I would say the fact Keane is tearing up the MLS says more about the MLS than Keane myself. He's looked a busted flush in his last few seasons in england.
Great player six or seven years ago, though.
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I would say the fact Keane is tearing up the MLS says more about the MLS than Keane myself. He's looked a busted flush in his last few seasons in england.
Great player six or seven years ago, though.
K
Kay20
Guest
It's hard to choose just 1, just like asking who is the most impressive player in the EPL. It's because there are moments of brilliance, and consistency across many players - and of course, all the different positions.
If I had to pick most impressive this year I would choose Robbie Keane over Chris Wondolowski who was MVP. He was easily the best forward from June onwards, but beyond that, his off the ball movement is so clever and bamboozles defenses. That combined with LD's off the ball movement and playmaking = the best forward tandem in MLS and two people that you could see had EPL chops. You had two shorter guys playing striker who weren't about brute force - they were all about movement and creativity. In person it was awesome to watch and took defensive play in MLS to a new level and forward partnership to a new level. There were several quotes this year from confused defenders that said they had never seen that level of off the ball movement before. It's great for MLS.
But for this thread, there are several that we should be keeping an eye on since Everton seems to like finding a gem or two here:
GK - Sean Johnson (who already trains here), Bill Hamid
CB - Omar Gonzalez (has already been mentioned in this thread), Matt Besler (another potential starter for the US National Team and defender of the year)
Fullbacks - Andy Najar (training in Europe, I can't remember with who)
DM - Osvaldo Alonso (on trial at West Ham apparently), Juninho (on loan from Sao Paolo who refuse to let him go)
Attacking midfielders/wingers - Chris Pontius (you all should remember him skinning us a new one during our 2011 tour), Brek Shea (if he returns from his numerous injuries this year), Graham Zusi (though his age may be too high now), Luis Gil (youth national team staple)
Forward - Juan Agudelo (on trial at Celtic)
It's no coincidence that a lot of these players are on the cusp of their national teams - when they hit that it usually means Europe is calling. Gonzalez is gone within a short period of time if he says uninjured. Agudelo might be gone in weeks. Najar as been rumored for awhile now, but DC United doesn't want to part ways with him yet, and he's still very young (19).
If we had the money to take a few now, I wouldn't mind Pontius, Najar, Juninho and Gonzalez.
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Kay20
Guest
I just don't think so. He was a player possessed this year, and remember, did just fine in his Aston Villa loan, so much so they wouldn't have minded keeping him. Frankly, he looks about 5x the striker Jelavic does right now if I'm totally honest, and he would run laps around Anichebe.
Think your viewpoint might be outdated. Just my opinion. And I do think Jelavic will come good and look infinitely better.
EDIT: Let me be clear: I don't think Keane can come and be an EPL starter by any means, and yes, that is the difference between the leagues. But he was by far numerically the best forward in MLS, and definitely does not look "past it". He's not lumbering around (cough Tim Cahill cough) - he's spry, creative, moves everywhere, assists and finishes brilliantly. Not at EPL pace for 90, but definitely at MLS pace for 90. I'd take that for two months right now - a loan would be perfect to capitalize on form. But regardless, he's not coming.
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Kay20
Guest
March - December (if the team is in the playoffs); preseason begins in February
Transfermarkt is accurate then - both are in their last years.
He tore up Scotland too and then went back to spurs and west ham and did very little.
There's no shame in not being able to handle a top quality league at his age.
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Kay20
Guest
Yeah, I just went and edited my comment take a look. But he's only 1 year older than Pienaar keep in mind - he's not ancient, he's 31! I think Robbie Keane would have tons to give as a sub in the EPL, but in MLS he gets to play a full 90. And that's what he wants, so here he is. We are better off for it in MLS, and he sure doesn't look like he's dragging around with a fork sticking out of his back is my point.
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Kay20
Guest
K
Kay20
Guest
Do you want me to write his total club goals and his international stats too? If you want the full picture that is.
I'm sorry, he would run LAPS around Anichebe right now. I don't joke.
I have no idea what his last 5 seasons in the EPL were like, can't speak to it. But his form has nothing to do with MLS, and everything to do with form. I'm done apologizing for the league, people need to look past it. I watch our team, and LA every week. He could do a job here in two months.
And now I got sucked into a needless argument since he's not coming any way.
Brownie
Player Valuation: £70m
*blush*
I'll make up for it with an off-topic rant tomorrow.
Good, it was a one day deal.
It's that celtic loan that makes me doubt him to be honest.
Because he was a great player who lost his way somewhat (his second spell at spurs and his loan at west ham I watched some of his games and he was awful, giving nothing at all).
But then he went to LA Galaxy and rejuvinated himself as a player something that even carried into his international form and his loan spell at Villa. So on the surface that should be enough to remove my doubts.
Except he was equally good at celtic and once he came back to the prem the same problems occurred again where he just couldn't get into games because that yard inside his head wasn't enough when up against international defenders every week. And any irish fan will tell you it's been a while since he's merited his place in the national team.
I could be wrong but I'd rather swerve him. Donovan I'd take any day, though.
K
Kay20
Guest
Really fair points you have there, and you know his history far better than me. Also true about Ireland - but he had a good last few games with the team, so it could be his form improved there too. He said he gained more focus in June (showed in MLS, that's for sure) when he came back from qualifiers, so perhaps he's just decided his priorities now that his international time is diminishing, who knows?
It's also why I would say loan over permanent - I think he would be a good stop gap here while in form for 90, or a super sub to try and capitalize on tired defenders and slow movement after 60 minutes. But Robbie doesn't want either of those, so MLS suits him, where he burns holes in defenders that are growing and have a lot to learn. He has burned holes in some veterans though - but I think that is partially due to his combination work with Landon, and to some extent, David Beckham when he had great long balls out of the back.
I think it would be interesting to pair someone like a Keane with Jelavic or Anichebe to see what happens... A more wily forward that assists as well as scores. That's not really Naismith now that I think about it. Nor Vellios. I don't know if we have a striker like that now that I think about it.... Wait, if we played Mirallas there that would do it, but he's so good on the wings I want to leave him there.
Conundrum. Kinda shows how thin our forward pool is.
Interesting discussion.
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