Tait's Coach Sends Out 'Confirmatory' Tweet, Plus How The Union Can Add Another International Player

by Scott Kessler on Sep 1, 2011 4:43 PM EDT in News

Despite a tweet being taken down, most likely after a talking to from Philadelphia Union brass, Joe Tait is set to sign with the team based on a second confirmatory tweet from the defender's current coach.

Tait originally tweeted that he was "gutted papers weren't done in time. Fly back to NOLA today to get stuff moved to Philly! Should be sorted and signed by Tuesday." The Englishman's agents also tweeted a hint as to his move to the Union on August 30.

The 21-year-old is still contracted to the Baton Rouge Capitals, coached by Stuart Hayers, for the time being. However, Hayers tweeted early this morning that Tait's papers were being worked on to allow him to move to the Union.

Up at 3am working on @joetait1 release paperwork; only thing keeping me going right now! He deserves his big break. #player

The Union will have to make room for Tait because of his international status, having only come to the United States in 2009. If the Union chose to put Levi Houapeu on injured reserve due to his host of problems that have kept the Ivorian off of the field in 2011, then the team can add Tait in Houapeu's international roster spot.

A league source confirmed to the Brotherly Game that a season ending injury to an international player allows the player's team to add another international player in his space, but only if the team has salary cap room. After the Freddy Adu signing the Union had a small amount of money left to spend this season, but more than enough to afford what will most likely be Tait's minimum salary contract.

Tweet Comment 6 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The team could also trade for an international roster spot – there are 144 league-wide and everyone starts with 8, but they can be traded like almost everything else. Teams that do this generally attach a timetable for the return of the slot.

Some recent examples:

Timbers sent allocation money to Galaxy back in November for an international spot that will stay with them through the 2011 and 2012 season.

Dynamo dealt Lovel Palmer, Mike Chabala, and an international spot to the Timbers in July for Adam Moffat and allocation money. Sounds like the slot will only remain in Portland until the end of the season.

In perhaps the most intriguing move of the season, DC United traded away an international spot to Red Bulls in July for “future considerations.” The future was a week later and the considerations were Austin Da Luz. The spot will stay in NY for the rest of the season.

by mk_27 on Sep 1, 2011 5:25 PM EDT reply actions

This is awesome, actually. I had no idea the Union still had the ability to acquire players via transfer so thank you for this informational article. Very interesting indeed. I’m unsure who this player is, but, if he signs, I’m curious if (or how) he’ll make an impact on the team.

by Gary Klatt on Sep 1, 2011 6:12 PM EDT reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H21wQ1PdhQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Tait_%28footballer%29

Not much else out there

by scottymac on Sep 1, 2011 10:22 PM EDT reply actions

He can’t be too special if he left England to play soccer in the US.

Whoops! There goes another rubber tree plant.

by dunnj62 on Sep 1, 2011 11:00 PM EDT reply actions

Well, he may not be a superstar, but many careers take strange paths. Last year when we signed Sheanon lots of people said “he can’t be that good if he was playing USL” and he has proved them all wrong.

by danielfarrell on Sep 2, 2011 8:04 AM EDT up reply actions