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So the New England Revolution have rejected the 3rd offer of Preston North End.
You have to wonder why the New England Revolution value a distraught and disgruntled forward higher than $3 million?
Thinking about it. That's almost what Clint Dempsey went to Fulham for. And let's be honest Taylor Twellman is not Dempsey quality.
Yes, we know, "the exchange rate makes it cheaper for them now." Well whose fault is that? And besides is a $1 still worth roughly the same INSIDE the US? Of course it is.
Robert Kraft and Sunil Gulati may want to consider allowing someone who understands world football and the transfer market run their off season moves. Which so far appear to be.....none.
Well played guys.
So what is Twellman's "magic number"? Is it $4 million? $5 million (You're joking right?), $6 million (now you're just being silly)?
Well the bright side is we get to watch the commercials of Twellman flogging his Kick Medic ™ for another year.
Consider that Marlon King is worth $10m and tell me Twellman isn't worth half that amount. (and there's plenty of other examples).
Is Eddie Johnson a $6m player? Have you seen TT's strike rate vs EJ?
Americans/MLS players continue to be under-valued in the world market - not because they're crap, but because MLS continue to accept peanuts for osme of their top talent.
With all due respect:
1) Eddie Johnson is worth $6 million to Fulham because a) he has proven he can score at the national team level and b) he is only 23, with a lot of promise.
2) Marlon King is worth £10 because he was born in a footballing nation and has been immersed in the game for the better part of his 27 years, scoring goals in a more difficult league than MLS.
Comparing Taylor Twellman, a player who has so far not been able to score at a high (international) level and who is going on his 28th birthday having never had any success abroad is comparing apples to oranges.
Honestly, it's like comparing Kenny Cooper to Michael Bradley.
Eddie Johnson has not proven that he can score on the international level. The reason KC got rid of him was because he is to inconsistent in his scoring.
NE is stupid not to take this offer unless they feel they can squeeze more money out of Preston. If their holding out b/c they can get more then its a good move b/c as we all no money isn't easy to come by in the MLS. But if they think that TT will want to cont' playing for them after being denied Europe their sadly mistaken and just cost themselves $3mil and won't get an effective player out of it.
Where Marlon King was born has nothing to do with it. He's never played (extensively) at the EPL level and yet commands a staggering fee.
He's not the only one, consider what players are going for in England these days - the bottom line is, if a player can get a work permit then there's no difference in where he comes from.
Players like King, Kamara, Healy, etc... they're a dime a dozen, but don't seem to go for less than about 5m quid these days.
Twellman may not have set the US alight, but his MLS record is considerably better than EJ, he has a better disposition, better character and much more.
EJ, has never been consistent at scoring and although he burst on to the scence internationally, he's not done much since. His MLS successes are pretty limited, especially in comparison to Twellman.
At 23 vs 27 sure there's more room for potential upside, but a team like Fulham need seasoned pros (as do Preston, if they too are going to avoid the drop in the CCC).
Cooper and Bradley? Don't even play the same position so that makes no sense. However, bringing up Bradley does make a good point for me, like I mentioned, MLS has a habit of seriously undervaluing our players - Bradley left for $100,000 not two years ago despite a regular in the Mets side at 18. Now he's got the best scoring record of an American in Europe - ever - from midfield and is rated at over $7m.
Potential only gets you so far and EJ will do carve out a scoring career like Twellman.
Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked....yes I believe Twellman is worth in the ballpark of $5m (that's only 2.5m GBP, which regardless of what you are saying about value at this end, is still a cheap buy in England).
And for the record, Dempsey was worth a lot more than the money MLS got for him too.....