Tepid Stove League: 2015-16 MLS Offseason
- Thread starter Titans Bastard
- Start date
Morris makes it official:
US Soccer Twitter can now talk about something else, thankfully. Sigi Schmid is talking about a 4-3-3 next season, which would have plenty of playing time for Dempsey, Martins, Valdez, and Morris.
- In a decidedly less heralded move, the Sounders signed Michael Farfan, who will provide decent depth in the midfield behind Erik Friberg.
- NYCFC signed 21 year old left back Ronald Matarrita from Alajuelense. He's already starting for Costa Rica's national team. Acquiring good young players on the cheap from Latin America? I guess NYCFC is learning!
- Dallas signed Colombian central midfielder Juan Esteban Ortiz. Their academy pairing of Victor Ulloa and Kellyn Acosta is pretty good and should get even better, but they need depth and competition for a long season + CCL, so adding a veteran to the mix should help.
- Vancouver signed Costa Rican winger Cristian Bolaños. He's 31 now so he's not a long-term signing, but he's been an NT stalwart for a long time and has done well for the good FC Copenhagen clubs of several years ago.
- RSL jettisoned Argentine forward Sebastian Jaime, who leaves by mutual consent. Last summer's acquisition of El Burrito Martinez and this winter's arrival of Yura Movsisyan meant less playing time for him. Jaime had never been as effective as hoped, anyway.
US Soccer Twitter can now talk about something else, thankfully. Sigi Schmid is talking about a 4-3-3 next season, which would have plenty of playing time for Dempsey, Martins, Valdez, and Morris.
- In a decidedly less heralded move, the Sounders signed Michael Farfan, who will provide decent depth in the midfield behind Erik Friberg.
- NYCFC signed 21 year old left back Ronald Matarrita from Alajuelense. He's already starting for Costa Rica's national team. Acquiring good young players on the cheap from Latin America? I guess NYCFC is learning!
- Dallas signed Colombian central midfielder Juan Esteban Ortiz. Their academy pairing of Victor Ulloa and Kellyn Acosta is pretty good and should get even better, but they need depth and competition for a long season + CCL, so adding a veteran to the mix should help.
- Vancouver signed Costa Rican winger Cristian Bolaños. He's 31 now so he's not a long-term signing, but he's been an NT stalwart for a long time and has done well for the good FC Copenhagen clubs of several years ago.
- RSL jettisoned Argentine forward Sebastian Jaime, who leaves by mutual consent. Last summer's acquisition of El Burrito Martinez and this winter's arrival of Yura Movsisyan meant less playing time for him. Jaime had never been as effective as hoped, anyway.
If NYCFC figures out they can be the western hemisphere U-25 club for City...they'll be a force to be reckoned with. Just keep buying talented U17s from central and south america and use NYCFC as the development machine. It'd probably work out well for MLS, too, though I doubt they'll be real happy about the best of the lot being sold overseas or transferred to the parent club. But such is life on the developmental ladder.
Today I have listened to multiple people call Morris a coward for not jumping to Europe. One person compared him to the #1 pick in the NBA draft choosing to play in Greece instead of the USA. Another compared him to Neymar staying in Brazil instead of going to Barca.
The national team zealots are determined to ride every hype train they can find. Every player must jump to Europe to the highest prestige team they can get to, Freddy Adu style, until we end up with an American superstar. Every decent American player like Altidore must be feted with a triumph for any success and then pushed to jump to a higher league. And then when he bombs in the Premiere League we are all outraged. (At whom we are supposed to be outraged I am never sure.)
As a Seattle fan who has just seen this process play out with Deandre Yedlin (the massive over-hyping after the World Cup and then the inevitable struggles when he transferred to a team far beyond his competency) I am f---ing sick of it.
I get it. People don't want to be patient. They want to win a World Cup right now. But Jordan Morris is not Neymar, and playing in the Bundesliga (or rather watching the Bundesliga from the bench) is not going to turn him into Neymar.
People may not like the long term growth model that MLS promises, but steady growth (through MLS or some other method) is the only realistic way for the USA to catch up to the soccer giants. It's also the only realistic way for Jordan Morris to turn into the next Clint Dempsey, rather than the next Neymar.
The national team zealots are determined to ride every hype train they can find. Every player must jump to Europe to the highest prestige team they can get to, Freddy Adu style, until we end up with an American superstar. Every decent American player like Altidore must be feted with a triumph for any success and then pushed to jump to a higher league. And then when he bombs in the Premiere League we are all outraged. (At whom we are supposed to be outraged I am never sure.)
As a Seattle fan who has just seen this process play out with Deandre Yedlin (the massive over-hyping after the World Cup and then the inevitable struggles when he transferred to a team far beyond his competency) I am f---ing sick of it.
I get it. People don't want to be patient. They want to win a World Cup right now. But Jordan Morris is not Neymar, and playing in the Bundesliga (or rather watching the Bundesliga from the bench) is not going to turn him into Neymar.
People may not like the long term growth model that MLS promises, but steady growth (through MLS or some other method) is the only realistic way for the USA to catch up to the soccer giants. It's also the only realistic way for Jordan Morris to turn into the next Clint Dempsey, rather than the next Neymar.
Yeah that's I disagree entirely with the last paragraph. Plenty of top international teams don't have a top domestic league.
That's definitely true.
What top international teams do have in common is that they don't outsource player development. For the US to become a true soccer power, we need to improve our domestic player development capabilities. If we are able to do so, MLS will probably also become a top domestic league because we aren't like Argentina, whose economy holds the quality of its league back. But having a top domestic league would be a byproduct of becoming really good, not necessarily the cause.
Which is why I said "steady growth through MLS or some other method." My problem is not with people who are MLS skeptics, but rather the people pushing American players into top leagues and top teams in the expectation that they are going to turn into star players there.
Deandre Yedlin's natural level is Eredivisie, a bottom half Championship team or MLS. We can quibble about which of those is the best option for him (I would actually say Eredivisie rather than either England or the USA) but going to a top 6 Premier League team was foolish.
And it is similarly unfair (to the player) to expect Jordan Morris to go from playing college soccer to starting against Bayern Munchen in one year.
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I actually like the move for Yedlin, I think long term it helps him even if he didn't play for some time before going on loan he got to train with a top club. Now he's getting run at Sunderland which is challenging him, if he'd stayed in MLS I feel like he'd have settled into the MLS trap f just being a great athlete because so few teams have enough skill position players and he's not really getting tested often enough.
Morris I feel similar about because he's already 21, and I think there was a real chance he'd get some run with Werder's issues.
I'm in general a big fan of the top guys going to better leagues young, because the development of non-first team players is so so much better.
I look at Sebastian Lletget, whose time at West Ham couldn't have gone any worse in terms of loan options and manager changes, but he came out of it as a really skilled player who's suddenly on the verge of being a big star in MLS and I'd guess gets a call with the national team. I'm not sure he comes out of the college/MLS route anywhere near as skilled and polished.
Building the development system (particularly for kids between 14 and 18) is really important to the future of US Soccer, but I think the best players should be encouraged to leave because the shitty systems hold them back more than they help build the system.
Morris I feel similar about because he's already 21, and I think there was a real chance he'd get some run with Werder's issues.
I'm in general a big fan of the top guys going to better leagues young, because the development of non-first team players is so so much better.
I look at Sebastian Lletget, whose time at West Ham couldn't have gone any worse in terms of loan options and manager changes, but he came out of it as a really skilled player who's suddenly on the verge of being a big star in MLS and I'd guess gets a call with the national team. I'm not sure he comes out of the college/MLS route anywhere near as skilled and polished.
Building the development system (particularly for kids between 14 and 18) is really important to the future of US Soccer, but I think the best players should be encouraged to leave because the shitty systems hold them back more than they help build the system.
It's all about context and fit, I think. I liked the idea of a move for Yedlin too, but it's unfortunate that it was Tottenham because it was clear from nearly Day One that Spurs were a bridge too far for him. Now he's stuck on a contract that's more expensive than he's worth, which means that he's going to go on cross-your-fingers loans to places like Sunderland unless he decides to terminate his contract and leave money on the table. And these loans are risky and constantly put players in environments in which their club has no stake or interest in their long-term development. Yedlin has had some playing time so far, but Sunderland totally suck, so they fired their manager and it now appears that Big Sam has less interest in Yedlin. Could be a wasted half year for him now.
I wonder where Michael Bradley would be if the MetroStars had sold him to Blackburn when he was 18 instead of Heerenveen.
Regarding the bolded, it really depends. England isn't exactly celebrated for excellence in development of non-first team players. BTW - Lletget's problem wasn't actually manager changes, it was the lackthereof.....frickin' Big Sam again. I never did understand why Lletget wasn't sent on loan at any point. The guy was pretty much the GOAT of the EPL U21 league. Given how highly he was rated as a U17, I do wonder if he might have done better in a more development-forward league like the Eredivisie or the Bundesliga. He'd stylistically fit into Spain, too.
MLS offers a lot more to teenage pros now than it did five years ago. About half the clubs have reserve teams in the USL; a 34 game pro schedule is miles better than the old crappy reserve league, and it's a good way to test/challenge amateur U18s as well since they can keep NCAA eligibility while doing so. Still, teams have to prove that the new model works and haven't yet had time to do so. There have been some positive early results, but like everyone else I'm glad an elite guy from Central PA like Pulisic is playing for Borussia Dortmund and not Bethlehem Steel this year.
I'll try and find it, but there was a nice article talking to one of the academy heads about Lletget. He was a Zola favorite, then Grant ignored him, and Sam the same. He also had some bad health luck that prevented loans, and then the longer without a loan the harder to find one in the Championship. Just a real confluence of bad luck.
- Speaking of Jordan Morris, Grant Wahl reported the details of his contract offer today. He signed a three year contract with the Sounders that averages $225k/yr. That's the highest contract ever given to an academy player, but it doesn't beat Gyasi Zardes' contract by all that much. I'm actually a bit surprised it's not higher. Also of note:
- Columbus signed winger Emil Larsen from OB Odense. Larsen is 24 and has seven caps for Denmark to his name, though none since early 2014. The Crew already have a very solid group of wingers in Finlay, Meram, and Mabwati.
- NYCFC signed another Latin American left back. This one is less impressive -- Diego Martinez is a 24 year old Argentine. He comes from River Plate, which sounds nice, but he's mostly been on loan and it looks like he was a part-time starter in the second division last year.
- RSL signed a Nigerian midfielder named Sunny Obayan, who looks like a real journeyman - most recently of Alanyaspor in the Turkish second tier. He did get some time for Valencia a while back, but in more recent times his resume is far more modest. He looks like a weak signing on paper. RSL also gave an MLS contract to Canadian/Guyanese striker Emery Welshman, who spent last season with RSL's team in the USL.
- Seattle re-signed ancient defender Zach Scott. He's been with the Sounders since 2002(!) when they were in the USL. At this point, I'd guess he's being retained mostly for veteran grit.
- Some departures by mutual consent - Rolando Escobar and Ezequiel Cirigliano have left Dallas. Plodding old Nigel Reo-Coker has left Montreal.
- The Revs finally made their first signing of the offseason. It's Sambinha, a 23 year old center back who comes on loan from Sporting CP, where he's spent several seasons playing for their B team in the Portuguese second division. The Revs and Sporting CP have a partnership, but nothing has come of it until now. For now, he'll indirectly compete with the right backs for a place in the starting lineup, given Andrew Farrell's flexibility; the scenarios are detailed here. Personally, I'm rooting for someone like Woodberry or McCrary to step up so that Farrell isn't jerked around. It's not yet clear whether Sambinha is starting caliber anyway.
- Columbus signed winger Emil Larsen from OB Odense. Larsen is 24 and has seven caps for Denmark to his name, though none since early 2014. The Crew already have a very solid group of wingers in Finlay, Meram, and Mabwati.
- NYCFC signed another Latin American left back. This one is less impressive -- Diego Martinez is a 24 year old Argentine. He comes from River Plate, which sounds nice, but he's mostly been on loan and it looks like he was a part-time starter in the second division last year.
- RSL signed a Nigerian midfielder named Sunny Obayan, who looks like a real journeyman - most recently of Alanyaspor in the Turkish second tier. He did get some time for Valencia a while back, but in more recent times his resume is far more modest. He looks like a weak signing on paper. RSL also gave an MLS contract to Canadian/Guyanese striker Emery Welshman, who spent last season with RSL's team in the USL.
- Seattle re-signed ancient defender Zach Scott. He's been with the Sounders since 2002(!) when they were in the USL. At this point, I'd guess he's being retained mostly for veteran grit.
- Some departures by mutual consent - Rolando Escobar and Ezequiel Cirigliano have left Dallas. Plodding old Nigel Reo-Coker has left Montreal.
The Timbers signed a young Nigerian Defensive Midfielder. There are reports that is is a pretty big contract:
http://www.stumptownfooty.com/portland-timbers-2/2016/1/23/10818664/new-details-on-portland-timbers-2-signing-akinjide-idowu
http://www.stumptownfooty.com/portland-timbers-2/2016/1/23/10818664/new-details-on-portland-timbers-2-signing-akinjide-idowu
- Dallas bought Ecuadorian defensive midfielder Carlos Gruezo from VfB Stuttgart for a reported $1.5m. For me, this is the most intriguing transaction of the offseason so far. Gruezo is 20 and already a World Cup veteran. He's going to a club that under Oscar Pareja has been specializing in developing young South American imports and academy kids, with great results so far. FC Dallas claims that their developmental focus played a big role in getting Gruezo; it's a self-congratulatory story, but I mostly believe it. If they can coach up Gruezo after coaching up Fabian Castillo to the Colombian NT, they could really get their foot in the door with a higher caliber of young CONMEBOL talent.
Dallas also has some good midfield depth at this point. Kellyn Acosta and Victor Ulloa were a good and very young partnership last year, Ulloa will be pushed very hard by Gruezo and Acosta will have to fend off the Colombian veteran Juan Esteban Ortiz, who at 28 is an oldie on their team - one of four players on the roster born in the 1980s. They need to sign a good #9 and they'll be real title contenders in 2016, although Mauro Diaz's fragility is an ever-present concern.
- Montreal is supposedly getting Didier Drogba back for 2016, though he's not showing up for preseason until February. We'll see.... They also signed Victor Cabrera on a permanent deal from River Plate, after he spent 2015 on loan.
- Colorado sold Argentine midfielder Juan Ramirez to Almería, who are currently in the Segunda Division. No idea what the Rapids are doing, really. Mastroeni seems to have neither the desire nor the ability to develop young players, so it's best for them to GTFO. Ramirez wasn't a finished product, but at 22 he had some room to improve....but that's not likely to happen in Colorado.
- Chicago signed Portuguese defender João Meira from Belenenses and re-signed Romanian central midfielder Razvan Cocis. I'd guess Meira is a starter at CB at the moment, but the Fire still need to make a lot of signings; they're only up to 19 players now.
Dallas also has some good midfield depth at this point. Kellyn Acosta and Victor Ulloa were a good and very young partnership last year, Ulloa will be pushed very hard by Gruezo and Acosta will have to fend off the Colombian veteran Juan Esteban Ortiz, who at 28 is an oldie on their team - one of four players on the roster born in the 1980s. They need to sign a good #9 and they'll be real title contenders in 2016, although Mauro Diaz's fragility is an ever-present concern.
- Montreal is supposedly getting Didier Drogba back for 2016, though he's not showing up for preseason until February. We'll see.... They also signed Victor Cabrera on a permanent deal from River Plate, after he spent 2015 on loan.
- Colorado sold Argentine midfielder Juan Ramirez to Almería, who are currently in the Segunda Division. No idea what the Rapids are doing, really. Mastroeni seems to have neither the desire nor the ability to develop young players, so it's best for them to GTFO. Ramirez wasn't a finished product, but at 22 he had some room to improve....but that's not likely to happen in Colorado.
- Chicago signed Portuguese defender João Meira from Belenenses and re-signed Romanian central midfielder Razvan Cocis. I'd guess Meira is a starter at CB at the moment, but the Fire still need to make a lot of signings; they're only up to 19 players now.
It looks like they've updated the article with news that Idowu's contract isn't that big after all. No surprise, since reports were that he was only going to the USL team.
The USL just released its schedule: http://www.uslsoccer.com/SportSelect.dbml?&SPID=157014&SPSID=917141&DB_OEM_ID=32800&DB_OEM_ID=32800&DB_OEM_ID=32800
I went to a couple Colorado Springs Switchbacks games last season, and watched a few USL games on YouTube. I very much enjoy the vibe the league puts out; it's very friendly and feels a bit hip. Since the Rapids are complete dumpster fire, it's nice to have competitive soccer at SOME level in Colorado.
I went to a couple Colorado Springs Switchbacks games last season, and watched a few USL games on YouTube. I very much enjoy the vibe the league puts out; it's very friendly and feels a bit hip. Since the Rapids are complete dumpster fire, it's nice to have competitive soccer at SOME level in Colorado.
- The Revs signed their top draft pick, right back Jordan McCrary. They seem to like him a lot, and he may even challenge for the starting job right away. His only competition is London Woodberry and Darrius Barnes, unless Heaps decides to shift Farrell back over.
- Former Revs right back Kevin Alston signed with Orlando City.
- LA signed Belgian center back Jelle Van Damme. He was once sued by Oguchi Onyewu for allegedly calling him a "dirty monkey".
- The Red Bulls re-signed Shaun Wright-Phillips, presumably for even less than they were paying him last year. He figures to be depth on the wing again.
- Columbus signed Conor Casey, who at 34 is still a good role player as a big center forward. He doesn't have the legs to start any more, so I'd say they still need another backup to Kei Kamara - who is having a contract dispute with the Crew right now.
- Dallas acquired Honduran center back Maynor Figueroa from Dallas. It's hard to see him breaking up the Hedges/Loyd partnership, so he'll be a veteran backup most likely. Six years of EPL starting experience, but he's 32 now.
- Atlanta United signed their first ever player - super obscure Greek/American goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis. Tambakis is 23 and had been on the books at Panathinaikos, and had a few loan stints. I'd imagine he'll wind up being the backup GK at best, quite possibly the #3. In 2016, he'll be on loan with Atlanta's USL affiliate, the Charleston Battery.
- Houston signed center back Sebastien Ibeagha, who was once an academy signing candidate, but he decided to sign in Denmark instead. He's had a disappointing stint in Europe and wound up in some pretty low places (Iceland), so I don't expect much. He seemed more promising when he was with the U20s.
- Another struggling former U20, central midfielder Mikey Lopez, has been picked up by NYCFC. He never got much traction in Kansas City.
- Former Revs right back Kevin Alston signed with Orlando City.
- LA signed Belgian center back Jelle Van Damme. He was once sued by Oguchi Onyewu for allegedly calling him a "dirty monkey".
- The Red Bulls re-signed Shaun Wright-Phillips, presumably for even less than they were paying him last year. He figures to be depth on the wing again.
- Columbus signed Conor Casey, who at 34 is still a good role player as a big center forward. He doesn't have the legs to start any more, so I'd say they still need another backup to Kei Kamara - who is having a contract dispute with the Crew right now.
- Dallas acquired Honduran center back Maynor Figueroa from Dallas. It's hard to see him breaking up the Hedges/Loyd partnership, so he'll be a veteran backup most likely. Six years of EPL starting experience, but he's 32 now.
- Atlanta United signed their first ever player - super obscure Greek/American goalkeeper Alexander Tambakis. Tambakis is 23 and had been on the books at Panathinaikos, and had a few loan stints. I'd imagine he'll wind up being the backup GK at best, quite possibly the #3. In 2016, he'll be on loan with Atlanta's USL affiliate, the Charleston Battery.
- Houston signed center back Sebastien Ibeagha, who was once an academy signing candidate, but he decided to sign in Denmark instead. He's had a disappointing stint in Europe and wound up in some pretty low places (Iceland), so I don't expect much. He seemed more promising when he was with the U20s.
- Another struggling former U20, central midfielder Mikey Lopez, has been picked up by NYCFC. He never got much traction in Kansas City.
- It's finally official....Ashley Cole has signed with the LA Galaxy. Cashley won't be getting a ton of cash from LA, reportedly around $300k, although that doesn't include the money he's still getting from Roma under the terms of his mutual termination, nor does it include any free beach chairs, towels, or sunblock the Galaxy may be providing. From the consternation on various MLS boards, it looks like one of the least popular moves ever made by an MLS club.
Robbie Rogers will switch over to RB as a consequence, which shouldn't be a big issue as Rogers is actually right-footed.
Look for LA to collapse down the stretch when all of their many oldies can't keep up with the travel and the heat.
- Nobody gave more minutes to young players than Orlando City last year, though they didn't get as much attention for it than other clubs because most of their youth isn't American. They've added another teenage foreigner by acquiring 19 year old Honduran defensive midfielder Devron Garcia, who was playing for Victoria in his home country.
- Houston signed a pair of veteran Spaniards. Midfielder David Rocha comes from Gimnàstic de Tarragona. Center back Agus comes from Albacete Balompié. Segunda Division acquisitions aren't overly impressive to me, but we'll see.
- Veteran midfielder Nick LaBrocca has signed with Chicago. He's spent his career with the Rapids, Toronto, Chivas USA, the Rapids again, and now the Fire. That's a lot of losing, but LaBrocca is one of those guys who is lucky not to drop to the NASL at this point.
Robbie Rogers will switch over to RB as a consequence, which shouldn't be a big issue as Rogers is actually right-footed.
Look for LA to collapse down the stretch when all of their many oldies can't keep up with the travel and the heat.
- Nobody gave more minutes to young players than Orlando City last year, though they didn't get as much attention for it than other clubs because most of their youth isn't American. They've added another teenage foreigner by acquiring 19 year old Honduran defensive midfielder Devron Garcia, who was playing for Victoria in his home country.
- Houston signed a pair of veteran Spaniards. Midfielder David Rocha comes from Gimnàstic de Tarragona. Center back Agus comes from Albacete Balompié. Segunda Division acquisitions aren't overly impressive to me, but we'll see.
- Veteran midfielder Nick LaBrocca has signed with Chicago. He's spent his career with the Rapids, Toronto, Chivas USA, the Rapids again, and now the Fire. That's a lot of losing, but LaBrocca is one of those guys who is lucky not to drop to the NASL at this point.
- The lowdown on the Miazga transfer from NYRB's perspective:
I'd guess they made him an offer in the ballpark of $750k, but Chelsea was calling and it was time for Miazga to go. It's good business for NYRB. It's hard to believe that it was only a few years ago that NYRB had a terrible reputation as a spot for youth players, but the Miazga success story and the fact that pretty much all their depth signings this winter are from their academy signal an important sea change.
All that being said, I have a feeling that NYRB will take a step back in 2016. Miazga is a huge loss for which Ronald Zubar or Karl Ouimette won't be able even come close to compensating. They were also quite dependent on the health of the McCarty/Felipe/Kljestan triumvirate in 2015. Their depth in CM is young and inexperienced, so if guys miss time in 2016 it will be tough if the kids can't step up. Time to learn more about Jesse March's ability, really.
- Sporting KC has sold winger Krisztian Nemeth to Al-Gharafa in Qatar for around $3m and a sell-on percentage. That's a big blow for KC. Nemeth isn't a player they'd want to ship out since he was great in 2015, but apparently he wanted out. Not ideal, but at least $3m is a solid return on a player acquired on a free last winter. Nemeth used the opportunity to get back into Hungary's NT, and stuff like that that signals that MLS is not the death knell of an international career is a positive in terms of attracting players in the future.
- More details about Marco Pappa's stabbing, including "two to three inch wounds". Mastroeni said his fitness levels are 2.5 weeks behind everyone else, which isn't so bad with all things considered.
- NYCFC acquired French center back Frédéric Brillant from Oostende in Belgium. Their CBs were crap in 2015, so it seems like he stands a good chance of starting. His current competition are holdovers Jefferson Mena and Jason Hernandez, as well as Ethan White.
- NYCFC also released Chris Wingert. He's been a solid veteran who has slowed down in the last couple of years. Wingert was used as a CB in 2015, where he wasn't very good. He's a natural LB, but NYC has moved on by signing a couple of young players from Latin America, so it made sense to clear him off the roster.
- Vancouver has taken Scottish/Canadian right back Fraser Aird on loan from Rangers. He's a young player and he hasn't gotten much time in Scotland this season.
- Orlando City released Portuguese/Angolan defensive midfielder Estrela, one of their young foreign imports who didn't work out. He was buried in 2015, so no surprise here.
I'd guess they made him an offer in the ballpark of $750k, but Chelsea was calling and it was time for Miazga to go. It's good business for NYRB. It's hard to believe that it was only a few years ago that NYRB had a terrible reputation as a spot for youth players, but the Miazga success story and the fact that pretty much all their depth signings this winter are from their academy signal an important sea change.
All that being said, I have a feeling that NYRB will take a step back in 2016. Miazga is a huge loss for which Ronald Zubar or Karl Ouimette won't be able even come close to compensating. They were also quite dependent on the health of the McCarty/Felipe/Kljestan triumvirate in 2015. Their depth in CM is young and inexperienced, so if guys miss time in 2016 it will be tough if the kids can't step up. Time to learn more about Jesse March's ability, really.
- Sporting KC has sold winger Krisztian Nemeth to Al-Gharafa in Qatar for around $3m and a sell-on percentage. That's a big blow for KC. Nemeth isn't a player they'd want to ship out since he was great in 2015, but apparently he wanted out. Not ideal, but at least $3m is a solid return on a player acquired on a free last winter. Nemeth used the opportunity to get back into Hungary's NT, and stuff like that that signals that MLS is not the death knell of an international career is a positive in terms of attracting players in the future.
- More details about Marco Pappa's stabbing, including "two to three inch wounds". Mastroeni said his fitness levels are 2.5 weeks behind everyone else, which isn't so bad with all things considered.
- NYCFC acquired French center back Frédéric Brillant from Oostende in Belgium. Their CBs were crap in 2015, so it seems like he stands a good chance of starting. His current competition are holdovers Jefferson Mena and Jason Hernandez, as well as Ethan White.
- NYCFC also released Chris Wingert. He's been a solid veteran who has slowed down in the last couple of years. Wingert was used as a CB in 2015, where he wasn't very good. He's a natural LB, but NYC has moved on by signing a couple of young players from Latin America, so it made sense to clear him off the roster.
- Vancouver has taken Scottish/Canadian right back Fraser Aird on loan from Rangers. He's a young player and he hasn't gotten much time in Scotland this season.
- Orlando City released Portuguese/Angolan defensive midfielder Estrela, one of their young foreign imports who didn't work out. He was buried in 2015, so no surprise here.
Maybe the Red Bulls can run a promotion where the fans get to pick one opponent for John Terry to yell racist things each week at and one grand prize winner gets to have Terry sleep with his wife.
The Revs have signed Xavier Kouassi on a free transfer that will go into effect on June 30. He's a 26 year old Ivorian central midfielder playing at FC Sion, in Switzerland, where he is the sometime captain. He'll be on a Designated Player contract, though I can't imagine his salary will exceed the normal threshold by all that much.
On paper, I like it. He fills the Revs #1 area of need, which is a CM partner for Caldwell. He's in his prime, he has a solid track record. The downside is that he'll miss the first four months of the season, but Kouassi will hopefully be a long-term contributor.
EDIT: Looks like he started in both of Sion's Europa League games against Liverpool this fall - anyone happen to see those matches and remember him?
On paper, I like it. He fills the Revs #1 area of need, which is a CM partner for Caldwell. He's in his prime, he has a solid track record. The downside is that he'll miss the first four months of the season, but Kouassi will hopefully be a long-term contributor.
EDIT: Looks like he started in both of Sion's Europa League games against Liverpool this fall - anyone happen to see those matches and remember him?
The second one was the last group game, where both teams knew a draw would take them through to the knockout rounds. Unsurprisingly, it ended 0-0 and there was few chances.
The first game was under Rodgers, the second was Klopp.
--The Timbers have reportedly transferred George Fochive to the Danish side Viborg FF : http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2016/2/1/10886902/article
And that's official today. Kind of a random transfer, but maybe he'll have more opportunity for a lower-tier Danish club than he would in MLS.
- Colorado actually did a good thing(!!) They signed Shkëlzen Gashi from FC Basel as a DP. He was the top scorer in the Swiss league each of the last two seasons and he's only 27. Seems like a strong pickup.
- D.C. acquired Marcelo Sarvas from Colorado for GarberBux and a draft pick; the Rapids are apparently picking up a lot of his salary, too. Veteran CM, which fits D.C.'s MO. They need CM help to replace Perry Kitchen and while Sarvas is old and not a long-term solution, he should be useful in 2016.
- Vermes speaks on Krisztian Nemeth's transfer to Qatar.
- Atlanta United made their second signing, Salvadoran-American midfielder Junior Burgos. He'll spend 2016 on loan in the NASL with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Pretty excited about this. I'm actually a Rapids season ticket holder (hell, it's dirt cheap and the stadium is nice) so I'm looking forward to seeing him play and, maybe, the team not being the complete and total dreck that it looked like it was going to be. Just mostly dreck now.
Good signings (on paper) by both the Revs and the Rapids in the same week? Be still my beating heart.
He was pretty deep down in the pecking for for a D-Mid for the Timbers. Diego Chara has the starting spot locked down, and when needed he will be spelled by Jack Jewbury or Ben Zemanski. As a timbers fan this means that Zemanski is fully recovered from last years knee (ACL) injury. I think I might have had Fochive rated higher than Zemanski, but I guess Porter doesn't. With USOpen Cup and later this year CCL matches I was happy to have lots of depth there.
- LA made the rumored signing of Nigel de Jong official today, another 30+ year old player added to their roster. That being said, LA will reportedly be paying de Jong, Cole, and Van Damme a combined $1.3m next season, which is fairly reasonable. And it's also true that the don't have any particular academy talents at CM, fullback, or CB that look likely to break through in the near future - the same cannot be said for their young attackers, who seem stuck behind a logjam at forward and on the wings.
Since de Jong and Cole are still getting paid by Inter and Roma thanks to their buyout deals, LA was able to get them cheaply. De Jong's salary should rise considerably in 2017, but Gerrard will be off the books by then, clearing room for him as a DP.
- Chicago signed Groningen CB/CM Johan Kappelhof. A 25 year old Dutch guy who has started in the Eredivisie for the last five seasons seems like a decent pickup. Since the Fire have Matt Polster to play DM and badly need CBs, I imagine Kappelhof will go straight into the lineup in defense.
- A slapfight has emerged between D.C. United and Orlando City over negotiations with Antonio Nocerino and MLS' "eccentric" roster rules. D.C. has filed a "discovery claim" on Nocerino and want OCSC to stop trying to negotiate with him. The discovery rule was created to prevent MLS teams from negotiating against one another, thereby depressing salaries. But it's a silly rule and it's interesting to see an ownership group openly disrespecting it. I'm pretty certain that OCSC is in the minority among owners on this issue, but eventually they won't be. I'd like to see MLS shed some of its more tortured player movement mechanisms, but of course we'll need enough owners to back any potential change.
- Chris Wingert has landed back at RSL after being waived by NYCFC a few years ago. They also have Demar Phillips and Kenny Mansally to play LB. Presumably they won't continue the Wingert-as-CB experiment, but they don't have much for CBs at the moment...
Since de Jong and Cole are still getting paid by Inter and Roma thanks to their buyout deals, LA was able to get them cheaply. De Jong's salary should rise considerably in 2017, but Gerrard will be off the books by then, clearing room for him as a DP.
- Chicago signed Groningen CB/CM Johan Kappelhof. A 25 year old Dutch guy who has started in the Eredivisie for the last five seasons seems like a decent pickup. Since the Fire have Matt Polster to play DM and badly need CBs, I imagine Kappelhof will go straight into the lineup in defense.
- A slapfight has emerged between D.C. United and Orlando City over negotiations with Antonio Nocerino and MLS' "eccentric" roster rules. D.C. has filed a "discovery claim" on Nocerino and want OCSC to stop trying to negotiate with him. The discovery rule was created to prevent MLS teams from negotiating against one another, thereby depressing salaries. But it's a silly rule and it's interesting to see an ownership group openly disrespecting it. I'm pretty certain that OCSC is in the minority among owners on this issue, but eventually they won't be. I'd like to see MLS shed some of its more tortured player movement mechanisms, but of course we'll need enough owners to back any potential change.
- Chris Wingert has landed back at RSL after being waived by NYCFC a few years ago. They also have Demar Phillips and Kenny Mansally to play LB. Presumably they won't continue the Wingert-as-CB experiment, but they don't have much for CBs at the moment...
Nigel de Jong comes to America, so Stuart Holden officially retired today just to be on the safe side.
Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane are 2 of my all-time favorite players, and even I can't pull for them.
Yes, but with Van Damme (racist), Nigel de Jong (dirty) and Ashley Cole (Ashley Cole), they are well balanced in their unlikeability.
I'm watching the stream of the first Timbers preseason match, and going to make a wild prediction. If he stays healthy Lucas Melano will have a part in 12-15 goals this season (goal+assists). He never stops running, and provides so much defensive pressure in the Timbers attacking third, it's going to lead to goals.
The new San Antonio USL team, which is owned by the Spurs, unveiled their identity today:
Both name and logo are uninspiring. Everyone is going with conservative, boring FCs and Uniteds these days.
- Columbus signed another forward named Kamara..this time it's 26 year old Norwegian Ola Kamara. He's played for multiple Norwegian and Austrian clubs and also had a loan stint at 1860 Munich. In 2015 he scored 14 goals in 29 games for Molde.
- The Crew also signed one of their draft picks, Guatemalan midfielder Rodrigo Saravia.
- Philadelphia signed ADO Den Haag attacking midfielder Roland Alberg. He's a 25 year old Dutchman who Earnie Stewart is undoubtedly familiar with - they overlapped at AZ Alkmaar for a year when Alberg was in the academy there.
- Colorado signed 25 year old Trinidadian defender Mekeil Williams, who had been playing for Antigua in the Guatemalan league.
Both name and logo are uninspiring. Everyone is going with conservative, boring FCs and Uniteds these days.
- Columbus signed another forward named Kamara..this time it's 26 year old Norwegian Ola Kamara. He's played for multiple Norwegian and Austrian clubs and also had a loan stint at 1860 Munich. In 2015 he scored 14 goals in 29 games for Molde.
- The Crew also signed one of their draft picks, Guatemalan midfielder Rodrigo Saravia.
- Philadelphia signed ADO Den Haag attacking midfielder Roland Alberg. He's a 25 year old Dutchman who Earnie Stewart is undoubtedly familiar with - they overlapped at AZ Alkmaar for a year when Alberg was in the academy there.
- Colorado signed 25 year old Trinidadian defender Mekeil Williams, who had been playing for Antigua in the Guatemalan league.
He's only ever played as a fullback, I can't imagine he'd be an impact player as a central midfielder. Revs might raise their offer to Jones after this, though...
I thought I remembered him forward in the past, but he isn't really a player one follows closely...
Awful thin past Caldwell now.
Awful thin past Caldwell now.
February 10, 2016: a weird day for MLS away kits.
MLS fans used to bitch about cookie-cutter jersey designs. Clearly, those days are over.
MLS fans used to bitch about cookie-cutter jersey designs. Clearly, those days are over.
- NYRB signed their Miazga replacement, Ghanaian CB Gideon Baah, who comes from HJK Helsinki. From all accounts, they landed him after a move to Barcelona B fell through.
- Philadelphia signed English keeper Matt Jones. Jones played college soccer at Sacred Heart and started his career with the Western Mass Pioneers, but since 2009 has been playing for a variety of Portuguese clubs. He's on loan from Belenenses.
- FC Dallas re-signed young center back Walker Zimmerman, who had been trialing at a few clubs in Scandinavia. He's very good for a #3 center back, which is what he'll be unless Dallas moves Zach Loyd back to RB.
- Colorado traded for DC forward Conor Doyle. I don't think Doyle is an MLS-caliber player, so he should fit right in with the Rapids.
- The Revs waived backup forward Sean Okoli, who played a paltry 45 minutes last season. He was buried by Agudelo and Davies and apparently didn't progress - I'm guessing that at least one of the draftees (Gamble and Hollinger-Janzen) looked better than him in camp.
- Vancouver signed a draft pick, center back Cole Seiler from Georgetown.
- Philadelphia signed English keeper Matt Jones. Jones played college soccer at Sacred Heart and started his career with the Western Mass Pioneers, but since 2009 has been playing for a variety of Portuguese clubs. He's on loan from Belenenses.
- FC Dallas re-signed young center back Walker Zimmerman, who had been trialing at a few clubs in Scandinavia. He's very good for a #3 center back, which is what he'll be unless Dallas moves Zach Loyd back to RB.
- Colorado traded for DC forward Conor Doyle. I don't think Doyle is an MLS-caliber player, so he should fit right in with the Rapids.
- The Revs waived backup forward Sean Okoli, who played a paltry 45 minutes last season. He was buried by Agudelo and Davies and apparently didn't progress - I'm guessing that at least one of the draftees (Gamble and Hollinger-Janzen) looked better than him in camp.
- Vancouver signed a draft pick, center back Cole Seiler from Georgetown.
The Revs acquired Gershon Koffie to fill their hole at central midfield.
http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/post/2016/02/11/revolution-acquire-gershon-koffie-vancouver-whitecaps-fc
One would read this as the Jermaine Jones era is officially over.
http://www.revolutionsoccer.net/post/2016/02/11/revolution-acquire-gershon-koffie-vancouver-whitecaps-fc
One would read this as the Jermaine Jones era is officially over.
Yes, there's really no reason to think Jones is coming back at this point. I like this move, though. Koffie is a solid player whose skill set should complement Scott Caldwell. Koffie adds that extra physicality that Caldwell lacks, but he's not just an athletic hack, either. The big knock on Koffie is that he is inconsistent. Since he's still 24, there's hope he'll improve on that front. In any case, I see him as an upgrade on what we had -- Kobayashi and Herivaux.
New England Saint-Germain also released their new home jersey today:
- Jones is getting frustrated, he vented on Instagram today. I don't know what his salary demands are, but it seems like no one is willing to meet them. I'd be willing to bet that the suspension in particular is killing his leverage. Even if they eventually get him to cave, I'm not sure it's wise for the Revs to re-sign Jones at this point...the bridges feel burned.
- The All Star Game this year will be against Arsenal. Yay?
- Dallas signed 24 y.o. Colombian attacking midfielder Carlos Lizarazo on loan from Cruz Azul. Not sure what his deal is - Cruz Azul bought him, but never used him. (EDIT: he was injured, apparently) I'm not 100% sure what type of player he is, but I'll guess he'll begin by backing up Mauro Diaz and maybe competing on the wing. He won't take Fabian Castillo's spot, but maybe he can give Michael Barrios a run for his money. Diaz is about as fragile as it gets, so a decent backup for him is very necessary.
They just need a starting-caliber #9 and they'll be a real force to contend with. Maximiliano Urruti is a useful piece, but I'm not sold on him as a starter.
- The All Star Game this year will be against Arsenal. Yay?
- Dallas signed 24 y.o. Colombian attacking midfielder Carlos Lizarazo on loan from Cruz Azul. Not sure what his deal is - Cruz Azul bought him, but never used him. (EDIT: he was injured, apparently) I'm not 100% sure what type of player he is, but I'll guess he'll begin by backing up Mauro Diaz and maybe competing on the wing. He won't take Fabian Castillo's spot, but maybe he can give Michael Barrios a run for his money. Diaz is about as fragile as it gets, so a decent backup for him is very necessary.
They just need a starting-caliber #9 and they'll be a real force to contend with. Maximiliano Urruti is a useful piece, but I'm not sold on him as a starter.
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Rumor time: I don't know anything about this guy's track record, but apparently he covers US soccer for the Telegraph:
Dramatic, if true. Marcelo Claure has been Beckham's deep-pocketed partner, but Claure never seemed all that interested.
- Chicago traded Harry Shipp to Montreal yesterday, a deal that has caused a lot of consternation among Fire fans. Shipp is a hometown kid who played with the Fire's academy and who has been a fan favorite. Now he's gone, in exchange for GarberBux. The Fire FO better have some good stuff lined up with which to ameliorate the fanbase. Shipp's farewell:
Dramatic, if true. Marcelo Claure has been Beckham's deep-pocketed partner, but Claure never seemed all that interested.
- Chicago traded Harry Shipp to Montreal yesterday, a deal that has caused a lot of consternation among Fire fans. Shipp is a hometown kid who played with the Fire's academy and who has been a fan favorite. Now he's gone, in exchange for GarberBux. The Fire FO better have some good stuff lined up with which to ameliorate the fanbase. Shipp's farewell:
BBC reports that Obafemi Martins has been sold to Shanghai Shenhua
Big news for Seattle if true because Martins will be nearly impossible to replace. I'd love to know terms of the transfer and the extent to which the Sounders cashed in; if offered stupid money like most CSL transfer targets, it would be an understandably difficult offer to turn down. Without Martins, they still have Dempsey, Valdez, and Morris. If Morris is viewed as a cheap replacement for Martins, they could reinvest Martins money to get a big-time player at another position, compensating for the downgrade at forward from Martins to Morris.
We'll see. Lagerwey is a shrewd GM.
Big news for Seattle if true because Martins will be nearly impossible to replace. I'd love to know terms of the transfer and the extent to which the Sounders cashed in; if offered stupid money like most CSL transfer targets, it would be an understandably difficult offer to turn down. Without Martins, they still have Dempsey, Valdez, and Morris. If Morris is viewed as a cheap replacement for Martins, they could reinvest Martins money to get a big-time player at another position, compensating for the downgrade at forward from Martins to Morris.
We'll see. Lagerwey is a shrewd GM.
http://www.espnfc.us/story/2807446/obafemi-martins-closing-on-shanghai-move-source
Carlisle reports that it's not finalized yet, but that the transfer fee is around $3m. So not stupid money, but Martins is 31 and has a history of moving clubs frequently. Seattle would have liked to get more given the ridiculous fees we've seen, but if Martins doesn't want to be there any more there's not much that can be done.
Carlisle reports that it's not finalized yet, but that the transfer fee is around $3m. So not stupid money, but Martins is 31 and has a history of moving clubs frequently. Seattle would have liked to get more given the ridiculous fees we've seen, but if Martins doesn't want to be there any more there's not much that can be done.
- There are a bunch of expansion-related tidbits in this Straus article today.
1) It's likely that Minnesota will join MLS in 2017, even though their stadium won't be ready until 2018. In 2017 they would probably use the University of Minnesota's football stadium.
2) MLS doesn't want to let Minnesota use their current "United" name....even though they've existed longer than Atlanta United, who are also joining in 2017. Atlanta was announced as an MLS team first, but still - that's weak. Almost as weak as naming your team "United" to begin with. In any case, Minnesota is unofficially known as the Loons (there's a loon on their crest) and that's going to stick around, along with their current grey and blue colors.
3) More details on Miami's changing ownership. Beckham is looking to add partners and the leading group is the Qataris who own PSG. Any new owner needs to be approved by 2/3 of the MLS board of governors.
4) St. Louis is the latest expansion rage. It seems like MLS is trying to capitalize on the loss of the Rams - both in terms of the lessened competition for sports dollars & attention, but also the availability of dollars and riverfront land for a stadium. Sacramento is still sitting patiently by the phone, waiting to go. St. Louis needs an owner before they can be considered a serious candidate, though.
- Harry Shipp wrote a nice missive on Twitter after he got traded. Word is that Chicago didn't even get much cash for him - Fire fans will be bitter about this for a while.
- Dallas traded center forward Blas Perez to Vancouver for attacking midfielder Mauro Rosales. Both are oldies who have seen better days in MLS, but can be useful role players. Perez and Rosales had been out of contract and are presumably now on smaller deals with their new teams.
- DC signed Luciano Acosta, a 21 year old Argentine attacking midfielder, on loan from Boca Juniors. He'll be one of the smallest guys in the league at 5'3". They also signed Rob Vincent, a 25 year old English midfielder. Vincent is one of those guys who washed out of a European academy and wound up playing NCAA soccer. He spent three years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and blew up last year with 18 goals in the USL.
- Montreal dealt right back Eric Miller to Colorado for cash. The Rapids are very low on fullbacks, so it should be a good fit for Miller, whose playing time declined in his sophomore season in MLS.
1) It's likely that Minnesota will join MLS in 2017, even though their stadium won't be ready until 2018. In 2017 they would probably use the University of Minnesota's football stadium.
2) MLS doesn't want to let Minnesota use their current "United" name....even though they've existed longer than Atlanta United, who are also joining in 2017. Atlanta was announced as an MLS team first, but still - that's weak. Almost as weak as naming your team "United" to begin with. In any case, Minnesota is unofficially known as the Loons (there's a loon on their crest) and that's going to stick around, along with their current grey and blue colors.
3) More details on Miami's changing ownership. Beckham is looking to add partners and the leading group is the Qataris who own PSG. Any new owner needs to be approved by 2/3 of the MLS board of governors.
4) St. Louis is the latest expansion rage. It seems like MLS is trying to capitalize on the loss of the Rams - both in terms of the lessened competition for sports dollars & attention, but also the availability of dollars and riverfront land for a stadium. Sacramento is still sitting patiently by the phone, waiting to go. St. Louis needs an owner before they can be considered a serious candidate, though.
- Harry Shipp wrote a nice missive on Twitter after he got traded. Word is that Chicago didn't even get much cash for him - Fire fans will be bitter about this for a while.
- Dallas traded center forward Blas Perez to Vancouver for attacking midfielder Mauro Rosales. Both are oldies who have seen better days in MLS, but can be useful role players. Perez and Rosales had been out of contract and are presumably now on smaller deals with their new teams.
- DC signed Luciano Acosta, a 21 year old Argentine attacking midfielder, on loan from Boca Juniors. He'll be one of the smallest guys in the league at 5'3". They also signed Rob Vincent, a 25 year old English midfielder. Vincent is one of those guys who washed out of a European academy and wound up playing NCAA soccer. He spent three years with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds and blew up last year with 18 goals in the USL.
- Montreal dealt right back Eric Miller to Colorado for cash. The Rapids are very low on fullbacks, so it should be a good fit for Miller, whose playing time declined in his sophomore season in MLS.
