The waffles in Belgium are better than in Fulham anyway

So much for if I was a gambling man. Just when we're all (me included) getting all googoo over Onyewu to Fulham FC to join the already sizable group of Americans and ex-MLSers, the talks between Fulham and Gooch's Beligian team break down.

The issue seems to have been the low, low asking price Fulham wanted to pay for Onyewu's services. Agreed, $1.9 million does seem rather low for a player of his caliber. But we've already pointed out that the Middlesbrough deal was a little less at $1.8 million. I'm surprised the deal got as far as they did if money was going to be an issue. I would say, though, that if Fulham's going to dish out $4 million on Clint Dempsey, they could afford to pony up some more lolly for Gooch.

Of course a good player in the midfield may be worth more to them than a good play on the back line. They do already have Zat Knight.

I still wish Fulham could pull off the transfer, though it doesn't seem likely. If AC Milan's interest in Onyewu was serious than the Fulham talks would never have gotten as far as they did.

What Onyewu going to Fulham FC means for the USMNT.

There are some interesting thoughts on the prospect of Gooch signing with Fulham FC and it's impact on the national team.

Some people have suggested that if the reports that AC Milan and Real Madrid are also interested in his services, than he should take those more seriously than the the lower profile Fulham one. I tend to reject this for the reason that I think it would be better that he be starting at Fulham against top Premiere League competition than riding the pine at the other two mega-clubs. Experience trumps all, especially that gained from playing in meaningful matches.

The things that his signing with Fulham would mean to the USMNT is that Onyewu would be playing against top level competition, which he wasn't in Belgium. Experience at a high level will be the biggest attribute he could bring the the national team. Also, it would pair him with Carlos Bocanegra on the back line, breeding a chemistry and familiarity that could prove to be a great asset in national team games.

Dotted lines have yet to be signed though, so as of now these are all "what ifs" and "could bes". If I had to wager, though, I'd say he signs with them. He would still need to get a work permit but back when he was supposed to go to Middlesbrough, there wasn't much of a concern he wouldn't get one.

Additionally, the low transfer amount of $1.96 million seems to have caught some people off guard. However, when Middlesbrough was going to sign him, the transfer amount was only $1.8 million.

Onyewu set to learn super-seceret-American-at-Fulham handshake soon.

I mean, there's going to be enough of them to start their own club.

First there was Brian McBride then Carlos Bocanegra. Yesterday Fulham FC's ready to pony up $4 million for Clint Dempsey. Now Oguchi Onyewu looks set to join his countrymen at Craven Cottage.

Manager Chris Coleman must really like the accents. Four Americans now set to be in the starting XI definitely makes FFC unique and the new favorite team of many an American fan.

The only thing better is if all four of them make a significant difference for the team and help scoot Fulham up the table. Nothing makes a statement like success.

Dempsey a more expensive commodity than we thought.

It looks like US national Clint Dempsey is set to be the biggest transfer in MLS history. At first we thought he would go across the Pond for about $3 million. Well, apparently we were $1 million short of the actual total. Provided Dempsey gets his work permit, MLS will get $4 million of owner Mohamed al-Fayed's money.

Now we're really talking about a win-win-win situation. Obviously we don't want (and neither does MLS) the league to become a place were we just build up players then sell them off for higher prices. We want our stars to stay and flourish and help build the game and league domestically into something grand. But when a player expresses a desire to play elsewhere, it's nice to be able to capitalize on that.

The only hurdle to this deal, as has been mentioned before, is that pesky work permit. And the English FA tribunal system has always been a model of consistency.

The transfer window is now upon us!

A Happy New Year to all!!!

With the start of the new year, and all the fresh starts it brings, it all means that we are a mere 3 months away from the beginning of the new MLS season. We're also a little less than 2 months away from DCU and Houston playing in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, probably just a month away from MLS team training camps starting and then all the subsequent pre-season matches, 20 days away from the first USMNT game since the World Cup, and 12 days away from the MLS SuperDraft! Exciting, exciting!

But on to the thread title:

With MLS' new Designated Player rule ("DP"), this upcoming transfer window assumes much more importance domestically than before. Possibilities are endless and we are all a flutter with trying to figure our what big names which club is going to bring in.

MLS fans' collective eyes are most intensely focused on the New York Red Bulls. We all know that they were a big part of the push for the DP, they've got tons of money, and they have not one, but two, DP slots after trading Amado Guevara away to Chivas USA for theirs.

There is an extensive list compiled out there of possible transfer candidates. A name that can be crossed off is Luis Figo, who's supposedly going to Saudi Arabia's Al Ittihad.

Claudio Reyna is a name that's been bandied about but it seems like he's content staying on and Man City for a little while longer. Paulo Wanchope is another name mentioned. Mr. Fish goes a little more in depth with the Red Bulls here.

The LA Galaxy will probably might make the most significant signing (at least from a PR perspective) with David Beckham. They hasn't received near the amount of interest like the Red Bulls have because this signing has been known about for so long while the Red Bulls are unknown plus they have two slots to fill.

People rag on Beckham a lot but I like him. If he does sign, I'll travel down to Dallas to go see him, which is what MLS expects everyone else with a mild interest in soccer to do when Becks plays near them. He's not a Christiano Ronaldo, just plain Ronaldo, or Ronaldinho, but he really is one of the best wide players to play the game and one of the best servers of the ball/free kick takers the game has ever seen. The chance to see someone pass the ball and send it into the box with pinpoint accuracy is so far an improvement over the current form, who wouldn't be excited about that?

As for all the other teams, who knows. Kansas City might surprise us. Word is, the new owners were also pushing for the DP spot. DCU plans on bringing in a Brazilian and an Argentine but neither will probably be their DP.

The only other team that might pay some big money for some is Chicago. Columbus sure won't, Houston doesn't need to yet, FCD probably won't, the Revs FO is too cheap, Chivas USA obviously traded their away, RSL just got Freddy Adu, and Colorado's coaching and FO is too inept to do it right if they do it at all. Toronto FC is a bit of a wild card. Who knows what they're going to do. My gut says nothing this season, or at least this transfer window.

As for non-DP signings, I've already mentioned DCU's South Americans. FCD maybe do something but what, I'm not sure. You might have to ask Buzz Carrick over at 3rd Degree.

Once the names start popping up and the signatures get placed on the dotted lines, I'm sure we'll talk about it and what impact when can expect them to have on their team and the league.

Until then, have a Happy, and safe, New Years!!!