By FRANCO PANIZO
Juan Agudelo’s immediate future might lie in the German Bundesliga.
According to a report out of England, Agudelo is being lined up as the replacement for Senegalese striker Mame Diouf at Hannover 96. Diouf is expected to leave Hannover in June for Stoke City, which is where Agudelo was hoping to play next season before a second appeal for a work permit to play in the Premiership failed.
The 21-year-old Agudelo will become a free agent on July 1 as a result and could become the next American to play for Hannover. Steve Cherundolo – who is currently working in a coaching capacity at the club – was with Hannover this past season but announced his retirement after struggling with persistent knee injuries in March.
Agudelo spent the past season on loan at Eredivisie side FC Utrecht after seeing his initial attempt at securing a work permit fail. He scored three goals in 14 appearances there.
What do you think of Hannover being interested in Agudelo? Do you see the club and league being a good fit for him? Should he make a return to the Eredivisie instead?
Share your thoughts below.
I like it! Good move for Juan and Hannover
I am in the stay in Holland boat..stay where you are or go where you will be played most in Holland. Funny how some people do not rate the Eredivisie very high, but I do. They play the game right and develop players the right way. Eredivisie teams sell so much talent all over Europe it hurts them in Champions League and Europa League.
Moving to a German team and hopefully playing is sure to move him one step closer to Sainthood in JKs eyes. On the other hand, Germany was a disaster for Parkhurst
Of course, if JK gets fired, German ties won’t matter
10 goals next season. That’s what I expect Juan. Deliver
I once saw a USMNT vid with Dolo in it talking about Hanover and how a traditional meeting place in town was under a horse statue. Specifically he said “Normally we meet people under the tail of the horse.” Then he said it in German using the word “Schwanz.”
This has a double meaning and essentially Cherundolo made a pen!s joke on the USMNT youtube channel. Your gunna miss a guy like that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXqPoocqAgo#t=67
Which is why Juan needs to be on a team where he might be around in whatever capacity.
Thats too high a level for Juan at this point. I doubt he will get the PT he needs. Stay in Holland.
It’s much much much better than getting stuck at Stoke etc. It’s a fast but open league with teams that aren’t afraid of Youth. Bundesliga teams seem to me to be pretty consistent with staying up. There seems to be a cycle of teams that show up in that sorta relegation battle every year or so. Then again… Hamburg almost went down sooooo.
I agree that the stoke move would have been a disaster. However, I think a move to Hannover would not result in the consistent PT Juan needs at this point.
The Bundesliga is the best league in the world (in my opinion) and I don’t think Juan would play much at that level.
JA probably doesn’t have the luxury of picking and choosing. If a Bundesliga club wants him he is way ahead of the game. Hopefully he has more options but Hannover isn’t a bad fallback
what makes you think he doesn’t have suitors? I would think he has quite a few considering he is a free agent.
Just that suitors don’t seem to be falling over themselves to buy American. Hopefully I am wrong, but JA could do a lot worse than having Hannover after him.
You guys all ought to read this:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/26/stoke-city-still-frustrated-by-failure-to-secure-juan-agudelo-who-in-linked-to-hannover/
Can Hannover draft the contract to include a hairstyle limitation clause?
Not a bad move if it actually happens and the Bundesliga doesn’t wear a player down as much as the Premier League so thats always good for the national team
Meh. He didn’t exactly light it up in Holland so I worry that Hannover is only looking at him as a project or as depth.
He didn’t really have much time in Holland either and it was last-minute as he tried to get his work permit. It often takes time for players to adjust to a new situation. I don’t think there’s much reason to worry.
The worry is that he rides Hannover’s bench and does not develop or actually regresses.
He went in with no adjustment period at the tail end of the season and although he didn’t light it up… he represented himself rather well. Being able to come in, have a full preseason to adjust… I like the move and league better than the one to Stoke.
That’s because the manager at Utrecht is still made at him for how he let him down at Bayern.
That’s the same reason that Diego Simeone was so mad at Varane the other night. Man, Bayern is a grudge-factory.
Go somewhere you get playing time, Juan. That’s the most important thing. Still a fan of Holland.
Reports out of England need to be taken with a grain of salt.
seems like it would be a great move.
I just feel the need to say that I’m really unconvinced of Agudelo’s ability to contribute at the higher levels.
Same here, hope he proves me wrong though
And why would that be?? Pray tell…
I feel the need to say you guys are crazy. He has some injury and consistency issues but in terms of talent he’s right up there with our other top youngsters like Johannsson. In fact if this “looking to 2018” nonsense excuse had any truth to it, Klinsmann would have picked Agudelo over Wondo (Juan outperformed Wondo in goals / 90 minutes with the Revs).
Take both: Juandolowski.
Brilliant
Holy crap he’s being brought in to replace an actual goal scorer for them. And on a FREE.
way to go Juan. You can do it.
I’d rather he stick it out in the Netherlands for another year. He has talent, but most of the guys coming from MLS to Europe need a buffer period to ramp up. Agudelo had a solid loan, but he struggled enough to be weary about a jump to the Bundesliga, especially if he’s replacing Diouf who has had a fantastic scoring record. As a United fan, we let him go too soon.
He should have plenty of choices:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/05/11/report-free-from-stoke-city-agudelo-getting-loads-of-dutch-interest/
Good point Josh. Your right about the MLS players need a buffer between MLS to the EPL which is a really big jump.
Seems the average is one year. The biggest part of the game new yanks get in Europe is the mental part of it. Mental being speed of play, faster anticipation, and fine tuning individual and team skills. MLS is closing the gap with many MLS teams getting reserve teams to play in USL Pro. I am becoming a regular at Arizona United myself. USL Pro is no joke..there are hidden jewels just not given a chance from MLS etc…or a late bloomer player.
so what’s Cherundolo’s new job? Coach of the u-21 or u-17’s?
U-boats
Assistant coach of Hannover II
This was classic.
Good news, I’m really happy to see this! It would be best, I think, if he could’ve become a proven goalscorer in the Eredivisie before making the jump to the Bundesliga. But if Hannover like him, who am I to say he’s not ready?
“Where’s the me time Billy?”
Riggins Rigs. I knew you were a soccer fan.
Hannover forever Tim.
Ditto on ABS for Sunderlund and Stoke and pleased that he might get some development in the Bundesliga. An added plus is Cherundolo’s presence.
That is great Cherundolo is coaching there – didn’t know
He is in charge of their U14s
Nevertheless, it can’t hurt to have him in the organization.
ABS: Anywhere but Sunderland.
Also applies for Stoke
Stoke has been perfect for Cameron
Defender is a bit different than striker. Agudelo would have been a disaster at Stoke. Shea and Edu were disasters there as well
This is great but what does it have to do with Landon Donovan not making the World Cup roster?
It is part of a long term succession plan for Agudelo to move into the Righteous Indignation spot for 2018.
It’s worse. Somehow this is disrespectful to both Landon and Stevie. Somehow.
none of you are talking about Clint Dempsey scoring goals for the Sounders. Thats just so not fair.
Agudelo already has a US jersey with his name on it and the number 10.
You really are “Stinky” Pete.