Players you want to see come to an Atlanta team:

[Michael CM1]

now i could be dead wrong on this because i got this article sent in the mail when i was in Iraq (And I never really got the time to read all my mail) but it said something in the AJC about an Ethiopian international game played in Atlanta and had like a 35,000 turn out. does anyone know anything about that?

also, if we want to play it like that, what nationality of foreigners make up the greatest population of foreigners in Atlanta? Because that might be a good way to increase fan base. However, i hope they don't get carried away because they also would need to pay attention to their traditional southern audience too.

If you're talking the whole metro area, it has to easily be Mexicans. I honestly don't know if I could pick a Mexican out of a lineup of Brazilians but if you could illegal immigrants, I think there are at least 100,000 (I swear I read that estimate somewhere).

These numbers could've changed over the last year though b/c a lot of Katrina victims came here. Hard to know what the impact of that is. I haven't noticed much of an increase in gumbo restaurants though. :)

[El Guero Naco]

I know that this will be hard to believe(it was for me) , but a brazilian friend of mine told me that there were 50,000 Brazilians that lived in Cobb County.

I don't know if the number is that high, certainly it is at least that high in the whole metro Atlanta area.

Around Windy Hill and Delk Road area there are a lot of Brazilian shops and restaurants, as in Sandy Springs.

[ThrashBoy]

The two biggest concentrations of Brasilians in metro Atlanta are in the Delk Road/Windy Hill/Powers Ferry corridor in Cobb County, and on the Roswell Road corridor in Sandy Springs.

In the past decade the Brasilian population has grown enormously in Atlanta. I mainly attribute this to the fact that Delta's only non-stop flights out of Brasil (Sao Paulo and the recently-added Rio de Janeiro) end in Atlanta.

I have many Brasilian friends (I speak Portuguese pretty well for an American), and it's just amazing at how many of them have moved here in the past few years.

[BigKahuna]

The two biggest concentrations of Brasilians in metro Atlanta are in the Delk Road/Windy Hill/Powers Ferry corridor in Cobb County, and on the Roswell Road corridor in Sandy Springs.

In the past decade the Brasilian population has grown enormously in Atlanta. I mainly attribute this to the fact that Delta's only non-stop flights out of Brasil (Sao Paulo and the recently-added Rio de Janeiro) end in Atlanta.

I have many Brasilian friends (I speak Portuguese pretty well for an American), and it's just amazing at how many of them have moved here in the past few years.

Bodes well, for an Atlanta MLS team...can't go wrong with Brazilians as our international allocations. I really like Nagamura from the Galaxy.

[Eleven Bravo]

might want to add one guy...Kephren Fuller. i don't know how good he actually is, but he's a 22 forward from Georgia who went to George Mason and is trialing with Cambuur as we speak... kind of looks like Jeff Cunningham.

http://yanks-abroad.com/content.php?mode=news&id=002031

[Georgia Empire]

here's a good topic for discussion

If Atlanta gets a team within the century, should they go after Clint Mathis?

I would have to say yes. simply because i think his stock would drop by the time Atlanta gets a team and if he started banging in goals he would definately bring in the crowds.

[Poachin_Goalz]

here's a good topic for discussion

If Atlanta gets a team within the century, should they go after Clint Mathis?

I would have to say yes. simply because i think his stock would drop by the time Atlanta gets a team and if he started banging in goals he would definately bring in the crowds.

His stock is already pretty low. He might be too old by the time we get a team though.

[BigKahuna]

His stock is already pretty low. He might be too old by the time we get a team though.

Or too fat....but seriously, having home grown talent on a team is always a good thing.

[Eleven Bravo]

His stock is already pretty low. He might be too old by the time we get a team though.

i think he's still getting paid in the $200,000+ range.

If we could drop that down to $30,000-75,000 range it might be worth discussing.

Still, you have to admit that is absolutely VITAL that an Atlanta team have some Georgia players...mixed in with some other southerners.

What's Clark, Wolff, Leonard, Fuller, Mathis, Camp, Martino, Reis, West, Moore, and Wagner getting paid now?

[MPoole]

Here you go: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mls/longterm/2006/mls.salaries.html

That has almost everyone for the MLS. Josh Wolff is at $350,000, but for a GA native I think we could pay that.

[Eleven Bravo]

Ok i'm not an expert on this so forgive me because i'm just going to throw some numbers together....

But according to the different salaries this is some "fantasy" negotiations i would like to see the Atlanta team make: (i fully expect most of these to be rejected)

MLS Georgia Players: (at least with some tie to Georgia)...top priority
M-F Mathis, Clint $270,000 -100,000 (170,000)
F Wolff, Josh $350,000 -50,000 (300,000)
M Martino, Kyle $81,675 +0 (81,675)
M Clark, Ricardo $160,000 +100,000 (260,000)
M Camp, Blake $28,000 +0 (28,000)
D-M Wagner, Blake $30,000 +10,000 (40,000)
D-M Leonard, Marshall $65,000 +0 (65,000)
D Vaughn, Lawson $11,700 +25,300 (37,000)
D-M Moore, Justin $30,000 +5,000 (35,000)
GK Reis, Matt $100,000 +50,000 (150,000)

Other MLS players that i'd like to see get a look...to fill the gaps:
F Barrett, Chad $36,750 +30,000 (66,000)
M Mapp, Justin $95,000 +45,000 (150,000)
M Simms, Clyde $42,500 +0 (42,500)
F Jaqua, Nate $50,873 +30,000 (80,873)
F Rolfe, Chris $50,000 +30,000 (80, 000)
D Robinson, Dasan $11,700 +20,300 (32,000)
GK Guzan, Brad $47,250 +40,000 (87,250)
M Szetela, Danny $41,081 +30,000 (71,081)
GK Gaudette, Bill $11,700 +8,300 (20,000)
D Yi, Alex $29,400 +0 (29,400)
D-M Sturgis, Nathan $45,000 +40,000 (85,000)
D Larentowicz, Jeff $16,500 +13,500 (30,000)
F Magee, Mike $48,875 +0 (48,875)
F Laventure, Jerrod $11,700 +5,000 (16,700)
M Vide, Joe $11,700 +9,000 (20,700)
GK Palmer, Noah $11,700 +9,300 (21,000)
GK Countess, D.J. $0 +45,000 (45,000)

YANKS-ABROAD TO TRY AND BRING IN:
GK Brown, Adin (offered $60,000)
D Whitbread, Zak (offered $34,000)
M West, Brian (offered $50,000)
M Denny, Jay (offered $16,000)
GK Yelldell, David (offered $24,000)
F Fuller, Kephren (offered $25,000)
D Karbassiyoon, Daniel (offered $30,000)
D Joy, Ian (offered $28,000)
M Kazlauskas, Charles (offered $24,000)
D Lancos, Chris (offered $22,000)
F Ochoa, Sammy (offered $50,000)
M Fielhaber, Benny (offered $85,000)
F Zimmermann, Preston (offered $40,000)
D Pearce, Heath (offered $85,000)
F Vint, Colin (offered $26,000)
F Zewe, Joe (offered $30,000)
D Fearrington, Jamil (offered $35,000)

YOUTH PLAYERS TO BRING IN:
GK Seitz, Chris (offered $30,000)
GK Gustavson, Mike (minimum)
GK Bendik, Joe (min.)
GK Marfuggi, Phil (min.)
GK Papadakis, Justin (min.)
GK Hughes, Justin (min.)
GK Reins, Marcus (min.)
D Sarkodie, Ofori (offered $35,000)
D Wallace, Anthony (min.)
D Alston, Kevin (offered $22,000)
D/M Dalby, Greg (offered $15,000)
D Igwe, Amaechi (offered $25,000)
D Myers, Chance (min.)
D/M Beltran, Tony (min.)
D Valentin, Julian (min.)
D Harrington, Michael (min.)
D Lewis, Cameron (min.)
D Helton, Kyle (min.)
D Arthur, Sam (min.)
D Collier, Jonathan (min.)
M Ring, Brad (min.)
M Villanueva, Jonathan (offered $35,000)
M Mascarenhas, Brian (min.)
M Irizarry, Danny (min.)
M Nakazawa, Kyle (offered $30,000)
M Bone, Corben (min.)
M Hall, Jeremy (min.)
M Soroka, Ryan (offered $19,000)
M Evans, Brad (min.)
M Kelly, Daniel (min.)
M Lichaj, Eric (min.)
M Videira, Michael (min.)
M/F Zizzo, Sal (offered $22,000)
M/F Davies, Charlie (offered $25,000)
M Arguez, Bryan (min.)
M Patterson, Randi (min.)
F Seabrook, Jordan (min.)
F McLoughlin, Ellis (offered $18,000)
F Williams, Sheannon (offered $20,000)
F Marosevi, Perica (min.)
F Gonzalez, Omar (offered $26,000)
F Grella, Mike (min.)
F Dworsky, Bill (min.)
F Sambursky, Mike (min.)
F Ashe, Corey (min.)
F Dominguez, Bryan (min.)

USL Players to look at: (all minimum)
M Rios, Rodrigo
M Dawkins, Fabian
F McLaughlin, Jesse
F Jarun, Omar
F Weaver, William
F Gjertsen, Joey
F Cunliffe, John
F Sardon, Chris
M Rodriguez, Mario
M Hollingsworth, Ben
M Moojen, Frederico
M Jafta, Nathan

FOREIGN PLAYERS TO LOOK AT: (i'm getting kind of bored, so i'll let someone else comment on these)But players that i think could possibly be affordable and would attract crowds...
Edgar Davids, Rivaldo, Jay Jay Okocha, Ariel Ortega, Rui Costa, Alvaro Recoba, Roy Keane, Karel Poborsky, Steve McManaman, Jared Borgetti, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Ze Roberto, Roberto Ayala, Hernan Crespo,...


*the + or - is saying how i would try to negotiate their contract

[Eleven Bravo]

Ok i'm not an expert on this so forgive me because i'm just going to throw some numbers together....

But according to the different salaries this is some "fantasy" negotiations i would like to see the Atlanta team make: (i fully expect most of these to be rejected)

MLS Georgia Players: (at least with some tie to Georgia)...top priority
M-F Mathis, Clint $270,000 -100,000 (170,000)
F Wolff, Josh $350,000 -50,000 (300,000)
M Martino, Kyle $81,675 +0 (81,675)
M Clark, Ricardo $160,000 +100,000 (260,000)
M Camp, Blake $28,000 +0 (28,000)
D-M Wagner, Blake $30,000 +10,000 (40,000)
D-M Leonard, Marshall $65,000 +0 (65,000)
D Vaughn, Lawson $11,700 +25,300 (37,000)
D-M Moore, Justin $30,000 +5,000 (35,000)
GK Reis, Matt $100,000 +50,000 (150,000)

Other MLS players that i'd like to see get a look...to fill the gaps:
F Barrett, Chad $36,750 +30,000 (66,000)
M Mapp, Justin $95,000 +45,000 (150,000)
M Simms, Clyde $42,500 +0 (42,500)
F Jaqua, Nate $50,873 +30,000 (80,873)
F Rolfe, Chris $50,000 +30,000 (80, 000)
D Robinson, Dasan $11,700 +20,300 (32,000)
GK Guzan, Brad $47,250 +40,000 (87,250)
M Szetela, Danny $41,081 +30,000 (71,081)
GK Gaudette, Bill $11,700 +8,300 (20,000)
D Yi, Alex $29,400 +0 (29,400)
D-M Sturgis, Nathan $45,000 +40,000 (85,000)
D Larentowicz, Jeff $16,500 +13,500 (30,000)
F Magee, Mike $48,875 +0 (48,875)
F Laventure, Jerrod $11,700 +5,000 (16,700)
M Vide, Joe $11,700 +9,000 (20,700)
GK Palmer, Noah $11,700 +9,300 (21,000)
GK Countess, D.J. $0 +45,000 (45,000)

YANKS-ABROAD TO TRY AND BRING IN:
GK Brown, Adin (offered $60,000)
D Whitbread, Zak (offered $34,000)
M West, Brian (offered $50,000)
M Denny, Jay (offered $16,000)
GK Yelldell, David (offered $24,000)
F Fuller, Kephren (offered $25,000)
D Karbassiyoon, Daniel (offered $30,000)
D Joy, Ian (offered $28,000)
M Kazlauskas, Charles (offered $24,000)
D Lancos, Chris (offered $22,000)
F Ochoa, Sammy (offered $50,000)
M Fielhaber, Benny (offered $85,000)
F Zimmermann, Preston (offered $40,000)
D Pearce, Heath (offered $85,000)
F Vint, Colin (offered $26,000)
F Zewe, Joe (offered $30,000)
D Fearrington, Jamil (offered $35,000)

YOUTH PLAYERS TO BRING IN:
GK Seitz, Chris (offered $30,000)
GK Gustavson, Mike (minimum)
GK Bendik, Joe (min.)
GK Marfuggi, Phil (min.)
GK Papadakis, Justin (min.)
GK Hughes, Justin (min.)
GK Reins, Marcus (min.)
D Sarkodie, Ofori (offered $35,000)
D Wallace, Anthony (min.)
D Alston, Kevin (offered $22,000)
D/M Dalby, Greg (offered $15,000)
D Igwe, Amaechi (offered $25,000)
D Myers, Chance (min.)
D/M Beltran, Tony (min.)
D Valentin, Julian (min.)
D Harrington, Michael (min.)
D Lewis, Cameron (min.)
D Helton, Kyle (min.)
D Arthur, Sam (min.)
D Collier, Jonathan (min.)
M Ring, Brad (min.)
M Villanueva, Jonathan (offered $35,000)
M Mascarenhas, Brian (min.)
M Irizarry, Danny (min.)
M Nakazawa, Kyle (offered $30,000)
M Bone, Corben (min.)
M Hall, Jeremy (min.)
M Soroka, Ryan (offered $19,000)
M Evans, Brad (min.)
M Kelly, Daniel (min.)
M Lichaj, Eric (min.)
M Videira, Michael (min.)
M/F Zizzo, Sal (offered $22,000)
M/F Davies, Charlie (offered $25,000)
M Arguez, Bryan (min.)
M Patterson, Randi (min.)
F Seabrook, Jordan (min.)
F McLoughlin, Ellis (offered $18,000)
F Williams, Sheannon (offered $20,000)
F Marosevi, Perica (min.)
F Gonzalez, Omar (offered $26,000)
F Grella, Mike (min.)
F Dworsky, Bill (min.)
F Sambursky, Mike (min.)
F Ashe, Corey (min.)
F Dominguez, Bryan (min.)

USL Players to look at: (all minimum)
M Rios, Rodrigo
M Dawkins, Fabian
F McLaughlin, Jesse
F Jarun, Omar
F Weaver, William
F Gjertsen, Joey
F Cunliffe, John
F Sardon, Chris
M Rodriguez, Mario
M Hollingsworth, Ben
M Moojen, Frederico
M Jafta, Nathan

FOREIGN PLAYERS TO LOOK AT: (i'm getting kind of bored, so i'll let someone else comment on these)But players that i think could possibly be affordable and would attract crowds...
Edgar Davids, Rivaldo, Jay Jay Okocha, Ariel Ortega, Rui Costa, Alvaro Recoba, Roy Keane, Karel Poborsky, Steve McManaman, Jared Borgetti, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Ze Roberto, Roberto Ayala, Hernan Crespo,...


*the + or - is saying how i would try to negotiate their contract

i think a good line-up from this would be: (forgive my nerdness, i had to wait on my wife to get out of her appointment and had an hour to kill....also, i'm not too familiar with all the regulations and other crapola so feel free to tear it apart.)

GK Matt Reis $150,000
GK Palmer, Noah $24,000
(Dev) GK Gustavson, Mike $11,760
(Dev) GK Bendik, Joe $11,760
D Yi, Alex $29,400
D Sarkodie, Ofori $35,000
D Karbassiyoon, Daniel $30,000
D Whitbread, Zak $34,000
D Wagner, Blake $40,000
D Leonard, Marshall $65,000
D Moore, Justin $35,000
D Vaughn, Lawson $37,000
(Dev) D Collier, Jonathan $11,760
(SI) M Rivaldo $500,000
M Simms, Clyde $42,500
(SI) M Rodrigo Rios $11,760
(SI) M Dawkins, Fabian $11,760
M Villanueva, Jonathan $35,000
M West, Brian $50,000
M Camp, Blake $28,000
M Clark, Ricardo $260,000
M Martino, Kyle $81,000
F Mathis, Clint $170,000
F Wolff, Josh $300,000
F Kephren Fuller $25,000
F Omar Jarun $15,000
F Barrett, Chad $66,000
(Dev) F Bill Dworsky $11,760
F McLaughlin, Jesse $11,760
(Dev) F Bryan Dominguez $11,760

-------------Barrett-----Wolff---------------
Martino------------Rivaldo---------------West
--------------------Clark--------------------
--Leonard-------------------------Vaughn----
------------Whitbread------Moore-------------
----------------------Reis---------------------

Bench-Palmer, Sarkodie, Karbassiyoon, Simms, Villanueva, Camp, Mathis

*LM or not...if you had to pick between Martino and Rivaldo to play AM...who would you pick?
*even though i doubt they could afford that....that would seriously have to be one of the best and most entertaining teams in the leauge.

[BigKahuna]

F Omar Jarun $15,000

Jarun is a defender, not a forward. I'd say he, Rodrigo Rios, and Tony McMannis from the Silverbacks would be good in MLS

[Michael CM1]

Jarun is a defender, not a forward. I'd say he, Rodrigo Rios, and Tony McMannis from the Silverbacks would be good in MLS

The Silverbacks list him as a forward even though he hasn't seen a minute there this year. It might be a situation where they needed someone to play in the back more than in the front. You also left off Machel Millwood as someone would would be good in MLS. I can't really say how good his dribbling skills are but I know his speed and shot power/accuracy are excellent. He has scored a couple of goals this year from ridiculous angles by just ripping it past the goalkeeper. A lot of forwards could learn something from him.

[Eleven Bravo]

Jarun is a defender, not a forward. I'd say he, Rodrigo Rios, and Tony McMannis from the Silverbacks would be good in MLS

Omar Jarun is a converted defender.

Who are the Silverbacks players that should be brought in to an MLS Silverbacks team? Rios, McLaughlin, Dawkins, McManus, Jarun, and Millwood? anyone else? What about Afful, Hayes, Smith, and Ukah?

what about some college kids that i didn't list? I heard the Loftus kid was supposed to be really good from Duke(?).

[BigKahuna]

Rios, McManus, Jarun, and Millwood

Those are the only ones that have a shot, IMO.

[Eleven Bravo]

Those are the only ones that have a shot, IMO.

i thought Dawkins was one of the best players not only the team but in the league.

[BigKahuna]

i thought Dawkins was one of the best players not only the team but in the league.

Been to three or four games this year and seen him play for about 10 minutes total.

[oldie]

I would not be surprised to see Scott Buete back in the MLS next year. He is as good a midfielder as you will see in the USL in my opinion.

http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/MLS/players/bio.jsp?team=chf&player=buete_g&playerId=bue622937&statType=current

I think an injury really slowed him down until he had surgery.

[Eleven Bravo]

turns out Fuller's deal didn't work out with Cambur....