http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=740092&sec=transfers&cc=5901

Rumors are rampant that Raul Gonzalez will join NY Red Bull next season. He is 32 years old and is arguably the best Spanish player of the last couple decades. For me, he is the 3rd best striker over the last 15 years behind 1. Thierry Henry (also being linked) and 2. Ronaldo (Brazil).

This would be huge if both Henry and Raul join NY Red Bull. For soccer fans, Paolo Maldini is an icon, but his inclusion wont have the impact of the other 2 (plus Beckham).

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=740092&sec=transfers&cc=5901

BTW, I posted this on both this board and the Pro Sports because I think we get more soccer fans here than the Pro Sports.

It would be a shame because the level of fandom in the US and at US stadium will never reach the levels it does in europe. You need home grown US stars to do it.

OneBuckeye wrote: It would be a shame because the level of fandom in the US and at US stadium will never reach the levels it does in europe. You need home grown US stars to do it.

agreed. But the stars of America arent gonna stay here (Altidore, Dempsey, McBride, etc. Even Donovan if he makes it in Everton is a goner) until the level of competition gets better here. That wont happen until these stars come over, and then we need them to come over about 5 years earlier when they are still in the end of their prime.

Nice. This is how it will start. Get older players. They should start targetting talented Youths on Loan contracts from their European squad.

I've always said, show the money and they will come. No reason the MLS couldn't compete with the EPL somewhere down the road.

Well, soccer is about 100x more popular it seems than when I was a kid.

Americans will watch the best. They don't support the because they know where the talent level is.

If you swapped the EPL with MLS, there's no reasson to think Americans would support it any less than hockey.

Sage wrote: Nice. This is how it will start. Get older players. They should start targetting talented Youths on Loan contracts from their European squad.

I've always said, show the money and they will come. No reason the MLS couldn't compete with the EPL somewhere down the road.

NBA and NFL have something to say about that last part.

Yep. Or at least, compete with the French league or Bundesliga. EPL, La Liga, Serie A are tops right now but being a "second-tier" league is a very attainable goal. Not all stars, but some, and a lot of pretty good players.

your links are about ronaldo

2quik4u wrote: your links are about ronaldo

Fixed....they werent originally. Not sure what happened.

Here it is again.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=740092&sec=transfers&cc=5901

Sage wrote: Nice. This is how it will start. Get older players. They should start targetting talented Youths on Loan contracts from their European squad.

I've always said, show the money and they will come. No reason the MLS couldn't compete with the EPL somewhere down the road.

I know Barcelona was eagerly trying to get involved in the purchase of a Miami team. I forget why the deal wouldnt go through...but it fell through at some point.

That deal would have allowed Barcelona be be part owners of the team and basically send their youth teams over to play in Miami.

Players like:
-Fabregas
-Pique
-Bojan
-Giovani
-Pedro
-Pepe Reina
-Messi
-Xavi
-Iniesta

...etc all would have been in Miami if this was the case (had the team been around a long time ago). But I still think European teams would love to tap into the American market and send the players who dont make them money right now over here and make money off their senior team and youth teams. Barcelona was very close to making it happen, hopefully it continues to progress in that way.