Ok guys allow me to explain my comment about CFG wanting to sell Poku earlier and I was told I had no idea what I was talking about, makes no sense. I can see why you would think that but hear me out.
How much money would it actually NET CFG if they sold Poku to a European club? As Midas pointed in his comment probably not much to entice CFG on selling a young promising player, and I agree with at whole heartedly. But as someone who let's just say has been exposed to MLS internal mindset from various players and figures within the league, not going to mention names, here is how MLS works.
Anytime there is a young promising player, or any player that would demand a transfer fee, MLS is very OPEN and willing to work with the player, their agent, to get them to Europe. Why because it NETS MLS single entity Money. This money is not used, but thought of to other INVESTORS in the league aka owners, as money that can grow their own FRANCHISE in whatever capacity, this isn't a CFG thing as much as an MLS thing. MLS knows, and quite frankly, I am not sure if this mindset will ever change, they know that in addition to TV contracts, expansion fee, gates, etc, another part of minimizing risk for investing into the league is transfer fee.
We are ONE COMPANY, a redbull or nycfc player in effect is a galaxy or columbus crew player in the essence that if one player can be used to benefit the league in certain ways, the internal politics will go to work to make sure that it happens. Just look at the history of young talented players in this league only dating back to a decade ago, that had european interest, there are a lot of similar cases. One I can remember very vividly and it was a similar situation with Juan Agudelo and the Redbulls. Juan made a huge splash with the USMNT and scoring that goal vs South Africa and then the great goal vs DC united, he was the next best thing, and redbull fans were clamoring for him to start and get more playing time but for some reason Hans Backe kept on benching him and not giving him a chance saying he is not fit, he still has a lot to learn etc...much like what Kreis was saying about Poku.
This is the price you pay when you are an up an coming league, like MLS, and can't fully operate on an independent level. This has got to change of course if MLS wants to take that next step, and I think it will within 7 years or so, but this is what is frustrating for us fans, as it should be. Now the rumor of Poku going to Philly on a trade this past summer. That makes sense too because if MLS HQ is forcing teams to sell their players when there is a chance of doing so, why not get something for him? And MLS devises up plans to somehow REWARD their investors/franchises for taking away one of their best talents by giving them allocation money, by giving them some of the transfer fee, etc etc. That is why the league is always tinkering with their player acquisition rules.
Honestly this is why you have folks in the NASL and even guys like Henry saying MLS is 'unique'. MLS has certain rules that is UNHEARD of in world football, but what those critics don't understand is that in this continent, for MLS to survive to the point that it has, IT WAS NEEDED TO OPERATE WITH THIS MODEL and still needs to operate with this model to survive and take that next step. (I can go on for a number of pages on how this model helps given the crowded sports landscape but I am sure you all know).
Now by no means am I bashing MLS, its just the world we live in as fans of this league and our team. But it is what it is. Now going back to my original, if you guys remember, I was one of the first ones earlier in the year that said Poku is our best midfielder and one of our best players, and it was very peculiar why he wasn't getting playing time and I always maintained that there was more then meets the eye. Now do I know all of this as FACT? No I don't but I am telling you there is more to Poku not playing then Kreis is an idiot, how can he not play poku etc.....
