Good afternoon folks (and good morning on the West Coast). Well, it took a little while to finish off the last part of the most recent Q&A, but it is finally done. Here are the answers to the remaining questions from last week's Q&A.
Enjoy.
IVES- I can see Honduras wanting Guevara, I just wonder if he will want to leave Toronto for a month to play in the Olympics.
TRIV- Is there any chance Thierry Henry could come to Seattle in 09 or Philadelphia in 2010? Are there any big European stars that u see coming to MLS as DP's over the next few years? Figo? Robbie Fowler`?
IVES- I'm not buying the Henry to Seattle talk AT ALL. I think it's a pipe dream cooked up by some imaginative people. Does that mean I don't see him coming to MLS? Of course I see Henry in MLS, but I see him playing in a big market, like a New York, LA or Chicago. He is too marketable to put in a small market.
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TIM F- Do you think the priority of acquiring a center attacking midfielder should have died off for New York and if not who should the team go after? It was first listed as a priority but now is not listed as a position to fill. The Red Bulls need a "De Rosario, Gallardo, Gomez, Guevara, Schletto, Toja" type player.
IVES- Could the Red Bulls use a player like one of the ones you listed? OF course they could. The question is how does the club pay for such a player. The money isn't there, at least not without leaving the team with several other needs unfilled. The Red Bulls believe they can find an impact left winger, defensive midfielder and central defender with the same money it would cost to go find an available playmaker. Also, Mike Magee can be an attacking midfield option when he gets healthy and the club is in talks with Red Bull Salzburg about acquiring Ernst Obster on loan, who can also play in that role. Right now, finding a reasonably priced defensive midfielder and moving Claudio Reyna into a more advanced role is the practical play (despite the insistence of some that Reyna can't play in an attacking midfield role).
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KAREN- What happened to Kyle Martino? In light of all the midfielder injuries, could he help the Red Bulls as an option in central midfield? What would the Red Bulls lose by giving him a shot?
IVES- The last I heard Martino had left the game to work on Wall Street or some other corporate sector in New York. The Red Bulls had some interest, but wouldn't have wanted to spend too much on Martino, probably not enough to stop him from retiring.
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KEVIN- Where do u see MLS in 5, 10 years? What will be the situation of soccer in the country? Will there be a flood of talent heading to the top leages in Europe or will they stay and go for MLS and make it a powerhouse of play? Do u see MLS stopping at 20 or expanding to 24, 26 teams?
IVES- That's four questions Kevin. I see MLS thriving in 10 years. I think soccer's visibility will be much greater, I don't think you'll have a "flood" of talent going to Europe but there will be more than there is now. I also think MLS expands beyond 20 eventually, though maybe not for another six to 10 years.
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MATT LAURENZANO- When a team buys a player with a transfer fee, does the player have any say in the matter? Do they renegotiate a contract, or do they have to continue their old contract with the new team? Can the player refuse the transfer?
Also, besides the Euro 2008 final, are any other games going to be on ESPN/ESPN2/ABC or any other non pay-per-view channel?
IVES- Players always have a say in a transfer. They have to sign off on any such deal. As for the contract, I think that's up to the player and buying team whether they sign a new deal or see out the remaining deal.
As for Euro, the ESPN/ABC family of networks will be showing all games, with many of them being aired in HD. Yes, that's right, it's time to get that HD package you've been putting off.
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Q- Hey Ives, Love the site...
1. Do you know what kind of salary leagues such as the Championship/League 1/2/ Spanish League 2 (you get my drift) get paid per year? Is an average MLS salary (the one I see most is 33,000) competitive to that?
2. Who do you think is the worst/weakest manager in MLS?
IVES- 1. Not even close. MLS salaries, on average, are considerably lower than your average salaries in the second divisions of Europe's top leagues.
2. I think Jason Kreis is the least experienced and will continue to struggle because of that. Fernando Clavijo also doesn't have the best track record. So for right now, I would put those two in that category.
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GEOFF- What do the Galaxy need to do to be competitive in this league, and can they do it this season with the tragedy that is their front office?
IVES- What Ruud Gullit needs to do is piece together a servicable defense using cheap parts. Abel Xavier and Greg Vanney just don't seem like the answers, though Vanney could fit well if playing alongside some talent. I love Sean Franklin's game (and have been singing his praises since the MLS Combine) but the Galaxy need a central defender badly.
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STEVE- How would a top woman like Abby Wambach fare in MLS?
IVES- I couldn't begin to tell you but I would imagine the physical advantages she enjoys in the women's game would disappear playing against MLS men (though I would like her chances one on one against Abel Xavier.)
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BRANT- What's going to happen to MLS when they hit 20 teams? FIFA has a standard that says a country's top-flight should not exceed 20 teams, which translates into a 38-game season with everyone playing home-and-home. Would MLS exceed the 20 team limit? And if so, would they exceed a 38-game season, or ignore the home-and-home standard for teams? It seems pretty clear that within another 5 years, they'll be up to 20 teams, but how many more are planned after that?
IVES- I think MLS will eventually move past 20 teams. I just think the size of this country coupled with the fact that there could be two Canadian teams in that first 20 tells me that MLS could convince FIFA to let it go past 20 teams. If this doesn't happen then I wonder if the USL First Division starts to draw bigger investors, which could lead to, yes, I'm saying it, a promotion-relegation set-up. Obviousy that's WAY down the road, but I just happen to think MLS will expand beyond 20 when its all said and done.
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MIKE- Where's Paul Gardner? He hasn't had an article on the Sun for a while.
IVES- I saw Paul earlier in the month. I'm not sure why he hasn't appeared in the Sun recently.
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DAVID J- You said in an earlier Q&A that you knew the writer Tino Palace. Do you know why he is no longer contributing to MLSNEt.com? Can we read him somewhere else? I enjoy his Fire-hating comments.
IVES- I know who Tino Palace was, as far as his real identity. I'm not sure why he's not on MLSNet anymore. Maybe he's busy with a real day job. I'll see if I can find out if he's writing anywhere else. Heck, maybe I can talk him into the occasional contribution to SBI (though that might add to the false notion that I hate the Fire).
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AMIT- With all the "partnerships" MLS clubs have with foreign teams, it seems to be that MLS alone is reaping the rewards in terms of loaned players. That said, do you think that any MLS players will be loaned to clubs like RB Salzburg, CA Paranaense, etc.?
IVES- I really don't see it happening. As for reaping the rewards, I believe the partner clubs benefit from having their players compete in a good league where they can gain experience and exposure.
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DMEE- Ives, given past comments from you, you seem to be on the Onyewu bandwagon. If he does not get a transfer out of Belgium this summer do you still think he should remain our number one centerback? Given he and Boca have been our goto centerbacks in the past, and with boca out of the team in Fulham, doesn't Bob realize the gravity of the situation at our centerback spot? Gooch is not good enough to start in a major European League so how is he good enough to start for our National team?
IVES- DMEE, I guess you can say I'm on the Onyewu bandwagon. I happen to think he and Bocanegra are the top central defenders in the U.S. pool. I also happen to think they have played very well in recent friendlies so I don't understand this push to want other defenders to replace them.
As for your question about how Onyewu can start for the US but not for a major European league, I don't think starting jobs are based on what club you play for. Onyewu is a key figure on a team that just won the Belgian League. No, the Belgian League isn't the EPL, but it's not a bad league. I also happen to think Onyewu will leave this summer. He has one year remaining on his current contract so now would be the time to sell. I think he will land in a Top Four league, though a top French team could also be an option.
As for Bocanegra, I believe he will find a new club this summer and find a starting role again. He isn't the first player to lose his place when a new manager comes on board and he won't be the last. What should be remembered is that Bocanegra was Fulham's captain for a spell and starting regularly. He has his faults, to be sure, but I still think he's a top American option at center back.
By the way, who are the American defenders starting regularly in top European leagues who Onyewu and Bocanegra are keeping out of a job? EXACTLY, there aren't any, so right now Onyewu and Bocanegra are the best options, and there not nearly as bad as some would make them out to be.
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JORDAN- 1) In the near future or ever, do you think we'll see a Euro style academy sprout up owned by an MLS club (residency and all) and if so, which club is most likely to kick it off?
2) Is USSF expecting a sellout for the Argentina game? How many have been sold thus far?
IVES- I think we will see that type of academy, I'm just not sure how far down the road that is. The whole NCAA eligibility issue makes it a tricky situation, which is why I think Toronto FC is probably the MLS team most likely to have such a setup first. As far as American clubs, I would say Red Bull has the resources to make it happen first.
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JIM NGUYEN- Hi Ives, who do you think will be on the Olympic roster? Who do you think will be the surprise additions or omissions to the Olympic roster, including the three overage players? Thanks.
IVES- You want the whole Olympic roster? I'm not even trying to do that right now, not with the tournament still months away. I'll say that you'll probably see between three and five new faces on the final roster as compared to the qualifying roster. I'll say that Brian McBride, Carlos Bocanegra and Kasey Keller will be the overage players. That's a complete guess (except for McBride, who I have already reported is serious about wanting to play in the Olympics).
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AUSTIN- With Arturo Alvarez ripping up MLS play, do you see any chance of him getting another chance to make the u-23 squad?
IVES- Of course I do, though I wonder if his defensive liabilities will always be a strike against him in Peter Nowak's eyes.
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Tom- Ives, what's the word on D.C. and KC's stadium projects? Has Don Garber been putting any pressure on the mayors of these cities like he has in Houston?
IVES- The D.C. situation is a well-documented mess. Not so sure what the commish can do there. As for KC, I'm hearing good things about the Kansas City project moving forward.
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DAVE- When do you think we might see a MLS team in NYC?
Also do you think we'll see Keller in net for the Sounders next season, seems like a good fit to me.
IVES- I see the second New York team in the league by 2012. As for Keller in Seattle, I think you'll see Hahnemann in Seattle before Keller. Just a hunch.
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J1- What's the roster for the nigerian u-23's?
IVES- It hasn't been selected yet.
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JONATHAN- 1. What's your World Under 23 Best 11?
2. What's your World Under 20 Best 11? Would you include guys like Jozy, Freddy, and ... Tim Ward?
3. Just wondering if you can share some person stuff, like:
-How did you get into journalism?
-Are you good at soccer/did you play? (if so, when and to what degree?)
-What's your all-time favorite movie ever?
IVES- Wow Jonathan, that's a lot to ask for, but since I like making those teams, I'll give it a whirl:
1. Now if we're talking players who would be age eligible for the upcoming Olympics, here's my All World Under-23 team:
--Sergio Aguero----------Karim Benzema--------Wayne Rooney
Cristiano Ronaldo--------Cesc Fabregas----------Lionel Messi
----------------------------Fernando Gago------------------------
Gael Clichy---------------Micah Richards------------Sergio Ramos
----------------------------Guillermo Ochoa-----------------------
2. If we are talking about players born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, here's my All World Under-20 team:
Sergio Aguero----------Alexandre Pato--------Bojan Krkic
Diego Capel-------------------------------Giovanni Dos Santos
-----------------Ever Banega---------Anderson----------------
Gareth Bale--------------------Breno-----------Micah Richards
--------------------------Nikolay Mihaylov----------------------
3. The best way to answer your questions here is to have you read the profile done on me by Adam Spangler of This is American Soccer. What isn't in there is my favorite movie. Not sure if I have just one. Here are 10 that come to mind:
- Usual Suspects
- Good Will Hunting
- Godfather II
- Goodfellas
- Hunt for Red October
- Warriors
- JFK
- Trading Places
- The Departed
- Midnight Run
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MANIC MESSIAH- This is a hypothetical question, but: A Landon Donovan for Jozy Altidore trade is cleary not something that would happen, but which team would object more to that deal?
IVES- I know Landon Donovan is on absolute fire right now but if you had asked this before the start of the season I say the Red Bulls would object more. Now, I think both would object strongly.
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ZENABI- Fans (and Eurosnob MLS bashers) need to get over the angst about players going to third-tier overseas leagues, i.e. Denmark. How many young people wouldn't want that adventure, especially if you played in college and never got to study abroad. Please put in in perspective. True, if the money in MLS was huge you couldn't afford to go, and we all wait anxiously for that day, but in the meantime get over it. Agree?
IVES- Agreed. The sky isn't falling because Nate Jaqua and Pat Noonan took big paydays to play in lower European leagues. These aren't the players who are going to put the league over the top. I mean, it would be great if MLS could increase the cap enough to afford to keep these players but if anything I think teams are simply choosing to spend their money on other players. If you look at the list of players that came and the list of players that left MLS this off-season, I think it's clear that the arrivals group is deeper and more talented than the departures group, so where is the need for panic?
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MYLES- Ives, Where do you think Michael Bradley will transfer to next year?
And also do you see any other U.S. players making big moves; Oguchi Onyewu? Brad Guzan? Any of the Fulham players if they get relegated?
IVES- I'll put my money on Everton among the teams that have been mentioned publicly. Onyewu is definitely leaving Standard Liege this summer. As for Guzan, not the way he's playing. Of the Fulham players, I think Dempsey, McBride, Bocanegra and Keller could all make moves. I see Johnson staying.
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SQUARD- With Honduras in the Olympics, What are the chances that Guevara will be one of their three "over 23" players?