One forward in, another out at Beckham's new club.
By: Shaun Fuentes (TTFF).[/size]
A day after world football star David Beckham signed for American Major League Soccer team LA Galaxy, a young forward out of Oregon State, Robbie Findley was selected by the club in the second round (16th overall) of the MLS SuperDraft on Friday.
Findley has dual citizenship for the United States and Trinidad and Tobago and has already had some involvement with the T&T set up.
But while Findley's move puts him alongside Beckham for the new season, another T&T forward, World Cup team member Cornell Glen recently found out that he will not be in Galaxy colours for the 2007 season.
Glen, currently nursing a knee injury which he suffered on his return to play for the club after the World Cup, will not be re-signed by the club. Glen's contract ended in December. He was injured in T&T's final World Cup match against Paraguay in June but after returning to the Galaxy team, things got worse and Glen had to undergo operation. However he was being handled by Galaxy and was under the understanding that he would be in line for an extension. But Glen thinks it was the decision of LA Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas that he not be re-signed.
"I know the coach was expecting to have me back because we had been in touch throughout the injury period," Glen said. "But these things happen and I won't be going back to LA. Hopefully something else will come up and I'll also be looking to Europe for a new club," he added on Friday.
The speedy forward who made an impression against Sweden and England at the 2006 World Cup said he expects to resume training in three months and has targeted the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup as return to playing, once T&T progresses to the tournament of course. Glen played five games in the 2006 MLS Season, scoring two goals in four matches with Galaxy and playing one with Colorado Rapids. He netted 12 goals in a total of 45 matches dating back to 2004 during which he played with LA Galaxy, Colorado Raphids, NY/NJ MetroStars, Columbus Crew and Dallas FC.
Findley highest rated forward in draft
Robbie Findley was the highest-rated forward in the draft according to some experts. He had an excellent showing at the MLS Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last weekend.
“I was excited when my name was called,” Findley said. “Before that, I was nervous sitting there. I didn’t know when I was going to get picked. I was just sitting there praying. It was a lot of relief when my name was called. I’ve been watching the Galaxy since I was a little kid.”
Just the third OSU player to ever be taken in the MLS Super-Draft, Findley is cognizant of the opportunity he has.
“To go out there and to have the chance to play with David Beckham, who has played in the best leagues in the world, I can learn a lot from that,” he said. “I knew the Galaxy were interested in me because I had talked to them at the combine and they said that they hoped they could get me. That’s why I was nervous in the first round because they kept trading their picks. I didn’t know what was going to happen.”
The Galaxy traded away the No. 5 and 10 picks in the first round, gambling that Findley would still be on the board.
He is the highest Beaver to be drafted by the MLS. Alan Gordon was taken by the Galaxy in 2004 (sixth round, 53rd overall). Findley and Gordon played together at Oregon State in 2003 and will be reunited with the Galaxy.
Ryan Johnson was taken by Real Salt Lake in 2006 (third round, 26th overall) and now plays for the Chicago Fire.
Findley was the first player from the Pacific-10 Conference chosen and one of three taken by the Galaxy. Other Pac-10 players drafted were Ty Harden of Washington (2nd round, 23rd overall, Los Angeles), Tally Hall of San Diego State (4th round, 44th overall, Los Angeles) and Eric Ebert of California (4th round, 52nd overall, Houston).
Findley earned three consecutive NSCAA All-Far West Region honors. He was named to the 2006 second team, the 2005 first team and the 2004 third team. He also earned All-Pac-10 first team honors in 2006 to become a four-time All-Pac-10 selection. He made the first team as a sophomore, junior and senior (becoming the first OSU player ever to make the first team three times) and made the second team as a 2003 freshman. He was also the 2003 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.
He led the 2006 squad with six goals, five assists and 17 points. On OSU’s all-time lists, he ended his four-year career tied for first in game-winning goals (10), third in goals (28), third in points (71) and tied for fourth in assists (15).
