Bradley goes Dutch, Guevara still missing, Keller stays put

The MetroStars just cannot keep anyone named Bradley on their sideline. However, this time they didn't deliver a pink slip to the one named Bradley. Instead, midfielder Michael Bradley (pictured) transferred to Heerenveen in the Dutch first division.

Last year Bradley stared 30 games for the MetroStars and was a very important factor in the lineup. He only got one goal, but that was the goal that put the Metros into the playoffs. The Stars retain the rights to Bradley incase he returns to the MLS.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity to play in Holland," the 18-year-old Bradley said. "Heerenveen is a club with a great history of developing young players in Europe, and I can't wait to get started. At the same time, I'd like to thank everyone in MLS and at the MetroStars organization. Everything I learned for two years playing for the MetroStars in MLS will be very valuable to me as I look to become the best player I can be"

Bradley has left the Stars on a good note, but the story might be a little different for one of their other midfielders. Amado Guevara has failed to show for the club's first training session of the season.

The Metro's General Manager Alexi Lalas said, "We're going to give him the benefit of the doubt and hope there is a very, very good reason." There is a chance he is having some visa issues, but that would not explain why they have not heard anything from Guevara or his agent.

The bad relation between Guevara and Lalas is well documented. Lalas addressed this situation as well.

"He's a big boy and I'm a big boy and we don't take any of that stuff seriously," Lalas said yesterday. "We need players who play like men and act like men on and off the field and we also need an organization that does that. If that means sitting down and hashing things out and apologizing and doing whatever we have to do to make sure we have a good team and quality players, I'm all for that."

Guevara's absence has lead to even more speculation that the Metros want to trade him with the big rumor being a switch with FC Dallas for Eddie Johnson.

However, coach Mo Johnston stressed that, "Contrary to what you have heard, Amado Guevara is not on the trading block."

America's man between the posts has decided to stay another year with his Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach. Kasey Keller has signed a deal with the club to extend his contract for another year. He will now be on the team till June 2007. Keller is one of the best keepers in the Budesliga (if not the world) at the moment and it is good to see his coach acknowledge this.

"Kasey has been outstanding," said Moenchengladbach coach Horst Koeppel. "I prefer to say defense is a team effort, but he alone has won us points."

Keller has said that he plans on ending his career in MLS, so I guess this means he will be around till at least 2008. Let's see, 2008 is just two years short of 2010. Not trying to imply anything, just thinking out loud.