Friday, March 24, 2006
RIF - Three Yanks on the Same EPL Squad?
If Reading wins on Saturday they will have assured their automatic promotion to the Premiership next season. Nearly every article I've read points to Americans Bobby Convey and Marcus Hahnemann as team leaders and the key drivers of their success.
When teams move up a league, those wanting to escape relegation the following season, often add players to their roster. I'm sure Reading will do so and I expect them add a marquee name or two. However, I wonder if the success Reading has had with two relatively unproven and unknown Americans will prompt management to take a flier on another unproven and relatively unknown American (granted, Hahnemann had a successful run earlier to earn promotion with Fulham, however he was replaced forthwith by Edwin van der Saar). When you factor in the low risk due to the relatively low cost of such a gamble I tend to think there is the real possibility Reading may have three Yanks on the roster when camp opens next season.
So the question is who?
A few names come to mind. Gooch for one. As a general rule, when you move up to a more competitive league, it's always nice to add a large shut down defender with some speed. And I think Gooch will be effective in the EPL. In fact, I look forward to watching him mark Peter Crouch. I fully expect Crouch to feel like Shawn Bradley after Shaq stole a rebound out of his hands. However, I expect Gooch to have a very impressive World Cup and with the hot stove league rumors of big clubs already interested in him, I think he'll be priced out of Reading's range.
Mathis. Sure he won't be on the WC roster. Sure he flamed out in Germany after publicly trying to embarrass his coach. Sure he had a nightmare season in 2005. But he can still --- I'm just kidding, there's no chance.
Wolf. He seems to be itching to get overseas. He can bring a lot of energy to the table and can be an effective playmaker, although some believe most of his goals are a result of the keeper simply being surprised he got the shot on frame. He will come cheaply, which is a nice feature in an energy guy to bring off the bench. Wolf joining Reading would not be too big of a surprise.
Donovan. No chance. He's not leaving the States, let alone California.
I don't think any of those fellas will be the one selected to the Reading roster for next season. I think Clint Dempsey has the best chance. He is younger than the others mentioned. He has shown significant improvement and maturity over the past year. He can fit into a number of positions in the midfield as well as play forward. He's brash and cocky enough to not be intimidated. We can only hope he is smart enough to realize he still has a lot to learn, which is something I think Convey can help him with after his abysmal experience with reading last season.
So there it is, my reach prediction for 2006. Clint Dempsey will be on the Reading roster next season. If not Clint then who? Beasley? Johnson? Spector? Or maybe you think the other way. Maybe the new high profile acquisitions will prove to be tickets out of town for Convey and/or Hahnemann. Let me hear your thoughts.
-fritz
When teams move up a league, those wanting to escape relegation the following season, often add players to their roster. I'm sure Reading will do so and I expect them add a marquee name or two. However, I wonder if the success Reading has had with two relatively unproven and unknown Americans will prompt management to take a flier on another unproven and relatively unknown American (granted, Hahnemann had a successful run earlier to earn promotion with Fulham, however he was replaced forthwith by Edwin van der Saar). When you factor in the low risk due to the relatively low cost of such a gamble I tend to think there is the real possibility Reading may have three Yanks on the roster when camp opens next season.
So the question is who?
A few names come to mind. Gooch for one. As a general rule, when you move up to a more competitive league, it's always nice to add a large shut down defender with some speed. And I think Gooch will be effective in the EPL. In fact, I look forward to watching him mark Peter Crouch. I fully expect Crouch to feel like Shawn Bradley after Shaq stole a rebound out of his hands. However, I expect Gooch to have a very impressive World Cup and with the hot stove league rumors of big clubs already interested in him, I think he'll be priced out of Reading's range.
Mathis. Sure he won't be on the WC roster. Sure he flamed out in Germany after publicly trying to embarrass his coach. Sure he had a nightmare season in 2005. But he can still --- I'm just kidding, there's no chance.
Wolf. He seems to be itching to get overseas. He can bring a lot of energy to the table and can be an effective playmaker, although some believe most of his goals are a result of the keeper simply being surprised he got the shot on frame. He will come cheaply, which is a nice feature in an energy guy to bring off the bench. Wolf joining Reading would not be too big of a surprise.
Donovan. No chance. He's not leaving the States, let alone California.
I don't think any of those fellas will be the one selected to the Reading roster for next season. I think Clint Dempsey has the best chance. He is younger than the others mentioned. He has shown significant improvement and maturity over the past year. He can fit into a number of positions in the midfield as well as play forward. He's brash and cocky enough to not be intimidated. We can only hope he is smart enough to realize he still has a lot to learn, which is something I think Convey can help him with after his abysmal experience with reading last season.
So there it is, my reach prediction for 2006. Clint Dempsey will be on the Reading roster next season. If not Clint then who? Beasley? Johnson? Spector? Or maybe you think the other way. Maybe the new high profile acquisitions will prove to be tickets out of town for Convey and/or Hahnemann. Let me hear your thoughts.
-fritz
