Didn't see a thread on this yet. Looks like this deal is unlikely to happen as MLS won't accept the $1 mil offer: http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2007/01/21/norwegian_team_interested_in_twellman/ Also- does anyone else recall the commentators during Saturday's Denmark game saying that a Norwegian team had tabled an offer for Jimmy Conrad?
Thanks for the reminder -- meant to start a Conrad thread. Here is one of a few links from the Norwegian press about Twellman (if anyone wants to take a whack at a translation): http://www.ta.no/lokal_sport/oddgrenland/article2536138.ece
Rosenborg had made an offer for Jimmy back in the summer, supposedly. So i asssume that was the team hinted upon during the telecast. As for Twellman going to Odd Grenland, I dunno it seems like he's better than that. I could be wrong but he could sign a 18 month deal score some goals and move on. I would rather him go to a mid-to-lower tier Bundelsiga side, or a 2nd BL side on the promotion hunt, though.
These are moves, I feel, that would not be beneficial to MLS. The players in question aren't expected to make get huge raises in the near future, and should not be too hard to keep in the league. The sums offered are alright, but not at the price of removing recognizable, national team players from MLS and sending them to leagues that, at best, are probably on par with MLS. I hope that these rumors die out before becoming moves simply for the league's interest, IMHO.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland Speaking of commentators, or (more correctly) comments, did I hear Bruce say that Bradley needed to get Twellman into the national team mix? I'm pretty sure I did, because I remember thinking at the time that was interesting coming from the guy who left him behind at the last WC.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland You did, because I had like four people call and tell me that. And if Twellman needs anything, it's max salary if not DP status for New England.
One could argue it makes no sense, but the transfer fee + Twellman's salary would mean $1m to the Revs, who could turn around and pay (for at least one season) their DP with that. If you were/are a Rev fan, and could get Robbie Fowler for $1m this next year* (and give up Twellman), would you do it? * Let's worry about next year's salary next year.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland From the older articles, it seemed that, unlike Clint Dempsey, TT and Pat Noonan were perfectly willing to stay in MLS, provided they were compensated according to their performances. Noonan became a free agent but re-signed with the Revs. Having said that, transfer bids are usually not made without a player's consent.
Hell no I would rather have Twellman for a lifetime than any of the popularly mentioned potential Euro imports for a season. This includes Beckham.
Makes no sense. To me moving to a Scandanavian League team is no improvement on MLS and is a dead end for a national team player. As far as I can tell the MLS players who gain by moving to Norway, Denmark etc are the middle level MLS players who can leverage a few more dollars in their contracts by signing with a Scandanavian club. Its a road to a better contract and not a better opportunity to prove your worth on the national team level, which is where Twellman should be heading. I believe an American named Charles Davis just signed with Hammarby in Sweden, but I believe this is just a temporary move before he attempts to work out a transfer to a better team in a better league. Perry
I wouldn't say it makes no sense. A stretch- maybe.. Maybe he just wants to live abroad for a while, and make a nice paycheck? Twellman's got a difficult road ahead to make the next World Cup team. Every cycle, our players just get better. And if he didn't make this last one (with his tremendous goal-scoring background), hard to imagine he's really in the picture on this one.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland Well, McBride has retired. And Wolff isn't getting any younger. So Ching and Twellman move up in the hierarchy, while EJ drops further down. That's the way it works. Bruce could only bring 4 forwards. Given the information he had at the time, who out of (McBride, Wolff, EJ, and Ching) should he have replaced for Twellman? I think Bruce made the right decision.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland Wolff: 2/25/77 Ching: 5/24/78 Twellman: 2/29/80 Jaqua: 10/28/81 Donovan: 3/4/82 Eskandarian: 7/9/82 Rolfe: 1/17/83 Johnson: 3/31/84 Cooper: 10/21/84 It amazes me how many people are willing to write EJ off already, when he's only 22 and the 2nd youngest forward in our pool. He ain't done yet.
Re: Twellman to Odd Grenland He is if he doesn't get his ass into shape pronto. Cooper couldn't replace him fast enough on Saturday.
This is their job ...earning as much as they can ...just like any other job Almost every player would rather earn $500k instead of $200k and being part of the NATS is not as important as your salary unless you are trying to get caps to get to UK which is again about more money. Moving to Europe I think is more about more money than anything else. Most US players are not going for the culture. Also remember that you are a celebrity in what ever city in Europe if you play on their team...even 3 or 4 Div germany.....MLS players walk thru the mall not noticed. My point is it is more fun to play in Europe for the avg MLS player and the players making less than 100k may get a big increase in salary
wonder how much they uped the bid. With taylor in the final year of his contract, it may be bye bye. I can't see MLS losing taylor at the end of the year and not get anything for him. I am gonna say 1.6 - 1.9 range and MLS sells
I agree with you about the $500K to $200K difference, but many NAT players consider their NATs pay important as well, and they were willing to strike over it. If we play on average between 15 and 20+ Nats matches a year, even if they were all freindlies, they could bring in an additional $100K in salary, not to mention if they are actually FIFA sponsored tournaments. Add to that sponsorships, the exposure at internationals, and earning things like UK cap requirements, and playing for the NATS can be a very lucrative business as well. While TT was undoubtedly disappointed (and money would never make up for it) over not making the World Cup squad, at least he was compensated while being closely evaluated in the ten or so run up matches prior to the cup, dating back to when we locked up qualifying. That money would likely be gone except for European matches, so that can be taken into the equation as well.
Not sure if Odd will go much above $1M. But I am pretty sure that MLS will have to up TT's salary for him to stay. Though, really, there's no sense to be bidding against yourself if TT has played his best hand already.
So the question remains by going to a team in Norway that does nothing to increase his national team potential is this "lateral move" in Twellman's financial interest. Wouldn't he be better served by going to a lower Premiership team or more likely a Championship side with the potential of promotion into the top-flight ala DeMerit, Convey etc, which in the long run can lead to further financial gain, and can keep him truly on the national team radar.? Kind of like where he started out in Eurpoe I believe at 1860 Munich, but hopefully now he's more prepared for the rigors of European competition. Perry Stein
He has no "long term national team" potential and no caps for a UK WP. But maybe Odd Grenland should look at Jerry White first.