Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By CAITLIN MURRAY
Around this time last year, Bradley Wright-Phillips wasn’t necessarily a name in the headlines. But what a difference a year makes. As Wright-Phillips is on pace to set a New York Red Bulls record for goals in a single season, SBI’s Ryan Tolmich looked at the Englishman’s breakout season and heard from the team about the impact he’s made this year.
Jermaine Jones was perhaps the man of the World Cup for the Men’s National Team — and hints he’s dropped since the tournament signal he may be following the lead of teammates Clint Dempsey and Micheal Bradley by calling the U.S. his on-field home. SBI’s Franco Panizo took a look at the factors in play for Jones and mulled the possibility of him becoming the next USMNT player to sign with Major League Soccer as a Designated Player.
And bad news for abroad American Eric Lichaj — it appears estimates that he’d recover from surgery in time for the start of the 2014-15 Football League Championship season have missed the mark. He won’t play again for Nottingham Forest until September now.
Here is a rundown of all the stories featured on SBI today:
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
MLS Golden Boot leader Wright-Phillips exceeding expectations in breakout season
Jones again linked to MLS after enjoying successful World Cup with USMNT
Red Bulls notes: Petke embracing youth; McCarty’s role in midfield; and more
SBI MLS Goal of the Week: Deshorn Brown
SBI MLS Save of the Week: Donovan Ricketts
WORLD CUP
SBI’s 2014 World Cup Best XI
SBI 2014 World Cup Diary: Entry 6
EUROPEAN SOCCER
Afternoon ticker: Conte resigns from Juventus; Costa officially joins Chelsea; and more
Tuesday Kickoff: German squad given heroes welcome; Ribery returns to training; and more
AMERICANS ABROAD
Lichaj’s return from injury could be delayed until September
YOUTH TEAMS
U-20 USMNT come from behind to edge Chile in first NTC game
Acording to a local newspaper in Sunderland, Besler to black cats for 3 mill pounds.Report also states Fulham are interested.
Sunderland, where careers go to die.
This may be out there but Chicago would be a great place for him to go. Rumor has it Chicago is going to clean house (players) and Jones in the midfield would be a great center piece to build around AND help develop players like Shipp.
Chicago also has a large German population so he would feel at home. The only drawback would be the weather but he only has to stay here spring-fall.
Galaxy: sell Gonzo bring in Jones with the dollars made and keep our CB pairing the same (DeLaGarza and Meyer) as against RSL. Riley and Donivant our training again so that increases our depth for our back line. Plus Jones has a home in LA and family here.
What leverage does Jones have with the MLS? Is he getting Euro offers? If Jones comes to MLS he will end up taking $400k to $600k per year is my guess—he should get more.
I don’t see him getting more than that…possibly 800,000 if he’s lucky. I think it’s just mostly the timing of things. If he had the chance to have a World Cup like this back in 2010 it would be a different story.
Bears reminding maximum DP cap charge is $387,500, and that’s pro-rated if you miss games. His cap hit this season would be half that or less, $190k-ish. Yes it’s mid-season, and a team might have to restructure. But if you could get him by trading a veteran or two, wouldn’t you?
Since someone should be willing to clear room for him, I expect the real issue is probably the overall, off-cap salary demand, in light of Dempsey and Bradley’s paydays. Jones outshone Bradley at Brazil, and Bradley was worth an expensive fee and salary. I can see the agent’s logic. I can also see how it might be more than MLS pays, or wants to pay.
Geography Lesson: Toronto FC isn’t in the USA. (re: Michael Bradley)
It’s MLS…which is a US based league. Canada just gets the benefit of being America’s hat, and so the southernmost cities get to be a part of the USA by proxy.
I mean seriously, we all know this is true.
I’m glad Jones had a great World Cup. He would be an upgrade to any MLS franchise.