Fredy Montero Talking with Fulham

I hope Montero stays in Seattle. He is starting to have good chemistry with Jaqua and he is a scoring threat.

A move for Montero is really inevitable.

He isn’t ready yet.  Give him the end of this year and maybe next year and I think he will be.  He needs to flop less and develop a little more and he will be ready.

They’d probably take him to put him in their development system.  I also wouldn’t be shocked to see him sign and then get loaned right back for a year or two.

I’m not too worried though, Montero’s good, but not irreplaceable.

So how does that work in the MLS.  If a non-DP that we have on a two year loan gets signed does Seattle get all of the money for the transfer or does the MLS get most of the cut since they actually own every player in the league?  I still don’t quite understand the player contracts and their relationships to both the league and specific clubs.  I just hope we get to keep him until the end of the season.  Another reason why I wish it were possible for the MLS to adopt a more international schedule.

If Montero continues with this type of production, it is inevitable that interests from other clubs will surface. 

Montero, being like most other pro soccer player, would likely jump at the chance to play in the EPL.

For us Sounders fans it wouldn’t be great, but of course Montero is going to at his own situation, and it would probably be the right move for him. He’s still developing so he’ll have to figure out the difference between development in the EPL vs. the MLS, or another league. Which one would be more challenging, and allow him to allow him to hone in on his skill set?

If this pans out, Montero will go.  He’s never been shy about expressing his desire to play in Europe and if Sigi’s comments are representative, the view of the Sounders organization is supportive.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that would be the best move for him at this stage.  Scouts and managers need only watch a match or two to see that Montero needs space and a lack of immediate pressure to operate.   That’s not how typical EPL matches operate.  For Montero to be anything other than a reserve team player in the EPL, he’ll have to significantly reduce the “South American Magic” and learn to retain possession of the ball from defenders honestly and physically.  The MLS is a pretty physical league and I think a season or so more of regular playing time and exposure in it might further Montero’s education and preperation for something like the EPL.

Long story short, in the MLS, Montero can be a top goal scorer and hero to its fans.  In the EPL with it’s significantly better defenses and higher overall quality of play, he’ll be just another kid hoping for a crack at first team play.

On the other hand, the reality check of fighting for a spot with an EPL team would be a wonderful thing for Montero’s humility.

If he finishes this season strong, I’ll be crying and will need serious consolation at some point in January.

as long as we can keep him through the remainder of this season,  i’m okay. i want him to fullfill his dream of playing in europe as he seems to be a decent dude, but i also want to win the mls cup this year, as we seem sooooo close right now. so come on fulham, and let us keep fredy through november!!

Here are my two thoughts.

1.  If he goes, we need our front office to step it up.  The promise they have made us is that this isn’t going to be normal MLS here in Seattle.  If we lose Montero, we need to bring someone in that can be just the threat he is.  If our management wants to keep the magic they have created in Seattle, they need to prove they can keep bringing in talent once it walks out the door.  I agree, his move is inevitable, but our response is not.  This, in my opinion, is the first major test for our club.  Will we be able to replace talent?

2.  My second point is…he’s kind of a douche.  And not because of the rape allegations, but because he does not care about Seattle or its fans.  Part of playing in the MLS is that everything is a little more touchable and local, and I love that side of it.  You go to a US Open Cup game, you can flat out have conversations with Jaqua, Keller, Seba and many others.  They understand the fan element of the game.  Montero is too good for us.  And as much as I love his goals, I want to like the people I cheer for.  So in some ways, I don’t mind seeing him go.