Minnesota Thunder, Ex-Rapid Tarley Returns

The Minnesota have, as far as soccer in America goes, been around for quite awhile. They're proud of their history having started out in 1994 in the USISL. As they grew they moved up into what is now known as USL-1 (ex- A-league; US division 2). But the last couple of years they've struggled.

Local owners bought the team 3 years ago and cut back on player wages. The team lost too many games and played most of their home games in a high school football stadium, James Griffin (St. Paul Central HS), with artificial turf and football lines. New owners, a Belguim company Wingfield, bought the team and pledged to invest $2 million in it for higher player wages and other improvements.

The investment has payed off with the Minnesota Thunder having their best start in years. They're 3-1 including wins over traditionally strong Vancouver, Montreal and Rochester. The Thunder still have ex-player and St. Paul Academy grad Amos Magee at the helm as their head coach. They have brought in some new talent, among them ex-Colorado Rapids player Luchi Gonzalez (spent last year with Miami FC) and ex-rapids, Ex-Real Salt Lake striker Melving Tarley (spent last year with Puerto Rico).

Duncan "Melvin" Tarley made his name, so to speak, a couple years ago with the Minnesota Thunder. They had had a nice run in the US Open Cup that included Tarley scoring a lot of goals. In fact, he scored four against the Colorado Rapids. But he didn't catch on in the MLS. First Real Salt Lake gave him a try. IIRC his only goal in 9 games was against DC United. Tarley started the next season again with the Thunder. Later in the year the Rapids gave him a try again and again with little MLS success. Tarley join ex-Dallas coach Colin Clarke at Puerto Rico last year. This year with more money on the table the Minnesota Thunder we able to bring him back. He just returned and hasn't played much. Watch for Magee to use him both as a midfielder and forward.

Thunder To MLS Follow-Up

Last week I mentioned that the word on the street was the Minnesota Thunder were about to get new owners [props to Throughball for flaggin' it; and props to the usual MN folks, too]. The change in ownership still isn't official nor is it clear that the owners, if the deal goes through, can get the team a new stadium built in 2 years plus get the team into the MLS. But seeing it mentioned again, this time by the Twin Cities publication City Pages, helps one stay hopeful.

Thunder To Join The MLS?

Thanks to Josh at Throughball.com for this bit of news. It looks like the Thunder are on the verge of new ownership. The new owners are not only looking to build the team their own stadium but to bring the team into Major League Soccer. It makes sense for the stadium and being an expansion team in the MLS to go along together. Why spend money on a soccer specific stadium if you're not going to play in the top tier of US soccer? The question is who exactly are these new owners and will they really be able to secure the funding and get the politicians on board to get it done?

Tony Sanneh Signs With...

It looks like for the time being ex-USMNT player Tony Sanneh has signed with the Minnesota Thunder (USL-1). Sanneh has been without a team since being released by the Chicago Fire after the 2006 MLS season. Since then he's been linked with a couple MLS teams and spent time training with New York Red Bulls. Recently the Colorado Rapids traded the Chicago Fire a 4th round Superdraft pick for Sanneh's rights. Those only apply in the MLS. Sanneh's deal with the Thunder is said to be only a couple of weeks. That should give him and any MLS team interested in signing him time to work out a deal for his rights with the Rapids and bring him in before the MLS roster freeze date of September 14th.

Minnesota Thunder : New Stadium In St. Paul?

Props to Josh at Throughball for the update on the Minnesota Thunder stadium situation. Awhile back their efforts with Minneapolis to build a soccer stadium at the Parade Stadium site fell through. It looks as though they're working with St. Paul to come up with plan to build on a site around downtown. I'll be sad to see them leave James Griffin since it's nickname is "The Jimmy".