When do we have the final DCU team?

[1True1]

I am interested to know your opinions on when DCU will finally have a "final" team... I know that trades can continue even during the season, but do you think Ray is done trading or is there likely to be some other moves - waiver draft picks, etc??
When the dust settles, who is the core team? Who will be waived? What is the date for the rosters to be set?

[tmas]

march 29 to answer your last question.

[greatscott]

Im glad we have Hristo because he can teach the players alot about what they are missing, but i hope not harkes.

[koule]

Interesting question. You could approach it from several directions>

One way would be to look at who other teams are waiving and who Ray could pick up fairly cheaply . . . like Harkes or Ross Paule (recently cut loose from Metrostars). Maybe, too, Columbus will have to cut or trade someone (Washington?) to make room for Hejduk (would an allocation be strictly needed since his Swiss team has released him with no strings?).

I don't see that Ray would be tremendously interested in any player from this direction, unless it worked out that the player was available and all other new-player options had fizzled.

So, another way of answering would be to look at what sort of player Ray might still be looking for. Personally, I think he's bulked up with seasoned professionals (whether the grizzled Stoichkov and Etcheverry or Ivanov or Stuart). I do think he's interested in scouting some youngish players, and I read somewhere that four young foreign players had been invited to train with DC.

In this sense, he's looking to find some competition for starting positions (always healthy, right?) and a potential to develop (a la Nelsen).

In terms of position, I think Ray has cover defensively, with Prideaux, Namoff, Stokes, Woodward (if he sticks), etc. He picked up two goalkeepers in the draft. Depending on how Carroll pans out, he may even have defensive cover in midfield. The flanks are populated by Olsen and Convey and Stuart, perhaps Kovalenko, Reyes can be moved there in a pinch. The center midfield by Kovalenko, Convey, Stuart, and Etcheverry.

Despite being somewhat flush at forward (Eski, Stuart, Quaranta, Stoichkov, Quintanilla), this easily remains the weakest link.

So . . . I don't think there's going to be a tremendous amount of quality forwards coming through waivers (Washington may be worth a shot , if available). We have one foreign slot available, right? (Etcheverry has a green card; Stoichkov does as well). Ray's still looking overseas ...

I think we have a least one more young (since we don't have any allocations left) & offensive player to add, from outside the league, and Ray will be looking to add this player before the opener, since the value of this player lies partly in forcing a healthy competition for spots.

Or maybe we'll sign up Dalgliesh. (Doubt that.)

I think the last signing (and releasing if necessary) will come in March.

AND, by the way, since Stoichkov is coming in as an assistant coach, might he not have some new recommendations about players he knows abroad?

[crusader]

A little help please. The way I understand it, is that there are 18 rostered players and six developmental players to make a total of 24 for the 2003 season. Does everybody count the same; P40, SI, YI, Green Card Holder, etc? In seasons past some counted and some did not, right?

If this is correct any thoughts on the 18 and 6. Who gets cut outright, etc.

[DigitalTron]

Nice post Koule. Crusader, you are exactly right. There are 18 full roster spots and 6 developmental spots. The developmental spots can be either of two types, P-40 players or developmental players.

P-40 players sign a contract with the league which is usually a decent amount above 30k (sometimes 50k or even higher) but none of it counts against the salary cap. If a player is not signed as a P-40 player, then the only type of contract they can sign is a "developmental contract" which only pays 24k. While it does not count against the cap either, it's hard to get a contributing player in that price range, so realistically almost all contributing players in the 6 developmental spots are P-40 players, which is why they are so highly sought after in the draft. Also, it's so hard to get a developmental player that very few if any teams will have the full 6 roster slots filled.

Here at DC United we know we will keep 3 players on the developmental roster, because they are P-40's: Alecko Eskandarian, David Stokes and Brian Carroll.

We do not know whether some of the other draft picks will be offered developmental contracts or not, and if so, whether they'll accept, but we anticipate Hayden Woodworth (AKA Woodstock), John Swann and possibly Behonick will become our other developmental players. If so, that would give us a full compliment of 6.

Doug Warren is not a P-40 player and wouldn't accept a developmental spot. He is almost certain to make the full roster of 18 as the backup keeper. When expansion comes he'll most likely be starting in MLS somewhere.

SI = Senior International, you can have up to 3
TI = Transitional International, doesn't count as SI
GC = Green Card, doesn't count as SI
P-40 = Nike Project 40

Here's what we have left for the 18 full roster spots:

G Nick Rimando
G Doug Warren
D Milton Reyes (GC)
D Galin Ivanov (SI)
D Mike Petke
D Brandon Prideaux
M Ryan Nelsen (SI)
M Dema Kovalenko (Naturalized US Citizen)
M Marco Etcheverry (GC)
M Ben Olsen
M Bobby Convey
M Eliseo Quintanilla (TI)
M Jose Alegria (TI)
M Bryan Namoff
F Earnie Stewart
F Santino Quaranta
F Hristo Stoichkov (SI close to GC)
F Ali Curtis

If the season were to begin today, that would be our roster most likely. But, any additions would come at the expense of Namoff, Alegria and/or Curtis. I think Hudson is happy with Curtis, and if so, I wouldn't expect Dante Washington to be added, but if Dalglish, Nunez or another good forward became available within our salary cap manipulations, we might go after him. We would also need an SI spot which would likely mean Hristo would have his green card before we pursue them. Harkes would come at either the expense of Namoff or Alegria. This is Alegria's last season as a TI, after that he becomes an SI and his value to the club goes way down unless he gets a green card. Otherwise, it looks like the A-League or an expansion team after 2004.

-Tron

[terp fan]

Originally posted by DigitalTron
Nice post Koule. Crusader, you are exactly right. There are 18 full roster spots and 6 developmental spots. The developmental spots can be either of two types, P-40 players or developmental players.

P-40 players sign a contract with the league which is usually a decent amount above 30k (sometimes 50k or even higher) but none of it counts against the salary cap. If a player is not signed as a P-40 player, then the only type of contract they can sign is a "developmental contract" which only pays 24k. While it does not count against the cap either, it's hard to get a contributing player in that price range, so realistically almost all contributing players in the 6 developmental spots are P-40 players, which is why they are so highly sought after in the draft. Also, it's so hard to get a developmental player that very few if any teams will have the full 6 roster slots filled.

Here at DC United we know we will keep 3 players on the developmental roster, because they are P-40's: Alecko Eskandarian, David Stokes and Brian Carroll.

We do not know whether some of the other draft picks will be offered developmental contracts or not, and if so, whether they'll accept, but we anticipate Hayden Woodworth (AKA Woodstock), John Swann and possibly Behonick will become our other developmental players. If so, that would give us a full compliment of 6.

Doug Warren is not a P-40 player and wouldn't accept a developmental spot. He is almost certain to make the full roster of 18 as the backup keeper. When expansion comes he'll most likely be starting in MLS somewhere.

SI = Senior International, you can have up to 3
TI = Transitional International, doesn't count as SI
GC = Green Card, doesn't count as SI
P-40 = Nike Project 40

Here's what we have left for the 18 full roster spots:

G Nick Rimando
G Doug Warren
D Milton Reyes (GC)
D Galin Ivanov (SI)
D Mike Petke
D Brandon Prideaux
M Ryan Nelsen (SI)
M Dema Kovalenko (Naturalized US Citizen)
M Marco Etcheverry (GC)
M Ben Olsen
M Bobby Convey
M Eliseo Quintanilla (TI)
M Jose Alegria (TI)
M Bryan Namoff
F Earnie Stewart
F Santino Quaranta
F Hristo Stoichkov (SI close to GC)
F Ali Curtis

If the season were to begin today, that would be our roster most likely. But, any additions would come at the expense of Namoff, Alegria and/or Curtis. I think Hudson is happy with Curtis, and if so, I wouldn't expect Dante Washington to be added, but if Dalglish, Nunez or another good forward became available within our salary cap manipulations, we might go after him. We would also need an SI spot which would likely mean Hristo would have his green card before we pursue them. Harkes would come at either the expense of Namoff or Alegria. This is Alegria's last season as a TI, after that he becomes an SI and his value to the club goes way down unless he gets a green card. Otherwise, it looks like the A-League or an expansion team after 2004.

-Tron

I was under the impression that Alegria's TI status made him roster and cap exempt, are you saying he counts as a rostered player this year? If so then I think you are correct in assuming he is on the bubble and probably on his way out. He will never be a starter in this league so maybe it's time for him to find a place in the A League.

[crusader]

Tron. Thanks, that clears it up. Forgive my ignorance, but another question. Is it possible for a guy like Namoff or Curtis to swallow their pride and accept a Developmental spot to stay in United's plans and then come up and down in the A-League like Namoff last year, or would this not be possible because of their current contract situation.

[1True1]

I know, I know - I like to defend Curtis, and I know you are simply asking a question, Crusader, but seriously?! Why would Curtis, a guy who came off the bench to score the team's high 5 goals be asked to take a developmental contract when there are others on the team with less skill who would not be asked to deal with that - i.e. Quintanilla, or one of the new picks. His contract is already cheap enough - what does he make? 30?? I think if Hudson wants to do that to either Namoff or Curtis, he should just go ahead and either waive them or trade them to a team that seems to actually value their contributions.

[DigitalTron]

Originally posted by terp fan
I was under the impression that Alegria's TI status made him roster and cap exempt, are you saying he counts as a rostered player this year? If so then I think you are correct in assuming he is on the bubble and probably on his way out. He will never be a starter in this league so maybe it's time for him to find a place in the A League. Yeah, the TI designation is not a developmental spot. TI simply means he doesn't count as an SI, that's all it means. He has his salar counted against the cap and takes up a full roster space. But next season he'll be an SI unless he obtains a green card, which I haven't heard anything about at this point.

Cursader, yeah, it's possible that Namoff, Alegria or Curtis sucks it up and takes a developmental salary, but since neither can be P-40 (too old etc.), they would make exactly 24k a year, and it's very hard to survive in Washington DC on 24k a year. So, I really don't see that as an option. Also, with 3 P-40 players, they'd have to beat out one of Woodstock, Swann, or Behonick.

Frankly Curtis' production picked up towards the end of last season, and his points-per-minute weren't too bad. So I expect him to make the team, particularly since he has the speed, strength and attitude to help the team. Alegria lacks the speed and size and has a much lower ceiling, so he's more at risk. Namoff is a hard worker and strong with some speed, but Hudson doesn't want to make him a midfielder (Namoff is purely a midfielder IMHO) and forcing him into a back line position doesn't really fit. While I like Namoff, I think the selection of Brian Carroll may have signaled the end of Namoff at DC.

-Tron