Armchair Analyst: 5 who should return home Exports primed for an MLS move — and where they should land http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/armchair-analyst-5-who-should-return-home Rob Friend, F The Canadian was among the pioneers at UC Santa Barbara and a top-shelf talent who brought a mid-major program from obscurity to prominence in the early part of the decade. Since graduating in 2002, he’s had stops in Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Germany, where he featured in more than 80 games for Borussia Mönchengladbach of the Bundesliga. Currently the big target forward plays for Hertha BSC in the 2.Bundesliga. He turns 30 next month, has a year left on his contract and would be a great addition for Toronto FC. Eddy Sidra, D The Sudanese-born Canadian international has spent the last three years at Energie Cottbus, bouncing between the Bundesliga and German second division. An attacking right back who gets up-and-down the field relentlessly, Sidra’s game is already well-rounded at the tender age of 21. Some thus far unexplained issues cropped up in Germany, and he now finds himself out of contract, a true free agent available at the right price. Either Canadian club in MLS would be happy to have him, but given the rebuilding process in Columbus, Sidra might find the best home with the Crew. Eddie Johnson, F He was once considered the future of the US forward line, but his career has stagnated since his move to Fulham in the summer of 2008. Though he may never scale the heights pundits had once hoped were his, last year’s loan to Aris Salonika of Greece — in which he scored five goals in 16 appearances — showed he still knows where the goal is. Johnson’s contract expires in summer of 2011, and it's possible Fulham would let him walk for free just to have his contract off the books. If that’s the case, then D.C. United would be a perfect landing spot. No team in MLS history has needed a proven goal-scorer more and, lest we forget, Johnson has a Golden Boot and a 15-goal season under his belt in the league. Benny Feilhaber, M Like Johnson, the US international’s contract is up this summer and, like Johnson, he’s almost certainly moving on. In Feilhaber’s case, though, it’s not because his performance has been wanting; over the past two years, he’s been AGF Aarhus’ best player when not injured. The issue with Feilhaber is Danish tax law, where the salaries of foreign players are taxed at 25 percent for the first three years, then jump to 60 percent thereafter. Ouch. He had nibbles from several La Liga teams in the summer, and it’s a fair bet that one or two will come calling once the window opens in January since Feilhaber is a top-notch talent with World Cup experience and, at 25, he's just entering his prime. But MLS has landed players like that before, and any number of teams has the budget space to offer him a contract. He’d be a particularly nice fit in the Dynamo midfield, where his ability to hold the ball and dictate the tempo of the game would be a welcome addition
Carlos Bocanegra was cut out of the post. Regardless, it would be silly of him and Feilhaber to return to the US. Boca is playing significant minutes for Saint-Etienne and has appeared in 14 of 18 matches for them. He missed a couple due to a neck injury last month. Feilhaber should try to latch on with a first division club in a bigger country (Spain or Germany would be best) as he has the skills to play well in either nation. Freddy Adu would top my list. He needs to be playing if he's never going to be able to sniff the potential that he once had. When he started in MLS, the league just didn't have small guys in central roles. Since we've had an influx of South American number 10s join the league, Adu might be able to find a spot for himself playing behind the forwards for someone. Eddie Johnson is another definite who should return to the States. If money weren't a concern, I'd say any American bouncing around the Championship or lower in England should return (Frank Simek, Zach Whitbread, etc). I think we'll see the reserve division catch some of the younger guys who bounce around lower divisions in Scandinavia (there's a second division Swedish team with 4 Americans). Those guys would be fringe MLS players, but that might be enough to keep them here incase they develop.
