2014 In-Season Player Movement Discussion

He has only recently started playing left back. He was more of a left midfielder for many years and I would expect him to be projected as the left sided player of Sporting's 3 up top.

 

That's what I've made of the rumors as well, he'd play up top on the left. Although being able to play left back in a pinch would be a nice bonus.

 

Well he was well known enough in Portugal (probably more for his ex-wife* than his play on the field) that led to him being the object of TV satire.



*She apparently had a thing for Portuguese soccer players since I typed in her name and got hits about her going out with CR7 years ago.

 

I pegged SJ to struggle this season, but after Gorlitz and Djalo, I'm not so sure. Same with Caps.
One good signing and everything can change for a team in MLS.

 

Looking solely at the quality of the in their prime players transferring in, 2014 has already blown out every other season. 14 players arriving from quality leagues between the ages of 23 and 29. Garber is right, we are now a destination of choice.

 

I wouldn't go that far. This off-season has shown that players from respected European leagues will come here now in their prime without having to spend loads of money to come (Noguiera in Philly, Pierazzi in San Jose, and Toni in Kansas City). That is a big step up in terms of what it has taken in the past to get those sorts of players in (if possible). The other thing you are seeing is that there are more young South Americans from more than just Colombia that are seeing the league as a viable choice. The success and word of mouth of this current crop will help sway future players to the league (particularly from countries where the pay check isn't always on time). The league, however, is not a destination of choice quite yet (but it is slowly getting there).

 

Looks like Montreal has found their guy. An Argentine striker/attacking midfielder...

Unfortunately they won't announce it till may. BOOOO.

 

A destination of OKness?

 

Saves this for a quote in November

 

I think MLS is finally taking advantage--in a very co-ordinated way--of the global futbol market for players, tracking European teams facing major debt (bottom half of La Liga, etc), getting reserve players from top Euro teams, and being active in countries where struggling economies have led to undervalued talent (Argentina and the southern cone of S. America).

The league has yet to figure out what to do with players who come over and succeed (Camilo, Jose Gonsalves) and would likely be given a significant performance-based raise elsewhere, but aren't here.

Perhaps a merit-based incentive bonus granted by the league and similar to the "retention funds"?

 

MLS has an interest in developing and selling young foreign players. Montero, Najar, Kamara and Pappa for example. Camilo also turned out to be a sale although he tried to slip away on a free.

 

Matt Pickens has been cut by the Rapids.

http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2014/03/matt-pickens-waived-rapids

 

wow

 

The Rapids backed themselves into a corner. It was a year ago last weekend that Pickens broke his arm, and the fact that he was still on the roster with 3 other GKs made it a buyers market. I'm sure nobody bit on a trade offer, why would they knowing that the Rapids had to get him off the roster before his 190K salary became guaranteed.

 

I know this isn't MLS related (well it is tangentially related), but Pittsburgh of the USL Pro signed Collins John to a contract. Long way from Fulham.

http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/795878.html

 

Revs take Pickens in the waiver draft. Not helping the idea that the Rapids handled this one badly (not that that's a shock...).

 

Also:

@TerraceBlog They're still on the hook for most of it.

— Kyle McCarthy (@kylejmccarthy) March 21, 2014

 

Anyone know how accurate that is? When was the guaranteed roster date?

 

Pickens is better than the other two, it just depends on the comparative salaries.