Columbus Crew SC (2008, 2020, 2023 MLS Champions)

[BuckTwenty]

I hope, if Super Pippo still wants to play, he come to the MLS. Maybe not on Crew, but in the MLS. He'd be great for more international exposure.

The fact that MLS is getting players of this caliber before their legs are useless is huge for the league. And those guys are then going back to their home countries and telling their friends who are still playing how wonderful MLS and the US is, and the cycle continues. For example, Beckham had a huge hand in Keane coming across the pond to join LA.

MLS is gaining a lot of exposure overseas, and the more positive exposure over there, the bigger and better names we'll see come into the league. The Crew will catch another big name at some point, but not after the NY's and LA's get theirs. It's just a matter of time.

If Ronaldinho comes to MLS, he'll sell out every venue he goes to and the sports media will take notice. Anytime Ronaldinho's in Columbus for a game, you better believe my butt's going to be in a seat in Crew Stadium.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Rumor mill's still churning with international players interested in MLS. The newest looks to be Adolfo "El Bofo" Bautista-- ex-Mexican international and Chivas Guadalajara star. Sounds as though he is "studying options north of Mexico" currently.

 

[TooTall]

Rumor mill's still churning with international players interested in MLS. The newest looks to be Adolfo "El Bofo" Bautista-- ex-Mexican international and Chivas Guadalajara star. Sounds as though he is "studying options north of Mexico" currently.

Getting Mexican Internationals is just a vital to the MLS success as players from EPL, La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga.

 

[BuckTwenty]

I knew Fox Soccer was going to be out, but I did not know that NBC signed a 3 year deal to be the new home of MLS, complete with "extensive coverage" et al. That's pretty darn exciting! And it's not ESPN!! Hallelujah indeed.

 

[BuckTwenty]

In an interesting turn of events, Ronaldinho sounds like he is indeed in talks with MLS... and he won't be going to LA. Sounds like odds are he won't be going to NY either, according to one of the other links there. Translating the French link at the top of the page:

As we had announced a few days ago (read here), Ronaldinho, the playmaker Flamengo (Brazil D1) is in the viewfinder of the MLS (Major League Soccer). Meary Jerome, who handle the case jointly with the MLS, told us: "Yes, we try to bring" Ronnie "with the League, but there may be a surprise for the club for which he could play . We are preparing a big offer, but it is currently not in Los Angeles, which still has the right of refusal over the put option on the player, which is a problem for now .. . "To be continued.

The last part of the quote is interesting. Why would LA has first right of refusal for Ronaldinho? Doesn't that club have ENOUGH already??

 

[TooTall]

In an interesting turn of events, Ronaldinho sounds like he is indeed in talks with MLS... and he won't be going to LA. Sounds like odds are he won't be going to NY either, according to one of the other links there. Translating the French link at the top of the page:



The last part of the quote is interesting. Why would LA has first right of refusal for Ronaldinho? Doesn't that club have ENOUGH already??

The Golden One could make those away uni's SURE LOOK GOOD! I would absolutely shit my pants if he ends up in a small market team. But he is coming from Flamengo, so anything is possible with him.

Looking further into this, it's actually possible it could be Columbus. They have TONS of money freed up, and it will only grow if RR leaves for Europe. Which brings up the next point, an opening at the CAM position (likely where Ronaldinho would play).

The only thing that worries me, is KC would be my second guess for him to end up. I'd hate for that to happen.

 

[BuckTwenty]

The Golden One could make those away uni's SURE LOOK GOOD! I would absolutely [Mark May] my pants if he ends up in a small market team. But he is coming from Flamengo, so anything is possible with him.

Looking further into this, it's actually possible it could be Columbus. They have TONS of money freed up, and it will only grow if RR leaves for Europe. Which brings up the next point, an opening at the CAM position (likely where Ronaldinho would play).

The only thing that worries me, is KC would be my second guess for him to end up. I'd hate for that to happen.

It'll be real interesting! Columbus went from having a 0% shot to a legitimate shot at potentially signing him. We need a playmaking midfielder, and despite his age, Ronaldinho would be a HUGE immediate upgrade from anyone we could have expected to sign in the draft or from a South American league. Gotta continue keeping our expectations low on these type of signings, but its hard not to get excited about him going to a smaller market team in the league IF he does come to MLS.

Funny enough, KC is the next place I thought as well. For whatever reason, they've made some big signings over the past few years, like Omar Bravo.

 

[TooTall]

It'll be real interesting! Columbus went from having a 0% shot to a legitimate shot at potentially signing him. We need a playmaking midfielder, and despite his age, Ronaldinho would be a HUGE immediate upgrade from anyone we could have expected to sign in the draft or from a South American league. Gotta continue keeping our expectations low on these type of signings, but its hard not to get excited about him going to a smaller market team in the league IF he does come to MLS.

Funny enough, KC is the next place I thought as well. For whatever reason, they've made some big signings over the past few years, like Omar Bravo.

Columbus becomes a BIG market team if they get Ronaldinho signed AND Speas signed.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Columbus becomes a BIG market team if they get Ronaldinho signed AND Speas signed.

It sounds funny, but elsewhere in the world, Columbus isn't seen as a small market team... just here in the US. Columbus's success in 2008 and its subsequent success afterwards gave them some international notoriety, especially in South America and Latin America (with much thanks to players like Guillermo doing so well here).

We've got a shot! Ticket sales would jump BIG time if Ronny decides to come to Columbus, which has to be attractive to our FO. And the press we would get from him coming here would be invaluable, both domestically and internationally. I just hope our FO is smart enough to make this potentially happen...

 

[Merih]

I can't see Ronnie okaying a move if it's not to either the Galaxy or the Red Bulls. Huge part of these deals is the marketing tied into the contract, and those are the only two clubs financially and locationally situated well enough to grant this. I'd LOVE for this to happen but the chances of it (IMO) are slim with a heavy side of none.

 

[TooTall]

It sounds funny, but elsewhere in the world, Columbus isn't seen as a small market team... just here in the US. Columbus's success in 2008 and its subsequent success afterwards gave them some international notoriety, especially in South America and Latin America (with much thanks to players like Guillermo doing so well here).

We've got a shot! Ticket sales would jump BIG time if Ronny decides to come to Columbus, which has to be attractive to our FO. And the press we would get from him coming here would be invaluable, both domestically and internationally. I just hope our FO is smart enough to make this potentially happen...

Huge understatement. The stadium would sellout.... For the season if this were to happen.

 

[Merih]

I can't see Ronnie okaying a move if it's not to either the Galaxy or the Red Bulls. Huge part of these deals is the marketing tied into the contract, and those are the only two clubs financially and locationally situated well enough to grant this. I'd LOVE for this to happen but the chances of it (IMO) are slim with a heavy side of none.

I could easily see us getting in on players like the Inzaghi's, Del Piero's, Klose's, Lampard's, etc etc.

 

[TooTall]

I could easily see us getting in on players like the Inzaghi's, Del Piero's, Klose's, Lampard's, etc etc.

I don't want Del Piero. I would LOVE to have Klose as a feature forward! He seems to be ageless in his talents. Much like Super Pippo.

 

[BuckTwenty]

Columbus released the mock-ups of the jersies they will be wearing this year. I'm digging the home canary kit. They simplified it and got rid of that stupid horizontal piping they put on the top and bottom of it last year. I may have to get this one... :)

 

[BuckTwenty]

Columbus offered a 2-year contract for Universidad Catolica captain Milovan Mirosevic from Chile. 31 year old attacking midfielder and former teammate of Crew right back Sebastian Miranda. Translating the link:

Which is very close from the captain Milovan Mirosevic, who has a good deal of the U.S. Columbus Crew, a club where he plays the former Spanish Sebastian Miranda and would come for two years.

He hasn't accepted the offer yet, but sounds like it's just a matter of time. There's a picture of him at the link and its caption says "Mirosevic is leaving football for two years for the United States". If he's anything like Sebastian, who was also a captain for his team in the same league, this would be a great signing at a position of need.