Union Off-Season Player Rumors & Movement 2013/14

If he's able... I thought he was hurt in training?

 

Is it time to unload McInerney? He'll have a huge salary next year and he isn't bringing much to the table if he isn't scoring. No assists this year in 2096 minutes. Hack probably owes him his job based on his performance earlier in the season, but he can't buy himself a goal at this point. Might be time to trade him while he still has value. Bring back a real Philly guy like Bobby Convey, perhaps?

 

I want to bring in any real midfielder.

 

A slump is a perfect reason to not give him a huge contract, and hopefully he'll start scoring again which would bring his value back up.

No reason to unload him now unless he wants a HUGE contract.

 

You could definitely make the case to move him. But he would need to be replaced in some capacity. His exit would leave things a little thin up front.

But @drewuke is right. His slump might be a good way to keep him and not pay him. Not pay him as well that is.

 

Unless he never scores again with any regularity, like Mwanga, in which case moving him sooner rather than later is the correct decision.

I'm still a little surprised the Union hasn't made an effort (that we know about) for Convey. He would seem to fit well into the FO's narrative, although maybe less so into Hack's midfield black hole system.

 

But what if the streak continues into next year? Or if the FO moves forward with the same black hole of a midfield because it got them to the playoffs? I think they should entertain any offers because his value could realistically drop even more.

 

I forgot Danny Mwanga existed. I think he did too. Where is that guy?

 

Under Hack I see Jack leaving much more likely than Cruz leaving. I don't think he's ever benched Cruz based on performance.

 

It might be time to start considering offers for ANY/ALL of our players. Who might we consider "untouchable" at this point? What player(s) must stay this offseason? As for a McInerney for Convey trade, NO WAY! To answer my own question, IMHO only Okugo is "untouchable".

He is #55 in your Colorado Matchday Program!

I guess this is OK, as long as we get 2014's version of Mike Petke!

 

Okugo for sure. I don't think you move Casey or MacMath unless something incredible comes along, despite their shortcomings. If given a choice between Gaddis and Williams, I think I might rather make Gaddis untouchable.

 

I would put four players on that list.

1 and 2 are Okugo and McInerney based on pure upside. Remember: Jack Mac just turned 21 a month or two ago. Show me a striker who turned pro before 20 and never had a half-year slump.

3 and 4 are Williams and Le Toux based on value and consistently. Neither are world-beaters, but both contribute above what they're paid and both basically run the offense when they're on the field. They'd be disruptive to get rid of and expensive to replace.

 

I was harsh on Williams early in the year, but damn he really shut me up.

 

Hell no to getting rid of Jack. His off the ball runs for someone his age is ridiculous. I agree with @Dills that it is a confidence issue and the result of a shitty midfield. Find someone who can feed him the ball, and Jack's scoring will come back. He has the potential to be a real star in this league. We need to stop trying to purge this roster every year and build some form of consistency. Casey won't be playing for too much longer, and Jack is a huge player to build around.

 

Okugo and McInerney are all about the money. Well, everything is all about the money, but what I mean is that if they have a year to go on their deals and won't agree to Union numbers they're both gone before they leave on a free.

If I need to choose financially I keep #14. McInerney is a poacher without service. If Philly won't fix their midfield he's just about useless.

Could see Williams moving to CB full-time making room for Gaddis at RB. Ray is more dangerous in attack less the throw-ins. Sheannon seems more comfortable in a full-time defending role anyway, and they keep his reasonable contract and sideline corners to boot.

 

American strikers with Jack's ability to read the game only come once in a blue moon. We should prioritize locking him down for the long term like a Zusi or Donovan. It's more important to me than a DP.

 

If he can get on form again. How much money can you give someone with such a high cieling that's playing so poorly right now?

 

I'd keep the starting back line and MacMath. Casey, if you don't expect him to play every day, and he might make an interesting CAM if he had somebody to pass to. Le Toux, if he don't have to do everything. Jack confuses me. I don't have a strong opinion eiher way.

 

Some important questions that haven't been considered: Does Jack want to stay here long-term? Has he been pleased with how he has been handled/treated since returning from the Gold Cup? Does he have a good relationship with Hack?
I'm not sure that we'd like the answer to any of those questions. Perhaps he feels he's being blamed for the offensive failings of the midfield, that Hack has refused to fix for most of the season. At the very least, a member of his family has expressed displeasure with Hackworth on Twitter at times.

 

I don't think there is any such thing as truly untouchable. This is a business and selling players at the peak of their value, though often unpopular with the fans, can yield big results for tightly funded teams. Then again, I don't look at players as "replaceable" in their entirety given their possible ties to the community, fan base, or team.

Here is a short list of players that I don't think it makes much sense to trade or not bring back for next season given their age, salary, production, and intangibles.

Okugo
MacMath (how quickly the fanbase has been converted to support him, eh?)
Casey
Le Toux
Parke

This is a subsequent list where I would have to be wowed by what was being offered.

Williams
McInerney
Gaddis

 

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