By DAN KARELL
Will Packwood’s next destination could be his hometown club.
The Concord, Mass. native is on his way to trial with the New England Revolution, according to a post on Birmingham City FC’s website. The Revolution confirmed the report on Wednesday afternoon, stating that Packwood will begin training with the club next week.
On Tuesday, Birmingham announced that they would be parting ways with Packwood, but on Wednesday they revealed on their own that Packwood’s contract, which was due to run through June 30, has been cancelled with immediate effect so that Packwood could trial with the Revolution and potentially sign a contract with MLS prior to the end of the transfer window on May 12.
The 21-year-old defender, who is currently a member of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team, played 21 times for Birmingham after making his debut in March 2012, including recovering from a serious leg break that kept him off the field from January 2013 through October.
Packwood spent time in the last season on loan with League One club Colchester and League Two club Cheltenham Town.
The Revolution currently have one roster spot available to fill, with 27 players currently signed. If the report is true, Packwood would be competing with Andrew Farrell and Jose Goncalves for time at centerback, and Packwood would bolster the team’s depth.
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What do you think of this report? Do you see Packwood signing with the Revolution? Do you believe he’ll stay in Europe?
Share your thoughts below.
That injury really derailed his career (understandably). Recent history has showed us that it usually takes 1.5-2 years for a payer to get back to where he was previously (Ramsey, Eduardo), if at all. He needs a place where he can ease into playing again and improve. He is only 21. The problem is NE usually does not treat their players well when it comes to contract negotiation. Other teams are better for that. If I were him, I would no more than 3 years or 4 year typical contract and leave at 24/25 when he has come fully come back.
I doubt he’s being offered even a three year deal. He’s on trial and has to prove himself.
I really respect Jay Heaps collection of local New England players. I was hoping this move might come together.
Must be nice to know you can flame out in the Championship and go to MLS and become a key cog on a playoff team. #MickeyMouseLeague
By “become a key cog in,” you mean “go on trial and hope to earn a $90,000/year contract and get some US Open Cup time,” right?
I’m neither condemning or agreeing with your statement, but I think this will be an interesting case study to see where this lines up.
Packwood showed promise/was a good championship prospect. I guess BCFC no longer thinks this is the case.. It will be interesting to see how that correlates as an MLS prospect.
Regardless, this situation and Spector maybe coming shows how good/important MLS is as a foundation for US Soccer as a whole.
I’d be surprised if he got much playing time this season. Teams like Cheltenham are nowhere near MLS level. I’m pretty sure he isn’t going to be a “key cog” for NE.
Did New England have a discovery claim in on Packwood? Because if not, someone’s going to have to explain to me how he’s on trial there and how he’s not part of the allocation process. I know he’s never played in or had any association with MLS, but he’s been a part the US Youth set up at the U-17, U-18, U-20 and U-23 levels, as well as receiving a few call-ups to the senior squad.
Someone is going to explain MLS player acquisition rules? This I have to see.
MLS released the list of players subject to allocation. he is not on it. here is the list (sorry about the formatting):
Player Current Club Classification
Alejandro Bedoya Nantes Senior USMNT
Brad Guzan Aston Villa Senior USMNT
Tim Howard Everton Senior USMNT
Aron Johannsson AZ Alkmaar Senior USMNT
Fabian Johnson Hoffenheim Senior USMNT
Juan Anangono Leones Negros Transfer
Deshorn Brown Valerenga Transfer
Geoff Cameron Stoke City Transfer
Giancarlo Gonzalez Palermo Transfer
Doneil Henry Apollon Limassol Transfer
Andy Najar Anderlecht Transfer
Fredy Montero Sporting Lisbon Transfer
Tim Ream Bolton Transfer
Oriol Rosell Sporting Lisbon Transfer
Alain Rochat Young Boys Transfer
Richard Sanchez Tigres UNAL Transfer
Camilo Sanvezzo Queretaro Transfer
Jose Adolfo Valencia Rosario Central Transfer
DeAndre Yedlin Tottenham Transfer
Junio Flores Dortmund Youth USMNT
Julian Green Hamburg Youth USMNT
Shaquell Moore Unattched Youth USMNT
Marc Pelosi Liverpool Youth USMNT
Rubio Rubin Utrecht Youth USMNT
Well that is interesting that neither Spector or Packwood, both US Internationals are on that list and Spector is also being linked to MLS. Is it because they haven’t played in MLS before?
couldn’t tell you for sure…but if you look at the players on the list, there is a clear pattern. most of the US senior team players are our big names. something Packwood isn’t and Spector hasn’t been since the ’09 Confeds Cup.
another chunk are players who were transferred out of MLS while the final chunk are “elite” youth players. i guess Packwood isn’t considered as elite as Flores, Pelosi, Green, etc.
also, Spector signed a contract extension with BCFC. so he isn’t coming to MLS.
Specs was offered a contract yesterday but has not signed. Read the MLS article from last night about several teams being interested.
I think it’s either because neither has played for the USMNT in a while. Or, less likely, they were kept of the list by the powers that make these kinds of decisions, knowing that they were on their way back during this transfer window.
Great pickup for the Revs. I expect he’ll follow the Charlie Davies model. Play very sparingly if at all this season, and be ready for his chance next season.
With the Revs’ lack of depth and having to play Jones at CB (which has been a success), Packwood would certainly get some chances. I don’t think he would sit. I think he has the potential to play.
Worth a shot I suppose. Packwood hasn’t played at a level near MLS in quite a while, and even at Birmingham he only played a handful of games, so he may not see that much time at first. Still, it’s a chance to rebuild his career which has gone off the rails (understandably) since his injury. Best of luck to him.
Would’ve been a great pickup for the Union!
i wonder what kind of $$$ he would make. would be a good add for any MLS team.