Red Bulls trade Thornton to Chivas USA
Photo by ISIphotos.com
Chivas USA has turned to an MLS veteran to fill the void left by Brad Guzan's transfer to Aston Villa.
The Goats have acquired Zach Thornton from the New York Red Bulls for future considerations. The trade was announced late Friday.
Thornton had yet to play a first-team match for the Red Bulls this season but has looked sharp in training all year and has played well in exhibition matches. It was just this week that I pointed out how sharp Thornton has looked in training.
No word yet on what the Red Bulls will do for a back-up goalkeeper. The club could recall Danny Cepero from his loan at USL-2 side Harrisburg. Rookie Caleb Patterson-Sewell is the only other current goalkeeper on the Red Bulls roster along with starter Jon Conway. If the Red Bulls recall Cepero from his loan deal then the Thornton trade will free up a senior roster spot for the Red Bulls, who are searching for as many as two new forwards.
Chivas USA now has a veteran to challenge and potentially start in place of inexperienced goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, who has one career MLS start to his record, as compared to Thornton's 217 career starts. With Guzan's transfer to Aston Villa being completed today, Chivas USA was desperate to add a veteran shot-stopper.
The trade also reunites Thornton with former Chicago Fire teammates Jesse Marsch and Ante Razov. All three were key figures on the Fire's 1998 MLS Cup title team. Coincidentally, Chivas USA travels to Toyota Park to take on the Chicago Fire on Saturday. The Red Bulls have a bye week.
What do you think of the trade? Share your thoughts below.
Ives Galarcep is an American soccer columnist for ESPNsoccernet.com and creator of SoccerByIves.net.
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I forgot this guy was still playing. ZEUS!
Posted by: Johnny | August 01, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Hey ives, any news on Red Bull Park? seems like there might be a rumor that Red Bull Park is being delayed again due to eminent domain. Is this true? It seems, his park has been doom from the start.
Posted by: Sandro | August 01, 2008 at 06:28 PM
WHAT are the future considerations? C'mon, tell me it was more than a ham sandwich. I would think a veteran keeper ready to go is worth at least a 2nd round draft pick... or why not trade Thornton for Flores?
Something tells me though the Red Bulls got a ham sandwich... perhaps because Agoof is incompetent.
Posted by: Eugene | August 01, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Ha ha!
Let the fllod gates to the Chivas goal open!!
Posted by: mike ruze | August 01, 2008 at 06:38 PM
why couldnt chivas just give cash considerations instead of "future considerations"
Posted by: mike from linden | August 01, 2008 at 06:44 PM
You have the ham sandwich thing all wrong. Thornton didn't get traded for a ham sandwich, Chivas is paying him ham sandwiches.
Posted by: CD | August 01, 2008 at 06:49 PM
Kennedy is pretty talented... Ives, you forget that this guy has been playing in the USL (Puerto Rico and others and was named Rookie of the Year in '05 I think) and even the MetroStars for a brief period since he left college (the pay was higher than MLS) and then played in South America. Oh, by the way... his Senior year of College he did play in the College Cup that went to PK's against Indiana back in '04. I would be shocked if Thornton is handed the job.
Posted by: Garrett | August 01, 2008 at 07:01 PM
I think is very stupit from the RB to trade Thornton the reason being that ther starting keeper(Conway) can't make a winning save for his life what the RB needs a GK that will carry the team when is needed
Posted by: cesar barrientos | August 01, 2008 at 09:45 PM
Not the right thread but Toja is officially sold.
Posted by: Casey C. | August 01, 2008 at 10:15 PM
The key to this is move is that it frees up a senior roster spot, which probably means we are about to sign a veteran forward.
Posted by: Mark100 | August 01, 2008 at 11:27 PM
Unfortunately, It's probably less like "about to" and more like "hoping to".
Posted by: Brett | August 02, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Chivas are officially the Fire West
Razov, Marsch, Curtin and Thornton
wow
Posted by: Sasha | August 02, 2008 at 02:16 AM
i like this bacause it frees up the spot, but i think Conway has NOT looked very good this yr, i was thinking we would soon see Zack get a few starts to see what happens...
I would like to see Danny Cepero play though
Posted by: FredMAcMurry | August 02, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Thanks Mark100 for being astute!
Posted by: ag nigrin | August 02, 2008 at 08:15 AM
Bad deal. Conway has been okay. But MLS is think on GKs this year (what with Guzan, Perkins going over-seas, Seitz in the Olympics). Case in point: United has been desperately trying to trade for someone just to compete with Zach Wells and they've come up with nothing in MLS. So if Conway goes down, the Red Bulls are hosed. It's nice to talk about potential and youth but teams don't win with rookie, inexperienced GKs.
Posted by: John | August 02, 2008 at 08:50 AM
Chivago
Posted by: Bahns | August 02, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Is Agoos making these decisions? My God! Chivas is in desperate need of a keeper, we have the top back-up keeper in the league, and we don't even get a forward in the deal? I'm still a RBNY fan and Origial '96 Season Tick Holder - and the joke continues...I just want one championship before I die. Just one. Hell, I'll take a US Open Cup at this point...
Posted by: Michael F. | August 02, 2008 at 09:05 AM
That 'future considerations' reminds me of Crash Davis, "I'm the player to be named later."
Posted by: mig22 | August 02, 2008 at 09:44 AM
Dude looks like deebo from friday.
Posted by: Chicostick | August 02, 2008 at 01:04 PM
Later Oprah.
Posted by: Binks | August 02, 2008 at 07:39 PM
Like Eugene said, what are the future considerations? Hopefully the Red Bulls got something of value for him?
Posted by: Tim F. | August 04, 2008 at 07:03 AM
REMEMBER WHEN ZACH THORNTON WON 'THE HARDEST KICKER' AWARD AT THE MLS ALL STARS SKILLS CHALLENGE?
Posted by: Carles | August 04, 2008 at 09:33 AM