Canary legend urges Huckerby to pursue American dream

As the new week begins, we’ve got another story on the potential move to MLS of recently released Norwich City striker Darren Huckerby. Huckerby, 32, attended a special soccer and music event over the weekend at Carrow Road, the Canaries’ home ground, where he was recognized as part of the club’s “Greatest Ever” eleven. Also in attendance was former Norwich City striker Ted MacDougall, 60, who now works as a youth coach for the USL-1 Atlanta Silverbacks. UK newspaper the Norwich Evening News reports that MacDougall urged Huckerby to try his hand — or feet — in the U.S.

“I spoke to him and I think he’d do fantastic over there, I really truthfully do, because he’s the type of player that’s right for America,” said MacDougall.

“What’s happened in the MLS is that it’s gone from a Disneyland type of game to a more serious game now. It’s a proper game and it’s got better and better and better and we’ve got people like Angel coming over, Beckham, Blanco from Mexico. These are getting big money.

“Even players like Landon Donovan, American players, are getting a million a year, so the whole game is getting elevated.

“Now we have to become a nation of not just players but watchers. This is an exciting place to be, America.”

MacDougall also gave the American game a positive review. He particularly recognizes the improvements to the play and technique of some of his youngest charges, players who have undoubtedly benefited from growing up with MLS as well as the increase in televised international soccer that has taken place over the last decade.

“The game is getting better and better and better. Where big clubs in Europe were going to Africa and looking for players, and people like Drogba came out of it, a lot of the professional clubs are now coming to America because we do have athletes and the athletes are not just playing baseball and American football and basketball, they’re starting to play soccer.

“So our game is starting to really go through the roof and at youth level we can compete with most teams, up to 15, 16.

“I coach every day and the 10 and 12-year-olds are better technically than the 17-year-olds. I run our youth side and it’s fantastic. My under-13s are number nine in the nation and first in Georgia. They came over last year and beat Bournemouth, Reading and Portsmouth, but got hammered by Southampton, which was good for them.”

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Besides Huckerby, there are other strikers on the market now that the season is winding down in many European leagues. Ian Martin of the American Soccer Reader offers up a list of potential signings, and we’ll throw another name in the bucket. Former U.S. U-20 forward Johann Smith, who turned 21 last month, has been released by Bolton Wanderers and is looking for a club. We don’t know too much about him besides what’s listed here, but he might be one for the future if he has any skills at all to go with his reported 10.5 second speed in the 100 meters. Of course, Brian McBride is available, too, but he turns 36 next month and his services are already being requested by his former club, the Columbus Crew, and the Chicago Fire, which would be a natural choice for the native of Arlington Heights, Ill.

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Finally, our own Embele Awipi talks with Earthquakes defender Ryan Cochrane for his preview of Thursday night’s match against the Houston Dynamo in his column for the Salinas Californian.