Stoitchkov's Playing Days May Be Over (Goff, W. Post, 6/11)

[Knave]

The news has really been flying these last couple days ...
D.C. United's Hristo Stoitchkov will be dropped from the active roster if the club signs a foreign player -- a move that would likely end the playing career for one of the world's most accomplished soccer players of the last 15 years.

Team officials said yesterday that Stoitchkov would remain with the club as an assistant coach, a position he has held along with his forward responsibilities since coming to Washington in a trade with Chicago during the offseason, and could return to the team as a player later this year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41614-2003Jun10.html

[bofahey]

I'm not a big Hristo fan, but if they do drop him from the roster, they should at least let him play in the Blackburn match. A player of his stature deserves a proper send-off.

[CyphaPSU]

yeah, even if he isn't the cleanest player that ever played, he deserves a nice sendoff.

I find it pretty darn funny that the EA Sports people made Stoitchkov's skin color black in the FIFA 2003 game.

[greatscott]

thank god he wont be playing alot, but It is good to keep him in practice and assistant coaching. That should have been his job all along.

[DigitalTron]

Encouraging. I'm sure I'm way off base ... but, what's Tyson Nunez doing these days?

Hristo's antics on the field are unacceptable IMHO. But as far as playing is concerned, I think it's clear that he still has enough ability to play. With him, it's solely the attitude question.

I'm eager to see the Curtis Esky pairing. At a minimum it would give us two scrappy fearless shooters against what may possibly be the worst defense in MLS (sans Mastroeni). If our defense holds up and we actually put shots on goal, we can win this one.

-Digital

[Jose L. Couso]

Thanks for the link Knave.

[Footer Phooter]

I really hope anyone we sign is an improvement over our current forwards.

[CHICO13]

"United has also had talks with representatives for forwards from Bolivia, Uruguay, Honduras and Romania, but team official declined to identify the players until formal workouts are arranged."

Any ideas? I know Jose Castillo, a young Bolivian forward wants out of UNAM in Mexico but would probably cost too much.

[GoDC]

I don't know but they better get guys in here quick and make a decision. With getting a work permit and everything else set up we want someone who can play before the last month of the season.

[grafh]

I doubt the Honduran foward is Tyson, I'm thinking that its Saul Martinez. The only Bolivian foward i could think of that is worth getting is Castillo, maybe Botero.

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by grafh
The only Bolivian foward i could think of that is worth getting is Castillo, maybe Botero.
Botero is a goal scoring machine but he's going to Argentina for BIG money. Castillo also is good at taking defenders on and has a great final touch, but he too is probably to expensive for us.

[subbuteo]

yeah, forget dreaming about Botero. Who's next, Cardozo?

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by grafh
I doubt the Honduran foward is Tyson, I'm thinking that its Saul Martinez.
Martinez might make sense. He was with the Fusion before Ray got there (1999). I thought he was a decent player, but he only had two goals in 15 matches (4 starts), but he seems to have picked up since then (he was only 23).

And yes, he's only 5'8.

[LOCO4UNITED!!]

<b>Chico, </b>
Botero singed for UNAM (Pumas) for about $1 mill. He is not going to Argentina.
Also, "el negro" Castillo wants out of Tecos.

Saludos,
Carlos

[Sundevil9]

Originally posted by CHICO13
Botero is a goal scoring machine but he's going to Argentina for BIG money.

I didn't think Argentina had any money even remotely resembling BIG. Unless they're using larger paper to print it on.

[CHICO13]

Originally posted by LOCO4UNITED!!
Chico,
Botero singed for UNAM (pumas) for about $1 mill. He is not going to Argentina.

Saludos,
Carlos
Thanks Carlos, I guess I mixed them up. I thought I read Botero was going to Argentina and Castillo wanted out of UNAM.

[TCompton]

While, I can't say my oppinion of Hristo has increased to much while he has played for United. I still can't take away my respect for a player of his caliber.

He was very pleasent to talk with at the Q&A session.

He has accomplished some amazing things in his life time of soccer. He's got one of the prettiest shots I've seen.

I will give him a standing ovation for his last time on the field. His name, when added to the MLS list, helped this league, and his continued desire to help MLS grow is commendable.

With that being said, I hope all of this takes place quickly because we need help and quick!

[garbaggio]

Does anyone know how much money Hristo the player (as opposed to Hristo the asst coach) makes? How much salary cap is he costing us?

Wouldn't we still need to get rid of one of our higher-paid "jewels" to be able to sign a decent foreign forward? Or is this completely because Hristo is still waiting on his green card?

[Th4119]

Originally posted by garbaggio
Does anyone know how much money Hristo the player (as opposed to Hristo the asst coach) makes? How much salary cap is he costing us?

Wouldn't we still need to get rid of one of our higher-paid "jewels" to be able to sign a decent foreign forward? Or is this completely because Hristo is still waiting on his green card?

I think this is mostly about the SI slot. However whatever extra money that can be spent now will surely help the team.

[grafh]

Kind of off topic here but reports have it that the Burn have just signed a South African foward. Perhaps they would be a little more willing now to let one of there other 4 fowards go (Johnson, Kreis, Rhine, Cerritos). Maybe a trade is in order.