Probably not the right thread for this, because it isn't a rumor - Boskovic is gone. http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/11/dc-united-branko-boskovic-mutually-agree-to-part-ways Pussywhipped, apparently.
Meaning, I suppose, that it's easier to pin it on his wife than sully the club for under-utilizing him?
I really thought our new #9 Hamdi Salihi was going to be the long term solution to our striker issue. He started the season so well but just seemed to fall out of favor with Benny. This was made obvious by the fact that guys like Long Tan, Josh Wolff, and Joseph Ngwenya were starting above him. I don't think it helped his image at all that he filed that lawsuit against the bar that served alcohol to the driver of his accident.
FO punditry? Bosko gone (reasons debatable, performance not) Salihi looking to be gone At what point does ANYONE get held accountable for totally wasting good money and not doing their job right?
I wonder if DeRo will be asked to accept a pay cut. He went from MVP to fairly mediocre season by all accounts and really dropped off before his injury. Is he worth the huge salary or would 50-75k be better spent on depth in other position?
Um, no (and haven't you asked this elsewhere and had it answered?). DeRo spent years trying to finally get an MLS team to pay for what he gave them and finally last off-season got United to pay up. Why on earth would he (or you ask him to) give that up? We asked him to do different things this year and I think he did a pretty good job of doing them. I am extremely excited to see him next year after the rest and rehab.
I don't see how you could look at either player and say that they performed anywhere near what was expected of them. I blame the players 100%. It didn't help that they were anti-social and cliquish. While the rest of the team had bought into the Olsen mentality, it never felt like they did. More than any other reason, that is why they're gone IMO. I'm probably alone, and I came to grips with that a long time ago, but I'm glad to see them leaving.
Sucks losing Branko. He and Salihi could play this game better in their sleep than most of our roster. However, I gotta think Salihi is on his way out, too...unless Olsen is seriously reconsidering his own coaching decisions to sit Hamdi. Ya can't have that money invested in a bench player. So, the team is back to square one on getting a creative AM and a forward who can fill the net. A lot of work to do this offseason, even if KP wants us to wait until summer. If this team goes into the season with Pajoy in the starting lineup, I will.....well, I'm gonna have to put some thought into what I'll do, but it'll be good.
No, I never brought it up before. It's also difficult to say if he was asked to do different things or if he just couldn't replicate what he previously did. He kept up with his assists, but his dribbling, shooting and scoring was way down. His defensive play also suffered greatly (if there was defensive play). I mean professional sports is about results and efficiently using your money, not about honor. Hell, Bosko took a pay cut, why is DeRo immune? I'm not insulting the man personally, I am just looking at the salary of roughly 650,000, in the context of other players who need to be compensated for their efforts this last year, and asking if dollar for dollar it's worth it. Careful, I got the business for expressing the same opinion
You've made it clear you value hustle over skill long ago. What evidence is there that they were anti social? What is the Olsen mentality? Accepting his inept tactics and decision making?
I reject two point. 1. All accounts are that Branko was beloved by his teammates, so I don't see any substantiation behind your social claim. 2. Regardless of whether these players perform or not, somebody picked them and brought them here and they did almost nothing at great cost. Somebody should pay for that because it is complete failure. As a GM, or scout, or whatever, there is no greater failure than that.
I liked bosko. He seemed like a good guy and he really impressed me at the end of the season. And by all reports he was well liked by the otehr players. (Have no idea where the "cliqueish" comment came from above) A little dissapointed that we are starting the season next year with such big unknowns in such major areas. We dont have a 10 and need to go and find one and god knows if they can handle the MLS travel, weather, physical play and how they mesh with dero, pontious and the striker we are gonna have to get after salihi goes.
...What makes anyone think there won't be more of the same - just with a different crew, who won't be familiar (or fit) with the rest of the team? Unless there's a front-office shake-up, I see more of the same.
What did you expect their teammates to say? Have you ever seen anyone talk to them? They sit by themselves, they don't even shake hands with their teammates when they get subbed out. DeRosario went out of his way to avoid one and maybe both of them. How can you blame a GM if two players form their own clique and don't associate with the rest of the team?
