Never too early to start one of these so I guess I will. In my opinion: 1) We need a new CB to pair with Jermaine Taylor. 2) We need a new, first choice striker, preferably a DP. 3) I think we're ok just about everywhere else right now. Opinions?
I think with Lopez Carrasco and Creavalle it looks fine at mid on the bencc. Strikers can all be cut and replaced except Carr and JJ. Defense needs to be shored up on the field and on the bench. Its safe to say Taylor and Ashe will always be missing playing time due to injury or Intl duty every season so we have to build lots of depth there.Wouldnt hurt to develop Arena. DP at FWD is a must ASAP.
We need to build the team around Boniek, and Davis. Our midfield is good right now, but with the loss of allocation, I'm not sure who's coming or going. Our biggest priority's are oddly the same as I said one year ago during the same type of conversation. Defensive depth at centerback A left-footed fullback A new striker (though we do have Carr, and JJ, and possibly Bruin, so not a main priority.)
Release Boswell. He's shown his time. Trade Bruin. You could get some players, cash, multiple draft spots, or a combination of the three.
Start a Houston Dynamo U-23 team and put them in the USL PDL. Team up with Oklahoma City Energy FC of the USL Pro. Also team up with San Antonio Scorpions FC as the icing on the cake. Ta da... A farm system. Houston Dynamo (MLS) ↑ San Antonio Scorpions FC (NASL) ↑ Oklahoma City Energy FC (USL Pro) ↑ Houston Dynamo U-23 (USL PDL)
At this point we need a proven scorer beyond the shadow of a doubt not a possibility. If you cut Weaver and Bruin thats plenty of space to develop some more people in the meantime. Last thing I wanna see is another poor man's Connor Casey in Wevaer being brought in for ONLY size.
Just change the team colors to blue and white and tell him the H in the logo is for la Super H. He might just score some more.
What kept Calen Carr out all year long? Is he back with us next year? If he's 100% healthy, then I'd love to hang on to him after how he played for us two years back.
Since you are putting it together, maybe put an asterisk next to the guys that likely have guarantees for next year. Because folks will argue for cutting or trading certain players who are almost untradeable and are just beating their heads against the wall.
You have a hard on for Weaver for some reason. While failing to recognize that the guys has always been considered a "depth" acquisition. He was never pegged as a starter, let alone a starter in a Conference Final. Cam gives 100% every night and he has the ability to keep the ball alive from goal kicks. No one else on the team does as well as Weaver in winning long ball headers in traffic. I'm certainly not saying he's a stud. But I think you're bashing the wrong guy. Boswell makes a lot by MLS standards and made several major errors this season. Bruin accomplished very little this season, Carr and Omar were hurt. Without Cam Weaver we wouldn't even have been playing KC tonight.
Weaver was re-signed as a 4th forward option (behind Bruin, Cummings, and Carr/Barnes). The fact that he doesn't play as a top line forward isn't surprising given his salary and role.
We need another better option at forward, but you can't cut Bruin. A trade is possible but I don't see that happening with Dom (and probably not worth what you would get). We definitely need a guy that can hold the ball more consistently up top and let us bring the midfield more into the attack. That's when we are at our best offensively.
OK, In the wake of the loss people are already looking to 2014. So, while I wanted to wait awhile I thought starting this thread now would be helpful to steer some discussion. I do this every year. It is not a perfect science because there is so much we don't have access to in MLS. Remember the guaranteed salaries posted by the union are not always accurate and are not the same values used against the budget. Essentially everything spent counts against the cap: agent fees, performance bonuses, visa fees, transfer/loan, guaranteed bonus, wage, etc. I use a formula that has proven to be fairly close but it won't be perfect (then I pepper in some assumptions on bonuses. Use it a point of discussion; it should be close but won't be dead on: So Here We Go . . . . before we start talking about what we need to add, we have a salary budget issue next year. As it stands now, my projection is our on budget (senior) roster is roughly $525,000 over the budget next year. We avoided issues this year due to allocation money, primarily from the Cameron deal. Next year, we will see very little allocation money (no CCL, no transfers, and a final four team). So I want to point out a few things, we need to clear budget just to field a team, and I don't see clearing enough to get clear AND add a big contributor without some serious wheeling and dealing. Keep in mind every player we lose this year we also have to replace; so you cannot drop a middie in order to free up room for an attacker because you also have to replace the middie (as example). So the stats; 1) 525,000 over the budget heading into next year. 2) At least 8 guys are likely on guaranteed Contracts (may be more): Ashe, Garcia, Clark, Cummings, Davis, Deric, Hall, Lopez. 3) Three guys may still have a year before they are on an option (might be guaranteed): Barnes, Boswell, Chabala 4) Johnson will likely stay GA. 5) Driver is a bit of a question as his deal was odd. I think he may have a big option next year but not certain. 6) The rest should be in an option year or out of contract * Marchneider, Ownby, Salazar, Creavalle, Carrasco should be off budget so moving them would be for trade or roster spot purposes. Discuss
Wrong sir/ma'am, without guys like Cummings we're not in skc tonight. Bruin Boswell have not performed to par and i have expressed my frustration all year not just tonight.Weaver has been someone taking up space since last season. Size has proven for nothing on free and corner kicks compared to accuracy and position on the field. Plain and simple everyone in the league has come at us with speed and accurate scorers not big guys up front. Everytime Barnes or Driver were creating chances all game low and behold we take them out and left Bruin in who was a no factor and put in Weaver.
ACL injuries are not easy to recover quickly. For example, Derrick Rose sit out the whole year and Brian Cushing re-injured the same knee a couple weeks ago.
I should note, my take on options years is a guess based on MLS standard contract approach as is the guaranteed status.
Dont we have another expansion draft coming up with all these teams they have planned in Miami NY and Orlando? Cant some of these guys go unprotected then?
With the itching and hype the league's been giving to the next NY club. I was almost convinced they were coming in this upcoming season.