Saturday Morning...

MLSsoccer, is reporting Edson Buddle has scored in his first goal in Germany for Inglostadt. The club drew 1-1 with Duisburg and remain in the relegation zone with 15 matches to go. As I stated before this is a win-win situation for Buddle. He has doubled his salary LA paid him and if they fight off relegation he will be a major factor for them next season. If they're relegated he has a release clause in his contract (rumored) and he is putting himself in the shop window for other European teams. With the lack of success Freddy Adu and Jozy Altidore have had in Europe this might be the best way for Buddle to ease into football in Europe; and with Adu and Altidore's hardships in Europe, many teams think twice before signing a US/ex-MLS striker.

Jeff Cunningham will be returning to the US and possibly will now sign with Columbus who acquired his rights through Nov.'s re-entry draft. Perhaps it was the food, weather or coaches, but Cunningham will now return to MLS and try to turn around the Crews' attack. With the trade of Steven Lenhart I'm not sure the Crew have many ideas right now. But it looks like they'll center around a 34-year old striker.

It appears no one in the Premier League wants Robbie Keane, who has been priced outrageously between $6-$10 million. Could this be Keane's sign to leave England and sign for Vancouver? I doubt it.

Previously, I reported American Mike Grella, of Leeds United, had signed on loan with Scotland's Motherwell. Unfortunately, Grella has already played for Leeds and Carlisle this season which rules him out of a third move. Rules state a player can only play matches for two teams in one season.

It appears Chivas USA has cut three players prior to the season. Most notably Maykel Galindo, who defected to the US from Cuba and signed for USL Seattle Sounders in 2005. However, Galindo burst on to the MLS scene in 2007 as striker partner to Ante Razov in a very exciting, attacking Chivas USA team. However, since then it has been a slow spiral down for the Cuban. At only 29, Galindo could be a cheap attacking option for several teams in the league; but finding the form he showed in 2007 will be the difficult part. Galindo ended his Chivas USA career with 18 goals in 67 matches.

The New England Revolution has waived Emmanuel Osei. This move will open an international slot, but most importantly it allows MLS' cheapest club to cut salary. The club drafted defender A.J. Soares who will most likely take Osei's place.

Wait a sec...

I had a thought this morning and I hope someone can explain to me the answer, but why wasn't Edson Buddle included in the MLS re-entry draft in Nov?

No one has even mentioned this and in fact no one knew he was out of contract until this month when he signed with Germany's Inglostadt. I know MLS has a lot of contract rules and other stipulation that regulate contracts in the league. I'm assuming he was allowed to be omitted from the draft, because he has been in the league for over five years. Please correct me if I am wrong. With all the drafts and comings and goings in the league I've just now thought of this and wondered if there was any clarification out there.

I like those odds on an ex-TFC player...

With Edson Buddle off to Germany and an impasse in contract negotiations with Juan Pablo Angel, LA Galaxy has done some shrewd business over the past few weeks to fill the void at striker. Though he has bounced around three teams in three seasons, Adam Cristman was once a highly regarded striker in the league. A fourth round pick in '07, Cristman would be shortlisted for the Rookie of the Year award; and look like Taylor Twellman's replacement should he go off to Europe. Unfortunately, Cristman endured a serious knee injury that he still hasn't recovered from, and he has bounced around New England, Kansas City and DC in four seasons. If Cristman can stay fit, iron out his heavy touch and regain his pace he could be a valuable asset for LA. That's if he doesn't get cut in the pre-season. He could be Alan Gordan 2.0.

It is the acquisition of Chad Barrett, however, that could be a masterstroke in the off-season market. I like many have been very critical of Barrett. Say what you will, but a strikers job is to score goals. If a striker is farmed out to the wing it's because they can't score goals and typically once on the wing they can't cross the ball either. Barrett's saving grace has been his pace, but after two and a half seasons in Toronto, the new regime doesn't need to see anymore. LA was happy to take Barrett's wages on as they were still less than the DP contract Buddle wanted.

If you cast your mind back to 2007, LA's Tyrone  Marshall broke Kenny Cooper's leg in a horrendous tackle. Later that night, Marshall was traded to Toronto for Buddle, and many supporters wondered why the club had traded for a striker who hadn't scored in 10 games all season. Buddle was now on his fourth team in three years. But unlike his previous teams Buddle would have better players around him, and would receive the service a striker craves. Buddle would score 42 goals in 87 games for LA and get a call up to the 2010 World Cup. Buddle's career was heading toward USL territory until LA saved it.

Chad Barrett has ventured down a similar path, and now finds himself in LA with last season's Supporter Shield winners. Barrett will have the leagues best player in Landon Donovan feeding him the ball, and it's very likely Barrett could reap the same rewards Buddle did. Since Barrett entered the league he has always had the potential and physical ability. Now he has players around him that can make him a better player and finally fulfill that potential. I don't believe LA will miss a step, and have done well to replace their top scorer. This will be Barrett's break out season, and would only be fitting as numerous ex-TFC players have gone on to greener pastures. Perhaps, that's a good sign for LA.

Going Abroad

It is seemingly common that MLS fans are denouncing former MLS players or US players playing in Europe, when they join certain teams or play in certain leagues. Today's rumor is Edson Buddle could sign with Inglostadt in Germany's second division, the same team Freddy Adu has signed for. I've read a lot about how inferior the Bundesliga 2 is to MLS and how bad Inglostadt are. But MLS players hit a ceiling with the current salary cap, and I'm sure LA Galaxy are willing to let one of their top scorers leave for Europe rather than let him go to another MLS team. With the limit mobility and money available for American players, they aren't going to stick around playing for contracts that are under their value. But it's not just about the money. People forget soccer players are human and many want to try themselves against what could be considered better players. Buddle will find better players here and there in Germany's second division week after week.

Inglostadt may go down, and this could be a win-win situation for Buddle. If he plays and scores goals to keep Inglostadt up he may earn himself a move to a better club. If Inglostadt go down he'll be able to move again as they won't be able to pay Buddle's wages.

Many pods and blogs also seem to have an inflated view of US and MLS players. I've recently heard an arguement that Benny Felihaber must change clubs, because he's too good for his current club AGF Aarhus. If Felihaber is too good for that club then why couldn't he catch on in Germany (Hamburger) or England (Derby) during his stints there? What you're saying is he's better than Denmark's second tier, but not good enough for the top flight in England and Germany. So, may be he's suited for Germany's second division; where Buddle may soon ply his trade.