Interesting, someone is getting cut this guy is like 6-4 right? Seems like his direct competition would be Heinemann.
Williams actually didn't look bad at all in the scrimmages last weekend. He was one of the most impressive players for the Crew in the second game against West Virginia, IMO.
Yep Blachan; still interesting to me though as the team still says they're going after Arrieta and a DP in the summer. The DP might end up being fluff but they've been throwing Arrieta's name out for awhile; they won't be able to put it off forever and then it'll be two if Balchan gets fit.
I saw the tweet after I posted. Damn impatience. Or put others in the IR or trade them. Injuries are going to happen and this depth is nice to have going into a season. Better than being short player and holding the team together with tape and Advil.
F Aaron Schoenfeld in, Balchan to IR. Man, I think we should just start sending players to the Cleveland Clinic, our doctors aren't getting it done. http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/covering-the-crew/2012/03/crew-signs-schoenfeld.html I. On Roster = 31 GK = 3. Hesmer; Gruenebaum, Lampson D = 8. Miranda, Marshall, James; Mendes, Vukovic, Williams, Veeder, Perry D/M = 4. O'Rourke, Francis, Balchan, Gehrig M = 8. Gaven, Mirosevic, Duka, Tchani; Anor, Urso, Grossman, George M/F = 4. Speas, Finlay, Meram, Horton. F = 3. Renteria, Vargas, Heinemann, Schoenfeld II. International Slots = 8 of 8; Jardy says 7 of 8, but didn't say whom. Renteria, Miranda, Mirosevic; Vukovic, Francis, Anor, Vargas, George Jardy apparently tweeted we have a spot open, but didn't say whom. I don't really consider Twitter (or tweets) reliable sources. Doesn't mean he isn't correct, but until he gets specific, I'm assuming 8 of 8. ----------------------------------- Now my shots at who goes where. I'm still a little fuzzy on the new rules, but I know the 20 guys making the most money go on the On-Budge roster (with the exception of GA's, and maybe Homegrowns?), and the 6 guys making the least go on the Off-Budget Apprentice roster. When salary info is out, I'll have a better idea. And there are certain age restrictions as well. I. Senior Roster/On Budget (SR): Players under Contract. 20/18-20, club's option. Salary Cap at $2.81 million. Team can opt for only 18 players, but will still be charged a min amount per open roster spot below 18 towards the cap. DP's count $335,000 if not paid down via allocation $$. In season DP's count $167,500 against the cap. #. Position. Player, Nationality, Age, DOB, Roster Notes, '11 Salary Base/Guar. 1. GK William Hesmer, USA, 30, 11-23-81, $152,500/$163,500. 2. GK Andy Gruenebaum, USA, 29, 12-30-82, $65,000/$66,667. 3. D Chad Marshall, USA, 27, 8-22-84, $250,000/$320,000. 4. D Sebastian Miranda, Chile, 31, 8-26-80, International, $110,000/$115,000. 5. D Carlos Mendes, USA, 31, 12-25-80, $98,175/$101,300 6. D Julius James, Trinidad & Tobago, 27, 7-9-84, Green Card, $62,794/$72,169. 7. D Shaun Francis, Jamaica, 25, 10-2-86, International, $42,000/$42,000. 8. D Nemanja Vukovic, Montenegro, 27, 4-13-84, International, $???/$??? 9. M/D Danny O'Rourke, USA, 28, 5-31-83, $121,000/$133,500 10. M Eddie Gaven, USA, 25, 10-25-86, $209,633/$209,633. 11. M Milovan Mirosevic, Chile, 31, 6-20-80, International, $???/$??? 12. M Dilaver Duka, USA, 22, 9-15-89, $90,000/$223,000. 13. M Tony Tchani, Cameroon, 22, 4-13-89, Green Card, $90k/$194,000. 14. M Bernardo Anor, Venezuela, 23, 5-24-88, International, $42,000/$42,000. 15. M Kirk Urso, USA, 21, 3-6-90, 1st round Supplemental pick, UNC 16. M/F Ethan Finlay, USA, 21, 8-6-90, Creighton, 1st Round Pick, $???/$??? 17. M/F Justin Meram, USA, 23, 12-4-88, $42,000/$66,375. 18. F Emilio Renteria, Venezuela, 27, 10-9-84, International, $120,000/$121,875. 19. F Olman Vargas, Costa Rica, 26, 4-15-85, International, $???/$??? 20. F Tom Heinemann, USA, 24, 4-23-87, $42,000/$42,000. --------------------------------------------------- 21. M/D Rich Balchan, USA, 22, 1-18-89, $42,000/$58,875. (On injured reserve) Going purely on PT and the depth chart. I think Vukovic surely is in the top 20, and I think Finlay is tops among the draft picks, and certainly appears ahead of Anor in Warzycha's estimation. Urso could be here, but I'd have to see the salary info to be certain. ----------------------------------------------- II. Exempt Roster/Off-Budget (ER): Spots 21-24. 4/4 filled. GA players. $42,000 Min. No age restriction. No MAX salary? Up to two Homegrown Players can be singed to GA contracts. No limit on # of Homegrowns. 22. F Ben Speas, USA, 20, 1-17-91, Homegrown/UNC, $???/$??? (GA?) 23. D/M Josh Williams, USA, 23, 4-18-88, $42,000/$42,000. 24. M Cole Grossman, USA, 22, 4-10-89, $42,000/$42,000. 25. D Aubrey Perry, USA, 20, 1-20-91, 2nd Round pick, $???/$??? ------------------------------------------------------- III. Apprentice Roster/Off Budget (AR): Spots 25-30. 10/6. $32,600 Min. Players making $32.6k must be under 25 in 2012 (Do not turn 25 in 2012). Spots 29-30 can be left open and the club can receive $35k per slot in allocation money. No indication of a MAX salary here, so players on this roster could make MORE than $32.6k as long as they meet the age requirement. 26. M Eric Gehrig, USA, 24, 12-15-87, $32,600/$32,600 (turns 25 in 2012, not in-season) 27. D Korey Veeder, USA, 20, 10-13-91, $32,600/$34,475. 28. F Aaron Horton, USA, 19, 5-19-92, Homegrown, $???/$??? 29. GK Matt Lampson, USA, 22, 9-6-89, Homegrown, $???/$??? 30. M Kevan George, Trinidad & Tobago, 21, 1-30-90, 2nd Round pick. $???/$??? 31. F Aaron Schoenfeld, USA, 21, 4-17-90, ETSU, trialist, 2nd R. Supp Pick (Montreal) Gehrig the head of the class here. He saw significant action with the Senior Team last year. He does seem to violate the age restriction this year, but MLS is notorious for not being clear, and his salary prevents him from being in a higher spot. So unless unless he gets a salary bump to $42k, there is no other roster he can be on. I'm putting the 2/3 of the Homegrowns here, but that could change when salary info is released. ------------------------ IV. International Slots. 8 of 8. Teams start w/ 8, they can be traded. Julius James (Trinidad & Tobago) and Tony Tchani (Cameroon) have Green Cards, and do not count as International Players. 1. F/M Emilio Renteria, Venezuela, On Budget Roster 2. D Sebastian Miranda, Chile, On Budget Roster 3. M Milovan Mirosevic, Chile, On Budget Roster 4. F Olman Vargas, Costa Rica, On Budget Roster 5. D Nemanja Vukovic, Montenegro, On Budget Roster 6. D Shaun Francis, Jamaica, On Budget Roster (probably) 7. M Bernardo Anor, Venezuela, On Budget Roster (probably) 8. M Kevan George, Trinidad & Tobago, Off-Budget/Apprentice Roster Again, Jardy tweeted we have a spot open, but didn't say which player had a Green Card. Until he does, the list stands. ------------------------------ V. Injured Reserve/Disabled List 1. M/D Rich Balchan, USA, 22, 1-18-89, $42,000/$58,875. ----------------------------- VI. In = 11 1. D Carlos Mendes, USA, 30, 12-25-80, $98,175/$101,300 2. GK Matt Lampson, USA, 22, 9-6-89, Homegrown, $???/$??? 3. M Milovan Mirosevic, Chile, 31, 6-20-80, International, $???/$??? 4. F Olman Vargas, Costa Rica, 26, 4-15-85, International, $???/$??? 5. F Ben Speas, USA, 20, 1-17-91, Homegrown (UNC), $???/$??? 6. M/F Ethan Finlay, USA, 21, 8-6-90, Creighton, 1st Round Pick, $???/$??? 7. D Aubrey Perry, USA, 20, 1-20-91, 2nd Round pick, $???/$??? 8. M Kirk Urso, USA, 21, 3-6-90, 1st round Supplemental pick, UNC 9. M Kevan George, Trinidad & Tobago, 21, 1-30-90, 2nd Round pick. $???/$??? 10. D Nemanja Vukovic, Montenegro, 27, 4-13-84, International, $???/$??? 11. F Aaron Schoenfeld, USA, 21, 4-17-90, ETSU, trialist, 2nd R. Supp Pick (Montreal) ================== VII. Out = 11 1. D/M Josh Gardner, USA, 28, 9-14-82, $49,200k (SR) (Exp. Draft, Montreal). 2. M Dejan Rusmir, Serbia, 31, 1-28-80, Int. $159,996/$170,496 (SR) (waived) 3. M Santiago Prim, Argentina, 20, 5-11-90, Int., $32,600k (AR) (waived) 4. F Andres Mendoza, Peru, 32, 4-26-78, Int., $500k/$595k (DP) (option declined) 5. F Jeff Cunningham, USA, 34, 8-21-76, $140,000/$152,500 (SR) (option declined) 6. M/D Kevin Burns, USA, 25, 3-26-85, $42,000/$42,000 (SR/ER) (option declined) 7. D/M Ben Sippola, USA, 21, 7-13-89, $32,600/$32,600. (AR) (option declined) 8. GK Alex Riggs, USA, 22, 3-17-88, $32,600/$32,600 (AR) (option declined) 9. M Robbie Rogers, USA, 23, 5-12-87, $140,000/$140,000 (OOC, signed w/ Leeds) 10. M Emmanuel Ekpo, Nigeria, 23, 12-20-87, GC, $200,000/$222,250 (Senior Roster) 11. Conditional 2013 Supplemental Pick to Montreal for Schoenfeld's rights. --------------------------- As always, if you spot something I've missed, or messed up, feel free to let me (and the rest of us) know.
Watched Aaron Schoenfield play a few times last summer. A good friend of mine was one of the coaches for the Portland Phoenix and Aaron was one of the players he said would make it to MLS. I haven't seen the Crew play since the MLS Cup year so I don't know what type of formation RW favors or how Schoenfield will fit in. Here's what I know from seeing him play: He's a big target man who linked up well (held ball up) with other attacking players, especially speedy strikers. Can be a handful on set pieces. Won't carry a front line on his own (doesn't have the pace to run past defenders or thrive in a spread out 4-5-1) but could be useful in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1. Having said that, he's young and hungry. There's no telling what he's capable of.
I gotta think george has a green card. He's lived in atlanta since he was 12. Thats 10 years residency. No excuse for not having one. Im also not pleased with the quality of our stock of forwards. Renteria and vargas are fine. Merem and tommy hustle are mediocre and horton, speas and schonfield are unproven. Have i left anyone out? Findlay maybe? This why we keep hearing about arrieta and a dp. We need 3 or 4 starting quality. Right now we have a nice reserve squad but not much for the paid attendance events.
I thought the Arrieta move was dead in the water. His contract was up in June but Sapri laughed at our approach and his agent used our interest to get him a new deal. I thought sure Saprissa gave him fresh terms once they learned of our interest. Arrieta aside, if we're talking about DP's, we need to find one to sit alongside or preferably behind Miro. It's so obvious, and of course you want to support the likes of Urso or Tchani but it is a big ask for the former and as for Tchani, well, I think he can succeed as part of a central three, but I think he is the odd man out if we go with two up top, which we should do.
I wouldn't mind a winger. Move DOR to DM, and let Duka and Miro make like Xavi and Iniesta. A DP at DM seems like a bit of a waste. Though Frings (as a sweeper) was doing wonders for TFC before he got hurt.
I watched Aaron for three years here at ETSU, and that's a pretty accurate summation of his play. We never really had a guy with the kind of speed to make the best use of him, and the only guy that really worked well with him up top went into a massive funk in the middle of the season last year. The guy has a great work rate and he has a good head on his shoulders, too, so he's not going to do anything rash on or off the field. I really hope he sticks with you guys, and glad to hear he's playing well off the bench. A lot of folks down here are really excited for him and will definitely be keeping close tabs on the Crew this year!
Well, we have some roster spots open now. Hesmer and Heinemann both out for the year. Bummer. http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2012/04/13/13-crew-injuries.html Have no clue on the roster rules, but we should get two more spots, methinks. Lets have a look at Lampson at GK. We have plenty of needs. A CB who can currently play, a competent DM, a forward, a wing who can beat people off the dribble, and some depth at fullback all seem like things we could use.
We are lucky that we have a good backup keeper. Losing Hesmer is a blow though. I think that, with the possible exception of the DM position, we really need to look for speedy players. One thing I've taken from the first 5 games is that the Crew are slow. We can be beaten on pure pace pretty easily.
One hell of an update: "Although Warzycha implied that a designated player could be signed pretty soon, the likelihood of that is essentially zero. The international transfer window closed yesterday, meaning any international player the Crew would sign between now and the summer would have to be currently out of contract."
The summer is by far the best time to sign a player though, so I don't think it's necessarily a bad move. The European season is still going right now so a lot of potential signings are probably trying to focus on finishing out their seasons. There is one more interesting nugget in that same report from Jardy: the Crew were practicing with Mirosevic in the holding midfielder role. This has been the weakest area for us this season in my opinion. Perhaps Bob is considering slotting him into a DM position in future matches, or perhaps he's practicing there to show other players how it's done? Mendes and Tchani seem to be healthy now...given our poor performances recently I think one or both of them ought to be given a runout soon.
And there's yet another, Bob's desire to waste a spot on a third keeper. See, MLS has this emergency reserve goalkeeper pool thing. So it's sort of like Thursday night, nothing is going on. You can always hit up Brittany though, she's all like, "WOO00 PAR-TAY!" Bam, third keeper. No commitments, no regrets. Suits all parties. As for replacing Heinemann, if it's like for like then I'd say we've already done it in the form of Schoenfeld. His Lakota name might not be "Runs With Scissors" like Tommy's, and he might not have the impressive USL numbers in his locker either. But we've brought him in, so use the spot to give us something different. Finally, I really hope we aren't going to see Milo at DM. "Hey I know, you know that new guy we've pinned our hopes on? Well why don't we piss him off even further?!"