Senior Roster Speculation

[JoeW]

First, this is not based on any hard news. But Goff did indicate (in an online WPost chat I believe) that Jamil Walker was on the outs. Furthermore, it doesn't take a weatherman to see which way the wind blows when Addlery and Kpene both earn minutes and both show well. And we still have Dyachenko and North on the reserves yet to show anything!

Then, you have Kasper visiting Poland and Chang and Kasper headed to China. Finally, you hear whispers that if the team doesn't resume form quickly, that the early renouncements of signing a DP this year are off.

So...what all of this means is that it's likely a senior roster spot would need to be cleared. And therefore, Jamil Walker is probably the most likely candidate.

If it wasn't Walker, than the other candidates in my mind would be:
--Nolly (if we found another GK we could sign at the developmental level we felt was much more polished than Crowe)
--Erpen (I think he'll regain his level of performance by playing centrally and with the risk of Boswell leaving in 2008, I'd rather not lose them both) solely b/c if we converted back to a 352 OR we needed to get salary cap room...

First, I don't think we get anything definite for Walker should we go in that direction. We might waive him outright. I think it more likely that he's traded for "future considerations" which will be determined by:
(a) if he sticks on the team's roster and
(b) how much he plays.

My first candidate for Walker's new home would be....LAG. They're cap stretched. Yallop has already shown an affinity for Walker. When Beckham comes, if their frontline is Jaqua and Donovan (and Donovan has callups for the Copa), then Walker might be a poor-man's sub for Donovan (or more likely a sub for Findley). A second team that might be a fit is NE. If Cristman doesn't work out and Noonan goes down, than Walker is a good discount running mate for Twellman and we all know NE is very much a budget operation. 4 teams I can't see Walker going to are: Houston (Kinnear inherited him from Yallop and ended up exposing him in the expansion draft), Chivas (which originally cut him), RSL (which passed on him in the expansion draft and doesn't need a forward of his nature--they're more likely to move Adu to forward if Atiba Harris doesn't work out than go for Walker), and TFC (which has SI issues).

[owendylan]

First, this is not based on any hard news. But Goff did indicate (in an online WPost chat I believe) that Jamil Walker was on the outs. Furthermore, it doesn't take a weatherman to see which way the wind blows when Addlery and Kpene both earn minutes and both show well. And we still have Dyachenko and North on the reserves yet to show anything!

Then, you have Kasper visiting Poland and Chang and Kasper headed to China. Finally, you hear whispers that if the team doesn't resume form quickly, that the early renouncements of signing a DP this year are off.

So...what all of this means is that it's likely a senior roster spot would need to be cleared. And therefore, Jamil Walker is probably the most likely candidate.

If it wasn't Walker, than the other candidates in my mind would be:
--Nolly (if we found another GK we could sign at the developmental level we felt was much more polished than Crowe)
--Erpen (I think he'll regain his level of performance by playing centrally and with the risk of Boswell leaving in 2008, I'd rather not lose them both) solely b/c if we converted back to a 352 OR we needed to get salary cap room...

First, I don't think we get anything definite for Walker should we go in that direction. We might waive him outright. I think it more likely that he's traded for "future considerations" which will be determined by:
(a) if he sticks on the team's roster and
(b) how much he plays.

My first candidate for Walker's new home would be....LAG. They're cap stretched. Yallop has already shown an affinity for Walker. When Beckham comes, if their frontline is Jaqua and Donovan (and Donovan has callups for the Copa), then Walker might be a poor-man's sub for Donovan (or more likely a sub for Findley). A second team that might be a fit is NE. If Cristman doesn't work out and Noonan goes down, than Walker is a good discount running mate for Twellman and we all know NE is very much a budget operation. 4 teams I can't see Walker going to are: Houston (Kinnear inherited him from Yallop and ended up exposing him in the expansion draft), Chivas (which originally cut him), RSL (which passed on him in the expansion draft and doesn't need a forward of his nature--they're more likely to move Adu to forward if Atiba Harris doesn't work out than go for Walker), and TFC (which has SI issues).

Are all of our developmental slots filled? One option is to move a player from the senior roster to a dev spot a la Namoff back in the Hudson days. Of course if they all filled that's not an option. Walker is gone, we should take a keg of beer for him and be done because that's about what we'll get for him. The 13th pick in the supplemental draft is worth less then a keg of beer.

[JoeW]

Are all of our developmental slots filled? One option is to move a player from the senior roster to a dev spot a la Namoff back in the Hudson days. Of course if they all filled that's not an option. Walker is gone, we should take a keg of beer for him and be done because that's about what we'll get for him. The 13th pick in the supplemental draft is worth less then a keg of beer.

You are correct (about moving players to developmental, not sure about the keg of beer though--I think it depends upon what kind of beer).

We've moved Moose and Dyachenko to developmental. I doubt Nolly would be willing to do that. Not sure who else we have that would be willing to do this (b/c developmental is also age-restricted). Our recent trialist is evidently a developmental candidate.

Also, the team is big on "doing right" by players. We didn't lowball people like Reyes and Cerritos for instance. I bet that the team has an agreement with Dyachenko that when he gets healthy and starts earning PT with the senior side he'll be moved back to senior roster somehow.

[Sachin]

Where is Boswell going in 2008? Puerto Rico?

[elconejito]

I think Jamil will likely just get waived outright. I don't think any team who is not desperate (i.e. riddled with injuries) will give anything away knowing that Jamil will be shortly available as soon as United picks up another warm body in the form of this new trialist, or we fill our DP slot.

One possibility tho, if we do trade our DP slot (to LAG for example) then he might go as part of the package...

[joehill]

Polish player update:

goff does "not have a name or club, but the player is a central defender, believed to be in his late 20s. (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/05/polska_prospect.html)"

[rugman]

Where is Boswell going in 2008? Puerto Rico?

Ouch but true to current form. Although he looked better this past game to me.

[crazy al]

Where is Boswell going in 2008? Puerto Rico?

Talked to Jay Needham today (but before I saw this). Next time, I'll ask him if he wants to swap apartments with Boswell. His is a block and a half from the beach. :)

To stick with this thread, but looking at next year. If John Wilson doesn't get more playing time this year, his spot might be open for Jay's return.

BTW, he has started the last two games for the Islanders at left fullback. The games were Puerto Rico's first two shut outs of the season. Unfortuantely, he said they forgot to score as well. Both 0-0 draws.

[Zman Gunner]

Both our senior roster and developmental roster are full:

SENIOR ROSTER (18) - Perkins, Nolly, Boswell, Erpen, Namoff, McTavish, Wilson, Olsen, B. Carroll, Gomez, Gros, Fred, Simms, Casal, Moreno, Emilio, Addlery, Walker

Players on the fringe - 1. Walker 2. Wilson

DEVELOPMENTAL ROSTER (10) - Crowe, J. Carroll, deRoux, Arguez, Moose, Willis, Dyachenko, North, Knepe, Burch

Players on the fringe - 1. North 2. J. Carroll

[JoeW]

Both our senior roster and developmental roster are full:

SENIOR ROSTER (18) - Perkins, Nolly, Boswell, Erpen, Namoff, McTavish, Wilson, Olsen, B. Carroll, Gomez, Gros, Fred, Simms, Casal, Moreno, Emilio, Addlery, Walker

Players on the fringe - 1. Walker 2. Wilson

DEVELOPMENTAL ROSTER (10) - Crowe, J. Carroll, deRoux, Arguez, Moose, Willis, Dyachenko, North, Knepe, Burch

Players on the fringe - 1. North 2. J. Carroll I would put Burch and Willis on the fringe before I put J. Carroll. Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe we do have one open SI slot so if we add a foreign talent without a green card, we don't have to cut an SI--yes?

[Zman Gunner]

I would put Burch and Willis on the fringe before I put J. Carroll. Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe we do have one open SI slot so if we add a foreign talent without a green card, we don't have to cut an SI--yes?

I would agree with Burch being on the fringe but I would not put Willis there. Willis got a senior developmental deal right away (as opposed to making the progression from standard developmental contract to senior developmental contract) and still has a few years before he would have to go on the senior roster. While I think that North is one on the fringe of the developmental roster, I think that Caroll lack of even dressing for 1st team games and his continuance on the lowest-end developmental contract does not help his cause.


SI (4 available - 3 used) - Emilio, Gomez, Fred
SYI (3 available - 3 used - able to trade for additional spots) - Erpen, Casal, Knepe

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

To DP or not DP, that is the question.....

[pr0ner]

To add to what Zman said, Erpen would take up an SI spot for the 2008 season.

[rugman]

To add to what Zman said, Erpen would take up an SI spot for the 2008 season.

And this is what the trip is all about. The 2008 season. I think we have found that our central defense is shoring up very nicely, thank you TS. Gomito and Boz have already turned down higher contracts looking for more money next year. We can afford to lose Gomito with Fred on board. We can not currently afford to lose Boz. Picking up a solid young defender this summer will set us up for next year. And depending on how solid they are might help us in a run for the Cup.
My only concern is what language will everyone speak? Are we becoming the next Inter DC? (Not a big concern but...)
Kudos to the front office for being in front of the curve as usual.

[nobletea]

Polish player update:

goff does "not have a name or club, but the player is a central defender, believed to be in his late 20s. (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2007/05/polska_prospect.html)"

So, yeah, calculated cover for Boz or Erp or both for next season?

Or does that indicate a willingness to partner this unknown player with Boz and move Erpen to the left so we can have Gros into a more natural wide midfield role? Even with the publically stated idea that Erp is more comfortable in the center?

[JoeW]

I think the team is aggressive in looking at talent (see: scouting Chinese U20 team). I think Erpen will probably be here the remainder of this year but if Soehn feels that the Polish player is a significant upgrade then we could part with Erpen.

What is nice about this situation is, unlike TFC, we don't have to cut Erpen to add the Pole. We have SI space, we have cap room. We can make decisions based upon who is best in the short-term AND long-term.

[rugman]

I think the team is aggressive in looking at talent (see: scouting Chinese U20 team). I think Erpen will probably be here the remainder of this year but if Soehn feels that the Polish player is a significant upgrade then we could part with Erpen.

What is nice about this situation is, unlike TFC, we don't have to cut Erpen to add the Pole. We have SI space, we have cap room. We can make decisions based upon who is best in the short-term AND long-term.

Do you really think we can part with Erpen that easily? What if Boz does get an offer across the pond? I say you hold these cards and play them out. They can not depend on a drafted defender hanging around after what happened with Needham.

[JoeW]

Do you really think we can part with Erpen that easily? What if Boz does get an offer across the pond? I say you hold these cards and play them out. They can not depend on a drafted defender hanging around after what happened with Needham.

I personally think that shifting Erpen to central defense and going with a 442 will result in a big difference in his play and we'll not only keep him this year but next as well. But that said, the team may conclude that it wants to sign a Polish central defender and also a DP later in the summer. And unless we burn all of our allocations at once, I think that might mean we need to do some cap clearing.

[Zman Gunner]

So, yeah, calculated cover for Boz or Erp or both for next season?

I have to agree - DCU seems to be thinking about acclimating eventual replacement players a year before they may take their primary role - Fred was brought in this year has potential cover for a Gomez departure as well as Moreno cover - in the mean time, Fred plays RM (at least to start the game - after the kick-off he drifts into a roving midfield position). A Polish CB sounds like cover for a Euro-bound Boz and/or a return-to-sender move of Erpen back to Argentina. If DCU does sign him, let's up that he brings more to the table than the last Eastern Euro hairy-chested defender (Ivanov). While Boz may not be EPL-bound, I can see a team from Norway making a play for him - they seem to like to go (and often get) the fringe USMNT players.

It is really sounding like Walker and Wilson may be out of here - perhaps, they can join Stokes in Carolina in the USL.

[JoeW]

(snip) If DCU does sign him, let's up that he brings more to the table than the last Eastern Euro...(snip).

I'd be very happy if he brought what the last Eastern European did that we inked. I seem to recall a guy who's first name was Piotr and he helped bring us a championship.



















I know what you mean but I couldn't resist.