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Friday MLS Forecast: Week 22
The Forecast tackles Pavel Nedved's mooted interest in Major League Soccer before addressing the Week 22 slate.
Aug 14, 2009 3:01:40 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
Stop the presses. Another aging European legend has declared his interest in MLS.
Pavel Nedved is only the most recent Juventus idol to be linked with a move to North America (step forward, Alex Del Piero), but the 36-year-old former Czech Republic international certainly caused a stir this week when he fanned the rumors by declaring his interest in a move to MLS. Nedved is currently training with an amateur club back home and expressed an interest in resuming his career in the United States.
“The future? Me and my family would like to experience America,” Nedved said.
If Nedved's interest in MLS is genuine and not fueled by deluded notions of a bumper payday, the crafty winger would shine stateside. Nedved plays the right spot to make an impact even in the twilight of his career. Aging foreign players generally have a better shot at success in MLS if they make their impact in the attacking third. With a few rare exceptions, veteran defenders have struggled to adjust to the pace, power and bluntness MLS forwards tend to offer.
That adjustment simply hasn't thrown off aging attacking schemers because they can dissect MLS defenses with their passing abilities and deft runs. From Carlos Valderrama to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, highly-skilled veteran playmakers have tormented MLS defenses. If Nedved is handed a free left-sided role with limited defensive responsibilities (similar to the one enjoyed by Dwayne De Rosario on the right side in Toronto and others through the middle), he would likely have a significant impact for any MLS team heading into the 2010 campaign.
If a MLS side wants to bring Nedved into the fold, it would almost certainly have to do so under the Designated Player rule. Nedved's price tag automatically limits his potential market to the handful of teams willing to use it, assuming the league does not tinker with the rule during the offseason to make other teams more willing to exercise the option. Nedved certainly wouldn't come cheaply, but his still-lingering ability (as evidenced by the 32 appearances and seven goals during the 2008-2009 Serie A campaign) may make the expenditure worth it on a short-term deal.
Without any inside hints or any knowledge of whether a deal will actually come off, Chicago would probably make the most sense. Cuauhtemoc Blanco is expected to search for a new club at the end of the season, freeing up a Designated Player slot and creating a need for a creative, incisive attacking player. The demographics perhaps fit Nedved's arrival better than any other market.
Other teams – the usual suspects in Los Angeles and New York jump to mind – would at least kick the tires to determine whether he'd be a good fit.
Not even the Forecast can determine whether Nedved will eventually turn out for a MLS side, but it would certainly welcome the injection of yet another talented attacking player in a league that already boasts a few of them.
The Forecast also welcomed its return to form last weekend to continue its endless pursuit to breach the 50 percent mark for the season.
With its feet up on the beach (when it's not raining, at least), the Forecast is eschewing the full (and often lengthy) treatment this week and heading straight to the picks.
Last week: 3/5 (60%) For the season: 61/128 (48%)
Saturday D.C. United @ Toronto FC – 4:00p.m. (Telefutura)
Prediction: Draw.
Chivas USA @ New York – 7:00p.m.
Prediction: Draw.
FC Dallas @ Columbus – 9:00p.m.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Houston @ Real Salt Lake – 9:00p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win.
Seattle @ Los Angeles – 11:00p.m.
Prediction: Draw.
Sunday Chicago @ Kansas City – 3:00p.m. (Telefutura)
Prediction: Kansas City win.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com.
Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
Stop the presses. Another aging European legend has declared his interest in MLS.
Pavel Nedved is only the most recent Juventus idol to be linked with a move to North America (step forward, Alex Del Piero), but the 36-year-old former Czech Republic international certainly caused a stir this week when he fanned the rumors by declaring his interest in a move to MLS. Nedved is currently training with an amateur club back home and expressed an interest in resuming his career in the United States.
“The future? Me and my family would like to experience America,” Nedved said.
If Nedved's interest in MLS is genuine and not fueled by deluded notions of a bumper payday, the crafty winger would shine stateside. Nedved plays the right spot to make an impact even in the twilight of his career. Aging foreign players generally have a better shot at success in MLS if they make their impact in the attacking third. With a few rare exceptions, veteran defenders have struggled to adjust to the pace, power and bluntness MLS forwards tend to offer.
That adjustment simply hasn't thrown off aging attacking schemers because they can dissect MLS defenses with their passing abilities and deft runs. From Carlos Valderrama to Guillermo Barros Schelotto, highly-skilled veteran playmakers have tormented MLS defenses. If Nedved is handed a free left-sided role with limited defensive responsibilities (similar to the one enjoyed by Dwayne De Rosario on the right side in Toronto and others through the middle), he would likely have a significant impact for any MLS team heading into the 2010 campaign.
If a MLS side wants to bring Nedved into the fold, it would almost certainly have to do so under the Designated Player rule. Nedved's price tag automatically limits his potential market to the handful of teams willing to use it, assuming the league does not tinker with the rule during the offseason to make other teams more willing to exercise the option. Nedved certainly wouldn't come cheaply, but his still-lingering ability (as evidenced by the 32 appearances and seven goals during the 2008-2009 Serie A campaign) may make the expenditure worth it on a short-term deal.
Without any inside hints or any knowledge of whether a deal will actually come off, Chicago would probably make the most sense. Cuauhtemoc Blanco is expected to search for a new club at the end of the season, freeing up a Designated Player slot and creating a need for a creative, incisive attacking player. The demographics perhaps fit Nedved's arrival better than any other market.
Other teams – the usual suspects in Los Angeles and New York jump to mind – would at least kick the tires to determine whether he'd be a good fit.
Not even the Forecast can determine whether Nedved will eventually turn out for a MLS side, but it would certainly welcome the injection of yet another talented attacking player in a league that already boasts a few of them.
The Forecast also welcomed its return to form last weekend to continue its endless pursuit to breach the 50 percent mark for the season.
With its feet up on the beach (when it's not raining, at least), the Forecast is eschewing the full (and often lengthy) treatment this week and heading straight to the picks.
Last week: 3/5 (60%) For the season: 61/128 (48%)
Saturday D.C. United @ Toronto FC – 4:00p.m. (Telefutura)
Prediction: Draw.
Chivas USA @ New York – 7:00p.m.
Prediction: Draw.
FC Dallas @ Columbus – 9:00p.m.
Prediction: Columbus win.
Houston @ Real Salt Lake – 9:00p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)
Prediction: Real Salt Lake win.
Seattle @ Los Angeles – 11:00p.m.
Prediction: Draw.
Sunday Chicago @ Kansas City – 3:00p.m. (Telefutura)
Prediction: Kansas City win.
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston Herald and MLSnet.com.
Contact him with your questions or comments at kyle.mccarthy@goal.com and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
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