Milton Reyes Rumors are flying around that DCU is having some cap trouble and are shopping Reyes around the league. He makes about 112k with bonuses, which is kind of high. I'd love to see Mr. Lalas pull a deal to bring him to SJ. For the longest time, we haven't had a strong right back. Reyes is one of the best (if not THE best) attacking right back in MLS. The combination of Mullan and Reyes on the right would TERRORIZE teams. Speed, skill and tenecity. Affording him would be tricky, but I think we could do it. Waive Faria and his 48k salary (which frees up that SI slot we need). Place Roner on IR for the season (and save his palty 25k) Trade one of: Wes Hart (if we really DID add him to our roster) Craig Waibel (33k and expendable with Cochran able to play center) Ian Russell (66k and maybe a bit expensive for a likely non-starter behind Mullan on the right and Corrales/Alvarez on the left) The addition of Reyes would give us the best defense in MLS hands down. We would FINALLY have someone who could keep up with the Beasleys and Cunninghams of the league (and STILL run overlaps and hit crosses out of the wings). The only concern is his return from ACL surgury. As long as he could pass a rigorous physical, I'd be thrilled to see him here. This could be Alexi's first big deal as GM.
Hmmm.....looks like if we IR Roner for the season, we have to carry his salary on the books (but get to use his roster spot). That would tend to rule out trading Waibel because his salary plus our waiving of Faria would not be enough. So that means Ian Russell or perhaps Hart and Waibel for Reyes. I'd still make that trade anyday. A defense of Dunivant, Agoos, Dayak and Reyes would be spectacular. Add the cover of Robinson and Cochran (even Corrales at left back) and you'd be hard pressed to find a better defense in MLS.
You guys seem to be operating on the assumption that we're already up against the cap as it is. I personally have no idea. Is it true? When all those salary figures came out a month or so ago, I was under the impression the Quakes were in a good cap situation and could add a little salary. With the dumping of Faria, maybe that's all that would be necessary? I agree Reyes would be a fantastic pickup (presuming he's come back from injury), a major improvement over either Waibel and/or Hart and/or Roner.
Flash: you're operating under the assumption that SJ will actually use all its cap. That's not a given...
Those numbers did not include Ekelund and Agoos, both big-time money earners. Any reduction those guys took easily went to deserved raises for other players.
Another issue is that supposedly the MLS Cup winning team gets a bonus of about $200K that gets divided among the players. This $200K ends up hitting the next yea'rs cap which would impact the Quakes' numbers this year.
Re: Re: Re: Milton Reyes? I think the way it actually works is that many individual players have Cup bonuses written into their contracts that are then applied to the next years cap. I don't have concrete data on this though. Anyway, I doubt the Quakes will go after Milton Reyes. If they cared to spend that much on outside backs they would have tried harder to keep Wade Barrett. Besides, since Yallop got here we've played with an agressive left back and stay at home right backs.
They simply couldn't have kept Wade Barrett here because they couldn't offer him what he truly wanted-to play in Europe. My undeerstanding of the whole thing was that the parting of the ways was amicable. He wanted to go abroad at this point in his career and the Quakes let him go with their blessing. I, too, doubt that they will go after Reyes, although I beleive it would be the best acquisition they could possibly make. I expect that if he moves at all, it'll be to one of the big three, with one of those "super secret" special dispensations that the league always seems to make when it involves one of their favorite markets.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Milton Reyes? I don't think Barrett left because he was real unhappy with the Quake's offer, he left because he wanted to experience Europe. With the departure of Lagos, perhaps we'll play a little more defensively on the left now? Corrales is not the attacking force that Manny was. With the emergence of Mullan on the right, it might make more sense to attack the right channel aggressively and play back deeper on the left. Especially if you consider the fact that Corrales and Dunivant (or Agoos) are not exactly speed merchants, while Reyes and Mullan most certainly are. Also, if teams counter us, I think it's harder for most to hit accurate crosses from thier left (our right corner) then if they get behind Dunivant and cross with the right foot. I think we started with the "aggressive" left back thing because of Barrett and Lagos. Both are now gone....
Alvarez is arguably the new left mid, not Corrales. I think Ramiro is going to be the first midfield sub during games, and cover for Mulrooney's potential absence during WCQ season, not Manny's replacement. DougO
Re: Milton Reyes Sorry for trolling, but what makes you think that DC would want any of those players. DC's needs are: DMF, LW, and a striker.
Re: Re: Milton Reyes? I suspect it'll be Russell as well. Alvarez is REAL suspect defensively. If Dunivant pushes up into the corner on an overlap, do you have much confidence in him tracking back and covering Todd's butt? I don't. Dunivant would have to become a "stay at home" back if Alvarez is getting lots of minutes. Otherwise, the likes of Olsen and Ralston will eat us up. If we're considering Russell for that position, why not Mullan? He has the ability to cut inside and take on defenders ala Lagos. What can Russell do with the ball out there? He can't cross with his left that well. The only offensive move I've seen from him since he joined the team is the "fake left, push the ball right and run like hell into the corner for a cross" move. He must have learned it from Cobi Jones. If you've seen anything else, let me know.
Re: Re: Milton Reyes No need to be sorry. Asking a legitimate question on another team's board shouldn't be considered trolling. Sadly, in some forums it is. Wes Hart is a decent defensive mid. Most certainly an upgrade from Chino. Waibel is a good pickup if you need a stay at home back in a 3-5-2. He is solid in the center or right side.
Re: Re: Re: Milton Reyes? Mullan is wasted on the left. Hes just a much better crosser on the right, and just seems much more comfortable over there. We didnt really need strong offensive contribution from our left mid last year, and the same I think applies this year as well.If its Ramiro or Russel (the two guys I think it will be) they would not be asked to break down the left side like Mullan is asked to on the right, they will be more expected to combine with the forwards, central mids and left back to attack via combination. While Russel really isnt a crosser on the left, he does fit in pretty well with the one-touch passing game there.
Re: Re: Re: Milton Reyes Chino does not play for us anymore and our Central Defense is the strongest part of our team. I think that if we are going to give up Reyes, SJ will have to give either Russell or DeRosorio. DC does not need anymore defenders.
