Time again for some roster speculation, Railhawks style. I just read this interesting article from earlier this week in the Vancouver Sun talking about, you guessed it, Barbara following Ritchie and Rennie to the Whitecaps. http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/11/01/etienne-barbara-vancouver-bound/ I found it interesting that the blog article makes no attempt to actually talk about how the Whitecaps could get Barbara. From what I have gathered, the Chicago Fire actually hold Barbara's MLS rights. So Vancouver would have to trade something to Chicago for those rights. My guess is that Carolina only has a 1 year deal with Barbara. Thats normal at Div2 soccer. If I were a betting man, I would think Rennie and Vancouver make it happen. Most likely Barbara will be gone for 2012 for the Railhawks. What about Campos? Franks, Knighton, Zimmerman and Steele all had good years and could go (back) to MLS.
I don't think anyone holds Barbara's MLS rights. Chicago might have put a discovery claim on Barbara. Basically it comes down to who put the claim in first. And since discovery lists are kept private, we don't know. I'd imagine Vancouver also put in a claim on Barbara and some other NASL players Rennie likes before Sept 15th. If Chicago can't work out something with Barabra or lost interest, then whoever filed the claim next would get a shot. So the Whitecaps could sign him. I honestly think Barbara doesn't care. As long as he is in MLS. To be honest, MLS's discovery claim rule really is silly and needs to be dropped. Also, Montreal has first dibs on at least one NASL player, which might supersede any discovery claim. We don't know.
When I checked with MLS and Carolina this past season, they said Chicago had the discovery claim. I am fairly certain it stays theirs unless they decide to drop it. I remember the Fire had one on Jeremiah White as well, and every pre-season he trials with Philly (2 years running now), Union being able to get White's MLS rights from Fire comes up. I agree though, I don't know how the "Montreal gets any 1 NASL player they want" rule works in correspondence to the discovery claims. They would be smart to go after him. I think the main thing we can get from all this talk, is Barbara is gone. The real question now is, who replaces him and who else leaves?
Spoke with Alan Russell last night at a function for our club where he coaches. He's heading to LA Blues for next season.
Matty Watson is officially headed to Vancouver with Rennie. http://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/2011/...tecaps_watson/ Sad to see him go, but this means Clarke can even more fully rebuild to his liking. This is his first time, so hopefully for him he stays up.
"Zimmerman joins defenders Kupono Low and Cory Miller, and Goalkeeper Akira Fitzgerald on the RailHawks roster for the 2012 NASL Season. More player announcements will be forthcoming in the following weeks." http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/index.php?id=111&newsid=1625 Good to see Nick come back. We'll need some attack to replace Etienne and possibly Campos.
Just thought you guys might like to know, apparently you have signed Bill Gaudette for 2012: http://www.onzesoccer.com/2011/12/bill-gaudette-se-trouve-un-emploi/ (Sorry article is in french)
I kinda liked to hate Gaudette. Oh well, he should play well. As for Lassiter, I'm not quite sure, but he is a local, so if he signs, I wouldn't be shocked.
This article and interview confirms that Montreal owns his rights... and he's not happy about it at all... http://www.insidemnsoccer.com/2012/...es-gets-called-back-to-maltese-national-team/ I hope he finds something acceptable in MLS... I would love to see him playing on TV and seeing if he could kick some butt in MLS too.
Brad Knighton to the Whitecaps. http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2012/01/whitecaps-fc-acquire-goalkeeper-brad-knighton Barbara is probably praying they are. I think Barbara expected a lot more interest in him from MLS and abroad based on his NASL season. And a nice pay hike. But dominating D2 at age 29 in North America, against inferior competition, is not really going to excite anyone in MLS or overseas. So he shouldn't be insulted when Jesse Marsch doesn't know him and wants to see video of him. Not many follow the NASL or care that he scored 20 goals there. The level isn't respected yet. He needs to prove himself at a level above D2 in America or the Malta league before the money comes. Hope he gets his D1 chance.
This reminds me of Tommy Heinemann. He flew through the ranks from Richmond (IIRC) > Charleston > Carolina > Columbus Crew... but has he been performing at a reasonable level for the Crew? Judging from playing time and goals it seems like his production has gone down quite a bit. However, he's something like 5 years younger than Barbara and I suppose has potential and the time to improve.
From Inside Minnesota Soccer... Carolina RailHawks Players who were signed to multi-year contracts in 2011: Kithson Bain, Brian Farber, Akira Fitzgerald, Tony McManus, Cory Miller, Nick Thompson. Players whose options were retained for 2012: Akira Fitzgerald and Cory Miller. Players whose options were not retained for 2012: Kithson Bain, Brian Farber, Tony McManus, Nick Thompson.
Cool. I wonder if Alan Russell will get more playing time now. I'd like to see what he can do. Also, here's news about Agbossoumonde and a possible stint with us... http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2012/01/agbossoumonde-passes-on-mls-move.html
Agbossoumonde rejected a deal to play in MLS and so it sounds like the Traffic Sports contracted player will spend time in Carolina. Nice pick up and quality defensive upgrade for the Railhawks.
IIRC, Russell went to the LA Blues. I think Clarke will get a few of his guys here with his North Irish and Carribean connections.
Alan Russell is gone. Signed with the LA Blues in the USL-Pro. And man did Traffic mess up Agbossoumonde's career. He could of been Tim Ream or George John now in England if he went to MLS early. Or any of the other players going abroad this year in good situations after being developed in MLS. There is no way he should be even thinking about playing D2 in the NASL. He needs to be facing much better competition if he seriously wants to be on the U-23 team and get a good contract in Europe. He is only going to get worse and not better. But Traffic is Traffic. Damn.