With Major League Soccer’s recent run of marquee allocations this season, bringing in Juan Pablo Angel, Blanco and of course the new guy in Los Angeles, I think his name is David, I thought I’d take a look at a few available Designated Players that might fit well into MLS. 
1) Quinton Fortune (S. AFRICA)
The 30-year-old South African was recently released by Bolton Wanderers and is currently without a club. A versatile player, he has played as a both a left-sided attacking player and as a defender. His pedigree includes stints with Atlético Madrid and Manchester United (where he scored 23 goals in 53 appearances). Given Fortune’s versatility, Colorado or Real Salt Lake (especially with Adu leaving) seem like logical choices since both clubs need help all over the pitch.
2) Juan Sebastian Veron (ARGENTINA) 
According to the UK newspaper The Mirror, Veron is close to a deal that would send him to DC United, and this would be a great move for the four-time MLS Cup champs. The 32-yeard-old Argentine had trouble settling into the EPL, and has spent the last three seasons on loan from Chelsea to Inter (2004-06) and his first professional club Estudiantes (2006-07), but he proved during the 2007 Copa America that he still has something to contribute if given a chance. United seem to be attempting to rebuild the South American “Magic Triangle” of old, and Veron should combine well with countryman Christian Gomez and Brazilian Emilio.
3) Tomasz Radzinski (CANADA) 
I wouldn’t be surprised if Toronto FC was on the phone to Radzinski’s agent the day he was released from Fulham. The 32-year-old striker has certainly lost a step, but he would be a brilliant addition to Mo Johnston’s roster. Radzinski, who has the distinction of garnering the highest transfer fee paid for a Canadian (£4.5 million), scored 25 goals for Everton before requesting a trade to Fulham. It wouldn’t be on the scale of David Beckham, but Radzinski would be a popular player with the fans.
4) Thomas Gravesen (DENMARK)
Gravesen has a club, but it doesn’t seem to be going well. Reports out of Celtic training camp say that the ill-tempered Gravesen isn’t fitting in well with his new mates, since his transfer to the Scottish club from Real Madrid. The fiery Dane has been linked with a move to Sheffield Wednesday, but MLS should test the waters to see if Gravesen would be open to lowing his Real Madrid teammate. Plus, by most accounts Gravesen is an asshole, and MLS has been lacking a real villain. In an earlier post, I suggested that Kansas City might be a good fit for the 31-year-old.
About Me
- The Yankee Hooligan
- TYH is a masked avenger for the righteousness of American soccer, converting nonbelievers and destroying those who stand in the way of our country's glorious destiny as a soccer world power.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Four DPs MLS should consider
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2 comments:
Can the MLS please go after some international talent that half-resembles an up-and-coming career? And that's without having to take a flier on a 19-year old Brazilian, or a 14-year old wunderkid?
Can't the MLS somehow get a 26 to 27 year old established international competitor with some significant appeal? Or is that just too much to ask? Or more bluntly, does it just cost too much money for the MLS to buy someone in their prime?
How about Jermaine Pennant of Liverpool? Ibrahimovic? Oh god, nevermind that. Zlatan would cost just slightly less than Beckham.
But seriously, when will the time come that the MLS takes the intiative and buys a good internationl player in his prime?
That'll be the day when we can truly say the MLS has made it.
We just can't compete for the "established international competitor" yet. But it's good to see that American fans are looking forward to the day when we will be able to, rather than being satisfied with MLS being a retirement league. The four I list are certainly past their prime, but a cut above the days when we considered bringing Juergen Klinsmann out of retirement or old farts like Lothar Mathaus and Youri Djorkaeff (although Youri played rather well at times).
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