Nate Jaqua Is Contemplating Retirement
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 14, 2012 12:00 PM EST
in Revolution Transfer News
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The Bent Musket has learned today that former USA international forward Nate Jaqua, who was selected by the New England Revolution in the Re-Entry Draft this offseason, is currently evaluating his options for the next stage of his career, according to team sources. Those options include retirement.
Jaqua was apparently extended a contract offer by the Revs through the league after his selection in the Re-Entry Draft, but his camp never responded. The offer was rescinded, and since then the team has been told that he is exploring all of his options, including hanging it up at the age of 30.
Jaqua most recently turned out for the Seattle Sounders, making 66 regular season appearances and scoring nine goals. He hadn't scored a league goal since 2009, however, his first season in Seattle. Before joining the Rave Green, Jaqua had successful stops with the Chicago Fire, Los Angeles Galaxy, and Houston Dynamo. Sandwiched within his tenure in Houston was a short but productive stint in Austria with SC Rheindorf Altach, where he made 13 league appearances and scored five goals. If he retires now, he will finish his MLS career with 197 appearances, 41 goals, and 29 assists in regular season play, along with 18 postseason appearances, tallying two goals and two assists.
Though recent regular-season numbers may be underwhelming, Jaqua has traditionally had great success in the U.S. Open Cup. He was the 2010 Player of the Tournament, notching five goals in four games as co-leading scorer, and was an integral part of the Sounders' back-to-back-to-back Cup titles in the last three seasons. Jaqua also had experience in the SuperLiga and CONCACAF Champions' Cup (now Champions' League) with the Dynamo.
Standing at 6'4" and sporting a bruising 200-plus pound frame, Jaqua was lauded both for his ability to hold up the ball and for his aerial prowess. From 2006-2008, his good form in MLS and Austria won him three caps for the US National Team, earning his first in a pre-World Cup match against Norway, the very same match where New England's own Taylor Twellman notched a hat-trick.
The Revolution have obviously made moves while keeping Jaqua's status in mind, having already signed Saer Sene and Jose Moreno, both of whom are tall, broad strikers who could probably do the job that would be asked of Nate. Moreno, of course, may not be arriving at all, putting the organization in a tight spot at striker if Jaqua elects to retire. Either way, Jaqua currently does not have an offer from the Revolution on the table, and it seems probable that he will never suit up in Foxboro.
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Not had much luck this winter have they?
First Borman and now Jaqua look unlikely to sign. Moreno loan falling apart and resorting to a 3rd/4th Division player to fill the boots of DP flop Caraglio (who honestly should have been given more time, just like Lekic). Given NE’s struggles in front of goal in 2011, the current strikeforce is a downgrade, which is a scary though. Jaqua wouldn’t be a big impact either way.
Caraglio was not a flop.
I have a lot of conversations w people about Caraglio over the past day or so. I’m not sure I’d label him a flop. It usually takes a year for foreign players to adjust to MLS’s style of play. I’d also assume that a learning curve comes with playing on Gillette’s turf. Either way, I would be (obviously purely speculative) that Caraglio could have had a great season this year. He struck me as a 8+ goal scorer and those don’t come in bunches in any league.
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by Abram Chamberlain on Feb 14, 2012 1:20 PM EST up reply actions
DAMN YOU RE-ENTRY DRAFT!!!
I hate the Re-entry Draft. Hopefully the next CBA will bring MLS closer to true free agency.
Contributor: The Bent Musket on SBNation.
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by Abram Chamberlain on Feb 14, 2012 1:18 PM EST reply actions
Caraglio not a flop
I didn’t think Caraglio was a flop at all..I thought he was awesome. My thinking is that the FO was just too cheap to buy him. And I agree with Abram…I also hope the mls moves closer to a true free agency.
After his injury recovery in 2010
he was never the same player. But he still did have it in him, maybe in a more limited role. He was 2010 USOC Golden Boot winner, and in 2011 he had some good Champions League showings. His role in league play was reduced with the advent of Fucito and Ochoa, but in the right setting I bet he’d still have an impact. I hope he doesn’t retire, I think he’s still got it in him and could help the right team.
I've always liked him
Maybe it’s just because I’m a fan of physical players, but I was always a Jaqua fan. I think he could still help a team, too. The problem is, I don’t think the Revs are in need of anymore strikers who work hard but don’t always score. The Revs have to find a guy who’s going to score A LOT because right now, there’s no one.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 14, 2012 3:15 PM EST up reply actions
Can MLS
really have true free agency? I’m not sure how that would work, I feel like it’s a ways away. I think the re-entry draft is okay, but it’s changed drastically over the two times we’ve seen it. I don’t think I can really name a team that benefited that much from it, except maybe Josh Wolff to DC. By the way, when is the next CBA?
I think the CBA is a 5-year agreement
So you’d be waiting until the 2014 or 2015 season.
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Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 14, 2012 3:14 PM EST up reply actions
Agree with Abram
Caraglio was not a flop. He joined late and out of shape and never got the chance to really prove his level.
If the Revs would have kept him and Lekic, we would be in a better situation that we are now.
Be careful what you wish for
The fact that Jaqua may retire is sad. He had a great deal in Houston and decide to throw it away. The fan base adored him and he was a great contributor on some very good teams. In fact, he would have been able to play a big role this year if he was still with the Dynamo. Unfortunately, he wanted to return to the Pacific Northwest, so insisted as part of his return to Houston a couple of years ago, that the Dynamo let him go in the expansion draft. Didn’t turn out so well for him and that is too bad. He will be missed if he does retire.
I've always been an admirer of his game
And I don’t wish retirement upon him unless that’s what he really wants. But I think you’re right, his devotion to the PNW probably has a lot to do with his decision to give up playing if he can’t stay up there. Should he make that decision at all, of course.
Founder and Editor of The Bent Musket on SBNation.
Twitter: @Stoehrst or @TheBentMusket
by Steve Stoehr on Feb 15, 2012 5:57 PM EST up reply actions
No matter what
Jaqua will always be one of favorite Sounders and although I didn’t like his play every match he definitely had his moments. I really hope Nate continues to play. He needs to find the right place to play and that may include him contemplating on whether or not to return to Houston if they’re willing to work something out.
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