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he'll get destroyed at la liga... im not saying he won't have impressive showings, but he won't be able to hold up to the pace to consistently be an on field player. What good is it being on a good team if your only riding the pine?

i find it best not to second guess our players... but going to a big team in spain seems a stretch.... id much rather see him go to a mid table team and work his way up through the teams.... i think gooch has it in him to surprise us... he's been solid for Liege and lately for the US... i think as long as he buckles down and learn, he'll do well for whatever team and for the US.... i hope O.o

i agree with otergod... i am a huge fan of american players playing in dutch, belgian, and russian leagues. Im not second guessing them, i am simply stating facts. For defenders, leagues like the premier league and la liga are absolute hell, in reference to how long the seasons are and the pace they play at. Whereas serie a and the bundesliga take winter breaks and are more defender friendly. Start dutch or something similar, go to the bl or serie a and then go to la liga or epl.

The dude's 26. How many more leagues do you want him to take "steps" in. Go give it a shot Gooch! Work hard, improve, and rep your country proudly.

26 is young for a central defender. Most defenders hit their prime around 28-30. So he still has some improvement left in him and another two years till he hits his prime. He needs to go somewhere that he'll play. He's made great strides over the past two years, just needs to continue his progress.

j11 -

These are good points and maybe two years playing for a Dutch team would do him some good. But you know what? Screw that. This could be his one big shot. I don't care how pacy la liga is. There is something out there called "conditioning." Gooch has always had a strong work ethic, and I don't care how pacy you are. If you can't work hard, you won't survive in the Armenian League or the Andorran League.

Take the big shot Gooch!

The point is that big clubs rarely take chances on American players. So if Gooch understands that he is coming in as an underdog or a gamble and that he has to work hard to find a spot, he will do it. The man is a work horse.

Big club? I'll take the approach and say it's not Madrid or Barca? So who: Deportivo? Atletico? Sevilla? Valencia?

Anyway, I don't buy it. La Liga and Onweyu don't fit.

I take that back. I'm in a bad mood but I should'nt be so cynical. If he wants Spain, then go get it.

i dont see madrid or barca getting him... but i can see his agent saying a big club that is mid table to above mid table type team

if he moves to a big club, itll be the end of his potential career. Defenders die in spain, unless ur playing at either left or right back and attack. Go to italy, germany, or holland. He'll be at peak form in 2 years and then he can make a big move. gambling on american football players isn't a great idea in europe, just ask adu.

Why's everybody gotta hate..tear em up Gooch, you're a beast

Take the big shot Gooch!
pantherfan0728 | 08/29/08, 11:39 AM

You know the word Gooch is slang for the area between your.....nevermind.

Pantherfan - I think you misunderstood my comment. I fully endorse Gooch moving to Spain or Italy. However, I don't want to see him move to a club where he will get zero playing time. He is good enough to crack the starting XI on most midlevel squads in Spain and Italy, but if he winds up at Valencia or Villareal, he will never play and that will not help him develop, will not help his career, and will not help the U.S. MNT.

Maybe he and Bradley will both wind up at Monaco with Adu?

j11 -

Monaco would be a great fit! But I think we misunderstood each other. My comments go against yours in that while I understand that he probably won't get much PT, I believe that if he works hard and the club is big enough (i.e. he won't get a second chance at a Valencia or Villareal), he should go for it and give 200%. The guy is talented when he plays hard.

I like the Monaco idea, though. My comments are saying "Gooch, if you think you can crack the starting 11 at a big club, then go for it. But if you have any doubts, listen to j11forbes and play midlevel."

go big or go broke!! make Clemson and the US proud Gooch!!

I find it hard to believe that a 'big' club would be interested in Gooch based solely on one performance. Even though 'some' big clubs generally have money to burn they rarely buy just out of impulse.

Of the options in front of him I think Gooch would be best served playing for a mid-table EPL team as opposed to playing in Spain or even France for that matter. For one he wouldn't have to worry about the language adjustment and the EPL is generally viewed as the most physical of the top leagues out there which I feel suits Gooch's profile best.

Playing in the La Liga would not only mean a language adjustment but I just don't see how in the world he could keep up with all those jackrabbits out there. Sure, IF he can get a body on them he'll knock them into the stands, but more times than not they'll just run right around him as if he was stuck in cement.

Although a part of me says that if Gooch is presented with such a possibility he should go for it, the last thing I want to see is him failing, and failing miserably in Spain and giving more 'proof' to Europeans that Americans aren't good enough to perform in the top leagues of the world. And I don't want to hear any nonsense about if Jozy can do it why not Gooch? First of all Jozy hasn't proven anything yet at Villareal and comparing him to Gooch is like comparing apples to oranges.

barca- i doubt it was just one game... he had quite the season last season with quite a few goals as defender... ontop of that he was borderline stellar for the 3 big friendlies (bar Spain's goal)... but just like most rumors this will probably fall flat on its face....

i agree i think he's physically suited for Germany, Italy or England... but he did do well against spain and Arg. earlier this year....

its important to keep him at a high morale. look beasley plays for spl, and he's comin off the bench, and now he's not nearly as productive. I know im comparing apples and oranges,but my point is that if you can't start on a team, then there really isn't any reason to join. Players need to get continuos reps, whether its in germany, holland, italy or even ukraine (some really good football out there), its worth more than playing at aston villa or getafe
Second, i don't believe that language is really an issue, otherwise all of uefa would be screwed

its important to keep him at a high morale. look beasley plays for spl, and he's comin off the bench, and now he's not nearly as productive. I know im comparing apples and oranges,but my point is that if you can't start on a team, then there really isn't any reason to join. Players need to get continuos reps, whether its in germany, holland, italy or even ukraine (some really good football out there), its worth more than playing at aston villa or getafe
Second, i don't believe that language is really an issue, otherwise all of uefa would be screwed