US Striker Eddie Johnson signs for American FC (oops...I mean Fulham)

[TX Bill]

In the past, I advocated that Eddie Johnson might be a good fit for Everton.

Well now we'll get to see how he does for Fulham as they've signed him on a 3 1/2 year deal.

That'll be fun for Eddie. 1/2 year in the Premiership and 3 years in the Coca Cola Championship unless they sell him on.

 

[Rook]

He's a good buy for a team facing relegation. If he goes on one of those crazy runs where he scores like 14 in 8 matches he could steal some points for Fulham and perhaps even keep them up. He was the highest scorer in the U-20 Worlds a few years ago wasn't he? Plus its hard to keep motivated when your playing in from of 70,000 red seats every match so maybe he just got bored in MLS?

 

[Rook]

But he's still too inconsistent to play for a team in the top 1/2 so no not a good fit for us. The American I want now is Bradley who's lighting it up in the Dutch league. Then again so did Kuyt.

 

[TX Bill]

No, Bradley has really come on over the past year and is high on confidence.

NOW he would be a good longer term understudy for Carsley !!!

 

[Rook]

This is becoming a Bradley thread.

20 years old. 9 Goals in 20 matches for Heerenveen. Including a hat trick. Not too shabby for a holding midfielder. He's got them up to 5th and 2 points away from the Champions League. Plus he gives interviews in Dutch now. He's class. But when he's sold I'm guessing he's not going to be cheap.

 

[toffeestillidie]

back to eddie johnson...

don't like him, he's a class finisher and he's fast, but he doesn't work hard at all. from what i've seen he can only outsprint anyone on the pitch in those golden moments because he spends the other 85 minutes standing still.

 

[Neiler]

Be intresting to see how he gets on, we've been linked with him a lot in the past! Do any of you guys know how Freddie Adu is doing this days wasnt he supposed to be the next pele?

 

[Rook]

Be intresting to see how he gets on, we've been linked with him a lot in the past! Do any of you guys know how Freddie Adu is doing this days wasnt he supposed to be the next pele?

He was supposed to be great and he certainly has talent still to be a hell of a player. From age 14-18 he really didn't get any better they were like lost years. Probaly should have headed for a European academy at around 16 where he would have gotten into reserve team matches and had better coaches. Alot of it was his own fault MLS he got a big head and didn't really try to get better. Blamed the coach for sitting him when in fact he wasn't good enough to start in the MLS. Partied alot too. However getting shipped to Salt Lake seemed to give him a wake up call. And is supposedly training hard.

I don't think he's doing too bad at Benfica. His problem was that the coach who bought him got fired a few days after signing him. According to Wiki He has a scored 5 goals in 14 matches and is currently only used as a sub (1 start). He's playing as an attacking midfielder (not sure on the wing or central midfield) when his ideal position is probaly as a playmaking striker on the wing in a 4-3-3. If he's playing central midfield he'll struggle. His passing in the middle of the pitch isn't very good and center halves and holding midfielders gang up on him rough him up. He does most of his damage on the wing and can get by almost anyone 1 on 1. Plus he's an excellent crosser. I had my doubts about the guy but when I saw him a couple times at the U-20 World Cup only Aguero was better. However he was the most exciting player in the competition.

Not sure if he'll be a good Prem player. I think he would need a couple years for him to adjust to the physicality of the league. Veteran physical players always knocked him off his game in the MLS. Any prem team that gets him will have to have patience. If he does become good/great I don't think you will see it until around his 25th birthday.

Striker is a serious weakness for the US team. However if Freddy and Altidore develop quickly the US isn't going to be an easy out. If all goes well the US may be one of the favorites in the World cup in 2014 and 2018.

Best case senario?: Pre Real Madrid Robinho or maybe Rosicky.

Worst case: Ji Sun-Park. A decent backup.

 

[benj_1878]

But he's still too inconsistent to play for a team in the top 1/2 so no not a good fit for us. The American I want now is Bradley who's lighting it up in the Dutch league. Then again so did Kuyt.

Funny you should mention Bradley, the timing of this is almost too good to be true.

Heerenveen midfielder Michael Bradley is being tracked by Everton.
Algemeen Dagblad says Everton boss Dave Moyes is keen to snap up the 20 year-old USA international, who joined Heerenveen from New York Red Bull three seasons ago.


Now this news story is dated today, 25th January. And, despite not being American, I know all about this kid, and you're right, he's a class act. I would love us to sign him. I watched the Americans closely at the U-20 tournament towards the end of last year, mainly because I wanted to see Jozy Altidore, now there's a player with potential, he could be really good.

Anyone know what happened with Szetela? The rumours with him stayed around for ages, and then went away, and then came back at the end of last year, wasn't he available for like 50k? Surely that was worth a punt...

 

[TX Bill]

I don't know about him but his MLS career was stop and start at best. He really came on in the U-20 World Cup so that probably got rumours of "Szetela to ________" going again.

I bet Moyes could get Bradley for around 2M.

 

[Rook]

Szetela will probably need a couple seasons of experience in the reserves before becoming a regular in the starting 11. He probably should have went to a Championship side or Scotland.

 

[Rook]

Bradley would be great on Everton. He could learn from Cars for a 1/2-1 season, and give us a goal scoring threat from the holding midfielder position. Plus he's like 6'1" and we desperately need some non-vertically challenged players.

He does need a little work on his tackling though. He's not a dirty player but has his share of brain farts every now and then when he goes in for a tackle and gets carded. Though this will probably get corrected with experience.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Best young player on the US team in my opinion. He has a good head on him and make quick and excellent deceisons. Seems like he has a good motor. I'd like him to become a blue. Not Eddie Johnson but Michael Bradley that is.

 

[benj_1878]

Latest news is that Mark Hughes has been having a look at young Michael. PULL YOUR FINGER OUT MOYES AND GET HIM SIGNED!

 

[Neiler]

He was supposed to be great and he certainly has talent still to be a hell of a player. From age 14-18 he really didn't get any better they were like lost years. Probaly should have headed for a European academy at around 16 where he would have gotten into reserve team matches and had better coaches. Alot of it was his own fault MLS he got a big head and didn't really try to get better. Blamed the coach for sitting him when in fact he wasn't good enough to start in the MLS. Partied alot too. However getting shipped to Salt Lake seemed to give him a wake up call. And is supposedly training hard.

I don't think he's doing too bad at Benfica. His problem was that the coach who bought him got fired a few days after signing him. According to Wiki He has a scored 5 goals in 14 matches and is currently only used as a sub (1 start). He's playing as an attacking midfielder (not sure on the wing or central midfield) when his ideal position is probaly as a playmaking striker on the wing in a 4-3-3. If he's playing central midfield he'll struggle. His passing in the middle of the pitch isn't very good and center halves and holding midfielders gang up on him rough him up. He does most of his damage on the wing and can get by almost anyone 1 on 1. Plus he's an excellent crosser. I had my doubts about the guy but when I saw him a couple times at the U-20 World Cup only Aguero was better. However he was the most exciting player in the competition.

Not sure if he'll be a good Prem player. I think he would need a couple years for him to adjust to the physicality of the league. Veteran physical players always knocked him off his game in the MLS. Any prem team that gets him will have to have patience. If he does become good/great I don't think you will see it until around his 25th birthday.

Striker is a serious weakness for the US team. However if Freddy and Altidore develop quickly the US isn't going to be an easy out. If all goes well the US may be one of the favorites in the World cup in 2014 and 2018.

Best case senario?: Pre Real Madrid Robinho or maybe Rosicky.

Worst case: Ji Sun-Park. A decent backup.

Cheers mate!