Harkes situation?

[SocrStopr13]

I heard he's out of contract with the Crew but they still own his rights inside of MLS. So you think we trade a what 3rd or 4th round pick in next years draft for him? I'd love to see Harkes come back to play in DC.

[DCUEagles]

As much as I like Harkes, and love what he did for DCU, I have to say that giving something or somone up for him would be a big mistake. I mean, I respect the guy a ton (how could you not appreciate what the guy did for American soccer over in England during the early 90's) the thing is, I think that he is washed up. His best days are behind him!
I am sorry, but that is the way I feel Johnny!!!

[greatscott]

Originally posted by DCUEagles
As much as I like Harkes, and love what he did for DCU, I have to say that giving something or somone up for him would be a big mistake. I mean, I respect the guy a ton (how could you not appreciate what the guy did for American soccer over in England during the early 90's) the thing is, I think that he is washed up. His best days are behind him!
I am sorry, but that is the way I feel Johnny!!!

blarg, I agree 100%, as much as it upsets me to think about turning him down for all he did but he's washed up.. sorry john.

[jmsdoc]

I'll make it 3 for 3 on Johnny being washed up as a player. Let's move on to "Coach for Life"

John

[terp fan]

Regardless of what the previous posters think, Harkes should be arriving in about two weeks. He will be a quality addition and just what Hudson is looking for, a veteran leader with proven ability who doesn't need to play 90 minutes but is a great insurance policy.

[Topo]

Originally posted by terp fan
Regardless of what the previous posters think, Harkes should be arriving in about two weeks. He will be a quality addition and just what Hudson is looking for, a veteran leader with proven ability who doesn't need to play 90 minutes but is a great insurance policy.
Isn't that the exact same description that was given for Stoichkov?

[shawn12011]

Let's be honest here. No matter how much the Norte's I watch with love "Chino", I do to he his a great kid, how much does he really contirbute. He seems constantly over matched. He gives 130% effort but come up short. So, in my book Harkes for Alegria is an upgrade. Besides "Chino" loses his TI staus at the end of the season.



Go ahead and blast away I am ready. ;)

[jkorzen]

I'd be glad to see John Harkes back with DC this season even if he's coming off the bench. Seriously, do you think is Harkes any less of a player than Brian Namoff or Jose Alegria?

btw I saw Harkes playing indoor at Fairfax Sportsplex last week. He seemed to be in good shape. ;)

I'm feeling very optimistic about United this season, and good about MLS in general.

[CHICO13]

You can put me in the Pro-Harksie crowd. I think it would be a good thing.

[DC Forever]

I would have been all for this last year, but this is the wrong addition at the wrong time.

We now have a spate of veterans to show the kids what being a pro means, feisty leaders to keep the intensity level high, and a reasonable amount of depth in midfield. My biggest worry with this club is that it won't gell, and I see Harkes as more of an impediment to that than anything else.

By all accounts, this is a guy with a healthy ego who expects to be treated like the big star he once was. In a locker room with Stewart, Etcheverry and Stoichkov -- not to mention guys like Olsen, Convey and Tino who are probably not going to be much inclined to give the guy much defference while he's sitting on the bench and they're being difference-makers for both United and various levels of the Nats.

We've got the players we need to win -- now we need them to become a team. Harkes will hurt that more than he will help. He may still have slightly more game than Chino or Namoff, but at this point in his career he doesn't have enough additional value to make the potential for off-field difficulties worth it.

[dsheon]

I'm not in the Harkes camp and my reasons are all listed on this thread already.
My question though is why people think we need to give up a draft pick or Chino for him. HE'S BEEN CUT FROM COLUMBUS. He's ours for the taking. Despite that - I STILL wouldn't take him because of the payroll he'll eat up.
Some people seem to have an emotional attachment to the guy. That reminds me of someone picking stocks because of emotional attachment. It's absolutely the worst possible reason. This is a bonifide professional sports league. The competition for spots is more fierce than ever before. Harkes had his moments but as his stats show his better days are WAY behind him. If it's still not sinking in, try to remember this again: HE'S BEEN CUT FROM COLUMBUS. Does that mean anything to you?

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by ds39heon
I'm not in the Harkes camp and my reasons are all listed on this thread already.
My question though is why people think we need to give up a draft pick or Chino for him. HE'S BEEN CUT FROM COLUMBUS. He's ours for the taking. Despite that - I STILL wouldn't take him because of the payroll he'll eat up.
Some people seem to have an emotional attachment to the guy. That reminds me of someone picking stocks because of emotional attachment. It's absolutely the worst possible reason. This is a bonifide professional sports league. The competition for spots is more fierce than ever before. Harkes had his moments but as his stats show his better days are WAY behind him. If it's still not sinking in, try to remember this again: HE'S BEEN CUT FROM COLUMBUS. Does that mean anything to you?

The Chino and Namoff talk comes from not knowing if Warren is a devlopmental player. If so then United may need to free a roster spot on the 18 man roster. Otherwise Chino and Namoff should be safe. I would rather keep both and get Harkes. I don't think he would take that much from payroll. Rumors I have heard put United around 50K-35K under the cap. Harkes has hinted that a hometown discount could be a possibility.

[Marco10]

His being cut from Columbus is relatively meaningless. Andy Williams just got cut and he's not exactly past it. He's just no longer a good fit for Columbus. Doesn't mean he can't play here.
I also don't want him just for sentimental reasons. His "stats" don't dissuade me a bit. The position he currently holds is not exactly a stat producer.
Point is he has a wealth of experience at a very tactically difficult position. Currently we're expecting Namoff and Nelsen to excel at that position and neither is exactly perfect for the job no matter how wonderfully younger and fitter they are. Nelsen is really a better defender and his passing will take time to get better. Namoff has all the skills, but none of the experience.

As for his ego being a problem, I really don't think so. He and the rest of the DC's so-called head cases have a wealth of experience on winning teams. I'm quite certain they know when to assert themselves and when not to.

As long as he comes cheap, I'd say go for it.

Oh, I meant to add that he's excellent cover for Marco too! I think Marco will be the holding player and Harkes distribution skills are as good as anyone else to back Marco up. I'd say Chino and Namoff are really the only players really suited to play a holding spot if Marco misses a game. Harkes could be a experienced change from those guys as well.

[greatscott]

Great insurance policy? Insurance Policy to what? In case we lose again we have an excuse?

[Marco10]

No. An insurance policy in case some young players simply can't do the job their being expected to. Or some veteran player goes down with a long injury. He can cover any of the inside positions with confidence. Others may be able to do that too, but if he comes cheap and with all the other leadership advantages he brings, it sounds like a good move to me. That's all I'm saying.

[shawn12011]

Originally posted by Marco10
No. An insurance policy in case some young players simply can't do the job their being expected to. Or some veteran player goes down with a long injury. He can cover any of the inside positions with confidence. Others may be able to do that too, but if he comes cheap and with all the other leadership advantages he brings, it sounds like a good move to me. That's all I'm saying.

Ditto.

[dcuinvermont]

Any evidence that Harkes was an "Ego" problem in Columbus? He may have had some problems a while ago, but I think his recent behavior suggests that he's matured in that department. Several players noted that Harkes was a leader who provided apositive boost in Columbus' run for the US Open Cup last year.
As long as were basing his on-field form on recent stats and playing time, we should do the same regarding his locker room "form."

[Libero6]

I'm in the Harkes camp too...I think everybody's been right so far in this thread. His ego is definately gonna clash with his former teammates and with the young guns, but I think playing for Columbus has humbled him a bit. He realizes he's not the starting-no. 6 wearing-captain's band toting-macho man anymore. Besides, I've got him in the DC lineup on fifa2003 and he's kicking ass...of course I have him playing alongside Veron too so draw your own conclusions.
...plus I still have my Harkes DC jersey that I bought back in '96 (I knew it'd come in handy again!)

[SocrStopr13]

I think Harkes will be more of a coach on the field then a player. He'll come on at the ends of games to protect a lead and he knows how to play in big games.

[schmuckatelli]

Plus, if we ask really nice, I bet he'd play left back in case Petke doesn't work out... ;)