Um, apples and oranges? These two are not related in their status in any way. Harrington isn't going anywhere unless we get a suitable backup for Myers. Markovic seems like Sinovic's backup, or at least I really liked what I saw out of him vs. DC. Harrington, though, seems like the primary backup on the right side - and I do think that he's a great backup to have there as well.
It's not ideal, but why keep around someone who makes $125,000 simply to be a right-back substitute. I would rather dump him and rely on Markovic, Aiguybusi or even Ellis to step up. I'm also a little biased because I hate Harrington.
I take a look around the roster looking for expendable guys we can trade value for and Harrington is the first person I have in mind. I would trade him for a guy like Luis Silva from Toronto. Not the same position but a bright talent in the middle. In two years guys Zusi, Ceasar, Nagamura, and Espinoza are going to be gone or leaving really soon. Having a prospect like him around is going to push for competition but also added depth on the wing/attacking end of things. He can play out wide too so that would be cover for convey and the rest of the platoon. Outside backs are a little easier to find, and PV can develop them as well.
Of those 3, Ellis is the only natural right back, the other 2 are left backs (and CB in Markovic's case).
Nags is worth keeping around. Convey not so much. I would love it if he were healthy, but I have sever doubts that he will be for any amount of time to make him worth his cap space.
I was actually going to comment that the one move I think we should make is to trade Harrington. Not because I dislike him but because I think he is too good to be a backup. I think he has value and we could actually get something for him. I think he would be a great utility player for a lot of teams in the league like Jewsbury was for us. He could either start in the midfield or back for a team or be a guy that subs in on any three of the lines for a team. He has a knack for running at opposing players which is a skill that a lot of American players either dont have or shy away from doing. I really respect him at a player and his career clock is starting to tick.
Finding an assistant coach that has a knack for working with forwards and tactics would be really helpful.
Which is why I said "It's not ideal." Except I thought Ellis was also a left back and Aiyegbusi was the the only natural right back of the three. Didn't he play right back away at Toronto in 2010? Either way, I still think we could do without Harrington and agree that we could get something of value for him. When he was still starting, he and Roger were our most consistent players and I think he would still be starting quality RB for a number of teams in the league. Plus you would think he would be getting sick of being a benchwarmer even though he seems to like it here. Biggest needs this offseason are Roger's replacement (assuming he leaves) and a goalscorer. It's hard to believe that even with all the forwards we have we are still desperate for someone who can score. We need to start putting goals in the net - plain and simple. CJ and Teal both have bright futures but it is frustrating to try and develop two young forwards at the same time. They both are just too inconsistent.
Ok, so no Brits then I guess. j/k j/k. The constant need to tweek a roster aside, with one left-footed exception, I really dont want to see anyone go anywhere. I guess thats a good problem to have. I like our guys. I cant help but think that Mickey's ability to play both LB an RB keeps him around (but I also was confident bravo would be back for 2012).
Though I look to Harrington as the first trade that we can get value for, I don't think that we would actually pull the trigger on it. It really isn't in Vermes MO, he would have to be about 3 years older for him to on the block. Especially since there is an extra level of depth that will be needed due to the champs league looming starting in august.
I'd say the same sort of stuff for Kronberg - if we're not going to use him next season then we should trade him, b/c he's too good to be a reserve player - though he does seem to be injury prone (or has been). I really like Kronberg and have been waiting, patiently, for him to get his chance for years now.
I dunno, I don't see trades within the league to usually get value for the player. Teams are more likely to want to offload players than to pay a premium to get them, or at least that's what I tend to see. As ojsgillt said, champion's league will require more depth, so I don't know if it's a good idea to trade him away. Ellis is not there yet. Promising, but not ready for first team action. I'm also a fan of Aiyegbusi, but I can't help but to think that he's on his way out. Been around far too long to have not gotten any significant time. We did do well enough without Roger for a period, so it's not nearly the pressing need that some think it is, but I do think getting someone to replace him is important - again, with the depth concerns that CCL will impose. I think that CJ and Teal will continue to grow - but I would love to have a proven goalscorer on the team that can help them get there.
If we can get Markovic up to speed, and then have ellis learn to make a switch to left that would not be a bad idea. Convey could find a leftback in our 4-3-3, but you can't count on him being healthy.
so last I heard the cap # was around 2.8mill. True? That doesn't leave much to work with. Right now we are at 2,743,157. If we go after a DP we will be looking at having to let go one of the following Ceasar, Nags, Convey. Now it is clear of the three Convey was the least productive last year. We dump Convey and we become painfully thin at LW, that means we are going to have to pull from somewhere else on the field, either Sapong, Bunbury, Zusi, or Kei will have to cover. Peterson is nice cover as well but isn't of the same caliber and is peaking. Bunbury is in a contract year and if he doesn't play he will jump course if he plays too well he will jump as well, but oh well. Ceasar could be up for negotiations this offseason, he plays his position very well and I think he plays it better each time he goes out there so the learning curve is still on the up. Plus he has that silky smooth slide tackle that is needed to play that spot. His physical skills are on the way down. He is slower and doesn't tackle as fast or lunge as far as he used to, and that isn't going to get any better. He drops 50K a year in salary and he is worth it. Nags makes just as much but doesn't find the field as often. I thought we played some of our best stuff when Nags and Ceasar were both on the pitch at the same time. We will definetly see more of that next year with Roger gone(who makes half as much) Rosell will step in and though what we have seen is promising is as so far unproven. Which all brings back to a 29 year old injury prone LW, named Bobby Convey. I want him but he is just to risky, I hope the salary is structured so that it is front loaded and it goes down.
I didn't think that leftback was the problem. Markovic, Sinovic, Aiyegbusi (if he stays) and Harrington all can play leftback. Myers, Harrington and Ellis can play rightback. And again, I don't think Ellis is ready for primetime just yet. Though you never know when someone's going to go to the next level and whatnot. The fact that Harrington appears on both of those lists is why he'll stick around.
We had the 3rd lowest salary in the league this year, and I've always been told by people to not always believe the numbers as they're not 100% accurate (remember when we were still covering a portion of van den Bergh's salary for a few years).
Toronto isn't going to give up a top 5 draft pick who had a decent year and is cost-controlled for a backup fullback making $125k.
we would have to sweeten it a bit, but as of right now, that would be my trade, and Harrington could start for them.
www.kansascity.com/2012/11/10/3910954/daunting-year-awaits-sporting.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Per this, Besler is the only other player we don't have under contract or at least an option on.
OK for your salary and contract questions here is a spread sheet that might help. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AndKjVUZJ5vydEdTNDZybUNta1NZS050VWpRalJEblE