Well this is odd. Eddie Johnson, the Kansas City striker linked with a move away from MLS for a long long time now, has apparently turned down a perfectly good opportunity to play in the Premiership with Derby County. Seems the money was fine and it all looked good, but EJ just decided he was happier in MLS.

"It was close, man," Johnson told The Kansas City Star. "Ninety-five percent of the way there." Yes? But? "I did what my heart felt," he said. "The money wasn't a problem. The money was great. But I'm a big believer that when my confidence is high, and I'm confident in what I'm doing, good things are yet to happen for me."

Would be easy to lambast the poor guy for a Landon Donovan style lack of ambition, but in a bizarre way this decision actually makes a lot of sense. It's no secret that Johnson has had confidence issues. After a blazing start to his career, both in MLS and for the US national team, EJ hit a severe dry spell. But with some "visualization coaching" he seems to have rediscovered some form, scoring 12 times in 11 MLS games, including back t back hat tricks. Get a look at his hat-trick in the video above from KC's 4-3 win over New England.

So why ruin that form he's taken so long to get back, just for a quick move to Derby County where he may take a while to acclimatize? A good smart decision, I say, especially when Johnson can make like his buddy Clint Dempsey and play out the MLS season before snagging a move to the Prem in the January 2008 transfer window.