Joseph Lapira Signs...With Tiny Norwegian 2nd Division Club...

No, really he has. Thanks to a poster on Big Soccer we have a link to a Norwegian article about the signing and there is a healthy discussion going on about the signing. You can join in here.

As the BS poster, Clint Eastwood, states Nybergsund according to wikipedia is a small village with a population of 329 people.

Now is the time when my inner monologue turns to SNL's Weekend Update when Seth and Amy do their "Really" bit. Really Joe Lapira...really? You were so desperate for European football that you're moving to a town on 329 people? Really? MLS is such a low quality league that you need to sign over there, in the 2nd division of Norway, for one of the smaller clubs...really? We know you have a Euro passport but really? Living in Toronto must suck, so a town of 329 is much better, really? Playing in Norway is really going to help with the national team right? Really?

Ok, you get my point. I can see signing for a division two side in England where the football league is so well scouted that good performances will either get your team promoted to the Prem or you'll be sold to a better club, but a 2nd division Norwegian club...with no more than 329 people attending home matches?

I seriously don't get it. Joseph Lapira was one of the top prospects going into the 2008 MLS draft after he won the Hermann Trophy as a junior and then had a follow up solid senior season. FC Toronto gambled on him by drafting him and we now see why. They will hold Lapira's rights for two years so maybe they can talk him into coming back.

MLS has shown it can develop players and the best get sold to top leagues around the world. EJ in London, Deuce in London, McBride in London, Howard in Liverpool, Boca in London...the list goes on. Player salaries are going up and Lapira certainly got offered higher than league minimum to sign with MLS as many of the top prospects are these days. I can't imagine Nybergsund is paying a King's wage for the young American.

I get wanting to experience living in Europe as a young footballer. I get it, I would have done the same if I could have. However, a 329 person town in Norway? It doesn't make sense. Living in Toronto as a young footballer can't be that bad. Had he played in Toronto for a few years and performed well, he could have made much more in England or somewhere similar since UK teams wouldn't need to worry about work permit rules. Now he is going to try and be noticed in Nybergsund, which is 205 KM from Oslo, in the middle of nowhere Norway. Check the map.


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What do you think?