CHIVAS USA. Chivas USA's plans for a makeover mean -- no surprise here -- that veteran midfielder Shalrie Joseph won't be with the team in 2013. Coach Jose Luis Sanchez told mlssoccer.com the former New England star is not in his plans. “He showed up the first day with an injury and after that has not returned,” El Chelis said. “Maybe he’s sick, maybe he’s injured, I don’t know what’s going on with him.” http://www.socceramerica.com/article/50082/unlikely-trio-tipped-to-be-on-red-bulls-latest.html
How good is Shalrie's Spanish? Word on the street was that Chivas' coaching staff is going to be speaking exclusively Spanish this year. If Shalrie isn't comfortable with that, it would have been really tough for him.
This was touched on in the MLS/Offseason rumor thread - but it's pretty clear Shalrie is going to have to take like a 70-75% pay cut if he wants to stay in MLS, given his age and declining play since mid-2011. The other options are retire or go play in Europe, and again, given his realities a Scandinavian second division or bottom-table SPL side is probably the best he could hope for.
We would welcome him back here, just not $400K+ a year. His value as of today IMO is probably about $100K or so, a very valuable presence in the locker room, he could mentor the kids, and still be useful in a BIT part role on this team, whether that be as a target man up front or sitting in front of the back four against the better teams almost as a fifth defender in the middle.
Actually, that first idea isn't terrible. His finishing got slowly better as the years went on, even as his touch out of the back diminished. I'd bring him back on the cheap(ish) as a third forward. Rotate in Bengtson, Sene, and Joseph based on the qualities of the opponents' back line. Bengtson/Joseph for the finesse back lines where we need bruisers to just make space, Joseph/Sene when we need someone who can create their own opportunities, and Bengtson/Sene when we need a little more speed to beat a trap or pounce on loose balls.
As much as bringing him back might be good, we have no idea how badly (if at all) that bridge was burned when he left.
I don't think he ever showed a propensity to be a good locker room influence nor a mentor to the younger players. I don't expect that to be different in a situation where he can't get on the field. It can be said that perhaps he was a good example of a professional while on the practice field or in games, but I don't think that extended off the field. As far as him as a forward, no thank you. It might work out in a desperation situation where you are just throwing crosses into the box. But, I even doubt that now as he cannot jump any more. When he pushes into forward areas, he just hangs out blocking useful lanes and does more to stifle his own offense than contribute to it. I appreciate his contribution. He was a good servant to the team. I would be happy to stand and thank him in some form, but adding him to the roster, at any price, would be detrimental to the team in 2013.
I'd love to see Shalrie come back as a player-coach. They could hide some of his salary this way. It'd be good to have Joseph experience and leadership for spot duty and US Open Cup.
I will always remember Shalrie as one of my favorite Revs, but I agree with Monty. I'm guessing that his relationship with the FO is less than cordial, and that he could not see himself working with JH.
I'm amazed at how people know what type of locker room presence he had, or how he was off the field with other players. And how do people come to such a certain conclusion on this?
I make my assumptions based on very public instances where he made bad, immature decisions that adversely affected the team. I'm sure he's a fun guy and his teammates love him etc. But if I'm the organization that has seen and been burned by these incidents, I'm not going to be quick to waste a valuable roster spot if all he can offer is "locker room presence".
I know for a fact that Shalrie was an active, vocal and instructional team leader during the practices when Steve Nicol was coaching the team.
Great, I thought we had finally come to our senses on the Shalrie as a striker experiment. I guess not. Prepare for another month of lunacy.
Do you have information suggesting he's headed back to the Revs or are you just commenting on Board speculation?
I think Doc is the only one Board Certified to say someone is actually a lunatic. For you and I and everyone else, its just a hunch
He could definitely provide solid depth - and you know how much we like depth. I'm curious to know whether his initial departure was based on an irreconcilable inability to see eye to eye with Heaps, or if that was the issue given and they really needed to dump his awful contract. If he seriously had a problem with Heaps, I don' think he'll be back, but I'd put my money on the trade ultimately coming down too his giant salary. My guess is that Shalrie will make one more stop at some dismal lower tier destination, stay briefly, and then come back to the Revs to retire a Rev, somewhat similar to what Ralston did. Honestly this is what I hope ends up happening. He's given quite a bit to this organization and been the face of the franchise & an integral on field piece for the better part of the Revs' existence. At the very least he should be able to play his last game in a Revs jersey.
Ya, the poor guy rehabbed, then was on the pitch for about 30 seconds before he got hurt, ending his career.
I honestly don't think Shalrie provides quality depth at any price. He isn't good at all. He isn't even adequate.
And it's throwing away a senior roster spot. We were lucky to get out from under his contract last summer.