So now that the season is over what should Seattle do to improve their roster going into next season. Note we are not in the CCL. my list 1) upgrade to backline 2) a RW that can stay HEALTHY for important matches 3) possible replacement for montero
After pulling him early tonight, I do wonder if they might be looking to shift Montero this off-season. Not that I'd necessarily agree.
Some real good striker. Why not pay for Berbatov and ship Montero to Europe?! Diego Forlan look cheap now! http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/just-football/details/berater_1423.html
I'm fine with Montero moving on if he wants to and it's the best thing for his career, but I don't want to see the Sounders move him for the sake of making a move. I don't see the Sounders being able to bring someone in who is substantially better, but maybe they'll prove me wrong.
Georgios Samaras will fit great with Sounders and is not expensive! http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/samaras/profil/spieler_6855.html
Quoted from the Conference Finals PBP thread on MLS N&A. You touch on a portion of it with regards to Montero, he is still incredibly streaky, and still checks out far to often. The basic problem I see is that when things are going great goal scoring wise for him, his entire game is good. When he is not scoring his entire game suffers, and as a result our game suffers. At this point he takes a DP spot that we may be able to use better. After four years of seeing this from him can we honestly expect him to be a different player? Don't get me wrong I like him, and always will. In years past there have always been suggestions that he was looking to move on, we may actively help facilitate that this off season is my opinion. With regards to Tiffert, the team will not want a second Blaise situation and will probably give him a full season to prove himself. With regards to Johansson, he may be our best fullback but that really is not saying much. He was beaten far to often, he was not that good going forward, but instead of staying home he pushed forward. He had far to many errant passes, an often frustrating first touch. His clearances (and really the whole backline) often left me nervous. He is not necessarily terrible, I just think we can do better.
I have no problem with AJ. He's good. He's obviously an upgrade over Riley. What I want is Burch to go. He's obviously not in the level of a starting LB on any good MLS team. And Gonzales is getting injured too easily (just like Rosales). If we need an upgrade, we should get an LB that could shot down the likes of Kamara/Garcia but could still make forward runs.
Our FO should try and bring some proven striker. Open SSFC piggy bank that is probably full and bring world talent to our team. Montero is not going to get better next season - end of story! For SSFC style of play we need taller striker, Samaras or Berbatov will fit great in my opinion. There is probably more strikers on market and they should really try hard to bring good and world recognized player. Pay him little more than market value and he will play on plastic. After him others will follow! P.S. Those 2 players already played in Seattle summer friendlies with CelticFC and ManU and they know how great soccer city Seattle is.
Humberto Suazo from CF Monterey have expiring contract in 2013! http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/humberto-suazo/profil/spieler_39655.html
He's also only 25. If we get a great offer, fine, but apart that just filling Rosales' DP slot and seeing how the team shakes out seems like a safer alternative. With regards to AJ why target him? Why not dump Leo and Burch to bring in a all star level LB from abroad?
In what world is Johansson our best fullback?? Dude is a complete disaster. He can't DEFEND! He's had a number of just inexplicably bad plays (handball last night included as well as the few seconds prior to that). That touch he had where he accidentally hit it over the endline with no pressure on him was a typical Johansson mistake. He did something similar against SJ too resulting in a CK goal. Coming into the season he was also supposed to be a good offensive threat from the backline. He has a total of two assists (same as Riley last year) and frankly I remember seeing more dangerous balls into the box from Riley last year than Johansson this year. Gimme a defender that can defend and let one of my talented wingers to whip the ball in box. Rosales: Un-DP him and play him far fewer mins next season EJ: Pay the man! Montero: Just not sure about him. I've personally lost patience with him towards the end of the season. It's as if he is afraid to shoot. If he leaves to go on to better pastures, I would be fine with that, but if he stays I would be fine with that too. But don't get rid of him just to get rid of him. I'm not sure there are better alternatives out there. Tiffert: Well, if someone can explain what he brings to the team, please educate me. I just don't see it, especially for 600k. I was expecting a Rosales-esque player, but I don't think that's what we got. He's cool on the ball which is nice, but that's all I see. LB and RB: Should be the focus of the off-season in my opinion
Zach Scott Over just bring in a lower priced back up, Or see if Tetteh develops in a solid back up. Both guys are over 125k I believe, thats alot for two mid level LB. Adrian spoke last night about less of an emphasis on depth. this would be an example.
And then you'll cause a issue at RB unless seattle sees Evans as the new back up at RB. Tetteh makes 125k cause hes a GA player. He doesn't count against the cap. I'm not sure Tetteh as much of a future with the team once his GA contract is up.
Did you watch Leg 1 against LA? And besides, LB's are harder to find than RB's (especially in US) so they can be more expensive. I'd say, drop Burch. For now, have Leo as a starting LB. Start shopping for a younger better LB. If he's good, then Leo becomes backup.
I don't have a problem with Seamon, for now. He's young and he can be a backup RB. I think I'm ok with Scott as our 4th CB. But of course, I prefer somebody who is younger than our top 3. Anyway, Tetteh is not getting much playing time in Ft. Lauderdale, I assume he'll be out pretty soon.
Josh Mayers (Seattle Times) via Twitter: Hanauer indicated the Sounders roster could be more front-loaded next year since there won't be four CCL group games to deal with. (Explanation from Josh) More talent in top 11-14 players or so. Maybe quality of depth takes a hit. In order to achieve a more "front loaded 11-14", here are my thoughts: I think we let go of at least one player that takes up a large salary chunk (Montero), a few mid salary players (Johannsen, Hurtado, Gonzalez), a few depth players that would gain interest or have value to other teams (Estrada? Caskey? Carrasco?), a fourth string keeper (Meredith), and a loan player that may not be coming back to Seattle (Martinez). Out: Montero - When he's on, he's great (curling balls that seem to sneak in, goals from distance, etc.), but when he's off he seems to disappear from games. Unfortunately, his off streaks always seem to coincide with the playoffs. If our goal is an MLS Cup Championship and we have a striker with 4-year cold streak in the playoffs, then maybe we should start looking elsewhere. He will always have his skill at holding up the ball, passing and shooting, but for me he always seemed to lack the mindset of receiving the ball, turning and attacking the opposing back four outright. Maybe that's not the type of player he is, or maybe that's the type of players that I love to watch. If he wants to try his hand in Europe, I'd actively pursuing that if I were the front office. Johannsen - He just wasn't solid defensively. Whenever an opposing player was coming at him it just seemed like he didn't have the defensive skill to shut them down or communication with his centerbacks to have coverage. He made some great runs and crosses, but the first thing I want from a RB is the ability to defend, maintain possession under pressure and communication with fellow players. Hurtado - Great physical presense, but he always scares me when he has the ball at his feet. His body positioning always seems to be off. He's never really been an offensive threat when it comes to corners. If we find a CB with better passing abilities and positioning, I'd be fine with letting go of Hurtado. Seems like Parke is enjoying knocking around opposing forwards now. Gonzalez - We simply need to improve both of our starting fullbacks this offseason. Had a good year, but I just see him steadily decreasing in abilities. I would keep Burch and sign a new younger starting LB. Estrada, Caskey, Carrasco - Do I really want to see any of these guys go, no. But in order to have a starting 11 with more quality, we're going to have to make tough decisions. Are we in for more releasing of young, promising players in order to sign a top quality player (Fucito/Neagle->Johnson)? I wouldn't doubt it. Meredith - Why do we have four keepers again? Martinez - I definitely want him back, but I have a hard time thinking that he'll want to come back to Seattle. I'll be pleasantly surprised if he's back in training camp.
I doubt Seattle is gonna get rid of Johannsen. Its the LB that need something done. Regarding Keeper we have 5 on the roster and i see it keeper wise for next year being Gspurning, Marcus, Meredith or Ford. Weber takes up cap space so i see him getting the boot. Carrasco is backup to Alonso. Estrada is essentially back up to Montero. Not sure regarding caskey.
I did, maybe one from a Scandinavian country. I hear they're very pro-homosexuals up there so that shouldn't be a problem...
I targeted AJ because he was supposed to be an upgrade to Riley, and at the end of the day I would have rather had Riley 90% of the time. AJ had moments that were great, and Riley had head scratchers. But more often than I not I think Riley's play was superior to AJ. Only 25 sure, but four full seasons to adjust and develop every player has a ceiling and I think we found Montero's given what we can surround him with. His ceiling may be higher in a league with less personnel restrictions, but I think we have gotten as far with him as any MLS side is likely to. I really hope we get Mario back next season just to see what he can do with more playing time. He hopefully understands that at the beginning of the year he will have his chance to break in and be a regular contributor, it is the same issue we saw with Flaco.
We all know the difference between the Sounders and LA. David Beckham $4 million Robbie Keane $3.4 million Landon Donovan $2.4 million Fredy Montero $756,000 Christian Tiffert $625,000 (salaries from MLS union website) There is a vast difference between a player worth $3 to $5 million in the worldwide soccer market and someone worth $756,000. The Sounders need to chop off the DPs and replace them with much better DPs. I'm almost certain that is what Hanauer is referencing with his comments about strengthening the top of the roster. By the way, Joe keeps mentioning a player like Berbatov. Berbatov's current salary at Fullham is about $8.2 million when converted to US dollars from pounds. That would make him the highest paid player in MLS. Think about this and the salary cap when you are projecting who should stay or go. Hardly a reason to cut Burch at $65,000, for example. Johannessen at $182,000 though? I'd say let him go. And Leo at $125,000. And possibly Hurtado at $161,000. It's all about where you invest the larger salaries when so many guys are getting paid near league minimum. (Edit: wouldn't let me post the Snagit capture I did of the salaries. So should be attached now.)