Given where we picked, the guys we might have taken were gone. This draft just isn't a big deal at all, unless you are terrible or need a couple of cheap guys because your big players fill your cap. I still think it's 50/50 Hesmer retires--but he might enjoy a year or two in LA as a backup (as Frankie did). Wish him well though.
He's better than that ass clown Josh Saunders. However, at a 2012 price of $78K guaranteed, Saunders is a decent value. Given some of Saunders' off the field issues, and Hesmer's reputation as a pro, I wouldn't be surprised to see him starting there (if he decides to play).
That's the gamble Bushie took--and it eventually worked out for him, though he had to go to a third team for it. I just don't know if Will can come back given the injury he had. I'd love to see it, as I think he's a great keeper when healthy--but I'd hate to see him crippled in later life too. Either way, I wish him well. He'll always have a place here in the fans hearts. Who knows--in LA maybe he can be Will Ferrell's stand in (or stunt double if he ever makes a soccer comedy).
Of course this is what was said about this time last year, and somehow we started the season with 30.
I'd agree with all of that. At least initially, it seemed to me there's no real risk in selecting players in that 2nd stage. If they don't sign, they don't sign and everyone moves on. Last year LA picked four and pulled back two, including Frankie, and of the 6 total only Boyens and Noonan signed. The others retired. Except that there is real risk in the sense that you might end up locked in lengthy negotiations with a player(s) that maybe isn't all that interested, or maybe you don't even really want or intend to use. Or maybe even all of the above. Remember how long the saga dragged on with Jeff when we picked him? At the time I was all for bringing him back into the fold, and I suppose even now I still stand behind that. But if I'd known then that Bob would never call his number, given the $$ we ended up setting aside for him, then maybe we should've just looked elsewhere. This whole re-entry process doesn't seem to be working for either the players or the league office, though the teams themselves seem to be making out okay, mostly by ignoring it. It needs more than just tweaking or else it should be scrapped altogether in favor of true free agency.
I think Hunter Freeman or Ty Harden could have been nice picks. Certainly decent MLS players at the fullback position. Something we are completely lacking right now.
Well clearly it doesn't, but I expect it to change markedly in the next round of negotiations. The decline of the GA's v the rise of the HG's is a useful bellwether, the league can only hold out for so long.
Harden is horrible. He was probably the worst defender in the worst defense in the league last season. Freeman could have been decent.
That surprised me a bit too. And I think other observers. But they may have cap issues. They have been good for a couple years now, and they may have players getting substantial raises this year. It will be interesting to see where they are once the salary info for 2013 is released. Also, does SJ have a academy system for Homegrowns?? I know different teams introduced them at different times.
Think I read yesterday that Morrow and Beitashour are definitely due reasonable bumps in pay, maybe Wondo, too. Plus they've already got Cronin, Hernandez and maybe another guy or two on new terms.