Offseason moves?

If that's all he was, i'd say $100K or less. With everything else Ching does, maybe $200K?

 

As you know this self effacing, modest, ex-Englishman does not generally take the credit for many of the endeavors he is involved in. However, in this case I do believe that I will. Without a shadow of a doubt it was my petition that convinced Brian to stick around as a player.

http://www.change.org/petitions/brian-ching-play-one-more-year

 

If I understand the support numbers correctly, it seems like a simple conversation between to the two of you could've had the same impact.

 

That's exactly what happened.

 

First off he can go more that that, but as you know Dom generally doesn't sub until minute 70. Seriously though, at 100-120k that would put him below the average MLS salary in the league which would be a very appropriate level for a 3-4 forward. He likely will be at 150 or so (just a guess) due to his past with the team but any more than that and I would cringe a bit. Frankly, even with the addition of Cummings, forward is not a depth position for us right now (Bruin-Cummings - Weaver - Ching). So unless you think you can find a bunch of talent under 150k out there it is a good signing.

 

200k would be too much in my humble opinion. Not that Ching the man doesn't deserve a certain liberty; but he is really a 100-120k player now, even with all he does off the ball. I can see a premium up to 150, personally I would go no more because once you get over that average mark you start to have other options at the same price.

 

don't forget Omar Cummings is going to be gone for WCQ. heck, if Will Bruin starts 2013 hot will may even lose him to the Gold Cup (non-CONFED year, so i'm expecting a domestic based USMNT team).

 

How much is his leadership and example worth? How many other legends of his status (all-time leading scorer and captain) on other teams would take being a sub with such great class and commitment. If he plays the whole season and gets 5 goals and 5 assists at 250k in about 1,200 minutes, then this is still valuable. You don't find leaders like Ching often, and while his on the field production does not warrant his salary, is locker room presence does. This year's playoff run is a perfect example of what locker room chemistry and leadership does.

Here's to the Last Charge of Captain Ching in 2013

 

ain't there a mininum salary for vets? i figured it be more than 200K

 

Is he?? Beckford, Fuller, Shelton... room for Cummings?

 

I like Alex, he has really good numbers with Olimpia. I'll be annoyed if Boniek gets him to MLS but he ends up with another team.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/blog/rumor-central:

[García's involvement in the story naturally makes the Houston Dynamo a rumored destination, but López denied the certainty of a move, saying, "The truth is, I've had talks with Boniek García, but I'm not the one who makes the decisions here, [team] president Rafael Ferrari is the one who has command of the team, and he knows my future."]

 

if i was a manager, i would plan for that scenario. one injury or one bad start and he's on the board.

especially since we're sure to lose J. Taylor, Boniek and possibly J. Watson. factor in that Brad Davis and possibly Bruin and possibly Rico for the Gold Cup. again i'm making assumptions, but the non-CONFED cup Gold Cup + WCQ has had me thinking that perhaps the US will go 30-35 players deep this summer.

 

to see Bruin, Rico, Davis and maybe another dynamo on the 29th..... omggggggggggggg.

highly unlikely though

 

Dynamo don't have the type of money imo to purchase Alex.

 

I remember Tappa saying one of Watson or Taylor not getting called-up after the English players integrate with the team.. same for Omar.

 

If he is worth it, that is what that DP tag is meant for. I've not seen him play in game, but the first highlight I saw on youtube is quite impressive:

 

I think a veteran presence is good but if a guy is injured and not playing, I really question his "locker room" value. If you aren't out there on the training pitch, the impact is minimal. It's a team sport dynamic where if you aren't on the field, your impact or respect level diminishes. It just does, out of sight, out of mind.

Ching certainly made an impact in many of the games he entered, with his hold up play, passing (very underrated) and calmness at forward. It's just how much is that worth vs. what you are paying elsewhere on the roster.

Note that he only had 3 goals in the run of play and 2 PKs.

I sort of view 2012 as a nice gift to Ching to let him come back and play here and circumvent the salary cap with extra money from BBVA Compass and the promise of a post-career job.

With the MLS cap the way it is, anything more than about $120K for leadership ONLY is a luxury. $150K for Ching would seem appropriate given his stature with the club, but you just can't keep giving him $200K because of what he did in 2006.

 

AEG money

 

dat Los Angeles Galaxy money

 

Dat De La Hoya money he made off the JMM/Pacman fight.

 

Y'know, I know for a fact that Uncle Phil knows we exists and recognize that he leaves crumbs for us to use here and there. Will Oscar and Brener....I think if they checked their investments and saw "Houston Dynamo SC, Inc" on it, they might respond "Wtf is that?"

 

I don't think the last CBA had a minimum; not sure on the new one since we have never seen it in print. In general, I doubt there is a hard minimum as that would leave the door open for too many journeymen making 200k on the new guaranteed contracts. Perfect example is ERob only made 120 or so his last year in 2011.

 

http://www.latribuna.hn/2013/01/04/boniek-garcia-el-houston-dynamo-va-por-alexander-lopez/

 

Remember how dealing with them went last time .. . . if the rumor is true it STILL may be months before we see him here.