Because we don't need that kind of headcase. Besides, where does he play? He's going to want to be THE GUY, but Torres is a better option for that long-term IMO.
Just what a young team like Colorado needs .... a prima donna headcase to screw up the impressionable talent just starting to find their way. Terrible move. He needs to be on a more veteran team than the Rapids, for that team's sake.
Johnson & Torres are very different players. Although, I think Torres is a good player whether or not he can play with his back to goal, hold up play, dish off passes, etc. is unlikely. Whereas, I thought Brown could be this kind of player based on his 2013 MLS Combine display his speed & quickness are his primary assets & needs room to run. So does Torres. Johnson has the size & strength to be that kind of player as well as a speedy one. Also, IMO Johnson is more talented than Torres. Seemingly, mentality is Johnson's drawback. Likely it delayed his maturation, undermined his European experience and probably causes locker room problems. How he manages being behind Altidore is a mystery to me. If for some reason he is not chosen for Brasil he may be hell to be around!
Based on the fact that Sigi had to pull him out of practice and other observables, it looks like EJ would be more drama than the team need. Sounds like a good fit for the Red Bulls.
I think with the right people to guide him and help him adjust that attitude he may be ok. He's definitely talented enough to make an impact in the right system. I doubt we'll keep Rivero and I'm sure there will be some other key moves for the RFO to really improve this team and make a deep playoff run.
Not to mention everything I read about Seattle shopping him they want tons of Allocation $ back plus a player and Johnson wants DP money. I have zero desire to see him brought in now, back when first rumor about him coming to MLS- Yes I sure did.
He's 29 years old and came back to MLS hat in hand after his failed European attempt. He shouldn't need "adjustment" at this point in his career.
Signing Johnson would be an achievement, since that would be one of the few people in MLS that is even less likeable in a Rapids shirt than Fatson Buddle. We might as well go for Borchers and Beckerman in the offseason if we're trying accumulate players that piss me off.
I will be sad & surprised if Rivero leaves. BUT even more surprised to see RFO improve the team in anyway other than initiating automated check writing or figure a way not to disseminate personal ticket holders' data. My money is on Pareja & his staff with help from Bravo to improve the Rapids on the pitch! Old dog, new tricks! This is rarely successful & is often frustrating!
IIRC, EJ has credited two people with getting his career off the ground at FCD -- one being Brian Haynes (who's in the running for their manager position) and our own Oscar. OP knows EJ. EJ knows OP. Their is a huge amount of mutual respect. I saw it when Seattle was in town. Pre-game they talked extensively and they shared embraces before and after the match. It was obvious this more than just a "handshake friendship". Haynes has said one of his first objectives, if named FCD's manager, would be to trade for EJ. I'm sure Oscar would entertain the idea of trading for EJ. With his production, post-Europe, what manager in MLS would not?? With that said, I don't think the Rapids could pull the trigger on a trade. You would give away too much and those players, more than likely, would be two or three from our young core. EJ would be a short-term (2-3 yr.) option as he's approaching 30. We have a roster chalk full of young talent and trading some of it away puts us right back in the "rebuilding" mode. OP has built and is building something here and I'm not sure he's willing to knock it all down -- just to start again -- even with a player whom he knows well and mentored in his career. It's too big of a risk. FCD may be able to swing a trade but we cannot, especially with the talent we would give up.
I don't care how good EJ is. He's a basket case. I think it would take a very special coach to take control of him, and Sigi ain't him. The coach would have to be a: total drill sergeant, or b: best buddy that pulls him aside and asks him to settle down. It sounds like OP could be the best buddy, but I'm still not interested.
I hear you. I really do. EJ can be a nut job. I'm not sure how I would feel with him here. However, OP and the RFO would be absolutely bat shit crazy not to at least inquire about EJ. It huts nothing to see what Seattle would want for EJ. Goal scorers do not grow on trees. They are not a dime a dozen in MLS. If the Rapids want to hit that "next level" they must go after guys like EJ. I'm not advocating for EJ. I expressed in my previous post the Rapids would be forced to give up too much for EJ. I am advocating trying to find a young(er) guy with similar attributes at a fair price.
Yeah i agree with those who want us to go find next EJ (under 23) over getting this guy at this cost.
Although I agree Johnson should not be a Rapids target, finding the "next EJ", a USMNT quality Striker/Forward, will be a formidable task not likely to be met with success!
Lol, well look what we found in the 2013 draft. Look what we found from lower leagues at GK and LB. It should always be the goal of any team to find and develop talent.
Yes, a banner year for the Rapids. I was very high on both Brown & Powers at 2013 MLS Combine. They proved their value. Also, Sturgis, Irwin, O'Neill & Klute had very good showings. Will Sturgis repeat? Will I, O & K continue their progress? Torres remains a question mark with high potential and Sanchez a truly great pick-up. Still, we did not find an Eddie Johnson. Strikers are rare & unique. Indeed, in the past 2 decades only a handful of strikers of Johnson's skill & talent have risen to USMNT status!!! While developing talent sounds great currently few academy players ever make the grade. Seemingly, you assume that the "next Eddie Johnson" will be available in the draft or is just waiting to be discovered is *naïve, IMO! * Please, no hurt feelings. I am not calling you naïve but I am stating such an assumption is naïve!!!
No worries, I'm good. Think we just need to agree to disagree on this topic. However based on your posts here over the past year, you have been wrong on a whole lot players and their rank in MLS and just right on Powers. Not place for it but EJ never developed into player he should have, other than dominate in air, he is not WC starter material with his bad touch.
Right, EJ has not maximized his talent. As I have stated, I believe this is a mentality & maturation issue not a lack of talent one. Please list those players who I have rated highly mistakenly!. Perhaps our standards are different. My standards are high. If I do not rate some players that you do it may not be that I am wrong. Apparently, you rate some of these players much more highly than I do. For example: Irwin: a real Rapids darling. IMO a young, good goalkeeper - not great. Must still improve positioning & angles Klute: IMO he gets a lot of unearned accolades. He has improved beyond my expectations but still has a long way to go. I want to see consistency. O'Neill: IMO, better than I expected but not nearly a finished article. BTW, opinions are neither right or wrong they are just different!
NO. I don't care how many goals he can score, EJ is locker room cancer. Exactly the kind of player we don't need, especially with all of our youngsters. His shameful "sign the check" goal celebration was a window into the guy's true character.
Somehow your responses seldom follow this line of thought, ...opinions are neither right or wrong they are just different!" Your style of writing, at least to me and the few who have commented to me, conveys only idiots would see it any other way than what I say. Actually our views are very similar but you always seem to take it a step to far, maybe it is to rein in others enthusiasm. Fact: going into last game of season, he was #2 in GAA Finished #4 in MLS GAA (20 starts min) Also had 10 shutouts in 2013. Can you have bad positioning and angles with those stats? unearned accolades... Who in your world is the final decider on earned or unearned accolades? Not hard facts but what is out there: Whoscored- using a computer model had him as #1 LB in MLS, no computer model i saw had him lower than 2nd. Ives lists him in his MLS best XI. With dismemberment gone now your posts are the main subject of visiting mod comments. One i will never forget is "does he really think he is the Fount of all soccer knowledge, destributing it from on high to the en-darken Rapid masses."
Back to the topic of this thread - How about Pickens for EJ? The Flounders released "5 past" today, so it would seem that they need a quality keeper. Not saying that I endorse this - but . . .
Are you intentionally trying to be insulting? Visiting mods comments big deal, the role is arbitrary. None of you were chosen for your soccer acumen. BTW, "does he really think he is the Fount of all soccer knowledge, destributing it from on high to the en-darken Rapid masses." Interesting quote., is there an interpreter handy? Is this mod a native English speaker? If so , shame on him (her).