RUMOR: Richie Williams to Fire?

[DigitalTron]

I've heard more than a little speculation on this front, so just wanted to post it.

There's been rumor of another mega-trade or series of smaller trades centering around the Chicago Fire A) having a fire-sale [pun intended] to create cap space and/or B) Sarachan cleaning house to get his guys in Chicago.

One aspect of this that keeps popping up is that Richie Williams will end up in Chicago. If this is true, here are several related bits of speculation.

Jesse Marsch to Metros, reuniting him with Bradley and to his collegiate roots at Princeton.

Josh Wolff to Metros, reuniting him with Bradley and his collegiate teammate Clint Mathis.

Chris Armas to DC United. It would provide probably the best destroyer Dmid in MLS, but require someone else to be the link-man.

Hristo Stoichkov to DC United. It would allow Ray to get another potent scorer and truly over-the-hill veteran and allow Ray to hob-nob with a former great. As a player-coach, Hristo would get a good paycheck, the ability to play, and inroads to his future coaching career.

It's not known if these trades happen exactly what Chicago would receive in return, but it's speculated that they want draft picks (from DC) and young inexpensive players (like Nelsen Akwari from Metros).

I predicted the Marsch move the day Bradley was first rumored to be moving to Metros, so that wouldn't be surprising. I don't think Armas is the best fit for a 352 formation, but he's so good at what he does that I still think he'd be dominant at it. While Richie did a very good job defensively and a decent job of safely holding the ball, Armas is still better defensively. But, Armas is even worse than Richie at distribution, so I'm a bit puzzled that this might happen.

I'm guessing it means that Dema will play directly ahead of Armas in exactly the center of midfield with Etch as almost a withdrawn forward and Armas as a sweeper type in front of the back three. This would obviously push Convey to left wing full time.

It's simply a rumor at this point, and as Ray said about the Moreno trade, "everything is etched in stone." So even if these rumors are true, it doesn't mean the trades will happen. And at this point, we have no idea whether these rumors are true, half-true, or completely untrue. :)

As for this and related rumors, here's one source mentioning it:

http://www.ussocceruk.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=1507&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=240

-Tron

[Z010 Union]

I wouldn't mind this trade one bit. The only other thing that might happen is that the Metros ask for our #1 for their #2 and a minimum salary player to ensure they get Alecko.

This would be the opening day lineup

---------Nunez--------Quaranta-----------
--------------Etch------------------------
Convey-----Kovalenko-------------Olsen---
-------------Armas------------------------
Petke---------Nelsen----------------Reyes-
------------Rimando------------------------

Bench
Curtis
Quintanilla
Prideaux
Namoff
Backup Keep

Reserves
College Pick
College Pick

This lineup doesn't take into account allocation #2 which we could deal or use to strengthen what appears to be a imposing lineup.

[Topo]

Well, I don't know if we want to spend a senior international spot on a 36 year old senior international. We've spent the entire offseason making deals to free up two senior international spots and enough salary cap to pay them maximum salary.

After those two senior internationals, we have one spot for an American, and four developmental spots. We could conceivably pay the American and one Senior International maximum salary and have about $60,000 left over for the other senior international (if our money rumors hold tru), but I don't think that's the plan.

Of course, that plan could change if we had access to somebody like Armas or one of the returning Americans.

[Topo]

I like the look of this. Just to round out the roster, I've added the other open spots, added McKinley, projected that the backup keeper is a college kid/developmental player, and added the open roster spots.

This would be the opening day lineup

---------Nunez--------Quaranta-----------
--------------Etch------------------------
Convey-----Kovalenko-------------Olsen---
-------------Armas------------------------
Petke---------Nelsen----------------Reyes-
------------Rimando------------------------

Bench
Curtis
Quintanilla
Prideaux
Namoff
McKinley
Allocation #2 ("Ben Hur" the SI)
Minimum Salary Player

Reserves
College Pick
College Pick
College Pick/Backup Keeper
College Pick

[Z010 Union]

Originally posted by Topo
I like the look of this. Just to round out the roster, I've added the other open spots, added McKinley, projected that the backup keeper is a college kid/developmental player, and added the open roster spots.



How could I forget ITT - How embarassing!

[dcuinvermont]

Apparently Richie is delaying the procession regarding his contract, ala Etch.

I guess Ritchie is "Standing Up" for himself. ;)
It's about time!

[subbuteo]

I predicted earlier DC would end up with Armas. I would not be surprised in the least to see Chicago get Williams, DC get Armas and NY/NJ get Eskandarian/first overall pick.

[Catch]

Getting Armas would be great. I don't care much for Stoichkov. And from the looks of it, neither did Reyes last season. I'm OK with giving up Eskandarian only if we are truly going to sign Nunez. We've got two project forwards--Q1 and Curtis and I don't think we need another, certainly not without some "adult supervision" on the field.

[greatscott]

Giving up Esky? I dont know if i like the sound of that, but i def. wouldnt mind Nunez instead..

[ursula]

Well we know that there are more shoes to drop before the season ends, but I'm skeptical about us getting Armas. I can't imagine that Sarachan/Witt will give up Armas and Marsch and get only Williams in return- and Sarachan knows that draft picks won't fill the void of those two leaving. Yes, the Fire are in ca hell and need to unload players, but Armas has to be one of the last that they get rid of.

Speaking of Armas, it's also unfair to characterize his play in MLS as a destroying d-mid. That is his role in international games but those games are played at a higher level and for him to play well there he has to concentrate on his defensive game first which leaves him very little time to go forward. In MLS however, he's going forward quite a lot and he's just so much betgter than Williams at distributing that it's not even funny. He still has his defense but he is instrumental in the Fire attack as well and as a result his MLS play is much different that ABMOD's. His injury last year was huge for the Fire at both ends of the field.

Because he has more to his game than just defense he could play in a 442 quite well- easily better than Williams did last year for us. Armas would be a great pickup for us, but I don't think it will happen.

Oh, and DT- Ray said, "everything is etched in soap."

[ursula]

It must be added that the cap deadline is this Saturday so the Fire must do something and soon.

[etcheverrito]

Originally posted by Bryan_Elon95
I wouldn't mind this trade one bit. The only other thing that might happen is that the Metros ask for our #1 for their #2 and a minimum salary player to ensure they get Alecko.

This would be the opening day lineup

---------Nunez--------Quaranta-----------
--------------Etch------------------------
Convey-----Kovalenko-------------Olsen---
-------------Armas------------------------
Petke---------Nelsen----------------Reyes-
------------Rimando------------------------

Bench
Curtis
Quintanilla
Prideaux
Namoff
Backup Keep

Reserves
College Pick
College Pick

This lineup doesn't take into account allocation #2 which we could deal or use to strengthen what appears to be a imposing lineup.

I'm sorry...I was about to flip out, them remembered Pope and Moreno are with the Metros:)

[greatscott]

Armas also, if i remember correctly created hell against united last season by creating chances for wingers running for crosses and that long cross over the line which resulted in the goal and everyone awed.

[GrillMaster]

Originally posted by greatscott
Armas also, if i remember correctly created hell against united last season by creating chances for wingers running for crosses and that long cross over the line which resulted in the goal and everyone awed.
Lest we forget:

Armas was offensive enough to score a sweet unassisted goal on DC United in the 1996 MLS Cup, in those nor-easter conditions, too!

GM

[schmuckatelli]

I like this rumor very much, as rumors go. If this were to happen (and if we got a quality forward like Nunez), this will be a team that can contend for MLS Cup 2003. I would have serious concerns about playing a team like this if I were an opposing coach.

On the other hand, I thought they'd contend in 2000, and 2001, and 2002.... ;)

[HalaMadrid]

I think it's apparent several of you have been hitting the holiday cheer a little early.

[ButlerBob]

Also as a rumor this is pretty good. I would love to see this happen. This would really help out DC. It's kind of fun to see other teams go through the Cap blood letting that United has had to go through.

On a side note, for Richie to stand up for himself, does this involve a soap box. I couldn't resist.

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by HalaMadrid
I think it's apparent several of you have been hitting the holiday cheer a little early.


Salary Cap Flavored Wine, if you must know.............

[greatscott]

errr.. since im a minor i get my jollies off....
Salary Coke..

[NotAbbott]

I'm getting my own vibe on what the Fire are up to, and it's Wolff to NY for ANDY Williams, followed by Nowak's retirement, with an outside chance of our captain getting traded. That should get us under the cap, too.

The Fire aren't giving up Armas, no way in hell. It's amazing how people saying "gee, it would be great if we could get THIS player" repeatedly turns into an actual rumor.

Richie Williams only makes sense as cover for Armas' USMNT callups, or as a replacement for Marsch if he moves, and obviously neither at his current salary.

Later,
COZ