if Ream had actually earned the level of attention he was getting.
IF John is now getting a fraction of the love Ream recieved from fans (ahem and an EPL TEAM)It’s because its JUSTIFIED.
Check the stats, check the castrol, check the standings, check yourself.
Not trying to hate, but George John is nothing special. If you think that he could be beneficial to the development of soccer in the United States, you are just kidding yourself. With the lack of depth right now, he is worth a call in, but he isn’t anything special. Just my thoughts after seeing him play a few times.
People have real short memories
Ream was getting more even hype as the next great US centerback; then he played a few games and people realised maybe he wasn’t ready yet.
Now John is in the same position.
It’s the old ” the backup QB is the most popular guy in town” mostly because no one ever sees him play for the US.
Anyway, if Greece wants George John bad enough, that ship has already sailed. So all you USMNT crazies can come down from that window ledge.
Greece play Euro 2012 qualfiers Sept 2 and 6 so if they want to cap tie him that is when they wil do it and the US doesn’t have any way to prevent that, short of kidnapping him and stealing his passport.
If JK thinks enough of John I’m sure he’ll bring him in for those friendlies and you go from there.
I agree what you say about 2 early but John 24 years old. Now is the time for him to make the move to Europe. Will he make it……who knows
He was not getting burned but he did missplay a backpass from the midfield that allowed Pumas with a good chance on net.
John is not a bench player in any league.
It may take a suspension or an injury to get him on the field but once he’s there he will not be back on the bench. Bet that.
Always liked John.
You’re right, based upon what we have seen so far I would be very surprised.
“John, who at the time had plenty of supporters on the Internet forums hoping he would get the nod. ”
After all, all those supporters couldn’t possibly be wrong.
If that is the criteria for picking guys then the US is in a lot of trouble.
I’m going to watch FC Dallas on Saturday; I go to school at UF and I’m visiting. Was real bummed to hear that he’s on a red as I have been reading about his great play for a while now. Already got my Shea jersey though!
Definitely going to be a great experience for him having to stop Rooney. Van Persie and all the great attackers of the BPL; I hope we can jump on his ‘signature’ before Greece does!
Those friendlies won’t tie him to the US.
He can still play for Greece after playing in those friendlies if he chooses.
Jumping the gun a little with the succeed part?
I guess a lot of people didnt watch yesterday´s game vs Pumas. He has talent but he was getting burned by 20 year olds.
If he goes to Blackburn I wish him all the best but I hope he gets paired next to a fast CB.
This move will help him get better that is if he gets playing time.
no need amigo, he’s on a red for Saturday and is not eligible. We just need him on a plane by the 30th 🙂
If John makes the move, I bet we won’t see him in the septemer friendlies because Jurgen will let him settle in at Blackburn.
Haha boosted I like you more and more every time I read what you have to say. You really did just invent the term gentleman thug to describe John! I’m not being sarcastic, I love it haha. We’ve butted heads over John before, only because you rate him slightly higher than I do, but he’s continued to prove his quality. I’d love to see him in the EPL. He may not be quite ready to be thrown into the prem fire right away, I think he’d learn quickly and do very well. He should play in the upcoming friendlies as well, although if he moves now he may be left to settle at his club. Slowly, though, I’m being converted to one of those John “fanboys” I referred to once.
Thank you. I thought that was the case, friends of Bradley first.
I believe Bradley did knowingly bring in out of form players who he was not going to play. Of course I can’t prove this. But I would have given John just a minute of qualifying time over many of Bob’s selections.
Yet you posted a response?
These comments always crack me up. Players not name cristiano or francesc dont just get to pick what team they go to. It used to annoy me when people would say “so and so should go to so and so” but bow I just laugh.
Indeed I love it! Can y’all get him over there by, say, this Saturday?
I’m not stalking you, Jasonma.