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Sandro Grande off to Norway.


François

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quote:Originally posted by Derosario23

I smell world cup 2010 coming up and Canada will be there this time. Best of luck to both of them and hope that they have success.

the best thing about canadian soccer fans is their relentless optimism in the face of never ending failure.

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quote:Originally posted by Winnipeg Fury

Now if only we could confirm Gerba:)

Huh???

He's 100% signed, but there is apparently a FIFA rule that says you can't play on 3 different teams in one same season. Gerba went from TO to Montréal early on.

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The CP article notwithstanding, Grande has 7 caps for Canada.

I've enjoyed watching Grande play for the national side. I wish him well in Norway. I'm sure Impact fans are disappointed, but his signing, as with Gerba, is just one more sign of what a successful team Montreal is and how key they've become to the development of football in this country.

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It doesn't surprise me that's its one of the top clubs in that league, the guy is too talented for a side that would be struggling to avoid relegation.

Who needs a Canadian league when we have one in Scandanavia? :) Grande, Gerba, Bernier, Occean, Ademolu, Friend, Reda, Stamatopolous, Hutchinson, Hughes, Pozniak.......

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If you've read my posts before, you'll know that Grande is one of my favourite national team players. I think he does his job very well and definitely deserves to play at a higher level of competition. Good for him and I wish him luck in Norway.

I'm sure he'll do great considering the Norweigan style of play is "long ball to the corners" (I think Evan Pellerud once described it as that) and Grande is a long ball specialist.

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Guest Jeffery S.
quote:Originally posted by loyola

Viking are currently tied for first place in Norway and in good position for a UEFA spot. They are currently in UEFA but I don't think Grande will be allow to play due to some regulation, maybe I'm wrong, can someone confirm this.

Great move for him.

He is not listed for the UEFA squad now, but if they get through the prelim rounds the window opens up again for new players to be included. That would be late August I think.

Re G-L's comment that he is too talented to sign with a team struggling to avoid relegation: meaning that half our guys in Scandinavia are not talented enough? Nice slight.

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quote:Originally posted by Jeffrey S.

Re G-L's comment that he is too talented to sign with a team struggling to avoid relegation: meaning that half our guys in Scandinavia are not talented enough? Nice slight.

Yes, that was my intention with the compliment to Grande, to insult the other players I have supported and complimented time and time again on this board. It seems so obvious now.

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quote:Originally posted by Gian-Luca

It doesn't surprise me that's its one of the top clubs in that league, the guy is too talented for a side that would be struggling to avoid relegation.

Who needs a Canadian league when we have one in Scandanavia? :) Grande, Gerba, Bernier, Occean, Ademolu, Friend, Reda, Stamatopolous, Hutchinson, Hughes, Pozniak.......

........... Budalic, Kojic and Deserpa.

This is where Lars needs to concentrate, because he could play at a competitive level.

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quote:Originally posted by Winnipeg Fury

........... Budalic, Kojic and Deserpa.

This is where Lars needs to concentrate, because he could play at a competitive level.

I agree with your comment about Lars. I don't think Lars would have much trouble going on trial to one of these teams and getting signed. I wonder why he only aims for British football instead of Scandanavian.

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I was in Stavanger just last week. A nice little city in Fjord country, not quite as isolated as some of the other Norwegian clubs (read: Tromso). On an isolation factor, I'd classify it as a Sudbury, not a Thunder Bay. I don't know if he is friends with any of the Haugesund boys, but that is only a 1.5 hour ferry ride away.

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Congratulations to Gerba and Grande. They have to make these moves. This is a chance to play the game they love and build a little nest egg, something they can't do in the USL.

The quality of USL play may suffer a bit if more players follow them. The Caps lost Sulentic this year. As fans we would like to see the best play here, but that's unrealistic. Hopefully Montreal Vancouver and Toronto will get MLS franchises in the future, then some of the better Canadian players would return.

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Well, there are now a few articles mentioning Grande on Viking FK's website. One of them http://www.viking-fk.no/visnyhet.asp?id=948 has a link to a free kick goal from 40 yards, and mentions that he's been chosen as a starter over Bernier and played for Brescia. COntract to the end of 2007.

The other http://www.viking-fk.no/visnyhet.asp?id=950 states that he'll be introduced during halftime of the UEFA cup game against Portadown, says that they had taken a look at him before but not needed a central midfielder at that time, and describes his playing style...Grande is a free kick specialist for both club and national team. He's a hard-working player (the general conception on Canadian players, mentioned also in Sundsvalls article on Gerba), who always wants the ball. And, finally that he'll be a good complement to the rest of the midfield.

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Well, there are now a few articles mentioning Grande on Viking FK's website. One of them http://www.viking-fk.no/visnyhet.asp?id=948 has a link to a free kick goal from 40 yards, and mentions that he's been chosen as a starter over Bernier and played for Brescia. COntract to the end of 2007.

The other http://www.viking-fk.no/visnyhet.asp?id=950 states that he'll be introduced during halftime of the UEFA cup game against Portadown, says that they had taken a look at him before but not needed a central midfielder at that time, and describes his playing style...Grande is a free kick specialist for both club and national team. He's a hard-working player (the general conception on Canadian players, mentioned also in Sundsvalls article on Gerba), who always wants the ball. And, finally that he'll be a good complement to the rest of the midfield.

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Just to add, Stavanger is a city on the up and up, with some serious oil money, and a brand new stadium. I was also there recently, and surprised to see how large the place actually was for the fourth largest city in Norway, as several nearby towns have been growing and linking together. Definately a good choice for Grande, as the team seems to be reflecting the general boom of the area!

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Just to add, Stavanger is a city on the up and up, with some serious oil money, and a brand new stadium. I was also there recently, and surprised to see how large the place actually was for the fourth largest city in Norway, as several nearby towns have been growing and linking together. Definately a good choice for Grande, as the team seems to be reflecting the general boom of the area!

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I don't think that these transfers are good for Canadian soccer as a whole. We need to be able to retain these kind of players and if Canadian clubs are to lose them, then I would hope that they be to more competitive environments than where they are currently off to. Thats why the sooner that we get MLS into Canada the better.

The only plus from these transfers is the $$$ that will flow into the pockets of the players and the clubs. But, its a loss for the national teams, canadian soccer and the fans of these players/clubs. From a fan's standpoint, it no different than what the Expos had to do time and time again. From a national team (CSA) perspective, it means players are off to play in places that are no better than the USL but with the added problem that you now have to contend with travel and displacement for national teams matches. Furthermore, the national teams now have to deal with people who: don't have a vested interest in our nation programs and people whom you are unlikely to have forged personal relationships with and consequently will be less flexible and accomodating with respect to your needs and demands ( i.e.: player releases and availability for national team duty).

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I don't think that these transfers are good for Canadian soccer as a whole. We need to be able to retain these kind of players and if Canadian clubs are to lose them, then I would hope that they be to more competitive environments than where they are currently off to. Thats why the sooner that we get MLS into Canada the better.

The only plus from these transfers is the $$$ that will flow into the pockets of the players and the clubs. But, its a loss for the national teams, canadian soccer and the fans of these players/clubs. From a fan's standpoint, it no different than what the Expos had to do time and time again. From a national team (CSA) perspective, it means players are off to play in places that are no better than the USL but with the added problem that you now have to contend with travel and displacement for national teams matches. Furthermore, the national teams now have to deal with people who: don't have a vested interest in our nation programs and people whom you are unlikely to have forged personal relationships with and consequently will be less flexible and accomodating with respect to your needs and demands ( i.e.: player releases and availability for national team duty).

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Viking is in the UEFA Cup, correct?

Surely, that's a higher level than the USL, as is the Norwegian premier league. But I get your point, most of these players are not going to the top team in Norway or Sweden, they're going to second tier clubs in the middle of nowhere.

The bottom line is that they can make more and be closer to scouts in Europe, so for most players its a no-brainer.

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