FOX: Sebastien Le Toux Training With Bolton Ahead Of Possible Transfer
by Scott Kessler on Jan 18, 2012 12:47 PM EST
in News
Email
Print
Sebastien Le Toux's flight to England appears to be training ahead of a possible transfer, according to Fox Soccer. Bolton is the destination if the Philadelphia Union's star striker is transferred during the January international transfer window.
The transfer was originally reported by Ives Galarcep, who writes for Fox Soccer and his own site, Soccer By Ives. Le Toux tweeted previous to Galarcep's tweet that he was on his way to England, making the timing of the Fox Soccer report appear to be more than coincidental.
Philadelphia was rumored to be shopping Danny Mwanga, according to Galarcep as well, during the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, and the Fox Soccer article speculates that the money received for selling Le Toux would help the Union retain Mwanga. Additionally, the Union drafted Chandler Hoffman to add to a young arsenal of Mwanga, Jack McInerney and Josue Martinez, making one of them expendable and likely to leave Philadelphia at some point this year.
The New York Red Bulls reportedly have sold center back Tim Ream to Bolton for around 2.5 million pounds, which helps to pinpoint a possible number for the transfer fee of Le Toux.
31 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Seems to be planning for relegation. They probably won’t have to worry about him leaving for another PL team since frankly he’s not good enough (or hey, maybe he’ll catch on fire over there, who knows).
Author on Anfield Asylum - YNWA
I was being a little tongue-in-cheek
but that’s a good point and I think you’re right. He’s the kind of guy who might not interest the big fish right away, but who could really help them climb back into the top flight. I just hope he gets some PT while they’re still up.
While a bit sad...
This is great for him and the U. Opens some space at the front for the new guys. I cannot wait to see what the offense looks like this year now. I think we all understand where the MLS is at right now, a training ground for the EPL. We’re getting there though. May LeToux become the next Tim Howard and star for years over there. But, if he doesn’t, I’m sure we’ll accept him back with open arms. And now fingers cross for a Bolton friendly this summer.
As a fan of Le Toux, I’m very happy for him to get this fantastic opportunity.
As a fan of the Union, I’d rather he stay, because I don’t see where the offense comes from otherwise.
This.
Flyers Fans: We've survived Lock-outs, Lindros and Cooperalls. If you want to get rid of us, you'll have to split an atom or two.
by KreiderDesigns on Jan 18, 2012 4:03 PM EST up reply actions
Tim Ream is no LeToux!
Better double that 2.5 million pounds.
Too optimistic??
At the end of the article, it mentions something about Giovani Dos Santos transfer fee for tottenham. Now, I know that the possibility of this happening is next to nothing, but couldn’t the U use this money from le toux and the bimbo money to cough that up?? A Dos Santos/ Martinez combo would be Juego Bonito, and possibly the best in mls. One can dream, yea??
7 million GBP
is close to $11MM. No, I don’t think the Union will be paying any $11 million transfer fees anytime soon.
He's been a transfer target of Bolton.
Managing Editor for Brotherly Game, SBNation's Philadelphia Union blog and contributor for SBN Philly. // @scottdkessler
"College is only 4 years, but the Eagles are for life." - Ironhank
by Scott Kessler on Jan 18, 2012 3:29 PM EST up reply actions
Even if they could afford it, why would Dos Santos take that kind of a step down at this point? WHen he could still get another EPL gig?
Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook.
Good move on and off the field
First, it will obviously be nice to get a large sum of money from Bolton. I trust the Union will put it to good use.
But secondly, this is great news for on the field play too. I was never enamored with him like everyone else, and I don’t want to feminist the value of his knack for goal, but he really did not fit in on the team.
His first touch was the worst of the Union regulars. He could play the wing because he didn’t have the skill to help the team build the ball up from the back. He can’t play as a target forward because his touch is bad and he isn’t good in the air. He wasn’t good at putting teammates into good positions because again his touch is poor and his passes heavy. All he could hope to do was run his ass off and hope to capitalize on a lucky break. Which obviously has value, but he absolutely killed possession and stifled the flow of the game for everyone else.
I never understood the adoration for the guy as a soccer player, rose colored glasses maybe. I fully expect to see a much more impressive and cohesive Union this season.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 2:23 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Uhmmm..
Maybe because he scored 25 goals and had 20 assists in the last two season?? Idk, maybe a thought?
Yes, it goes without saying, but it’s a flat analysis of his worth. Care to comment on the rest of my post where I explain why he is overrated. He is a one dimensional player, and due to his lack of skill hurt how the team played more than he helped. We’re ready to move beyond Le Toux.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 2:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I think your analysis...
Is based solely on his body of work of the first half of last season in which he admittedly struggled. He played too tight, his touch was off as you pointed out, and his play squandered several chances over that time. However, I don’t think your analysis holds up when you look at the 2nd half of last season and most of the season before. Scoring 25 goals and registering 20 assists is more than just hard work and luck. Its being in the right positions at the right times, making smart runs, having impeccable timing with your teammates. Le Toux may not be a slasher that can beat 3 defenders with the dribble or has a perfect first touch, but I think your overall analysis of him is a bit harsh. If you want evidence that his first touch wasn’t always as bad as you say, youtube the goal he scored when he controlled a lob pass to him with 1 touch then buried the ball in the back of the net with the 2nd touch (forget who it was against, but a sensational goal even by EPL standards)
by Domin8ing the Big Ten(11) on Jan 18, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdOcH-fza9E
Link to the goal I mentioned..
by Domin8ing the Big Ten(11) on Jan 18, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions
Can’t watch now, but I believe I know which goal, and yes I was impressed, even shocked when that happened. Maybe I am being a bit harsh, it is easy when arguing something, this is an argument I’ve been having for awhile now, to have your opinion become more drastic and polarized.
But my opinion of his first half isn’t what shaped my view of his, perhaps it reaffirmed it. During year one I was not a huge fan either. And during the beginning of this year I didn’t think he was playing bad. In most cases I don’t think it’s fair to play the results. Sometimes the goalie just makes a great save or it bounces off the cross bar and out and other times it bounces in. Doesn’t really change how good the player is. I just thought Le Toux was being himself, a good solid MLS player who wasn’t gettin the bounces, later in the year he did get the bounces.
By default I’m coming off as a hater, or maybe I used aggressive phrasing about him, but I am not a hater. Love him as a person, I think he is a good MLSer, but overrated in what he brings to the field.
Look when he dribbles and a quick pace, he knocks the ball so far ahead of him, I never feel comfortable with the ball at his feet. And I stand by my point that he limits the offense by making the Union a less technical and less dynamic team.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 3:51 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Meant to say lessen but was autocorrected to feminist. Odd.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 2:33 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Go back "on the road" dean!
Aside from his fantastic production, Letoux embodied what alot of people in the greater Philadelphia region consider a great athlete. He was competitive, he played through pain, he played hard and clean, he adored the fans, and he was not a prima donna. I hate to say the r word, but he was hell of a role model for everykid that came to watch them play.
I would also disagree with your observations about his play. He led the team in assists two years in a row, so obviously he had the ability to put other players in good positions. His first touch was bad in the beginning of the year when he played on one ankle, but much improved when healty. He always hustled back and linked play, and was critical in building and holding possesion. And he was not a winger, his best poistion was as a striker, with a partner. He is a good striker in a 4-4-2 when he has someone to link with.
He will be sorely missed in my house and in our section at PPL. I hope Owen Coyle reads this because your assesment may save Bolton a couple million pounds!
yep
I also hate tossing out “role model” when talking about athletes, but that’s exactly what he was. He’s classy, he’s hard-working, he’s talented, he’s humble, he’s a good sport, he’s a good teammate. As a parent, he’s exactly who I want my kids to look up to, if they’re going to pick somebody from the sports world.
He’s my daughter’s favorite player; she’s been able to meet him twice (both briefly) and he treated her terrifically both times, like she was the most important fan he has. As a parent, that’s worth a ton to me.
I hope the rumor is false, but if it turns out to be true, I wish Seba nothing but the best.
There's always an element
that likes to criticize a team’s best player, both because he’s subject to more scrutiny, and because the element wants to seem like they can see things that others don’t. This notion that Le Toux actually hurt the Union is simply ridiculous.
Le Toux was a limiting factor. He narrowered how the Union could play. He forced the team to play a certain way, and frankly only the elite players in the world are worthy of that treatment. Without Le Toux the attack will become more diverse and dynamic. Possession of the ball will increase which will also help with fitness and defense.
And don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate Le Toux, I just I just thought he was overrated and if we can get anything close to what ream got then that’s highway robbery and the Union are making out like bandits.
And no, I’m not saying this about Le Toux because I want to be different or I want to seem smarter, and dismissing it a such is lazy and disingenuous.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 3:09 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
you have to compare him to alternatives
not an idealized forward or wing. I don’t see how we had or have players whose superiority as passers or as dribblers is so great that it will compensate for the loss of Le Toux as a disruptive force. Replace him with a better dribbler (assuming there is one) and all of a sudden you’re missing the speed, work rate and defense. I sure hope the Union are better this season, but I can’t imagine substituting anyone on the roster for Le Toux would yield a product better than the same team with Le Toux. The offense was funneled toward Le Toux not to be charitable or arbitrarily, but because that gave us the best opportunity to win.
Nice subject!
I agree with most of what you say, but to me it’s a moot point. He is a great role model, but shouldn’t matter at all when it comes to evaluating his skill on the field.
And when I say I can believe why people love him so much I was speaking a bit hyperbolically. He’s a good guy, works hard, and scored goals.
It doesn’t confront me if a family wants a good role model, I’d put more importance on his play. I’d rather not get into a digression on if athletes should be role models, it’s a non issue for me.
And who as more minutes for theUnion then Le Toux? He should have many goals am assists. But that doesn’t preclude him from being overrated. My main observation is that you couldn’t maintain possession and build up an attack with Le Toux. He couldn’t take on people and wasn’t good at maintaining possession. I think the Union, skillwise, will be a much improved team this season.
With Le Toux in the lineup the way we were going to score was limited, next year with him out we will be a much more dynamic team. You forwards gotta step up, but they will be in a better place to do so.
But you know, that’s just like my opinion man.
by Dean_Moriarty on Jan 18, 2012 3:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
nice subject ineed!
you are correct that being a role model has nothing to do with value ON the field. But much like Zherog’s situation, LeToux was my 2 daughters’ favorite player, they also got to meet him briefly, get the autographs and take the pic. While that may not translate to on the field production, it certainly translates to the experience. At the end of the day, i buy season tickets for entertainment value and LeToux’s off the field and on the field traits certainly added to that entertainment value.
I would argue that with LeToux in the lineup we were much more dynamic. Letoux scored goals dribbling at people, turning and firing in the box and also from making great runs and latching onto good passes. His hustle also put teams under pressure which led to mistakes, which led to goals.
I think the argument that you are making is a much more accurate description of Ruiz, who we knew was a poacher and was limited in his scope (i though ruiz was a great poacher/finisher but that is another arguement).
The fact remains, regardless of how anyone viewed his game, that he produced goals and assists. I don’t see how anyone on this roster (apologies to Josue as i have not seen him play) can fill the gaping void that Seba leaves behind. I’m not in love with Mwanga or JMac. If they were ready or pushed letoux in practice then maybe we would have seen more of them when LeToux was hobbled… but we didn’t.
I’m glad LeToux has this oppurtunity and the FO has done a pretty good job of evaluating and aquiring talent in our short history, but i’m not as optimistic about this season as i was 5 hours ago. At the end of the day, in my opinion, is that soccer is the greatest sport in the world because it is utterly and completely SUBJECTIVE. Dean, I may disagree with your assesment, but at least we can debate and argue it. If we were arguing other sports it would simply be pass %, RBIs, FG % and +/-.
If this was 60 years ago, we just do alot of Bennys and write first thought best thought! lol
Well that's disappointing.
Undoubtedly the Union are a weaker squad without LeToux. He was a good mentor and role model for the younger players and was a true workhorse. He put in MVP quality efforts for both years with the Union and his presence will be missed.
Still this is a very good opportunity for him and hopefully he is able to take full advantage. The Union will undoubtedly get a nice sum for him which I’m sure they will put to good use. And hey Tim Ream is gone so NYRB certainly isn’t better this year either.
I think it’s hard to argue that the Union will preform as well this year as last. They’d need to land a strong true striker and I’m doubtful, but hey who knows.
I’m not sure that losing Tim Ream makes NYRB worse. He’s awful. I frankly can’t understand why an EPL team would be buying him.
Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook.
Physical traits
Maybe there’s a sense that he was stalled and with the right coaching, would fit the “bull in china shop” EPL mold.
He’s actually pretty good with the ball, fantastic by MLS defender standards. He had a rough start to last season when their whole defense was a mess, but the kid has talent.
by danielfarrell on Jan 19, 2012 10:41 AM EST up reply actions
to be honest
I haven’t seen a lot of rbny games, but the ones I have I thought he was poor. I have, however, probably seen every USMNT performance of his and he was shocking.
Follow Bleeding Green Nation on Twitter & Facebook.
by JasonB on Jan 19, 2012 4:20 PM EST via Android app up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Brotherly Game
Related FanShots on Brotherly Game
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
