 |
Concorde Fire Elite
2011 US Youth Soccer National Champions
© 2012 Bryan McDermott/Photos by McD
2011 US Youth Soccer National Champions
© 2012 Bryan McDermott/Photos by McD
— at Cobb Galleria Centre.
A flurry of last-minute transfers were being brokered across English football on Tuesday as clubs moved to bolster their squads in the final few hours of the January window.
Premier League side Sunderland completed a loan deal for out-of-favour Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge while struggling Queens Park Rangers were set to confirm the signing of French striker Djibril Cisse.
Cisse, who currently plays for Lazio, was undergoing a medical at QPR, who were also linked with a £5 million move for Fulham striker Bobby Zamora, according to Sky Sports.
Meanwhile Everton confirmed a fee had been agreed with Scottish giants Rangers for Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic.
The 26-year-old international was seen at Everton's Finch Farm training complex where he was reportedly discussing personal terms and undergoing a medical following agreement of an £8 million fee.
"Everton can confirm a fee has been agreed with Rangers for the transfer of Croatian international Nikica Jelavic," Everton confirmed on their website ahead of the Toffees clash with Manchester City later Tuesday.
Nikica Jelavic (left) shoots next to Greece goalkeeper Michail Sifakis during their Euro 2012 qualifying match in Zagreb
Hrvoje Polan, AFP/Getty Images
Hrvoje Polan, AFP/Getty Images
Jelavic has scored 36 goals in 55 matches for Rangers since joining from Rapid Vienna in 2010 but had been keen to pursue a career in English football.
Meanwhile Manchester United were set to finally part company with youngster Ravel Morrison, the highly rated 18-year-old youth player who has failed to establish himself at Old Trafford.
Morrison is regarded as one of the most promising youth players ever to pass through the Manchester United ranks but the club has reportedly lost patience amid ongoing problems in his private life.
Morrison was undergoing a medical with Championship side West Ham with a deal set to be concluded later tuesday.
"The deal is not quite done yet but we are hopeful it will be completed," West Ham manager Sam Allardyce told the London Evening Standard.
"Ravel is a talented lad and if he really wants to be a player then we will help him as much as we can along the way.
"Perhaps a change of environment will be beneficial to him and help him make that step up to first team football quicker than perhaps would have been the case at Manchester United. There is no doubt he has exceptional talent."
Wayne Bridge
Andrew Yates, AFP/Getty Images
Andrew Yates, AFP/Getty Images
Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill meanwhile said he hoped the capture of Bridge would solve the club's long-running vacancy at left-back.
The 31-year-old has played only 58 times for City since joining from Chelsea in 2009, and has appeared for the club just once this season.
"I'm hoping that with Wayne's undoubted experience and ability he can be a big help to the team until the end of the season," Sunderland manager Martin O'Neill told the club's official website.
Accounting giants Deloitte meanwhile reported in an initial analysis of the January window that transfer spending had reached £35 million as of 0945 GMT on Tuesday, compared to £90 million at the same stage last year.
A letter to the fans
Women’s Professional Soccer Suspending Operations for 2012 Season
Dear Fans,
It deeply saddens me to inform you the Women’s Professional Soccer League has suspended the 2012 season and league operations.
The Atlanta Beat has made great progress and has been very proud to have you as our fans. We built the 2012 team to win a championship, and it is unfortunate that we will not have the opportunity.
Please be assured season ticket holders we will be fully refunded any monies paid. A representative will be contacting you over the next two weeks to make arrangements.
We sincerely thank you for your loyal support, and for being the best fans in the WPS.
The Atlanta Beat has made great progress and has been very proud to have you as our fans. We built the 2012 team to win a championship, and it is unfortunate that we will not have the opportunity.
Please be assured season ticket holders we will be fully refunded any monies paid. A representative will be contacting you over the next two weeks to make arrangements.
We sincerely thank you for your loyal support, and for being the best fans in the WPS.
Best,
T. Fitz Johnson, Esq.
Chairman and CEO
"Atlanta Beat"
Atlanta Women's Professional Soccer, LLC
Chairman and CEO
"Atlanta Beat"
Atlanta Women's Professional Soccer, LLC
See WPS press release below:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (January 30, 2012) – Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) announced today that its Board of Governors has voted to suspend the 2012 season to permit the League to focus on the resolution of certain pending legal issues and the challenges that now face the League as a result of its ongoing dispute with a former owner.
“All team owners remain fully committed to WPS,” said Sky Blue FC Owner Thomas Hofstetter. “We are proud of what the League has accomplished in the first three seasons, but we do recognize the necessity to resolve our existing legal and operational issues so that we can continue to support and grow WPS the right way. This was a very difficult decision, but one we as owners feel is the best business decision for the League at this time.”
The Board voted on Monday morning to suspend the 2012 season. Over the last year the league has faced significant challenges, including a lengthy and expensive legal battle with a former owner. The litigation has diverted resources from investment in the league and has forced the Board to take action, suspending the 2012 season in order to address the legal issues head-on before moving forward with competition.
“We firmly believe there is a place in the global sports landscape for Women’s Professional Soccer,” said WPS CEO Jennifer O’Sullivan. “Making the decision to suspend the 2012 season was a difficult and painful one, but it is necessary to take the time to address current issues and solidify our business in order to provide appropriate support needed to achieve the League’s long-term goals. Those that take part in our League - players, partners and fans - deserve the best, and that is what we are taking the time to ensure we deliver when we resume play in 2013 and beyond.”
WPS has established its plans to return to play in 2013, and all five owners of the League’s existing teams - Atlanta Beat, Boston Breakers, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC and Western New York Flash - will remain active in the governance of WPS throughout the current year with the intent to field a team for the 2013 season.
“We are deeply grateful to our fans and partners for the tremendous support they have shown for WPS, our players and the sport,” added O’Sullivan. “With our supporters and athletes in mind, we are committed to complete the hard work necessary to resume play in 2013 and reestablish WPS as the premiere women’s professional soccer league in the world.”
[WPS SPOTLIGHT] WPS isn't the first business to have a legal dispute between partners. And WPS isn't the first league to have a maverick owner. Indeed, maverick owners are part and parcel with what sells sports. But the year-long dispute between MagicJack owner Dan Borislow and WPS and its owners consumed the fragile league. Could the owners afford the legal fees to fight Borislow? Sure. What WPS could not overcome was the time the fight was taking away from the business of saving the league.
“I’ve only been on board for four months, and the bulk of my time has been spent on addressing a lot of these other negative issues regarding termination of MagicJack and the sanctioning issue with U.S. Soccer and resulting issues with sponsors and such,” WPS chief executive Jennifer O’Sullivan said during a media conference call Monday afternoon. “It is unfortunate that the attention and focus that needed to be on the business, growing the business and developing the game and the sport just hasn’t been able to be there. Until this [MagicJack] situation is resolved, I don’t believe we can fully put our attention to it. It would’ve been unfair to put together a season while we would’ve still had this hanging over our heads.”
While Borislow announced a settlement of his lawsuit in a Florida court against WPS for improperly kicking MagicJack out of the league, O'Sullivan said "stumbling blocks" remained, making it impossible for all parties to come to an agreement. She said another hearing in the matter on Borislow's request for injunctive relief was set for Wednesday.
No doubt the 2012 season was going to be difficult.
There was a we'll-believe-it-when-we-see-it attitude about Year 4 even as recently as two weeks ago when WPS conducted its college draft (New York Times headline: W.P.S. Holds Its Draft, Just in Case)
The league was down to five teams from seven in 2009 and 2010 and six in 2011.
It had lost its biggest sponsor, Puma, whose three-year deal had expired, and no apparel deal had been announced for 2012.
The post-2011 Women's World Cup bounce that had everyone so excited was no more.
Ten of the 18 players on the U.S. team that just finished up in Olympic qualifying had not yet reupped for the 2012 WPS season. Star Abby Wambach was siding with Borislow ("I'm always going to back that guy," she said after beating Costa Rica Friday night).
The 2012 Olympic year was going to be tough for the league, taking away players for a good portion of the season. Unlike the 2011 Women's World Cup, the 2012 Olympics was not going to give the league a post-event bounce because the regular season would be over by the time the players returned.
O'Sullivan said a bounce was not what WPS needed.
"We can't build or sustain a business based on large-scale events," she said.
by Paul Kennedy
http://www.socceramerica.com
“I’ve only been on board for four months, and the bulk of my time has been spent on addressing a lot of these other negative issues regarding termination of MagicJack and the sanctioning issue with U.S. Soccer and resulting issues with sponsors and such,” WPS chief executive Jennifer O’Sullivan said during a media conference call Monday afternoon. “It is unfortunate that the attention and focus that needed to be on the business, growing the business and developing the game and the sport just hasn’t been able to be there. Until this [MagicJack] situation is resolved, I don’t believe we can fully put our attention to it. It would’ve been unfair to put together a season while we would’ve still had this hanging over our heads.”
While Borislow announced a settlement of his lawsuit in a Florida court against WPS for improperly kicking MagicJack out of the league, O'Sullivan said "stumbling blocks" remained, making it impossible for all parties to come to an agreement. She said another hearing in the matter on Borislow's request for injunctive relief was set for Wednesday.
No doubt the 2012 season was going to be difficult.
There was a we'll-believe-it-when-we-see-it attitude about Year 4 even as recently as two weeks ago when WPS conducted its college draft (New York Times headline: W.P.S. Holds Its Draft, Just in Case)
The league was down to five teams from seven in 2009 and 2010 and six in 2011.
It had lost its biggest sponsor, Puma, whose three-year deal had expired, and no apparel deal had been announced for 2012.
The post-2011 Women's World Cup bounce that had everyone so excited was no more.
Ten of the 18 players on the U.S. team that just finished up in Olympic qualifying had not yet reupped for the 2012 WPS season. Star Abby Wambach was siding with Borislow ("I'm always going to back that guy," she said after beating Costa Rica Friday night).
The 2012 Olympic year was going to be tough for the league, taking away players for a good portion of the season. Unlike the 2011 Women's World Cup, the 2012 Olympics was not going to give the league a post-event bounce because the regular season would be over by the time the players returned.
O'Sullivan said a bounce was not what WPS needed.
"We can't build or sustain a business based on large-scale events," she said.
by Paul Kennedy
http://www.socceramerica.com
Where He Was Then
Widely regarded as one of the best forwards in El Salvador due to his work ethic and goal-scoring instincts, Raúl Díaz Arce landed at D.C. United in MLS’ inaugural 1996 campaign eager to prove he could make it abroad, too.
And it seemed like he couldn’t miss the net if he tried. In his first season at D.C., Díaz Arce finished as Golden Boot runner-up in with 23 goals and added another 15 in 1997, leading the club to back-to-back MLS Cup titles, the 1996 US Open Cup and the 1997 Supporters’ Shield.
Despite moving around the league five more times after those two seasons – New England (1998), San Jose (1999), Tampa Bay (1999-2000), D.C. United (2000-01) and Colorado (2001) – Díaz Arce went on to score another 44 goals in 100 regular-season games. His 82 career goals in MLS rank him 11th all-time in league history.
Where He Is Now
It was 2004 and a 34-year-old Raúl Díaz Arce had just failed to reach an agreement with USL side Puerto Rico Islanders to play with them for a second season. But he didn’t want his career to end there. He still felt he could help an MLS team.
“I wanted to be back in MLS, I wanted to show I could still play,” recalls Díaz Arce, who played for USL A-League club Charleston Battery in 2002 and ’03 and Salvadoran giants CD Águila in ‘02. “I was confident I could play another two or three years.”
With no teams calling for his services, Díaz Arce picked up the phone himself and rang his friends in the coaching ranks throughout MLS, asking if they could help him out. Finally, one of them gave him a ray of hope.
“I called Bruce Arena, who was coaching the US national team at the time, to see if he could help me keep playing,” Díaz Arce says. “Bruce is someone I’ve always had respect for and I didn’t want to bother him, but being in the situation I was in, I found myself forced to.
“If I’m not mistaken, his father had unfortunately passed away around that time. A few days went by and I thought he had forgotten about me, but he called me back and said there was an opportunity for me.”
The only catch: The said opportunity was as an assistant coach on the US U-17 staff, and accepting it would likely put an end to the Salvadoran striker’s playing days.
Díaz Arce felt he still had plenty of miles left on his odometer. To keep on playing meant he and his family – at the time, his wife, Maria, daughter Angel and son Raúl – would have to pack their bags yet again and move out to a new city, a skill they had picked up through the striker’s storied yet nomadic 16-year career. (In six full seasons in MLS, the Salvadoran hit man played for five different teams, and 10 in total.)
Taking the job with US Soccer and serving under then US U-17 coach John Hackworth at the Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla., would mean he and his family could finally settle down in one place. After all, the only hint of sprouting roots they had was a house in Tampa, which Díaz Arce had purchased when he played for the Mutiny.
“In the end, I chose to accept the position,” says Díaz Arce who, while playing, had attained all the necessary coaching licenses. “I didn’t want to keep moving because my family had no stability. My children couldn’t lead a normal life, make friends. Taking the position as assistant coach with the US U-17s would at least give my family a bit of stability, even though it meant saying farewell as a player.
“Of course it hurt,” he says about hanging up the boots, “but I did it for my family. I didn’t want to continue the adventure of moving with my family from place to another and then two or three months later, move again. What comforted me is that I would still be involved in soccer, just from a different perspective.”
For nearly five years, Díaz Arce made the approximately 40-minute drive from his house to the IMG Academy, serving as an assistant coach on the US U-17 team and later as a scout and technical advisor (pictured above, right with Keith Faulk). Throughout his time there, he helped coach through two FIFA U-17 World Cup cycles and assisted in the development of players such as Jozy Altidore, Brek Shea and defender Sheanon Williams, among others.
In July 2009, Díaz Arce was on the move again, this time to Chicago to take over as academy director of the Chicago Magic Soccer Club. He and his family, however, quickly found out that winters in the Windy City aren’t kind, especially to Central Americans.
“It was a great experience – I had never worked at the youth level with a club – but my family, as Salvadorans, just couldn’t adapt to the cold climate,” Díaz Arce says. “So after two years there, I decided to find a place where my family wouldn’t suffer through the cold, where they would be more comfortable.”
The search for warmth took him and his family to Atlanta, where he took over as boys’ director of coaching for the Atlanta Fire United Soccer Association in May of last year (pictured right).
Díaz Arce feels qualified enough and hopes to one day have the chance to coach at the pro level, but for now, he’s having fun cultivating a new crop of young American talent.
“I feel glad doing this, being a part of developing players that can one day make a change in soccer,” he says. “You always hope that a group of players you work with day after day achieves something special. That’s what gives me satisfaction as a coach, when you can say, ‘I helped develop that kid.’"
“Soccer in the US has improved tremendously,” he adds, “and it’s gaining prestige and respect internationally. It’s getting better each year, and I believe that in a few more years, MLS will be one of the top leagues in the world.”
While developing the next batch of American soccer players keeps him busy at his day job, developing the next batch of Díazes keeps him busy at home. Currently, his eldest daughter, Angel, is a 21-year-old student attending college for fashion design. His son, Raúl, is a 16-year-old high school student who plays midfielder and central defender for the Atlanta Fire’s U-17 team and dreams of one day following in his father’s footsteps.
And then comes three-year-old Gabriela who, despite being the “light of the home,” loves wreaking havoc around the house – much like her dad used to terrorize opposing defenses.
Does that mean Atlanta is the place where the Díaz family will finally stay put, let those roots finally take a solid hold? Only time will tell. But for now, Atlanta gets an A+.
“My family is happy where we’re at,” says Díaz Arce.
What They Said
“Raúl is a born goal-scorer. He was always in the right place at the right time. He was a great professional – one of the best to emerge from our country. His dedication, discipline and talent were superb. To talk about Raúl is to talk about a thoroughbred striker. He is, perhaps, one of the last true center forwards produced by El Salvador.”
– Mauricio Cienfuegos, Díaz Arce’s countryman and former CD Luis Ángel Firpo and El Salvador teammate
THIERRY Henry was so disappointed with himself after the Republic Of Ireland game he wanted to kick himself, the only problem was which hand to use?
Corky Romano And The Other Things Your Fox Affiliate Is Showing Instead Of Soccer
Fox is understandably proud of their experiment this morning to show English Premier League soccer live on U.S. broadcast TV for the first time. Yet it seems Fox affiliates aren't so excited, as 23 of Fox's 185 stations decided to air something else. Here's the list of cities where you can't see Arsenal take on Manchester United, and what they're showing instead.
Atlanta GA TrustDale TV
KENNESAW, Ga. - A teacher and soccer coach from Kennesaw died Friday from injuries suffered after being hit by an SUV.
Jeffery Ingram, 32, was hit by an SUV early Thursday morning while he went for a jog in his neighborhood.
Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil for Ingram Friday night at the Quest Soccer Field, where Ingram, known as "Coach Jay," coached soccer since 1995.
"He was the most inspirational man to me and he taught me to always believe in myself, and he gave me the self confidence to always strive forward, push forward," said Allie Grisi.
Ingram was also a physical education teacher at Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy.
“The guy’s just full of life and energy. I mean he changed a room when he walked into it. He’s just a phenomenal human being,” said Dave Smith.
Ingram's father and stepmother stood in the crowd at the vigil and were moved by the stories they heard.
"I just loved my son and it shows a testament...of the great things he's done," said Jeffery Ingram, Sr.
"It is very rewarding to see that he loved so many children and his family so much," said Stephanie Ingram, Jeff's stepmother.
Police said Ingram was hit by behind while jogging. Police are still investigating the incident. No arrests have been made.
Ingram leaves a wife and two young children.
Jeffery Ingram, 32, was hit by an SUV early Thursday morning while he went for a jog in his neighborhood.
Hundreds of people attended a candlelight vigil for Ingram Friday night at the Quest Soccer Field, where Ingram, known as "Coach Jay," coached soccer since 1995.
"He was the most inspirational man to me and he taught me to always believe in myself, and he gave me the self confidence to always strive forward, push forward," said Allie Grisi.
Ingram was also a physical education teacher at Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy.
“The guy’s just full of life and energy. I mean he changed a room when he walked into it. He’s just a phenomenal human being,” said Dave Smith.
Ingram's father and stepmother stood in the crowd at the vigil and were moved by the stories they heard.
"I just loved my son and it shows a testament...of the great things he's done," said Jeffery Ingram, Sr.
"It is very rewarding to see that he loved so many children and his family so much," said Stephanie Ingram, Jeff's stepmother.
Police said Ingram was hit by behind while jogging. Police are still investigating the incident. No arrests have been made.
Ingram leaves a wife and two young children.
There will be two visitations on Monday, January 30 from 2:00-4:00 and from 6:00-9:00. The viewing will be at:
2950 North Cobb Pkwy
Kennesaw (770-422-7299)
The funeral service will be at 2:00 on Tuesday, January 31 at:
3450 Stilesboro Road NW
Kennesaw (770-425-6726)
Due to the expected turn out, the service on Tuesday will be held outside. Please plan accordingly and continue to pray that God blesses us with a beautiful day. Please keep the dress casual, and if you can, wear yellow in honor of Jay.
[AMERICANS ABROAD SPOTLIGHT] As a method of perspective, for the price paid by Bolton to obtain defender Tim Ream in a transfer from MLS, the club could fund the salary cap of one MLS team this season. Selling Ream, who earned just $62,500 last season, for $2.81 million won't clear a lot of room from the salary-budget charge in 2012 mandated by the collective bargaining agreement. Yet the Red Bulls and MLS did make the right move by holding onto Ream last summer because his value escalated sharply from Arsenal's $1.2 million bid.
The money issue, among others, surfaced during a teleconference call with reporters with reporters on Friday after Ream’s return from England following two weeks of negotiations on salary and other compensation. MLS and Bolton had reached an agreement on the transfer fee in early January, at which point Ream – contacted a few hours after he’d greeted the new day as a married man for the first time – informed his bride they’d be jetting to England instead of Tahiti.
“We got married on January 7th, and on January 8th I got a phone call from [Bolton manager] Owen Coyle and the chairman, asking us to not go on a honeymoon and come to Bolton instead to speed up the process, getting a work permit, getting the deal secured,” said Ream, who had passed up a'U.S. training camp in Arizona and Southern California to get married in his hometown, St. Louis.
“At the time, it was very disappointing and upsetting, because it is such a special event and special weekend. Obviously, you can look back and we say it was a good decision to not go. It will set us up for the future and what life holds for us. It was a tough decision but a great opportunity that we jumped at and took, just not the best timing.”
Only time will tell how fortuitous the timing will be for Ream, who is moving abroad for the largest transfer fee ever paid MLS for a defender, and after playing only two seasons and earning just seven U.S. caps. The MetroStars/Red Bulls have been parties in deals that transferred much younger players to Europe: Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore were both 18 when they were transferred to Heerenveen and Villarreal, respectively.
Unlike Bradley and Altidore, however, Ream is 24. Long before he turned pro, his skill, composure on the ball, instinctual anticipation set him apart from most of his counterparts. “As a player, I’ve always liked to be one step ahead, and trying to think one step ahead and try to figure out where the play’s going to be,” he said.
“It’s suited me pretty well, but over the years -- in high school and college and now these last few years – it’s just kind of grown and adapted a little bit better. That’s something that I’ll look to take into the Premier League and my time at Bolton.”
He played four collegiate seasons at Saint Louis University and, taken in the 2010 SuperDraft as the 18th overall pick, moved right into the Red Bulls starting lineup to earn mention as one of three finalists for MLS Rookie of the Year. Right after the Red Bulls’ season ended with a playoff loss to San Jose, he joined the national team and earned his first cap in Johannesburg against South Africa. Stardom seemed inevitable.
His rapid ascendancy flattened out last year. The Red Bulls struggled into the playoffs as a wild-card team after leading the Eastern Conference early in the season, and exited after one game. Teammate and defensive partner Rafael Marquez criticized Ream’s naïve play.
Former national team coach Bob Bradley, after giving him starts in the first two 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup games, benched him for the remainder of the competition. He played only one of seven post-Gold Cup matches after Jurgen Klinsmann took over in late July. Still, Coyle welcomed him for a trial, and on the training field Ream confirmed Coyle’s impressions gleaned by scouting him in competition.
“Going over to West Brom and Bolton in December, it was a couple of conversations, my agent [Patrick McCabe] and I, about possible loan deals, and going over to train and kind of show what I was made of,” he says. “West Brom wanted to take me on loan and Bolton actually were keen on taking me permanently.
“West Brom said when I went over there, that’s when they were really persuaded. But the Bolton manager said he had watched me close to 20-30 times on tape and live with the games he gets over there. It was definitely a good feeling that he had known about me for a long time.”
To qualify automatically for a UK work permit, a player’s national team must be 70th or higher in the FIFA rankings and he must appear in 75 percent of his teams ‘A’ internationals played in the previous two years. The 2010 World Cup games were excluded because they were played prior to his debut, yet still Ream’s two competitive caps (33.3 percent of six) left him well short of the benchmark.
Ream’s cause was aided by a successful appeal launched in early January by Robbie Rogers, who also fell short of the caps requirement yet has been transferred to Leeds United. Letters of recommendation from Bradley and Klinsmann were among the documents submitted to bolster Ream’s case. He’s fuzzy on other details, which is how it should be. Specifics are supposed to be kept confidential. (He admits his salary was also a factor, it is believed to be in the range of $20,000 a week).
How he got to the Premier League really isn’t his concern; flourishing in a tough, glamorous pressure-cooker is the ultimate objective. Though his paperwork won’t be completed in time for him to face former teammate Thierry Henry and Arsenal on Wednesday, he’ll be a rush job nonetheless. He joins a team just one point out of the relegation zone.
“I think as a player you want to be put in pressure situations,” he says. “You want to show that you can handle the pressure, and a professional you want to perform in those pressure-packed situations. To have to basically fight for your life and stay up in the league is exciting and scary at the same time. You know that if you fight and work and scratch and claw and you stay up, you’re there for another year and, not that you’re a hero, but you prove that you deserve to stay up.”
by Ridge Mahoney,
http://www.socceramerica.com
The money issue, among others, surfaced during a teleconference call with reporters with reporters on Friday after Ream’s return from England following two weeks of negotiations on salary and other compensation. MLS and Bolton had reached an agreement on the transfer fee in early January, at which point Ream – contacted a few hours after he’d greeted the new day as a married man for the first time – informed his bride they’d be jetting to England instead of Tahiti.
“We got married on January 7th, and on January 8th I got a phone call from [Bolton manager] Owen Coyle and the chairman, asking us to not go on a honeymoon and come to Bolton instead to speed up the process, getting a work permit, getting the deal secured,” said Ream, who had passed up a'U.S. training camp in Arizona and Southern California to get married in his hometown, St. Louis.
“At the time, it was very disappointing and upsetting, because it is such a special event and special weekend. Obviously, you can look back and we say it was a good decision to not go. It will set us up for the future and what life holds for us. It was a tough decision but a great opportunity that we jumped at and took, just not the best timing.”
Only time will tell how fortuitous the timing will be for Ream, who is moving abroad for the largest transfer fee ever paid MLS for a defender, and after playing only two seasons and earning just seven U.S. caps. The MetroStars/Red Bulls have been parties in deals that transferred much younger players to Europe: Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore were both 18 when they were transferred to Heerenveen and Villarreal, respectively.
Unlike Bradley and Altidore, however, Ream is 24. Long before he turned pro, his skill, composure on the ball, instinctual anticipation set him apart from most of his counterparts. “As a player, I’ve always liked to be one step ahead, and trying to think one step ahead and try to figure out where the play’s going to be,” he said.
“It’s suited me pretty well, but over the years -- in high school and college and now these last few years – it’s just kind of grown and adapted a little bit better. That’s something that I’ll look to take into the Premier League and my time at Bolton.”
He played four collegiate seasons at Saint Louis University and, taken in the 2010 SuperDraft as the 18th overall pick, moved right into the Red Bulls starting lineup to earn mention as one of three finalists for MLS Rookie of the Year. Right after the Red Bulls’ season ended with a playoff loss to San Jose, he joined the national team and earned his first cap in Johannesburg against South Africa. Stardom seemed inevitable.
His rapid ascendancy flattened out last year. The Red Bulls struggled into the playoffs as a wild-card team after leading the Eastern Conference early in the season, and exited after one game. Teammate and defensive partner Rafael Marquez criticized Ream’s naïve play.
Former national team coach Bob Bradley, after giving him starts in the first two 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup games, benched him for the remainder of the competition. He played only one of seven post-Gold Cup matches after Jurgen Klinsmann took over in late July. Still, Coyle welcomed him for a trial, and on the training field Ream confirmed Coyle’s impressions gleaned by scouting him in competition.
“Going over to West Brom and Bolton in December, it was a couple of conversations, my agent [Patrick McCabe] and I, about possible loan deals, and going over to train and kind of show what I was made of,” he says. “West Brom wanted to take me on loan and Bolton actually were keen on taking me permanently.
“West Brom said when I went over there, that’s when they were really persuaded. But the Bolton manager said he had watched me close to 20-30 times on tape and live with the games he gets over there. It was definitely a good feeling that he had known about me for a long time.”
To qualify automatically for a UK work permit, a player’s national team must be 70th or higher in the FIFA rankings and he must appear in 75 percent of his teams ‘A’ internationals played in the previous two years. The 2010 World Cup games were excluded because they were played prior to his debut, yet still Ream’s two competitive caps (33.3 percent of six) left him well short of the benchmark.
Ream’s cause was aided by a successful appeal launched in early January by Robbie Rogers, who also fell short of the caps requirement yet has been transferred to Leeds United. Letters of recommendation from Bradley and Klinsmann were among the documents submitted to bolster Ream’s case. He’s fuzzy on other details, which is how it should be. Specifics are supposed to be kept confidential. (He admits his salary was also a factor, it is believed to be in the range of $20,000 a week).
How he got to the Premier League really isn’t his concern; flourishing in a tough, glamorous pressure-cooker is the ultimate objective. Though his paperwork won’t be completed in time for him to face former teammate Thierry Henry and Arsenal on Wednesday, he’ll be a rush job nonetheless. He joins a team just one point out of the relegation zone.
“I think as a player you want to be put in pressure situations,” he says. “You want to show that you can handle the pressure, and a professional you want to perform in those pressure-packed situations. To have to basically fight for your life and stay up in the league is exciting and scary at the same time. You know that if you fight and work and scratch and claw and you stay up, you’re there for another year and, not that you’re a hero, but you prove that you deserve to stay up.”
by Ridge Mahoney,
http://www.socceramerica.com
The next Mens Adult Tuesday Night League startsTuesday February 14th and runs for 9 weeks with the 10th week being the Championship. Registration is Tuesday January 31st andFebruary 7th from 8:00 to 10:00 PM, including an organized scrimmage during that time. We have had much success with making this league a fun way to play some soccer during the week and to relax a bit from work so come and enjoy the fun. The winners of the league will receive T-Shirts and a $50 Coupon to Sidelines Sports Bar and Grill or Marietta Diner for refreshments. Sincerely, The Marietta Indoor Sports Team Marietta Indoor Sports Office:770-419-1125 Fax: 770-419-1124 |
|
| League Rules Our 2 week registration is meant for all players to turn in payment and print player cards. All Player payments has to be received by the first game of the season. We will be playing 24 minute halves with a 2 minute half-time. There will be about 5 minutes in between the two games to warm up on the field. You may not use players who have not registered with the league. Any team using illegal players will forfeit the game and lose 6 points in standings. If your team has less than 5 players show up then your team will have to forfeit. Your team will be allowed to play a friendly game during the forfeit. Each player must hand in their player card to referee before each game. If the player is registered and forgot their player pass they will have to register at the front desk to receive a wrist band. No exceptions! Players can not be added to the roster after the 1st week of play. No Exceptions! Each player must wear shin guards and the color shirt of their team and the keeper wears an alternate color. |
Posts
