I just heard Rennie was on the Back Of The Net radio show saying the team has garnered interest from MLS and foreign teams. It seems we're going to loose some important guys by the time the playoffs come around. What with Brad Rusin already gone, it looks like the culling has begun. This is great for the organization and the league, but I'd hate to lose a damn playoff game now after the season we've had. Ah, life in the minor leagues.
I am not too worried. I think the legitimate players will get a look. Zimmerman and Barbara are the only two that I am concerned about. Guys like Watson, Kupono and Nurse should stay. Steele can leave too. One thing Rennie has done quietly is brought around players that are technically solid but slightly older than the rest. It is paying dividends for us. Anyway, very few transfers happen during the season in MLS. I think we are looking at the off season for future transfers to MLS. So, we will keep our players through the playoffs IMO.
From Du Nord: "Reports say Jesse Marsch is going to be the new head coach of the Montreal Impact. Don't know yet when he would take over, now, or after current season." Hoo-ray! Hoo-ray! Will we have M. Rennie for another year?
Anywhere but Montreal. Looks like he will stay until the end of the season. Any idea if Paul Ritchie will stay on? In my mind, he is the logical successor.
I think a big off season question is if Barbara (and maybe more RHs) don't follow Rennie to Vancouver.
I'll bet on Etienne, Knighton, possibly Campos or Watson. He might also pick up Paladini, Gardner, Heinneman and other former Railhawks or City Stars in MLS.
I am not sure how it works, but I am pretty sure Vancouver would have to do a bit of trading to get most of those players. Because of some crazy MLS rules, most of the better players on the Railhawks are already claimed by MLS teams. For example, even though they are released and currently signed to Carolina, Campos's MLS rights are still owned by RSL, Zimmerman and Knighton to Philly. Also I read that Chicago Fire has the rights to Barbara. In fact when I read that Rennie was worried about Railhawks being "called" up to MLS for the playoffs, first one I thought of was Barabara to Chicago (of course they probably wouldn't even make the playoffs). In any case, the team has played so well it wouldn't surprise me if most of them don't move up in the offseason.
That's life in the B league son. Get used to it. It is also the reason I cherish guys like Kupono and Norkus.
