Jul 23
Nolberto Solano to LA, Edson Buddle to Norway
I’ve been around soccer for a long time and I’ve never seen anything as curious as LA’s transfer strategy. Instead of adding more defensive help, (something they really need), they are poised to add more attacking quality. YS has learned that Nolberto Solano, who last year played for West Ham is close to joining LA. Nolberto Solano is a talented midfielder who will bring some help and will also let David Beckham stay out on the right side.
Solano’s agent, Phil Smith said that “Nol is open-minded about the United States league. There’s real interest there from Los Angeles Galaxy. We’ve had dialogue with Ruud Gullit and, with everything going well already, he could be there in a week.”
Solano looks like a done deal and I think he will prove very valuable to LA. One question I have is whether or not he will demand DP money and in addition, whether or not they will be able to get that money if he does. LA already has three players making DP money and I don’t believe that LA would be able to sign Solano.
Anyway, on to another LA player. Star forward Edson Buddle who finally has had a breakout season, scoring eleven goals in only fourteen matches has garnered some international interest. An unnamed team from Norway has made a $1 million offer for the 27 year old forward. Will Buddle be leaving? No, but it is nice to see Buddle receiving some interest from abroad. If he continues to play well, not only will he be on the Nation Team radar, he will also continue to garner interest from Europe.
What do you think of Nolberto Solano joining LA? Is it a good move? Will Edson Buddle leave for Norway? I’d say not likely. Why doesn’t LA buy defensive help? All your thoughts go below.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:36 pm
This is interesting. maybe they are thinking that the best defence is a good offense? They also could be getting Solano to ease some pressure off Beckham, and be able to spread out the defense of the opposition a little. I hope that when he comes in, he does so after the FCD vs LA game. We need some payback after the thumping we took against them in the first game.
I know that they shouldn’t get rid of Buddle. He is much too good to go to Norway, and his goal scoring ability is key for them to make a run into the playoffs.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:55 pm
Buddle is staying unless that offer goes up by roughly 3 million dollars. I just think it is ridiculous that they keep neglecting their porous defense. one signing is not going to do everything in the defense and they still need to back up there. I like Solano’s signing but at the cost of neglecting defense, it’s not worth it. New England is successful because their defense is so good. LA needs to learn.
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Keep in mind that Solano can and has played very well as a fullback. It is not his preferred position, but it is a position that the Galaxy could, and frankly may need to have him play. He is still able to get forward and attack on those aging Peruvian pegs.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Weren’t La going to sign a really good foreign defender? I thought I heard that a few weeks ago. Did that go through?
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
They signed a mid level defender, they didn’t really have the cap space. His name is Eduardo Dominguez and he is better than Abel Xavier, he’s unproven so he could really help, he also could be very bad. Solano could be but I doubt Gullit will use him there. Solano is a very good signing and I’m excited to see what he can do for LA. Keep in mind that he was still competing very well in the best league in the world.
July 24th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Rosenborg BK, Norway, could be a great experience for Edson Buddle,
and one of the biggest clubs in Scandinavia.
The Norwegian league is a good way to join the bigger leagues in Europe
and RBK use to participate in the European Cups.
AND the city Trondheim is a great place.
Edson you’re welcome !!!!
July 27th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
If solano does come to la it will be the worst move by alexi lalas because
him and beckham play the same position and they dont need him the offense
is great they need a left back.and i hope buddle doesent go cuz they need
him ruiz isint doing to good but he scored his first goal and should be coming
back
July 27th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
agreed andy, the d is the priority and if they don’t fix that, they’re up the creek. offense will only get you so far and it’s just more of the same