Our favourite (or should that be favorite?) US postal worker Stars&Stripes wrote to us again, reporting on four MLS players not named Freddy Adu who could make it in what they call the EPL, two of whom may already be on their way.
Freddy Adu should be training away at Manchester United right now, hoping to impress Sir Alex. But despite Freddy’s big name, there are other players in MLS better suited to life in the Premiership.
Clint Dempsey – Impressed in his two and half games at the World Cup, scoring the USA’s only non own-goal with a confident finish against Ghana. Can play right or centre midfield, has some nice unpredictable skills (like Cristiano Ronaldo with bigger balls) and genuine aggression. Maybe a little too much. He was suspended last March after beating his New England Revolution captain Joey Franchino so badly he was hospitalised. Was not happy (audio here) after MLS (the league owns the players) rejected a $1.5 million offer from Charlton in the summer, but word is that Fulham will be making MLS an offer they can’t refuse in January. Oh, and he raps too.
Eddie Johnson – About to embark on an ‘educational exchange†at Reading, which is either an unfortunate misunderstanding about the club’s name or just an odd way of saying trial. EJ is fast as you like, good in the air and strong. The 22 year old striker made an explosive start to his international career, netting 7 times in his first 6 USA appearances (against international giants like El Salvador and Panama). Downside is that he sometimes lacks aggression (like a Yankee Emile Heskey), has been plagued by some odd injuries (turf toe?) and had a terrible 2006 MLS for the Kansas City Wizards.
Landon Donovan – The US Soccer poster boy has already endured two failed European sojourns at Bayer Leverkusen, and is currently taking it easy playing for Los Angeles Galaxy between trips to the beach. The attacking midfielder/forward has absolutely too much talent for MLS but seems to lack the passion or desire to take himself elsewhere. So Tottenham may be a suitable destination as the London clubs looks to add some actual creativity to their final third.
Dwayne De Rosario – The player Landon Donovan is supposed to be. Except he’s Canadian. The attacking midfielder/forward will be familiar to Chelsea fans, he was the guy with corn-rows who scored the MLS All-Stars long range winner against the Blues this summer. He also recently led the Houston Dynamo to an impressive MLS Cup win. Though an attacking midfielder, he’s up and down the field like a shaven headed David Beckham against Greece in 2001 and has the talent and authority to dictate the pace of an MLS game.
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