From MSL to MLS?

We don’t know why people sometimes mix up “MLS” and turn it into “MSL,” but it’s a mistake we’ve heard more than once. (Usually from Britain, for some reason.) Turns out there is an MSL after all, though: the Malaysian Super League. And, as it turns out, it may soon have something in common with MLS, although we really have more questions than answers at this point.

Yesterday, The Star, a newspaper in Malaysia, reported that Marlon Alex James, the star forward for Kedah, a team that has dominated the MSL in recent years, wants to leave the team to join San Jose. (Kedah, by the way, is pronounced “k-DAH,” which sounds like a word Lieutenant Worf would have used to describe some obscure Klingon rite. But we digress.)

According to The Star, James said that he and teammate Cornelius Bernard Huggins “have received offers to play for San Jose Earthquakes … I have been offered a two-year contract and I have set my heart on a move and to take on a new challenge.”

Not long after that story appeared, this interview from what appears to be ESPN Malaysia appeared on YouTube, in which James reiterated his desire to leave Kedah as soon as possible for San Jose:

Kedah’s manager Azraai Khor responded quickly, telling ESPN Malaysia that he expected James to see out his contract, which runs through August 31.

So, what to make of it all? We haven’t been able to get the Quakes to comment on any of this but, since this is the Internet, we’re going to make a few guesses.

First off, when we interviewed Quakes GM John Doyle about a month ago, he mentioned that “we have people watching (Caribbean national team) matches that are sending us video on those guys,” and since both James and Huggins play for St. Vincent and Grenadines (the same nation of longtime MLS defender Ezra Hendrickson), it’s entirely possible that the team is aware of the players.

It’s easy to see why they would at least be interested in taking a closer look at James. During his time in Malaysia, the striker has racked up some serious numbers for Kedah. He topped the MSL scoring charts with 23 goals in 24 games during the 2007-08 season, as Kedah won the MSL championship for the second year running. In fact, Kedah has already won the Malaysian FA Cup this year, leaving the Malaysia Cup as the only trophy they need to complete a second consecutive treble.

His play looks pretty solid, too, as seen on this YouTube clip:

That’s a nice turn and shot to score on the half-volley. On the other hand, James’ Wikipedia entry lists him as 6′ 2″, and he looks to be much taller than most of his opponents, and that’s not going to be an advantage he would enjoy in MLS, where center backs routinely top the six foot mark.  While James scored against Canada last month in a World Cup qualifier, it was reported that the first time the two teams met, James “was stifled by Canada’s Adrian Serioux, allowing him little space throughout the match.” Serioux, currently with FC Dallas, has played for several seasons in MLS.

The final item in the “we’ll believe it when we see it” category is the fact that Huggins, who James claims has also been offered a deal in San Jose, is a 34-year-old central defender, which is not exactly a position where the Quakes are lacking depth. The fact that Huggins did not catch on in either MLS or the USL after spending 2003 with the USL-1 Virginia Beach Mariners also hurts the credibility of that claim.

In any case, the situation will have to resolve itself quickly, since the MLS transfer window closes on August 15. Kedah’s cooperation will be required as well, since James’ contract does not expire until the 31st, and the club is still in the running for their treble.

Time will tell. We’ll pass along new information as we get it.