Please post all credible news, incoming rumors, any gossip, and all theories here. Could she be in Houston in 2015? Could she be in Houston in 2014 even? And what would it take for her to go to Houston? What would it take to get Portland to let her go to Houston? Or does Alex simply wave the magic wand and say, "I'm going to Houston, and I'm now Ms. Carrasco". And the league says, "Yes Ma'am".
I think the last option may very well just happen. The hsuband and wife combo in Houston would bring some great news stories for the NWSL and MLS. I know you are looking for credible stories but a unique situation could be something the NWSL may not be able to pass up as well as living arrangements for the newlyweds
Christen Press is the big winner in all this. Alex wants to go to Houston and be with the fiance, why I don't know, as it would make sense to me for him to be traded to Portland instead. Anyway, the only people currently in the league that can make a trade for Morgan would be Wambach or Solo. However, if the league allocates Press to Houston, you now have a young, potent striker similar to Morgan with the added benefit of being from the West coast. Everybody wins, well maybe except Washington and Chicago.
Alex Carrasco, Ohai sisters, Tancredi, and Casey Loyd to Houston. Vero and Press to Portland. Now the "Big Five" teams in NWSL have some mondo scoring firepower. Portland: Vero, Press, Sinclair, Weimer, McDonald, Heath Seattle: Leroux, Foxhoven, Goebel, Little, Rapinoe Houston: Morgan, Loyd, Tancredi, Ohai FCKC: A-Rod, Henderson, Holiday, Tymrak, Marlborough, Bogus WNY: Wambach, Adriana, Kerr, Perez, Lloyd, Zerboni
Hard-working teams that will have to win with defense, goalkeeping, coaching, and pure heart. The other four teams wouldn't have near the offensive firepower, but would still have their own identity. Sky Blue with defense, Chicago with toughness, Boston with attitude, and Washington with spirit.
Washington & Chicago are the real losers and everyone seems to think they should just take their lumps because it's best for the league. That seems a bit Animal Farmish to me...
There are no losers in this. The league is growing. More female players get to live their dream. The word "expansion" is a good thing. Expansion drafts are not the "Devil", like some fans on here seem to think.
As long as USSF is paying the USWNT salaries, they can put any player anywhere they want. This league is as strong as USSF wants it to be.
There are losers. These teams are unlikely to get full allocations next season. The benefit of allocations can't be overstated. If anyone shouldn't get full allocations next year, it should be teams that were given a proven striker. It's damn near impossible to get a decent striker at the maximum allowed salary. Yes, I agree that it's awesome that 20 more women get to be pros but I think the reality isn't a rosy as you'd like to paint it.
Has there been any decision made that there will be teams that will not get full allocation again next year? My impression was each team will probably get at least 3. Now whether those 3 are of the same quality as others is another matter.
If you gave Press to Portland in exchange for Morgan going to Houston, Portland might have the better of it. I thought Morgan was the best player in the world in 2012. In 2013, no. In 2014 maybe Press is. Or Leroux. However, Washington and Chicago deserve a major striker. One of them should get Press. The other should get Dunn and another allocated player. Maybe Tymrak?
I would have to agree. At least for now placing players that will be in the best interest of the whole league will be done one way or another. Morgan and some top Mexican players going to Houston would be in the best interest.
Portland is not going to trade the most marketable player in the NWSL for Press straight up. What incentive do they have? If Houston wants Morgan, they're going to have to pay above face value for her. Honestly, I think it's more likely that Carrasco (who did not start any games for Houston mind you) will get traded to Portland, than Morgan to Houston.
The best interest of the league would be to piss off Merrit Paulson? Really? Sorry, but they gotta keep him happy if he's gonna convince any more MLS owners to join. And you can't set the precedent of sending Morgan to every new MLS expansion team... Plus both Paulson and league commissioner Cheryl Bailey have stated that allocated players are not going to be moved. People need to accept that and get over it.
Thats true if it was any other club besides the Thorns it would probably meet with little resitance. Time will tell how it will be handled and could happen in 2015 or 2016 giving the league time to look at some other possible Alloted player relocations that would make sense for the league
Yeah, but the Flash got 2 USWNT players that start on a regular basis and can put the ball in the back the net. Scoring is the hardest thing to come by and with the current salary cap you can't really go out and buy effectively either.
Here's the thing though, if it was any other club that held the rights to Morgan, I say no way they give her up. In Portland case, I really don't think they need Morgan to sell tickets. Portland has one of the most mature fan bases which means their loyalty is not tied to any one player but rather the club. So I think as long as they are winning it will be fine. I do however agree with you that on paper, the dude should be the one that is traded to Portland. However, I get the distinct impression that in the likelihood that Morgan gets traded to Houston, he will be become a write off.
It's amazing how Morgan fell for someone that is not a starter. Mia Hamm fell for an All-Star shortstop at least from professional baseball.
So, if I'm Portland and want Alex as a Thorns player long term, what do I do? Have the Timbers acquire her husband. Now, we keep them both. No more talk about Alex leaving. Otherwise, suppose she were traded to Houston as people have theorized about. What happens when the Dynamo trades him? Is she going to hop around the country following him? Is that what we want for women's soccer -- the superstar woman follows the non-superstar husband around the country? On the other hand, if the Lokomotiv were allocated Press and drafted Ohai ....
Christen Press, Casey Loyd, and Kealia Ohai. That's still a potent attack for Houston, even if they don't get to acquire their Baby Horse. Super Horse (Press) may end up being better than her anyways.