Official 2013-2014: Roster Moves and Rumors

Discussion in 'LA Galaxy' started by profiled, Nov 10, 2013.

  1. profiled

    profiled Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    slightly north of a mile high
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    We definitely need some upgrades/changes, discuss.
     
  2. L.A. Native

    L.A. Native Member+

    Aug 1, 2013
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Maybe we don't need too much change...if Bruce is willing...?
    -----Keane-----Zardes----
    -------------LD------------
    Juni------Sarvas------???
    Duni---OG---Opare---AJ
    ----------Penedo----------
     
  3. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    (SHOULD BE) OUT: Carlo Cudicini ($150,000), Sean Franklin ($225,000), Colin Clark ($80,000), Pablo Mastroeni ($150,000).



    Personally, I'd add: Hector Jimenez ($46,500), Rafael Garcia ($46,500), and Jack McBean (HG) ($80,000).
     
  4. profiled

    profiled Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    slightly north of a mile high
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Does McBean count against the cap?

    Cudicini obvsiouly is gone.

    Franklin is probably overpaid given his production, but not sure anyone would take him or we'd really waive him...

    Clark was pretty non existent, no point keeping him at that salary level.

    Mastroeni I would imagine is going to retire at this point.

    I don't mind Garcia or Jimenez at such low salary levels.
     
  5. dashiel

    dashiel Member+

    Jul 15, 2000
    orange county
    Remember the Baggio Husidic rumors floating around as additional compensation for Magee? Well according the LAT we've signed him. As I recall not a player who's going to influence the team measurably.
     
  6. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The Galaxy holding the rights to Husidic has nothing to do with Magee.
     
  7. GalaxyKoa

    GalaxyKoa Member+

    Jul 18, 2007
    North County
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    This is garbage.

    McBean is 18 and doesn't count against the cap. Anyone who suggests cutting him has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. By the way, he's got 2 goals and 2 assists in his 652 MLS minutes, which comes out to .55 goals/assists per 90 minutes, which is fantastic. Not to mention he was our top scorer in the CCL last year. Absolute madness to suggest cutting him. Before his injury, we was actually improving quite a bit.

    Jimenez, while not a world beater, is on the league minimum, which is a good deal for a solid 2nd string player.

    Pablo will, in all likelihood, retire, so it's a moot point.

    Garcia I don't really rate, but again, he's cheap depth. His spot shouldn't be secure, but I'd keep him around in the preseason in case any of the new guys don't shine.

    Clark and Cudicini are both pretty terrible and won't be around last year, but that's hardly a controversial opinion.

    Franklin is a pretty unpopular guy around here right now, but I don't think we should just drop him. Another MLS team will snap him up pretty quickly if we just let him go. If someone wants to pick him up at his contract option next year, they'll take him in the 1st Round of the RED, but I don't think anyone will. Most likely, he's looking at going into the 2nd Round of the RED where pretty much any club would love to grab his rights. If he wants to go abroad, we'll offer him a contract which keeps him out of the RED, but he'll reject it and go abroad. He's not going to get $250k from any MLS team. I think that we have some leverage and may be able to get him to take a paycut (or go abroad). That being said, we may simply pick up his 2014 option anyway.
     
  8. Benny Dargle

    Benny Dargle Member+

    Jul 23, 2008
    LA
    We actually got his rights in the Mastroeni deal, even though Husidic once played for Chicago. Unfortunately, he can't be used to redeem the Magee trade.
    Exactly. He played for the Fire when he was in MLS, but we got his rights from Colorado in the Mastroeni trade. In fact, several commentators speculated that his rights may have been the main focus of the trade.
     
  9. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    He's not counting against the cap because he's on a GA HG contract, which I think is a quite valuable spot on the roster because we only have two of those spots. He's 18, but I don't think he has the athleticism to be regular starter in MLS. He might be slightly better than Adam Cristman.

    I didn't say outright cut him, but if we can trade him to Chivas for some allocation money or as part of package for Eric Avila we'd be better off for it. We'd have a player that could be used every week plus we'd have that HG spot that we can use for signing Brian Iloski or Mendiola. Perhaps we could sell him to a Scottish Premier League team instead and get some money for him.

    As for Hector Jimenez, he turns 25 in the 2014 calendar year, which means he can't be counted as one of our 21-30 off cap roster players next season. Even if he's a league minimum player his salary will count against the cap, unlike last season. I think our 1-20 players should stronger contributors then what Jimenez can provide.
     
  10. GalaxyKoa

    GalaxyKoa Member+

    Jul 18, 2007
    North County
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #10 GalaxyKoa, Nov 10, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2013
    I agree it's a valuable spot, and perhaps we should be thinking of how to get Iloski/Mendiola in one of those spots, but lets not count our chickens. It's a grass is always greener situation.

    Suffice it to say I disagree completely with your assessment of McBean. He may not end up being a top MLS player, but at 18, you cannot tell that. A player can mature a hell of a lot from 18-23 and his progression has been pretty steadily upward for the last three years.

    Sure, lets trade away potential for someone who has already topped out as an average MLS player. A winger would help, but come on. Avila? Besides, you think Chivas is going to trade a Mexican American for a gringo? Good luck.

    You are misinformed. Age only applies as quoted from MLS's roster rules and regulations below:
    • Players occupying roster spots 1-24 will earn at least $46,500 in 2013.
    • Any player making $35,125 must be under the age 25 (does not turn 25 or older in 2013).
    Even so, you're going have some low salaried players on the end of your 20 man roster. This is MLS. You're not going to have two full teams of good players. You have to find your bargains, and Jimenez' cost to benefit ratio is pretty decent.

    It seems to me that you are idealizing how we can build our roster.
    Even so, you're going to have a few players on that $46.5k that are part of the top 20, so it's kind of a moot point anyway.
    Even so, you're going to have a few players on that $46.5k that are part of the top 20, so it's kind of a moot point anyway.
    Even so, you're going to have a few players on that $46.5k that are part of the top 20, so it's kind of a moot point anyway.
     
    barroldinho, FlapJack and 73Bruin repped this.
  11. SoCalYid

    SoCalYid Member+

    Jun 11, 2011
    BigSoccer :)
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #11 SoCalYid, Nov 10, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 10, 2013
    I've seen plenty of 18 year old footballers over the years following youth football in England, Italy, USMNT youth sides and more recently MLS youth football. I've seen many players like McBean in that time, his touch isn't great, his technique is alright, lacking in athleticism beyond strength. He has good scorers instincts and he can improve in many #9 areas. He often does the right thing, or sees the flow of a move developing but I think it's often hindered by his lack of speed. I'm just not sure where his ceiling is to be honest.

    With players of his type they tend to be beasts in youth football because of their size. Once the quality of footballer rises, athletically, technically and tactically they can go either way. A lot of forwards have hit that wall, in particular the physical wall when their strength doesn't give them advantage they're used to.

    I think that's what happened to Zardes who was quite confident coming into the league but realized that pure athleticism isn't what football is about. If you look at clips of him in college he would beat players easily on the dribble, shrug players off easily, push off players to get space. When that advantage reduces you have to adapt your game so a player lacking in technical skills will struggle and it could go either way. He's quick enough to play on the wing though which is good, he's not a natural winger though or wing forward.

    McBean could come good for us but I see troubling signs with him. Not sure if I would trade him, it depends on what we could get, it would have to be real good, others I'm not too attached to. As I said in the other thread something eventually will have to give with one of our young forwards. If we could get a real game changer like Higuain for a young forward and other pieces I would do it.
     
  12. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In present time, McBean was showing more development then Villarreal and has shown a knack of scoring. He's a homegrown player so keep him for now
     
  13. GalaxyKoa

    GalaxyKoa Member+

    Jul 18, 2007
    North County
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well trading potential for a finished top tier piece is one thing, it's entirely another to force a trade for middling talent in order to trade one potential for another.
     
  14. SoCalYid

    SoCalYid Member+

    Jun 11, 2011
    BigSoccer :)
    Club:
    --other--
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah I wouldn't trade him for a middling player, though like I said I'm not sure I want to trade McBean regardless. Villarreal on the other hand, if someone came with a good offer who was more up for a project with Villarreal and willing to give up someone good then you have to consider it.

    It could be the difference in winning a cup the next couple years, I'm not sure any of our young forwards are at that level yet where they would be the difference and potential can go either way.
     
  15. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    It's not a "grass is always greener" situation. We perhaps lost the chance to sign Paul Arriola because we didn't have a GA HG spot to offer him. But the real point is we might lose out other HG prospects because of McBean's spot. If he was a HG like Villareal or Sorto, then it's fine to have him on the team and hope he develops. But waiting until he's 23 to cut your loss is not wise with the current restrictions and teams from other leagues ability to poach our HG talent. Also I don't think you understand scouting if you don't think player's athleticism and ceiling can't be judged by 18.

    That was just an example. But I think you're going to see Chivas USA shift their policies in player acquisitions. I think signing former US captain Bocanegra was a step in that direction. Mainly due to the backlash that Chivas received this year and the pressure MLS will put on them moving forward.

    If he has all this unknown potential that you seem to think he has, fine sell him to another league. AEG should use the money to buy a new jumbo tron for the SHC. I for one would rather have a new jumbo tron at the stadium then McBean on the team.

    Mathematically we don't have to have a few players that make $46.5k apart of the top 20. So that's not a valid point anyway.
     
  16. GalaxyKoa

    GalaxyKoa Member+

    Jul 18, 2007
    North County
    Club:
    Los Angeles
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Perhaps we did lose Arriola as a result of the Zardes and McBean taking the two over aged spots, but ultimately I don't think it would have mattered anyway in this situation. Arriola is likely making more than the ~$150K we would offer him anyway. We're always going to lose players due to the restrictions that MLS places on development (and I think we'll see them loosened significantly in the coming years), especially Mexican-American players. Liga MX teams are going to be able to offer those players more money than we can regardless of how many GA spots we have open. We lost Mario Rodriguez to Germany before that (with an open off roster HG spot), and I'm sure we'll lose many more until MLS loosens the purse strings a bit.

    I understand how scouting works just fine. I'm not saying "well, we keep him on the roster until he's 23" but rather "at 18, he's not near a finished product, and you're making just as many assumptions as I am". You can certainly get a good idea of where a player is heading, but we as fans see only the tip of the iceberg. We don't see him in training day in and day out, watching his progress, which really is what you judge potential anyway, not his current ability. Regardless, plenty of players, specifically in MLS, don't make impacts until far later in their careers. Besides, what we have seen in games is hardly damning. He's improved year on year.

    Carlos Bocanegra is Mexican-American. Carlos basically fell into Chivas' lap anyway (and really wasn't very good for them in any case). This is a separate discussion for a different thread, however, so I won't delve into my disdain for that disaster here.

    This wasn't supposed to be included, as I revised it to 'low salaried players' (I don't know why it included it several times at the bottom of my post). You are correct there isn't a specific requirement to have $46k players on the roster 1-20. Good job with refuting the most mundane part of my post.

    The point remains. You're going to have low salary players on your roster. It's how MLS works, specifically with 3 DPs on your roster chewing up more than a 1/3rd of the cap space. Jimenez is as inexpensive as they come and is decent depth. If we can find a couple more wingers willing to play for a salary like Jimenez' who are as good as him, by all means sign them up and send him packing. He's a good deal right now. Or you can go after a slightly better version of Jimenez in Eric Avila for a cost of $120k a year.
     
  17. TruffleShuffle

    Dec 7, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    i wonder how much money we will actually have available this offseason. Franklin is a decisive topic, but with Cudicini, Clark and Mastroeni, we're assuming we get 380k back to play with. that goes down a lot if you factor in...
    (1) Omar already has a 170k raise (in cap terms), possible Penedo/Rogers raises built in to their contracts, and Opare (he doesn't stay on a sub-minimum contract, does he?)
    (2) we lose allocation money for not qualifying for the next version of CCL
     
  18. WarGalaxy

    WarGalaxy Member+

    May 29, 2011
    Los Angeles
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Your entire post is mundane. However like my previous post said, my real point is we might lose out other HG prospects because of McBean's spot. Sure we might lose more players because of the MLS rules about protecting our academy players. However, when you only get two GA HG exceptions I think three years should be cut-off as far as the time allotted for clogging one of those slots. McBean is no closer to breaking into the starting eleven. Time to cut our loss with McBean and try to get value out of him if we still can.

    Bocanegra didn't fall into Chivas' laps they had to trade their next #1 SuperDraft pick to Toronto. That has a very high probability of being the #1 overall pick in that draft.

    Eric Avila only makes $100k a year that counts against the MLS salary cap. Which is below the mean for players in the 1-20 roster spots in MLS. He's still extremely serviceable. He was statistically rated in the top 50 players in the MLS by the SB Nation number crunchers. Which was the highest any Chivas player was rated (not surprisingly), and higher then Sarvas (barely) and Zardes.
     
  19. profiled

    profiled Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    slightly north of a mile high
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
  20. klpv82

    klpv82 Member+

    Mar 8, 2011
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Franklin is actually out of contract right now. And I think Bruce knows that he's not worth what he was being paid last season. Hopefully out of mutual interest, Franklin can take a pay cut and stay with the team.
     
    phoenixhazard repped this.
  21. forie

    forie Member+

    Sep 14, 2007
    Costa Mesa
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    @LAGConfidential: Todd Dunivant returns on two year deal, Sean Franklin is on a team option. Donovan mentions AJ feeling comfortable at outside back
     
  22. 73Bruin

    73Bruin Member+

    Jul 12, 2008
    Torrance, California
    I am hardly impressed that the "best" player on a bad team looks relatively good statistically. They should, as they get a lot more chances then perhaps better players on a team with real superstars. You could call this the Mike Magee phenomena (who was probably undervalued statistically) in the past. In the NBA they just use Charles's statement of "Bad Team" to explain why the player looks good. My guess is that if you put Zardes, Sarvas on Chivas they would be the best two players on the team. I would hazard a guess that Stephens freed from the fear of making a mistake that he seems to play with when he starts with Landon and Keane would even rate highly on Chivas. And by the way isn't SB Nation essentially a collection of fan opinions?
     
  23. profiled

    profiled Moderator
    Staff Member

    Feb 7, 2000
    slightly north of a mile high
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Berks repped this.
  24. phoenixhazard

    phoenixhazard Member+

    Oct 26, 2010
    Seattle, WA
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Husidic hopefully came cheap, he isn't remarkable...
     
  25. Dr.Phil

    Dr.Phil Member+

    Jan 18, 2004
    Club:
    FC Bayern München
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Man I hope we can tie him down. The engine of the team this year. If he plays like last year and Juninho plays like previous years we will be a lot better.
     
    Berks and StillKickin repped this.

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