Huge Move For Onyewu to Join AC Milan, But How Much Will He Play?

2009-09-05T15:32:59-04:00

2009-07-07T10:40:25-04:00

105

2009-07-07T10:40:25-04:00

2009-08-12T22:28:15-04:00

mreagor

No City 828964

107 There are some very knowledge chaps adding posts. Did Gooch play much in the AC Milan summer games? 6459405

2009-07-08T18:21:12-04:00

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D-Wreck

Bloomington 416251

105 Mr Colorado: Which German club wouldn't play Americans? The Bundesliga was one of the first leagues to go out and sign Americans regularly and PLAY them: Reyna, McBride, Wynalda, Bradley, Cherudolo, Sanneh, even LD got some playtime at bayern and many many more.... I never made it to the top league in Germany many years ago, but I was never turned away because I was American... I had to work harder than my German teamates to prove myself, but i wasn't told to take a hike... 6016341

2009-07-08T18:58:50-04:00

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89invincible

Vallejo 778110

Mr Colorado: Which German club wouldn't play Americans? The Bundesliga was one of the first leagues to go out and sign Americans regularly and PLAY them: Reyna, McBride, Wynalda, Bradley, Cherudolo, Sanneh, even LD got some playtime at bayern and many many more.... I never made it to the top league in Germany many years ago, but I was never turned away because I was American... I had to work harder than my German teamates to prove myself, but i wasn't told to take a hike...

106 I have a feeling that he was talking about Leverkeusen. 6016752

2009-07-08T18:21:12-04:00

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D-Wreck

Bloomington 416251

2009-07-08T16:19:18-04:00

SanJoseAndy

San Jose 807662

104 My only question about this transfer and Gooch is regarding his age... Is he old enough to play for Milan's back line? 6014845

2009-07-08T16:18:26-04:00

SanJoseAndy

San Jose 807662

103 my only comment is regarding Gooch's age... Is he old enough to play for Milan? 6014901

2009-07-08T15:07:20-04:00

Soccer fan in Colo

Breckenridge 807542

102 Gooch will play because the competition for the position is weak/injured. The Italian club will take advantage of his skills and they will not be stubborn in their thinking that an American cannot play in Serie A, like some German club was about playing in the Bundesliga. Go Gooch! 6013561

2009-07-08T12:13:34-04:00

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Wytefang

Minneapolis 21258

101 Just a quick note, fellas - tonight's my first night back on the pitch since my injury this past February. I'm pretty excited even if I'm not really at 100% (more like 90%, unfortunately). I had a sports hernia (mild one but it really knocked me out of playing for a while) and some strained adductors in my right inner thigh/groin area. Ugh! Anyway, tonight's the night - I'm just started playing for an Over-40 league (I'm 40) and I'm quite looking forward to it. We're 6-2 so far and our the highest-scoring team in our bracket with the 2nd best defense (we're in 2nd place). I'm a goal-scorer by trade (life-long position) so I hope to boost our offense even more. :D Wish me luck! 6010436

2009-07-08T09:45:34-04:00

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ws19

25813

100 I hope there is a clause in his contract about minimum playing time until the WC. Otherwise a very bad decision to sign that contract at this time from the perspective of the US team, although financially lucrative for the player himself. 6006862

2009-07-08T09:17:02-04:00

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Emil^

Central, IL 798020

99 I wish him the best, he has what it takes I think to be a stand up fellow in the Serie A. But I am a bit nervous to see how fast he can acclimate to such an environment. Best wishes going out! 6006311

2009-07-08T06:41:34-04:00

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quickdraw

Mansfield 86985

96 Well this pretty much solidifies AC Milan being my team in the Serie A. I was wondering what would push me over the edge. So hard to follow a league without someone to cheer for. Anyways ... I think this is a huge move for Gooch and for American footballers in general. I remember being pretty critical of Gooch during the 2006 WC (and pretty much everyone else whose name didn't rhyme with Clempsey). But he's done well the past 2-3 years with Liege and has honed his skill a bit more. For him, it is great that is a monster. You can teach defending to a point, but you can't teach being his size. And now I go off and cry, as the thought of a Gooch/Hangeland love fest at Fulham is gone. 6005650

2009-07-08T09:11:04-04:00

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D-Wreck

Bloomington 416251

Well this pretty much solidifies AC Milan being my team in the Serie A. I was wondering what would push me over the edge. So hard to follow a league without someone to cheer for. Anyways ... I think this is a huge move for Gooch and for American footballers in general. I remember being pretty critical of Gooch during the 2006 WC (and pretty much everyone else whose name didn't rhyme with Clempsey). But he's done well the past 2-3 years with Liege and has honed his skill a bit more. For him, it is great that is a monster. You can teach defending to a point, but you can't teach being his size. And now I go off and cry, as the thought of a Gooch/Hangeland love fest at Fulham is gone.

98 You may not have Dempsey at Fulham either after this transfer season is over.... 6006262

105

Hulking U.S. centerback Oguchi Onyewu is the first American player to take advantage of the team's impressive run to the Confederations Cup final, having signed a three-year contract to join Italian powerhouse AC Milan. It's a great move for Onyewu, 27, who becomes only the second U.S. international ever (after Alexi Lalas) to play in Serie A. But the big question for Onyewu (and any other Team USA player) is this: How much will he play? It will be vitally important for U.S. players to be on the field for their club teams during a World Cup year. Onyewu's competition for playing time will be fierce, considering Milan's centerbacks include Brazilian Thiago Silva, Italian veteran Alessandro Nesta and Georgian Kakha Kaladze. Then again, Milan has plenty of games this season now that it's back in the Champions League. What's more, Nesta (who's 33) and Kaladze (31) are older and prone to injuries. All I know is it will be fun to see Onyewu with the Rossoneri when AC Milan tours the U.S. this month with friendlies against the L.A. Galaxy (July 19), Club América (July 22 in Atlanta), Chelsea (July 24 in Baltimore) and Inter Milan (July 26 in Foxboro, Mass.). What do you think of Onyewu's move to Milan? How much playing time will he get? And which other U.S. players do you think will move to new teams after the Confederations Cup success? Grant Wahl's book, The Beckham Experiment, comes out on July 14. You can pre-order it <a href="http://tinyurl.com/layry6" target="_blank">here</a>. You can also find him on <a href="http://twitter.com/GrantWahl" target="_blank">Twitter</a>. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/194/315/thumb/wahl_grant.jpg 11 MD

Grant Wahl

Baltimore 194615 69663