Galaxy Lose Another Keeper: Draft Pick Matt Allen Heads to Norway

By: Laurie | February 2nd, 2008

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Whoa. Deja vu all over again.

Last year we lost goalkeeper draft pick Tally Hall to the ~~greener~~ pastures of Denmark. This year we lose goalkeeper Matt Allen to the ~~greener~~ pastures of Norway.

Allen signed a three-year contract with the Bryne Footballklubb after spending a week in Norway training with the team. He passed up a chance to play with the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy and David Beckham, perhaps the best-known player in the world. The Galaxy selected Allen in the third round of last month’s SuperDraft.

“It would have been glamorous playing with guys like Beckham, Landon Donovan and Carlos Ruiz,” Allen said. “But in the end, it comes down to looking out for what’s best for me. I had to look at where I could develop the most as a player.

“The situation in L.A., compared to Norway, didn’t fit as well for me. I have a chance to go to Norway and fight for a starting job right from the start.”

Financial terms weren’t disclosed.

If it were me, personally? I would have joined Clint Mathis in Greece. But what do I know?

Thanks, Matt, for making this decision before I wrote your “Welcome to the Galaxy” post. Because once I write those posts, I get all maternally activated. And then I get that fierce pain in my maternal area when you leave. No post, no pain. See ya!

So I guess it’s a good thing I procrastinated. I’ll remember this moment next time I get an unusual desire to do something on time. Or worse yet, early.

Send us a postcard, Matt. We’ll add it to our growing collection, filed under “The ones that got away.”

(Think they’re regretting letting Joe Cannon go yet?)

(Hat tip to 100% Soccer for the link.)