Ping: MIJB #19 (Beasley to PSV?)
 

Looks like Beasley is going to PSV... any buzz about this over in Nederlands?

Reported fee is $2.2MM, or so. I think it's a great deal for all parties; MLS get a nice cash injection, PSV get a great bargain of an up-and-coming star, and Beasley gets his big break; everybody wins...

Unless Beasley ends up sitting on the bench. I've never been super impressed with Beasley myself, maybe I'm wrong though

Beasley's biggest asset isn't his offense; it's the fact that he's a unique player who has a little finishing and decent passing (with a lackluster first touch) and obviously great speed, but combines his athleticism into great defensive work.

And Beasley won't sit on the bench; PSV just sold it's two starting wingers (Rommedahl and Robben); both national teamers. Beasley is definitely expected to make a [large] impact at the Dutch club.

Man that is going to really thin our club this year.

But Beasley in my opinion was ready to test himself at the next level and PSV has already become my 2nd favorite international team (behind Fulham, who signed Bocanegra last summer.)

BTW, while Beasley doesn't quite have the finishing touch to really make him a stud, I think he is extremely well rounded with his defense which never gets him any pub. He's had to play in the backfield a lot this year and has eased the stress on Armas. It is going to be tough.

No love for McBride?

Nothing against McBride, but gotta be loyal to the Fire first and foremost :)

Defense is definitely the reason PSV is making this move; in Europe, it will be looked at as a big risk move (though we Americans know better); but he's one of few wingers who offer a lot both ways.

(MLS rejected the incentive-laden $2.2MM bid)

Apparantly Eindhoven are also scouting another Fire player... Ralph???

I heared the rumors since I think December, but I usually I stick with fact, wait for transfers to be made official before i talk about them.

If I recall correctly, Beasley is a right winger, right?

PSV sold their right winger Dennis Rommedahl and has basically nobody left to play there, except that famous Korean guy Ahn, the guy who got sacked by Italian team Perugia after he scored a game winning goal against Italy in WC2002.
But Ahn is a publicity signing, who came from Korea with Guus Hiddink.

For an offensive guy, the Dutch league is heaven to improve.
Half of the Dutch teams field foreign or former internationals at left back, yet most teams play offensive football, leaving enough space for offenses to make their game. Though lately, especially PSV has been victim of opponents digging in and playing all out defense.

But if Beasley is more of a defensive player, I have no clue why PSV would sign him to play right winger, he'd be a misfit there. PSV usually has upcoming wingers who make crosses to the strikers. Unless they see him as a project right back...

He is a left winger.

He's a dynamic left winger; my point wasn't that he's a defensive player; it's that he's a nice attacking winger who has a great work rate and adequate defensive abilities. These allow him to add to the attack like any young, promising speedy winger; but not at the expense of defense.

left winger? Well, PSV sold Robben, so the left wing is open as well, same story I'd say, except that competition is slimmer there: none.

Did PSV sell Robben strictly for the money aspect?

Yes. To avoid Robben running away for nothing in the future.

A little bump.

Seeing the disappointing sentiments in the Tim Howard thread, DaMarcus Beasley has been a surprise player so far in the Dutch league. In 22 official games, he scored 7 goals and in the league alone made 4 goals and 2 assists in 15 games (missing 2 games).

The assists total can't be a good sign, it should be much higer for a winger at PSV, but the goals total on the other hand is very high, especially for a new player (don't start comparing with Robben, he is/was a phenomenal world class player).

Despite a rebuilding, PSV has been dominating for most of the 17 games, recorded a new no-goals-allowed league record, but are unlucky that the surprize of the season is a whole team (AZ) that seems to be twice as good as they've been the past 24 years.

On a related USA player in the Netherlands note:
Sadly John O'Brien has been out with injuries most of the past two seasons and has yet to prove he's still got the WC 2002 form in him with Ajax. He's played in only 6 league games the past 1 1/2 seasons (which accounts for roughly 50 games.) So far he played only 66 games 5 1/2 seasons (roughly 165 games).