FanNation - The Republic of Sport

He would certainly be missed. Maybe the best striker in the MLS, currently. Or at least consistently good.

Thank you JPA - it was fun while it lasted.

I disagee with the premise that playing for River would give him better exposure for the Columbian National Team than playing for RBNY. C'mon he's Juan Pablo Angel, I'm not sure what the details of his National team situation are, but it can't be exposure. Stupid point.

"I know I have a responsibility here with the Red Bulls, but I have always said that a contract doesn't mean much when you have the desire to play somewhere else."

How nice of him to admit it! A contract he signed with his own hand doesn't mean much! Moron! How can you respect a guy like that?

Argentina has better exposure than NYC? Wow! Where is Argentina? Where do all the best Argentines play? Small dreams lead to nothing much.....

QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 11:42 AM ET  11.17 by Pawn

C'mon he's Juan Pablo Angel, I'm not sure what the details of his National team situation are, but it can't be exposure. Stupid point.

You're simply wrong. Of course the Argentine league has more prestige and a higher profile than the MLS. Colombia has a long history of sending its top players to Argentina.

If I'm not mistaken, River already has 2 or 3 members of the Colombian National squad on their roster, so it's no great stretch to conclude that the coach of the CMNT would be highly interested in, and well informed on River, and the Argentine league in general.

Yes, Angel does have a world-class reputation and soccer pedigree, but he is playing for a sub-.500 club, in a novelty of a professional league. That plus the fact that he's now 34 would tend to exclude him from serious consideration from the CMNT.

QUOTE(#6):

Originally posted 01:34 PM ET  11.17 by BGB

Yes, Angel does have a world-class reputation and soccer pedigree, but he is playing for a sub-.500 club, in a novelty of a professional league. That plus the fact that he's now 34 would tend to exclude him from serious consideration from the CMNT

Angel is a god in Columbia (ever talk to a Columbian about futbol?) and is still playing extremely well, if the Columbian coach is holding playing in the MLS against him then he is an idiot. As a national team coach he should be following all of his country's players regardless of league. Angel is deadly, regardless of league. By the way, the Argentine league isn't any better than MLS. River and Boca are it, ever catch any of the other teams on FSC?

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 01:45 PM ET  11.17 by Pawn

By the way, the Argentine league isn't any better than MLS. River and Boca are it, ever catch any of the other teams on FSC?

It's just hard to know how to respond to your immense ignorance.

Fact is, if he's playing well in the Argentine league, he's going to be getting a whole lot more buzz, coverage and attention. That would be coupled with the obvious result that he'd be facing better opposition than he does week-in-and-week-out with the MLS, and their typical backline of recent university grads and foreign players on the downside of their career arc.

But, don't just take my word for it. Why don't you do a little fact-checking by way of google and tally up the considerable number of top-flight players at Europe's biggest clubs who have come out of the Argentine league.

By the way, the country is spelled "Colombia". Only the New York university is spelled "Columbia" with a "u". So I guess you are really tight with Colombian aficionados de futbol, huh?

He's on the last year of his contract. It makes sense to me that he's posturing for a bigger deal.
He's paid less than Blanco.

I could see him going, especially if it's River Plate.

Or Boca Juniors. I hit submit too soon.

QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 01:58 PM ET  11.17 by BGB

It's just hard to know how to respond to your immense ignorance.

My question remains. Have you ever seen a non Boca/River Argentine league game? It's not impressive. The level of Angel's competition would be roughly the same between say RSL and NOB, or DCU and Arsenal. Sure Argentines are excelling all over the world, but that's due to their soccer culture, not the quality of play from their top division. Would you say Messi is a Argentine Primera Division product? I wouldn't. I'd say he is an Argentina product. The difference is not semantics. Angel should be just as attractive to the national team in MLS as he is in Argentina.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 02:04 PM ET  11.17 by DS22

He's on the last year of his contract. It makes sense to me that he's posturing for a bigger deal.He's paid less than Blanco.

comparing him to blanco is farce....

blanco and JPA play two totally different positions, and are expected to produce 2 totally different things....

JPA is expected to score... plain n' simple, which he does well...
Blanco is expected to control the midfield, assist and when possible, score...... which he did well for half this past season O.o, but extremely well last season as well...

If he wants to play for the Colombian Nat'l Team, he feels that he has to go back to Argentina to get the exposure. There is still an inherent bias against the MLS in South America--and very few Colombians would agree that the MLS and the Arg 1st Div are equals in any shape or form regardless of the facts. The real fact is that the US teams get wiped out of the CL in CONCACAF... That's what the world sees: a poor perfromance. They see the MLS Cup as anything special, as any way of proving your worth. Now if a US Club won the CL Cup and qualified for the World Club Cup and actually COMPETED with top South American or European clubs, that would earn us some credit. But that's it. If American teams were good enough to play COPA America and actually did well--again, that would give them some street cred.

Anyhow, I would only add that over the past eight years I have seen some pretty awesome talent come from Lanus, Newell's, Velez Sarsfield and Banfield as well. The majority of those teams, as well as Boca and River, have pretty average players, but all of them have at least 2-5 players on them who will be stars in Europe or were stars. The MLS doesn't have that yet. As well, the depth of the bench is much better in Argentina on most every team.

I meant above that the rest of the world doesn't regard winning the MLS Cup as anything special.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 02:26 PM ET  11.17 by Pawn

Would you say Messi is a Argentine Primera Division product? I wouldn't. I'd say he is an Argentina product. The difference is not semantics.

How is my #8 comment in any shape or form ambiguous? I mentioned "top-flight players...who have come out of the Argentine LEAGUE..." So then I'll make it very simple for you: that would include all Argentines as well as non-Argentines (Juan Pablo Angel included) who have made the jump from the domestic league to Europe.

Dude, clearly you're trying to twist this into a semantics game, and believe me, you're not doing a very good job of it.

As to your question of comparable quality between MLS and the Argentine league, I admit it: I give up. You won't consider reason, and your flights of fantasy are much too strong for me.

Dont leave us JPA please, we love you Papi. Best striker ever was ever is ever be in NY history -- class act that mofo is! He'll be definetely missed when he is gone!

JPA played the best soccer of his life while at River Plate alongside Marcelo Salas. Both got their respective chances in Europe and both blew it. MLS is getting better but is nowhere near the Argentine Primera. Any team in the Argentine Primera, be it Boca or Chacarita, would wallop the best team in the MLS. Come on people, let's get real!

If I'm him, I'd return too...Boca and River would be a huge upgrade over playing in the MLS...A player of his talent, even still, would be better served in a more competitive league

He'll be picked for the Colombian Team no matter which team he plays his club football at, as long as his age allows him.......