Post by QPR Report on Jul 3, 2009 9:15:12 GMT
SouthTown Star - Nick Firchau Correspondent
Matt Pickens: Right decision leave Fire
July 3, 2009
Not even two years ago, an optimistic Fire front office couldn't have wanted any more from Matt Pickens.
The 6-foot-3 Pickens had swooped in and usurped Fire great Zach Thornton seemingly in a single breath midway through the 2006 season, then asserted himself in 2007 as one of the premier young goalkeeper in MLS and the Fire's future in net.
But Pickens — whose dreams stretched well beyond humble beginnings in the St. Louis suburb of Washington or his college days at Missouri State — wanted more. So with European clubs knocking on his door and a dream of playing internationally suddenly a realty, Pickens and the Fire abruptly parted ways in February 2008.
They'll reunite Saturday, when the Fire (5-3-6) hits the road to face Pickens and the Colorado Rapids (5-3-6). But Pickens' road to Colorado takes a giant detour through England and Scotland, where he learned a bit more about the business and the game after he left Chicago just 19 months ago.
"It was very tough to leave, but every beginning has an end," Pickens said. "And you can say what you want about the Fire and their offer to keep me, but if you have two European offers on the table and one from MLS, I think most guys would tell me I was crazy if I didn't take the chance."
Pickens did just that, opting for a backup role for West London-based Queens Park Rangers, a team on the outside looking in on the English Premier League. But the move proved to be as taxing as it was triumphant, as Pickens went down midway through his first year with the club in 2008 with a separated left shoulder that dwarfed any left shoulder injuries he had incurred before.
But Pickens, who eventually requested to be released from Queens Park after it appeared his days as backup there would never end, didn't immediately know how bad the shoulder injury was. He returned to St. Louis and had a St. Louis Cardinals shoulder specialist take a look as he rested for two months, while rosters in England quietly filled up with goalkeepers at Pickens' expense.
"By the time I got back, opportunities were few and far between," Pickens said. "Those teams already had their rosters filled for the most part, so I sort of bounced around for 3-4 months trying to fit in."
Pickens worked out in the fall with Scottish clubs Hibernian and Falkirk, as well as English sides Doncaster and Notthingham Forest. When nothing stuck, he returned to the U.S. in November, but his days with the Fire were effectively done.
With one eye on Pickens' imminent departure back in 2007, the Fire signed veteran Jon Busch as a backup. Busch went on to win the 2008 Panasonic MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2008, and the Fire swapped the MLS rights to Pickens to the Rapids during the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Still, Pickens is back on his feet in Colorado, and hasn't shaken the idea of playing abroad someday after he reunites with his old club this weekend.
"There's no bitterness there or any hard feelings with the Fire," Pickens said. "I still think it was the right decision to go to Europe and see what I could do. And if that chance comes again, great. And if not, at least I can say that I took my shot."
www.southtownstar.com/sports/1650411,070309sptfirepickens.article
Matt Pickens: Right decision leave Fire
July 3, 2009
Not even two years ago, an optimistic Fire front office couldn't have wanted any more from Matt Pickens.
The 6-foot-3 Pickens had swooped in and usurped Fire great Zach Thornton seemingly in a single breath midway through the 2006 season, then asserted himself in 2007 as one of the premier young goalkeeper in MLS and the Fire's future in net.
But Pickens — whose dreams stretched well beyond humble beginnings in the St. Louis suburb of Washington or his college days at Missouri State — wanted more. So with European clubs knocking on his door and a dream of playing internationally suddenly a realty, Pickens and the Fire abruptly parted ways in February 2008.
They'll reunite Saturday, when the Fire (5-3-6) hits the road to face Pickens and the Colorado Rapids (5-3-6). But Pickens' road to Colorado takes a giant detour through England and Scotland, where he learned a bit more about the business and the game after he left Chicago just 19 months ago.
"It was very tough to leave, but every beginning has an end," Pickens said. "And you can say what you want about the Fire and their offer to keep me, but if you have two European offers on the table and one from MLS, I think most guys would tell me I was crazy if I didn't take the chance."
Pickens did just that, opting for a backup role for West London-based Queens Park Rangers, a team on the outside looking in on the English Premier League. But the move proved to be as taxing as it was triumphant, as Pickens went down midway through his first year with the club in 2008 with a separated left shoulder that dwarfed any left shoulder injuries he had incurred before.
But Pickens, who eventually requested to be released from Queens Park after it appeared his days as backup there would never end, didn't immediately know how bad the shoulder injury was. He returned to St. Louis and had a St. Louis Cardinals shoulder specialist take a look as he rested for two months, while rosters in England quietly filled up with goalkeepers at Pickens' expense.
"By the time I got back, opportunities were few and far between," Pickens said. "Those teams already had their rosters filled for the most part, so I sort of bounced around for 3-4 months trying to fit in."
Pickens worked out in the fall with Scottish clubs Hibernian and Falkirk, as well as English sides Doncaster and Notthingham Forest. When nothing stuck, he returned to the U.S. in November, but his days with the Fire were effectively done.
With one eye on Pickens' imminent departure back in 2007, the Fire signed veteran Jon Busch as a backup. Busch went on to win the 2008 Panasonic MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2008, and the Fire swapped the MLS rights to Pickens to the Rapids during the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Still, Pickens is back on his feet in Colorado, and hasn't shaken the idea of playing abroad someday after he reunites with his old club this weekend.
"There's no bitterness there or any hard feelings with the Fire," Pickens said. "I still think it was the right decision to go to Europe and see what I could do. And if that chance comes again, great. And if not, at least I can say that I took my shot."
www.southtownstar.com/sports/1650411,070309sptfirepickens.article
