Zambrano....Zambrano....Henry Zambrano...???

[Hezbolt]

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like Zambrano is already gone. I don't remember seeing his name mentioned in anything related to DC (practice notes, games, ect.) since our last game with the Burn. Maybe I am just blind, or can't read anymore. But I have not seen him at all, not even listed as being at practice and no explaination of where he is. So is he already gone and it just hasn't been announced? Or was he just on loan (i can't remember)?

[chayes]

Originally posted by Hezbolt
Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems like Zambrano is already gone. I don't remember seeing his name mentioned in anything related to DC (practice notes, games, ect.) since our last game with the Burn. Maybe I am just blind, or can't read anymore. But I have not seen him at all, not even listed as being at practice and no explaination of where he is. So is he already gone and it just hasn't been announced? Or was he just on loan (i can't remember)?

Well, he did get hurt in the Dallas game, although we never found out the extent of his knee injury, it could be one explanation for his absence.

[Atouk]

From Dyson's 10/1 practice notes:

"Prideaux at home in KC. Nelsen worked out with weights, but not at practice. McKinley in FL. Quintinilla in El Salvador. Zambrano in Columbia. Namoff given time off after A-League Championship in Chicago. Alavanja in Indiana."

http://unitedmania.mlsfansites.com/story.php?news_ID=200805

He hasn't been mentioned since then. I guess we won't hear anything official until we can begin waiving players after November 4th.

[GDopplerXT]

I was talking to someone in the DC United organization on Saturday night who stated that Zambrano won't be back next year.

It's very possible that this was just this person's personal best guess about the situation and not a statement of fact, so I won't name names.

But I will say that someone else from the DC United organization said that it's likely they won't be waiting too long to start making personnel moves, so we'll probably find out pretty soon.

mysterious, eh? :D

[Topo]

You know, I didn't notice much when he was here anyway...

[Atouk]

Originally posted by Topo
You know, I didn't notice much when he was here anyway... I kind of liked that goal he scored against Dallas that gave us the (unfortunately short-lived) lead in that crucial game. I guess he'd pushed ahead of Curtis & Lassiter on the depth chart, but he's not good enough to use up an SI slot and more than the minimum salary for, so it makes sense that he won't be around.

Thanks for your brief service to the black-and-red, Henry.

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by GDopplerXT
I was talking to someone in the DC United organization on Saturday night who stated that Zambrano won't be back next year.

It's very possible that this was just this person's personal best guess about the situation and not a statement of fact, so I won't name names.

But I will say that someone else from the DC United organization said that it's likely they won't be waiting too long to start making personnel moves, so we'll probably find out pretty soon.

mysterious, eh? :D

According to Goff's article yesterday "MLS clubs can begin waiving players on Nov. 4 and have until Dec. 1 to notify the league about which players they want to retain. The draft, in which United will have the first overall pick and three of the top 14 selections, has been tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17 in Kansas City, Mo. Already possessing several young players, United might opt to trade the first pick." So next week is when things will start flying fast and furious.

[Lowecifer]

Originally posted by shawn12011
The draft, in which United will have the first overall pick and three of the top 14 selections, has been tentatively scheduled for Jan. 17 in Kansas City, Mo.


This is new. Usually the draft is held at the end of the training combine, which is usually in Florida and in February. That's going to be a cold training camp!

It's going to be an interesting off-season.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by Lowecifer



This is new. Usually the draft is held at the end of the training combine, which is usually in Florida and in February. That's going to be a cold training camp!

If those rumors turn out to be true, then it would seem as if the league is going to have some form of split season.

[JoeW]

Originally there was the league note speculating about a split season "down the road." I bet what they're going to look at doing is starting earlier, running later, and have a hiatus in the middle (for the confeds cup and some international exhibitions). Then, if it works out, they'll move to a legitimate split season the next season when adding the expansion teams.

And my take with Zambrano was this: Ray wanted help. The visa/work permit situation meant that at a certain point it wasn't possible to get someone from outside the USA--unless they were already under contract to MLS. That meant we could acquire someone owned by the league (like Sunsing or Zambrano) or trade for a player with a team (Dante Washington). When Columbus wouldn't deal, we had to either stand pat or take what we could. I bet Zambrano's contract with MLS expires at the end of this year anyway.

[Foosinho]

Originally posted by JoeW
When Columbus wouldn't deal, we had to either stand pat or take what we could.

FWIW, the current rumor is that Dante would like more playing time. So it's possible that a deal could be done in the close-season.

He's still a very good player, and a fan favorite here in Columbus. You could do much worse.

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by Foosinho


FWIW, the current rumor is that Dante would like more playing time. So it's possible that a deal could be done in the close-season.

He's still a very good player, and a fan favorite here in Columbus. You could do much worse.

By worse you mean ATC, Lassiter or Albright??? :D

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by shawn12011


By worse you mean ATC, Lassiter or Albright??? :D
Funny thing about Albright, though. He has more points in MLS Cup Final play than Cobi.

[Topo]

Originally posted by Lanky134

Funny thing about Albright, though. He has more points in MLS Cup Final play than Cobi.
:eek: