Here, at least, is something that was coming regardless of the outcome of the MLS Cup Final: the switch to the offseason news thread. Three months, more or less, with this in our collective lives. No kittens, rainbows, or unicorns.
I had a nice time chatting with @goobx1 and @jessyca at the airport today. Afterward, goo and I accosted Garth for a few minutes. I was surprised that the first thing out of his mouth essentially was that hearing the amazing fans at the KC final had him rethinking his feelings about La Barra Real. He said he was interested in sitting down with some of the supporters and discussing how to improve stadium atmosphere. I was VERY pleased to hear him say that. I hope goo and I put a couple good thoughts between his ears and I hope he continues to think about that. After the coaching decision. After player transfers. After the holidays. After all the stuff that is probably MUCH higher priority. The first person out of the plane and off to his car was Jason Kreis. He practically pushed his way through the throng of supporters without a smile or glance sideways. That, more than anything, made me feel a bit sad about his situation. We were there to smother him with love but he acted like he couldn't wait to get away from us. Can't blame him, I guess, after a disappointing loss and with so much on his mind. But still. The rest of the players were pure class, trying to smile and show kindness to the fans. I got a few good selfies with Beltran, Sabo, Beckerman, Wingert, and Borchers. So as far as player movement in the offseason goes, who is under contract and who is under threat of getting packed off to somewhere else?
Thanks for airport update. Interesting to hear about Garth's thoughts on supporters, atmosphere and to hear about the Kreis snub. Of course Jason has rarely been an example if a teddy bear. As for player contracts, a few of us have been discussing this on Twitter. Here is a list: Luis Gil, Chris Wingert and Tony Beltran have positive at least a year or more on contracts. We weren't positive on Beckerman, Saborio or Grabavoy. But we think they are signed for 2014. Velasquez is in his last year but RSL still have an optional year. Some of the complete unknowns were Borchers, Schuler or Rimando. Almost everyone else is signed beyond 2014. I welcome corrections or updates.
I would be shocked if Beckerman,Rimando and Shuler didn't already have contracts for 2014 or at least options on their contract. I'd put Sabo on this list as well. Stranger things could happen though. With RSL letting go of Olave last year they probably thought Shuler was going to be the man for the future.
Here's an article about Beltran and Wingert: http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/20...-wingert-and-tony-beltran-contract-extensions Borchers signed through 2014: http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110...s-contract-extension-highlights-flurry-of-mls Here where we learn that Rimando is signed through 2014 (along with Will Johnson apparently, LOL): http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...s-agrees-to-Real-Salt-Lake-contract-extension Beckerman is signed thru 2013, but I think he signed an extension: http://www.parkrecord.com/summit_county-community/ci_14844256 Saborio is signed thru 2015 http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...t-long-term-stay-rsl-why-he-so-underrated-mls I'll keep looking. Let me know if you want me to Google-fu a specific player.
Sounds like it was fun. Would have been nice to go, but we were flying back from KC - pics upon on sltrib look like the crowd was pretty good sized. Sounds like Jason treated everyone like the girlfriend you're avoiding because you know you're dumping her. Good to hear you got a chance to chew on Garth's ear. The RSL crowd @KC was like what some of the Open Cup games were x10 - without the blaring speakers too. If they look at any future expansion plans for the RioT, some better covers would help for both weather protection and better noise. What really sucks is that we put visiting supporters in one of the loudest spots in the stadium - on metal stands with the reflective roof and they never planned for enhancing our supporters noise level.
I object to no kittens, rainbows or unicorns. That ain't right. Kittens, rainbows and unicorns are people, too and deserve to be represented and heard.
Yeah - don't make Stabby mad again. He might go and destroy everyone's heart just for the heck of it.
As long as soft, cuddly bunnies are still allowed, I'd better get some while the getting is good: Hat tip to Stabby the Unicorn.
I think this off-season is a good time to move Sabo. He's still got great value. RSL is a good/great team with him, but I'm not convinced he makes us better (some of ccb1212's stats show that as well). But I think there are several teams he can make better in the league. So we should be able to get some good young players and/or salary cap space.
This does seem like a SELL SELL SELL moment for Sabo and I'm sure we actually could get some great value for him in return, but I wonder how much of the "RSL family" aspect will limit those decisions. Last year we all knew about the salary cap crunch, are we still under a bit of a squeeze or was last years fire sale enough to "keep the band together" for one more year? Under ideal circumstances I think it would be better to keep as much of the team together through a coaching change as possible. This would limit the difficulty of the new coach coming in, assuming he wants to keep this roster together. If you kept the roster intact along with Garth sticking around it would also lend to keeping the team philosophy and style of play more or less the same. This team has been drilled for so long on Kreis' system and playing style that I don't know if the new coach would want to make drastic changes to something different. Plus it would give us, as the fans, a better idea of how successful a new coach could be given the same deck of cards as Kreis (more of an apples to apples comparison). I think a new coach and significant roster changes might be a bit much to overcome in terms of remaining a competitive team.
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This. I also think you wait until the CCL decision is made. If RSL is in the CCL, then keep Sabo. If RSL is not in the CCL, then consider trading/selling him. Either way it is a huge gamble. His scoring rate was pretty amazing this year. He had the 2nd highest scoring rate in the league, and the highest scoring rate on the team. Imagine what his numbers would have been if he had played the entire season. Top 10 Scorers In MLS (MPG = minutes per goal): Camilo - 109.9 MPG (22 goals) Saborio - 112.2 MPG (12 goals) Keane - 123.75 MPG (16 goals) Magee - 133 MPG (21 goals) DiVaio - 137.3 MPG (20 goals) McInerny - 184.1 MPG (12 goals) Fagundez - 186.7 MPG (13 goals) Cahill - 203.9 MPG (11 goals) Oduro - 219.5 MPG (13 goals) Higuain - 235.6 MPG (11 goals) RSL Forwards (minutes per goal): Saborio - 112.2 MPG (12 goals) Garcia - 199.2 MPG (5 goals) Findley - 210 MPG (6 goals) Sandoval - 295 MPG (3 goals) Plata - 411.25 MPG (4 goals) Next year will be a similar year for him with the World Cup and international call-ups, but selling him would be a big risk for the team.
The other thing I would worry about with trading Sabo is whether Sandoval could keep up his performance next season. I'd be worried about a "sophomore slump" for Big Dev next year. Unless we have another striker waiting in the wings to bring in in Sabo's place, I would vote not to trade Sabo. On a related note: Prior to the playoffs it seemed like a lot of people on here were done with Findley (at least at his salary level). Findley obviously turned it on in the playoffs. What does everyone think now? Keep him? At what salary?
I'm interested to see who the new Coach is and what his system will be before advocating player moves. We've seen how some of our players released after last season blossomed in new systems. About the only move I would outright support at this time is maybe getting rid of Alvarez.
We'll have to see about trade based changes. RSL announced options for Saunders, Stephenson, McDonald and Alvarez were not picked up. Alvarez was a bit of a surprise, especially since his performance seemed better and there were fewer cards from him this year (from memory). Maybe it's about giving him a chance to start someplace - don't think it's a $ issue. Wonder which of the midfielders they see filling in the Beckerman backup role. Grossman? Martinez? Saunders was a bonus pickup this year - too bad he didn't bring his cup luck along with him. I think for him it's probably as much about doing him a favor to get him a full-time spot, unless he was scheduled for a big uptick in salary. Atinella and Fernandez are decent backups with more growth potential. McDonald apparently never made a big enough impact to persistently hit the field or (really) the bench. Saw a dust-up or two with him and some other RSL folks during practice too - not sure how well he fit in. I think of all of the hires they made last season, he had the least impact. Feel bad for Stephenson - he seemed like a really good guy. My guess is his $ are too much next year. He also didn't really connect much with his cannon leg and his defensive and passing performance wasn't consistent enough.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...list-eligible-players-december-re-entry-draft link for re-entry draft list. who could we pick up on the cheap?
Ferreira would be interesting if we got a CCL spot, but he's getting old an really expensive. Did Franklin play RB or LB when he didn't play in the midfield for LA? I don't know how McDonald fit in with RSL, I never heard anything bad so if we could get him on the cheap I think he's worth exploring.
No to Ferreira, it would take a salary cut he's probably not looking to want and if with Morales' renaissance it's hard to justify picking up a guy like him who won't play much. Really feel bad for Saunders, he stepped in admirably when Rimando was out it was such a luxury having two keepers of that caliber on the roster. The ACL tear and probably a higher salary just didn't make sense for RSL to keep him, especially with Attinella seeming like a capable backup at a lower cost. Alvarez just could never put it together, too sloppy of a player and reckless with the challenges. He put RSL in so many bad spots it just didn't make sense to bring him back. And with Grossman coming along I think the FO thinks they can groom him. Stephenson, man, just couldn't crack the lineup. Getting a little older and with Gil/Velasquez basically interchanging for the starting spot opposite Grabavoy there just wasn't space for him. Shame, really, because that cannon leg is something we don't have on this team. The ability to open teams up with distance shots on frame is something this team DESPERATELY needs. Speed in behind in the form of Findley and when that isn't working it's nice to be able to put a guy on the field who can crack them from deep to break down a bunker.