Catching up with Jay Needham
January 29th, 2008 . 3:41 pm . By: Buzz Carrick
At the Combine, the MLS Players Union made a presentation to the college graduates that laid out the realities of the MLS salary structure. As a result of this meeting several players, including Needham, Greg Dalby, and FCD draft pick Ryan Guy, began to look at options outside of Major League Soccer. Needham was eventually selected 32nd overall in the MLS SuperDraft by DC United but passed on the developmental contract they offered and instead signed with the Puerto Rico Islanders of the United Soccer League. 2007 turned out to be a terrific year for Needham as he was named USL Rookie of the Year on the strength of his outstanding play for the Islanders. After finishing 3-3 over two legs, the Islanders lost to the MLS bound Seattle Sounders 4-2 in penalty kicks in the USL Semi-finals. “My first year was great,” said Needham. “We made it to the semi-finals and lost in pk’s, I got rookie of the year, and I got to grow a lot both as a player and a person.” Despite his accolades and the Islanders success, it wasn’t an easy season for Needham particularly in the beginning. “It was difficult at first because I was learning a new position. The had me playing outside full-back on both sides, but as soon as Colin [Clarke] took over he helped me positionally a lot and now I feel comfortable anywhere on the back line and in the center of the midfield, so all in all it was a great year.” With a season in the books in the USL, it’s only natural that Needham has begun to look toward moving up in the ranks of the soccer world. He is still under contract with the Islanders, but there is a buyout in his contract. MLS, Needham says, is certainly on his radar. “My top three would be FCD, because I’d love for my family to get to watch all the home games with myself on the team and who wouldn’t want to play for the team you supported growing up, Chivas USA, or San Jose. With that being said though I really don’t have a preference as long as I can get a chance in the MLS. I do believe I am a MLS caliber player, and I would like to prove that to everyone.” Unfortunately for Needham his way to MLS is blocked by the rules of the league, which means he’s at DC United’s mercy to a certain extent. “DC still owns my MLS rights, however they have said that as of right now they have no intent of bringing me in for next year,” said Needham. “I was scheduled to go into training camp with them and have them take another look at me, but that fell through a couple of days ago, as it looks like they are going to sign a couple of foreign players instead.” Surely with the MLS salary cap regulations and the value of a solid US player, some team would be interested in a young defender of Needham’s proven professional caliber. One can easily think of several MLS teams, FC Dallas included, that could use an American defender that looks capable of starting in MLS. According to MLS rules, this will be the final season DC will own Needham’s MLS rights. MLS is not his only option for 2008 as Needham is quite willing to finish out his contract with the Islanders. “I’d definitely be willing to play out my contract with the Islanders. They have been good to me, and I made a commitment to them. I will never back out of a commitment that I have made to something, or someone.” As the better players are want to do, Needham is eager to prove himself and progress his career. To further that ambition he continues to workout this winter to improve his game. “I’ve become a gym rat to say the least,” says Needham. “I’m in there probably everyday at least once and maybe twice. I also do a lot of interval training, stuff that emulates what you might go through in a game. I also have been playing some up at Inwood, Sole Roll, and doing some outdoor stuff with guys when they are in-town. One day we had four v four going on and my team was Chase Wielman, Lee Ngyuen, Spencer Wadsworth, and myself. So I just try and keep myself busy and mentally ready for anything that might pop up.” Admittedly a long time admirer of Needham’s game, one can’t help but think what a great addition he’d make to FCD’s back line. With above average feet, great mental soccer speed, and good passing skills, Needham can play anywhere on the back line in a three or four man group. Regardless of where he lands this season, Needham should have a long and successful playing career driven by his work rate and on field intelligence. Hopefully that career leads Needham to MLS and greater things. 16 Comments Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI Leave a comment |
Do you think DC would bite at an offer of a low round draft pick?
hindsight is 20/20, but maybe we could’ve offered our 2nd and 3rd rounders this year to DC for his rights instead of practically giving them away to columbus. but, it’s really nice to know that someone would like to come here. this is where a real GM can show their true meaning…cough* (hitch) cough*
Lee Nguyen is probably my favorite US born player just because we went to High School together. He isn’t getting very much playing time at PSV and it would be nice to see him in hoops.
maybe b/c he’s tucked away so far down the bench, they forget he’s on the team. j/k
talent wasting away in europe. he should consider coming home to play
Can’t teach speed and unfortunately he lacks it at our level…good A League player though.
Your level? MLS Over-30?
Lee would be a huge pickup for FCD.
Needham is good, and has a great soccer mind. He has always been a very level-headed and mature player with nice passes. Could really learn the game under Davino and the Machete.
I agree with Buzz, and am ready to sign him now that Gbandi is gone and in preparation for Rhine’s wheels to bust at some point.
This seems a bit odd…
DCU asked him to come in last year and prove that he is MLS caliber, and HE said no. He is making about 45k this year would you be willing to pay that for someone that has never played in the league? (and would be a back-up)
The developmental salaries are crazy low, but “at DC’s mercy”? That is a bit harsh.
Developmental pay was good enough for Boswell, McTavish, Burch, Simms, etc. Then they proved themselves and got raises.
If Jay wants to make the big bucks he needs to quit messing around at that pit Sole Role.
In retrospect, Needham probably wouldve become a starter for DCU last year. But he couldnt have predicted that Boswell would fall out of favor and they would get rid of Erpen and Vanney would be awful. (well, he probably couldve predicted Vanney wouldve been awful). he also saw a 3 back formation to contend with, meaning one less spot than normal.
They ended up playing a forward at right back in a 4 back system and the defense had holes all the way through it. How was he to tell.
A forward at right back? Do you mean Burch (a leftback), who was already playing as a leftback in LA and Columbus before joining DC? The same guy that started off as a developmental player but became a starter within weeks of joining the team? He was an absolute revelation for DC’s backline and had more pace and ball delivery than Needham at an MLS level.
And Vanney was far from awful. Hell, he did better as a CB than I ever though possible. He may have been slow, but he was a good organizer on a backline that needed it.
Finally, DC’s defense may have had holes, but it was the 3rd best in MLS last year. If Needham had stuck around, he could have challenged for a starting role (although pretty unlikely) or at least been a regular sub. Now it looks like there’s little, if any, chance of him playing at DC anytime soon.
It’s too bad because he would be good depth for the team, but it doesn’t seem that DC is all that impressed with him even with a good rookie season in USL. Of course, Taylor Graham was a good player in the USL and looked like shite for NY.
Needham is the classic US defender – all hustle and no speed. I’ve seen the guy play since he was a little kid, and I am happy with the success he has had in Puerto Rico, but he will only be a role player on any higher level team because it is too easy for a speedy player to blow past him.
Steve Goff also reports that he is under contract with PR and would require a transfer fee even though DC owns the rights.
Jason, I was referring to Devon McTavish?
McTavish was a defender in college. He also played right midfield for us in a 3-5-2. He can also fill in as a d-mid. However, he was never a forward.