Tomas Rosicky’s best days are behind him, no question. Heck, the Arsenal midfielder been something closer to a peripheral figure than a central man around the Emirates for years, although he has played fairly regularly over the last couple of seasons.
At 33, he’s not getting any better, and Rosicky certainly isn’t the man who made mincemeat of the American defense back in Germany 2006; along with Jan Koller, the pair had the entire U.S. World Cup effort that year circling the drain from the earliest minutes of that mostly humbling tournament.
All that said, Rosicky certainly isn’t completely washed up. And his revelation that Major League Soccer interests him is enough to create some discussion.
Rosicky has made it clear that finishing at Arsenal is his first option, and it sounds like “first option” by a long way. But MLS is a solid Plan B, or so he says.
As for potential MLS landing spots, we can rule out some teams right away. He is highly unlikely to land at New England, Vancouver, Seattle or Portland (artificial turf). He is probably beyond financial reach of clubs like Houston, Columbus, Real Salt Lake, Philadelphia, Dallas and San Jose. Probably priced out for Colorado, too, despite the ownership ties to Arsenal.
The league champs, Sporting Kansas City? Peter Vermes’ system demands relentless running and pressing, and you have to wonder if a 33-year-old who isn’t accustomed to the heat and travel of an MLS campaign is up for that.
Los Angeles is fresh out of DP spots unless one of the Galaxy’s key men drop a retirement or transfer whopper on us.
That leaves some of the usual suspects in these potential high-profile arrangements. New York Red Bulls? Hmmm, wouldn’t Thierry Henry love a midfield man with Arsenal ties to get him the ball in better places, a sophisticated passing link between Dax McCarty and Tim Cahill?
Toronto FC? Well, Tim Leiweke does have that short list of names that fit the bill from a competitive and a marketing standpoint.
Chicago could certainly use a creative element. And Rosicky would certainly improve Montreal’s midfield.
