A christmad present: Goff's analysis of the trade and possible future moves

[ursula]

I just love Stephen Goff. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34896-2002Dec24.html)

Lots of juicy speculation:

-might we get JMM?

-questioning Escandarian's ability

-Ricardo Clark???

-Dema the Demolition Man

Not that this is really news to us internet nuts but it's fun to read about in the Post on a Christmas morn.

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by ursula
-questioning Escandarian's ability
Thanks Mr. Goff for acknowledging me as "some observers", since it appears that sentence refers to me and me alone.

;)

[Knave]

From The Post ...
With Pope, Moreno and Williams gone, the player with the longest service to United after Etcheverry is midfielder Ben Olsen, 25, who missed most of the past two years with an ankle injury. Next on the list of "veterans" is 19-year-old midfielder Bobby Convey, who will enter his fourth season.
It's hard for me to get my head around this.

Geez! ... How on earth did Bobby Convey get to be a DC United old-timer?

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by Knave
It's hard for me to get my head around this.

Geez! ... How on earth did Bobby Convey get to be a DC United old-timer?

When you have been with th team since you were in diapers you are an old timer. ;)

[Funkfoot]

Thanks for the link - I didn't want to risk my neck on the ice getting the paper from the driveway! (Oh yeah, Merry Christmas everyone!)

No mention of Earnie Stewart in there with JMM. I wonder if we aren't interested, or he isn't interested or what. I know about the golf thing. If that's the hangup, tell him there's a team in the U.A.E. with a lot of money and the sand traps are great there. Seriously, if we trade an allocation so someone else can have him, we better get something good in return!

[CHICO13]

"There's some risk involved in what we're doing, but it has to be done" Hudson said, "And it's our responsibility, mine and Dave's and the other coaches, to make it work."


That pretty much sums it up for me. Ray steps up to the plate and puts in on his shoulders. I respect that.

[pething101]

Biggest question I have, is how much time do they get?

A couple of months, a couple of years?

You United fans do seem to be a bit impatient. But then again, I cannot blame ya'll. Ya'll are used to winning and these last three years must have sucked pretty bad.

[ursula]

Originally posted by Knave
It's hard for me to get my head around this.

Geez! ... How on earth did Bobby Convey get to be a DC United old-timer?

That took my breath away too. Besides Convey being second in tenure on the team, this means that only Olsen has a link to the championship years. Wow. "The championship years." I see me writing that phrase and know that those years are definitely in the past now.

[ursula]

Originally posted by JAnderson14
Thanks Mr. Goff for acknowledging me as "some observers", since it appears that sentence refers to me and me alone.

;)

Yeah, I noticed that 'some observers" phrase and thought of you. he he. You know, if we do draft Escandarian, and presuming that we do get JMM or some solid forward for one spot. I do hope that Hudson has a open competition between Alecko and Quaranta as I feel very uneasy just penciling in Tino at the other forward starting slot even if Tino has a world of promise. If we are to get truly competitive again, than the starters have got to be consistently solid.

[Lowecifer]

Originally posted by JAnderson14
Thanks Mr. Goff for acknowledging me as "some observers", since it appears that sentence refers to me and me alone.

;)

I must be the other one, because he referred to us in the plural.

[Jose L. Couso]

Originally posted by CHICO13
"There's some risk involved in what we're doing, but it has to be done" Hudson said, "And it's our responsibility, mine and Dave's and the other coaches, to make it work."

That pretty much sums it up for me.

That pretty much sums it up for me too.

We shall see.

Great article Mr. Goff.

Thanks for the link ursula.

[Th4119]

Good stuff, thanks SG.

[Sachin]

Good stuff. A great way to sum up everthing headed into the new year.

Sachin

[JAnderson14]

Originally posted by ursula
Yeah, I noticed that 'some observers" phrase and thought of you. he he. You know, if we do draft Escandarian, and presuming that we do get JMM or some solid forward for one spot. I do hope that Hudson has a open competition between Alecko and Quaranta as I feel very uneasy just penciling in Tino at the other forward starting slot even if Tino has a world of promise. If we are to get truly competitive again, than the starters have got to be consistently solid.
Actually they're very similar. They both disappear from matches, both are good on the dribble and can drop back into midfield to bring the ball forward. However, Tino is bigger, stronger, and has 2 seasons of experience in MLS. I agree that there should be competition for that spot alongside Osorio/Kucharsky/whomever, but I'd prefer Nate Jacqua to compete with Tino because he gives us something we don't have: an aerial threat.

But then, I'm starting to sound like a broken record.

[DigitalTron]

Great article packed with good stuff. I kinda like how the Dema/Hristo rumor isn't quite as strong. IMHO, that would be a disaster of a trade for United.

I'm not the biggest Moore fan, but I definitely think he'd be a very good addition. He can still score goals when given the chance, is a clutch player, team leader vocally and by example, doesn't require an SI slot, and is already comfortable in all of the Eastern Conference stadia. ;) While I'd be surprised if he ended up here, he would look good in the Black shirt.

I love the continued speculation of Ricardo Clark to DC United. If he's there at the #5 pick I definitely would pick him. I doubt he'll be taken either #1 or #2, as I suspect that Eskandarian and Ricky Lewis will go 1 and 2, with Diego Walsh going either 3 or 4. So, that leaves one spot open (either 4 or 3 depending upon who takes Diego) where we might lose Ricardo. Hopefully, guys like David Stokes, Guillermo "Memo" Gonzalez, Eddie Gaven, Pat Noonan or another of the top prospects will pique the interest of that team with the remaining top 4 pick so that Ricardo falls to United. I wouldn't be adverse to taking Ricardo #1 overall, but I doubt that United will do so.

Interestingly, Goff makes it sound like Hudson already has reached a tentative agreement with at least one prospect for the starting forward role. That's encouraging.

-Tron

[Quiet Beast]

Originally posted by Knave

Geez! ... How on earth did Bobby Convey get to be a DC United old-timer?

If Olsen jumps to England and Marco retires at the end of the year, our most "senior" player would only be 20!!!!