Gooch To Middlesbrough

I’m so excited to see our players playing top flight in Europe. It can only lead to good things in WC 2010, and for American soccer in general.

Agreed. I’m still hoping, as one recent article somewhere suggested, that Donovan goes to, say, Fulham, and maybe Dempsey to, I dunno, Reading? Then we’d *really* have an American all-star team in the EPL.

This would be great for Gooch. I think his physical style would work well in the Prem.

The growth of American soccer has been great and I agree with all your comments about the positive affect it will have on MLS and the talent for WC ‘10

Donovan to Fulham, that would be sweet. He’s a perfect replacement for Steed Malbranque (a great soccer porn name BTW). Too bad Fulham didn’t pick up Gooch as well. Zat Knight is atracious…

What a great move for Onyewu.

I also think that Middlesbrough picked up a deal. Gooch will certainly be impressive at the World Cup, and by getting him now, Boro has saved themselves some money.

Hold your horses folks. Top flight is top flight and bragging about Americans playing at Boro, Reading, Fulham, Everton, etc. just isn’t much to brag about. I know that DMB plays with PSV and JOB had a great stint at Ajax but those are exceptions. Until they (the football press, particularly the Brits) are calling out an American on a weekly basis from a club like Man U (oh…and not a GK so don’t even try it, we know we can hang with anyone in the net area), Real Madrid, Inter, Juventus, Arsenal or any other serious UEFA or CL champion contender than….we don’t have any top flight players….yet.

To quote littleguy: Top flight is top flight…

Exactly. When a team plays in the top league of its national federation (e.g., Middlesbrough of the EPL), then that team is, by definition, top flight.

I don’t hear the Mexicans decrying the fact that Borgetti plays at Bolton as being less than “top flight”.

I don’t hear the Australians decrying the fact that Cahill plays at Everton or Viduka at Boro as being less than “top flight”.

Is anyone here willing to tell Michael Owen (Newcastle – out of Europe); Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur – UEFA Cup); David James (Man. City – out of Europe); Wayne Bridge (Fulham – out of Europe) that they don’t play “top flight” football?

What about Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid); Joaquin (Real Betis); Marcos Senna (Villareal)?

And the list could go on.

So, as littleguy said,
Top flight is top flight!

“…bragging about Americans playing at Boro, Reading, Fulham, Everton, etc. just isn’t much to brag about.”
This is true too. Bragging is nothing to brag about.

More to the point, I don’t see anyone bragging here, simply citing progress. Plus, despite the dominance of the Big 4 clubs, the Premiership is a pretty deep league with very few weak links. There’s a lot of talent in mid-table clubs, which can’t be said for Serie A or La Liga.

Middlesboro isn’t Chelsea, but certainly nothing to sneeze at either.

Doesn’t anyone go to check the club’s link before posting ?

Boro are in no position to make an offer to Standard Liege for Gooch without a manager in place.

after they choose a gaffer, game on.

Good post Cajun Nick. But I think Wayne Bridge is at Chelsea…?

Imp: looks as though M’Boro have a gaffer…

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/middlesbrough/5052126.stm

Steve A,

I appreciate the compliment. However, on reflection, I should not have included Aaron Lennon in the group because his team is playing in Europe (UEFA Cup), just not in the CL.

Also, littleguy wanted to leave out ‘keepers, so I should have left out David James. I could have found many other examples without using those that came readily to mind.

About Wayne Bridge: He did play at Chelsea, but in Jan. of this year, he went on loan to Fulham.

I hope that Southgate gets to keep the job.

Steve A,

Thanks for the compliment.

In retrospect, however, I didn’t make the strongest of arguments. I should have left Aaron Lenon off the list (he’s playing in Europe – UEFA Cup, but not CL).

And, littleguy does not want to include keepers, so I should have left David James off the list.

I could have done just a little research and used players from all the major leagues to bolster my argument.

About Wayne Bridge – we’re both right! (kind of). Bridge certainly starred for Chelsea last season; however, Mourinho signed Del Horno this season and Bridge got hurt. So, he was loaned to Fulham at the beginning of this calendar year. So, he is a Cottager.

About Southgate – I hope he gets the job. In the article you referenced, the Boro CEO makes the comment that gets to the heart of the matter:
“It is no coincidence that many of the current crop of good young managers did not actually play at the highest level, so were able to concentrate on gaining coaching qualifications while many top stars were playing for their country.

“If that continues, the natural conclusion is that most top British managers will have no experience of international football.”

Give Gareth a chance!

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Sorry, it just sounds like a crazy idea for me