SoccerAmerica - Altidore and Johnson loaned again 01/31/2011

[TRANSFER WATCH] For the third time in three seasons, Jozy Altidore and Eddie Johnson have been loaned out. Altidore joined second-place Turkish First Division club Bursaspor after seeing little playing time at Villarreal, while Johnson, in his last season at Fulham, will play for Preston North End, last in the English League Championship. They become the seventh and eighth U.S. internationals to change clubs in January. Seven moved on loan, while defender Clarence Goodson switched clubs in Scandinavia on a free transfer.

Altidore's last midseason loan was a disaster. He ended up not playing when he moved to Spanish Second Division Xerez. After a season on loan to Hull City of the English Premier League, he returned to Villarreal but found it impossible to crack the lineup at La Liga's third-place team. He played 13 minutes in two games off the bench in La Liga action for the Yellow Submarine.

After loan stints at Cardiff City (2008-09) and Greek club Aris (2010), Johnson rejoined Fulham for which he made 11 EPL appearances off the bench -- more than his other two seasons with the Cottagers combined.

Also signing on the last day of the January window in Europe was Erik Opsahl, who made his three brief appearance for St. John's last fall but signed with Reading of the English League Championship.

WINTER TRANSFER MARKET:
From USA to Abroad
Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy to FC Ingolstadt, Germany D2)
Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA to Tigres, Mexico D1)
Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake to Nottingham Forest, England D2)
Erik Opsahl (St. John's Univ. to Reading, England D2)
Diego Restrepo (Univ. of Virginia to America de Cali, Colombia D1)

From Abroad to USA
Kenny Cooper (1860 Munich, Germany D2 to Portland Timbers)
Hunter Freeman (IK Start, Norway D1 to Houston Dynamo)

Abroad
Brian Ackley (Auckland City, New Zealand D1 to FK Pribram, Czech Republic, D1)
*Freddy Adu (Aris, Greece D1 on loan to Caykur Rizespor, Turkey D2)
Jozy Altidore (Villarreal, Spain D1 on loan to Bursaspor, Turkey D1)
David Antunez (FC Inter, Finland D1 to Tecos Estudiantes, D1)
Michael Bradley (Bor. M'Gladbach, Germany D1 on loan to Aston Villa, England D1)
Colin Burns (Sarpsborg, Norway D1 on loan to Sandefjord, Norway D2)
**Edgar Castillo (San Luis, Mexico D1 on loan to Puebla, Mexico D1)
Joshua Gatt (SCR Altach, Austria D2 to Molde SK, Norway D1)
Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway D1 to Broendby IF, Denmark D1)
Mike Grella (Carlisle United, England D3 loan return to Leeds United, England D2)
Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England D1 on loan to Hull City, England, D2)
Eddie Johnson (Fulham, England D1 to Preston North End, England D2)
Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04, Germany D1 on loan to Blackburn Rovers, England D1)
Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Netherlands D1 on loan to FC Twente, D1)
***Marco Antonio Vidal (Pachuca, Mexico D1 on loan to Club Leon, Mexico, D2)

Free Agents
Gabriel Ferrari (released by FC Wohlen, Switzerland D2)
Jeremiah White (released by GKS Belchatow, Poland D1)
Josh Wicks (signed by Mariehamn, Finland D1)

*Benfica, Portugal D1 owns his contract.
**Club America, Mexico D1 owns his contract.
***Indios, Mexico D2 owns his contract.

0 comments

Ric Fonseca

commented on: February 1, 2011 at 1:09 p.m.

It's sad to read about Jozy, yet, like the Freddy Adu scenario, I am more and more convinced that it has been the so-called "managers" and "agents" of these US "foreign based" players that are giving bad advise. Face it, agents or managers make a living off the players they represent, getting a pretty nice percentage of a player's contract, so the more they shop them around and signed, the fatter their wallets get. As for Altidore not getting suffient playing time, I am not surprised as some coaches and team managers also get pressured to bring in a player of Altidore's caliber and when it is time for the players to "pay the piper" and attempt to strut their stuff, as has been reported lately, they don't perform, thus, they join the "timber squad" and begin a danged if I do, and danged if I don't club, the probervial Catch 22 situation. What is even more perplexing, the US MNT coach, Banality Bradley, would not blink twice in bringing him back home for NT duty, saying that he has been playing and training in Europe, yada-yada, and extols his playing virtues. It is indeed a "funny way" to do business, what with agents/managers, coaches, team managers, and the cadre of US NT coaches, but does it really work or benefit for those "overseas" players and eventually the US national teams? It is perplexing and debatable. Food for thought!

Gak Foodsource

commented on: February 1, 2011 at 2:13 p.m.

Ric you are certainly correct - these agents are absolute vultures. But I don't know how to feel about news that Altidore and Adu continue to be loaned out. One the one hand, it has to be difficult being at the complete whim of some of these clubs. A trip to the first and second divisions of Turkish football is presumably not the dream that Altidore and Adu envisioned on their trip across the Atlantic. But at the same time, as much as I want to feel sorry for them being shipped all over the world without any input, they had as good a shot as any to prove they belonged. I can't help but think of all those MLS players who suffered through failed work permits and MLS obstacles, all of whom would have given their left arms for an opportunity to prove their worth at Monaco, Benfica, or Villareal if even for a week. At least players like Altidore, Adu, Johnson and Onyewu are still on the books.

Aldo Baietti

commented on: February 1, 2011 at 6:47 p.m.

It is indeed saddening that our best prospects for US soccer are not able to progress in Europe. All, except Bradley have regressed from their original signings. This should send alarm bells off at USSF. Our youth development program still focuses on physical abilities while Europe wants technical skills. This is clear to me with one exception, Adu. He has the talent but perhaps has had it too easy in this country, stifling his drive to better himself in much more fierce competition. USSF should go back to the drawing board to focus on technical players that in early year

Aldo Baietti

commented on: February 1, 2011 at 6:52 p.m.

Didn't finish! That in their early years are not the biggest and more physically talented. The current approach is comparable to the story of the Trojan Horse! You think you get a big prize, but instead it's a terrible liability.

Reuben Valles

commented on: February 2, 2011 at 12:11 a.m.

Hello Everyone, the things that each of you mentioned bothers me also. It would be nice if more of our European based players were having or showing a greater amount of promise or that they were desired by the clubs that own the contracts. Most of the guys arent even wanted by the lower division clubs they are loaned to. That is whats most alarming to me. Especially a guy like Altidore. I cant believe the second division clubs/second tier teams dont really even want this guy who in the least is a heck of a speciman with a decent amount of experience. On a good note, we have all forgot about a USNAT who is having incredible success this year........and that is Stuart Holden who plays for Bolton. Holden was recently voted a Top 11 player in the EPL by the media that covers the EPL. That is some lofty credit being given out to him by what is essentially the Associated Press of the EPL. So at least one guy is really impressing

	Advanced Search Archives
Home > Soccer America Daily > Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011

Follow Us On