Top 5 2010 Freebies (updated)

You'll remember this post from last year, but I changed things up a bit this time. If you can't expect refinement over 12 months, then I'm just whack.

First, I nudged this baby past the transfer deadline to spare myself the indignity of guys listed being re-signed (e.g. Daniel van Buyten and Louis Saha this week) or shipped away the window before their contracts expire. It's just more pure at this time, is what it is.

Secondly, I chose to expand the realm past summer to include those that won't run free until December, which allowed me to include players from places like Norway and Russia.

I did not, however, include MLS players that will run out of contract this calendar year. Without the ability to identify each and every impending free agent (SEATEC ASTRONOMY), it stands to reason some good picks would be left out. I'm such a rationale stickler, eh? I can somehow list them at a later date, anyway.

Best get comfy for our usual also-rans list.

Honorable mentions: Almen Abdi (Le Mans), Johan Absalonsen (Odense BK), Adriano (Flamengo), Juan Ángel Albín (Getafe), Hanno Balitsch (Hannover 96), Sebastián Battaglia (Boca Juniors), Jermaine Beckford (Leeds United), Aleksey Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Vasili Berezutski (CSKA Moscow), Kris Boyd (Rangers), Jimmy Briand (Rennes), Gonzalo Castro (Mallorca), Francois Clerc, (Lyon), Florin Costea (Universitatea Craiova), Mouhamadou Dabo (Saint-Étienne), Jonathan De Guzman (F-word), Martin Demichelis Bayern Munich), Ashkan Dejagah (Wolfsburg), Eyong Enoh (Ajax), Fernandinho (Shakhtar Donetsk), Christian Gentner (Wolfsburg), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Paolo Guerrero (Hamburg), Timo Hildebrand (Hoffenheim), Erik Huseklepp (Brann), Atiba Hutchinson (FC Copenhagen), Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen), Jadson (Shakhtar Donetsk), Jonas (Grêmio), Nenad Kovacevic (Lens), Kim Källström (Lyon), Yssouf Koné (Cluj), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Andriy Nesmachny (Dinamo Kyiv), Ruben Okotie (Austria Vienna), Gabriel Paletta (Boca Juniors), Emiliano Papa (Vélez Sársfield), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Liam Ridgewell (Birmnigham), Gergely Rudolf (Debrecen), Fábio Simplício (Palermo), Dwight Tiendalli (FC Twente), Martin Zeman (Sparta Prague)

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Whew! Would you believe I actually cut 10-12 names from that list and it's still that long?

UPDATE: I've added my best possible landing spot to each guy.

Finally, on with the countdown...

#5 - Joe Cole (Chelsea)

It says here that Joe could regain his full cool if made a spotlight attack role somewhere else. I would assume there will be several sides in the Prem (and even a few from outside it) willing to give him a bigger role. It may seem like he's been around forever, but Cole is still just 28. Heck, Paul Scholes was just hitting his prime then.

Where to, then? - The guy clearly loves London, so most people would probably guess Tottenham. However, they don't really need him and I'd like to see him catch on with a team trying to reach new heights anyway. Specifically, I'm thinking Fulham. Wouldn't that be tasty on many levels?

#4 - Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liège)

Get your very own Serbian Totti at a bargain asking price: zero down, zero interest, zero closing costs! With terrific tires, this baby controls like a dream and knows its way around Europe. In the last two campaigns, Jovanovic has scored against non-league foes Arsenal, Everton, Olympiakos and Sampdoria - and he will score for you! Act fast, limited time offer!

Where to, then? - See, again, most people would probably tip him for Liverpool, with Everton as the second choice. And again... is that really the need of those clubs? Besides, I think his style and skills would better translate to, say, Barcelona, Inter or Lyon. I don't think he's best suited for the most harried-pace league. That's not to say he'd fail, just that his best would probably lie elsewhere.

#3 - Jonny Evans (Manchester United)

He's a Man United-trained prodigy capable of playing anywhere at the back for the next decade or more. Despite being just 22, Evans has experience involving 40+ Prem matches, Champions League toppers and 19 Northern Ireland caps. Of course... one still has to lure him away from Old Trafford.

Where to, then? - I can't imagine he'll leave ManU with Sir Alex still in charge. Why would he? One starting center back is a hot transfer topic and the other is showing signs of slippage, while the right back graduated a year before Yoda.

#2 - Marouane Chamakh (Bordeaux)

Why Arsenal didn't plunk down the cash to grab him this winter is beyond me. Chamakh would be a perfect fit not just there, but with any quick-passing side that needs a mobile target guy. There aren't too many true #9 strikers capable of breaking defenders down with speed, and that's why it's easy to forgive his occasional finishing slump. That can probably be straightened out anyway (see Manu Adebayor at Arsenal) and he doesn't need to score to make an impact. Chamakh has improved every year. At 26, he should be the summer free agent tussle.

Where to, then? - I think I've made my position clear enough.



#1 - Sergio Canales (Racing Santander)

Pick a glamour side, any glamour side, and they are sure to be on this trail soon if not already. Canales is a slick teen strike phenom full of eye-popping talent, but that may not be the extent of it. The kid is so cool, he bagged a brace at Sevilla in his third start and acted like he was simply doing his job. Racing coach Miguel Ángel Portugal says the 18-year old reminds him of a young Rafi van der Vaart - high praise, indeed. Real Madrid are rumoured to be in the pole position for Canales, but I know he'll be a Galactico wherever he goes.

Where to, then? - It's really hard to argue with moving to Real... but I will. As much as I generally hate making such comparisons, I do think he'd be Fernando Torres Jr. in the Prem. Of the toppers, I'd say Chelsea is easily his best fit.


- Greg Seltzer