Lucigol - Where is the money?

[DCUtd]

http://www.laprensahn.com/ediciones/2007/11/21/no_entro_a_una_casa_donde_no_me_quieren

In the above-linnked article, Lucigol says that he isn't sure he wants to play for Honduras for a few reasons, including the concern that some people don't want him. (Serious paraprashing here as I want to get to the United news - if you are really interested in his thoughts on Honduras I can translate it in more detail) Note that I a not claiming this article is or is not legitimate, but it has big ramifications.

More importantly (for United anyway), the article says he has a lot to think about as his future with MLS is uncertain. He says "I have a family that depends on me and I need to take care of my work situation, later I will deal with the [Honduran] national team. The truth is I am pretty busy." He also said that this was "my best year for futbol. I am happy for this."

This is funny - according to the Honduran press, the American press is talking about including Lucigol in the US national team. "This surprised me, I didn't know that." (Neither did I!!!) "If I am a candidate, thank you, because it is an honor. For now I am only thinking about my contract."

Would you prefer to play for the US National Team? "At this time I haven't decided anything because I am not thinking about it."

The following is translated directly:
Luciano Emilio was clear: he is leaving DC United, the club in which he had a great season, scoring 20 goals, and getting to the playoffs, he won the golden ball, was named MVP, and best newcomer.

The problem is that they promised him that he would have a good season and then they would raise his salary. However, the team general manager prefers to let it go. "I wanted a better contract at the end of the season. But they told me that they can't and that it would take up all the money that they would have in the budget. I have a contract very low compared to the level I am playing."

The dangerous goal-scorer about his departure: "I am leaving DC United, I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me."

He is already thinking of another team and with his resume it won't be hard to find work. "I have possibilities to play in Mexico, Greece, or Spain." Without a better contract, I have to go, I hope DC United gives me what they promised. I have to feel appreciated."

[JeremyEritrea]

http://www.laprensahn.com/ediciones/2007/11/21/no_entro_a_una_casa_donde_no_me_quieren

In the above-linnked article, Lucigol says that he isn't sure he wants to play for Honduras for a few reasons, including the concern that some people don't want him. (Serious paraprashing here as I want to get to the United news - if you are really interested in his thoughts on Honduras I can translate it in more detail) Note that I a not claiming this article is or is not legitimate, but it has big ramifications.

More importantly (for United anyway), the article says he has a lot to think about as his future with MLS is uncertain. He says "I have a family that depends on me and I need to take care of my work situation, later I will deal with the [Honduran] national team. The truth is I am pretty busy." He also said that this was "my best year for futbol. I am happy for this."

This is funny - according to the Honduran press, the American press is talking about including Lucigol in the US national team. "This surprised me, I didn't know that." (Neither did I!!!) "If I am a candidate, thank you, because it is an honor. For now I am only thinking about my contract."

Would you prefer to play for the US National Team? "At this time I haven't decided anything because I am not thinking about it."

The following is translated directly:
Luciano Emilio was clear: he is leaving DC United, the club in which he had a great season, scoring 20 goals, and getting to the playoffs, he won the golden ball, was named MVP, and best newcomer.

The problem is that they promised him that he would have a good season and then they would raise his salary. However, the team general manager prefers to let it go. "I wanted a better contract at the end of the season. But they told me that they can't and that it would take up all the money that they would have in the budget. I have a contract very low compared to the level I am playing."

The dangerous goal-scorer about his departure: "I am leaving DC United, I am grateful for the opportunity they gave me."

He is already thinking of another team and with his resume it won't be hard to find work. "I have possibilities to play in Mexico, Greece, or Spain." Without a better contract, I have to go, I hope DC United gives me what they promised. I have to feel appreciated."

I'll believe it when I see it.

[dcsundevil2002]

As I understand his contract, MLS has the option on the next year on his contract; he doesn't have the option to opt out of it. DC United says that he is coming back, then I can't see any reason why he wouldn't be coming back.

[DCUtd]

As I understand his contract, MLS has the option on the next year on his contract; he doesn't have the option to opt out of it. DC United says that he is coming back, then I can't see any reason why he wouldn't be coming back.

That is my understanding, too, but if he doesn't want to come back then I think the front office realizes they could lose more by forcing him to sign rather than selling off their option.

[Jegao Paraiba]

It's my understanding that we have him locked up for at least the next 2 years. Payne's not stupid.
Now, it is possible that he's worth more than we're willing to pay him. That's the nature of the beast in MLS.
If so, bring the transfer fee and we'll beat the bushes down south again.
I'd love to see Emilio back. He's a gift and he has the gift.
It's still MLS, though.

Edit:
In January, the WaPo reported (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/16/AR2007011601818.html):Emilio, who turned 28 last month, signed a four-year contract that includes three team-held option years.

[garbaggio]

Note that I a not claiming this article is or is not legitimate, but it has big ramifications. [/B]





It's not a responsibly written article but Emilio does appear to say some troubling things. But DC owns his contract for now.

This reporter (didn't see his name included anywhere in the article) basically is trying to stir the pot to get a story by asking players to comment on sketchy rumors.

Somebody, somewhere probably wondered out loud whether Emilio would improve the USMNT attack so the reporter asks Emilio for a comment as though it were part of a systematic effort to have him nationalized.

He asks Suazo (who might be in competition for minutes at forward on the Honduran NT) for a comment on whether it would be good to have Emilio represent the Honduran Nats. Predictably Suazo isn't too happy about it. (Suazo, by the way, is considered by some to be the best forward in CONCACAF but prying him loose from a top Serie A team to play Honduran qualifiers might take a lot more muscle than getting Emilio down from DC)

Emilio sees guys like Beckham, Blanco and Angel making lots more money than he gets. It's natural for him to want more after he lead the league in scoring. But for now he seems to be locked into DC for at least another year unless DC decides to sell him.

[nobletea]

I'll believe it when I see it.

... says the man from Missouri. ;)

That would be disappointing. Moreso because I liked him, than because we'd lose a vital player.

But if he's that hung up on the money, which I can understand his reasoning, then let him go.

Remember he did fail to score for almost two months at one point, so I'd say from a club perspective we can't give him a DP salary and we can't mortgage the depth of the whole roster on him having a repeat performance next season. As stated, it's MLS, what can you do?

I'd rather have someone else who wants to be wearing the jersey and laying their heart on the field, even if they can't score 20 goals.

Hopefully this is newsprint fiction.

[garbaggio]

I don't know if the article was written by La Prensa's Diego Paz (similar writing style) but Paz reports today is the "MLS Superdraft" in this article.

http://www.laprensahn.com/ediciones/2007/11/21/esto_me_sorprendio

Just pointing out they may not necessarily get all their facts straight.

[Bolivianfuego]

Emilio's good, but if hes got other options willing to buy him out of the MLS and our hands, so be it. We could use that money on a younger, faster, more talented forward.

[John L]

To quote the old adage:

Those who can't do, do news reporting - Those who can't do news reporting, do sports reporting

This is just a bunch of nuts from Honduras for the benefit of soccer fans down there - Nothing relevant to us - Except maybe he wishes he could have more money - Nothing new there

We got the team we had by NOT automatically going down the DP road and keeping a modestly high yet balanced payroll for our big 5 players - (As did the 3 next best regular season teams in MLS: Houston, ChivasUSA and NERev) - Two of those may or may not be back and may or may not have restructured playing times - AND MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE RESTRUCTURED PAYROLLS

I'd say given our current state, we could give Lucigol an increase (or re-structure it with incentives) - But could we do this with a pricey DP as well? - Doubt it, unless Moreno and Gomez are either gone or drastically re-structured - There's just too many other minor players that deserve raises even to $75K

[Allan Quatermain]

... says the man from Missouri. ;)

That would be disappointing. Moreso because I liked him, than because we'd lose a vital player.

But if he's that hung up on the money, which I can understand his reasoning, then let him go.

...I'd rather have someone else who wants to be wearing the jersey and laying their heart on the field, even if they can't score 20 goals.


You mean, you'd rather have someone like Ben Olsen, who wants to be wearing the jersey and laying his heart on the field?

Don't forget that Ben Olsen looked to ditch United and follow the money to a much bigger contract in England several years back. Because of the injury the plan got scotched. Now, I love Ben Olsen, I love his heart, and I don't exactly blame him for trying to leave us and make the move to Nottingham. Basically, I don't think we should begrudge players too much for trying somewhat to maximize their earnings during the relatively short period of time they have to play.

So Luciano may have something of a point (assuming this report is correct) -- he's one of the best players in our league, and he feels he should be paid like one. Throw out the Beckham example (he's an outlier, he actually makes money for the league, and a large chunk of his salary doesn't come from MLS anyway), but compare Luci to all the other players who make a lot more than he does. On the field, Luciano comes out favorably in the comparison. He had a great year for us, both in MLS and in Concacaf. So why should anybody be upset if he feels undercompensated? He is. Does he have a contract that obligates him to play for us at a bargain price? It would appear so. In the interest of maintaining goodwill with a player who gave the club, frankly, more than he was paid for in 2007, perhaps it might be wise for the club/league to try to renegotiate the contract. It happens all the time in sports.

[nobletea]

You mean, you'd rather have someone like Ben Olsen, who wants to be wearing the jersey and laying his heart on the field?

Don't forget that Ben Olsen looked to ditch United and follow the money to a much bigger contract in England several years back. Because of the injury the plan got scotched. Now, I love Ben Olsen, I love his heart, and I don't exactly blame him for trying to leave us and make the move to Nottingham. Basically, I don't think we should begrudge players too much for trying somewhat to maximize their earnings during the relatively short period of time they have to play.


Perhaps I was unclear. I don't begrudge him at all for wanting to leave for more money, as I said I "understand his reasoning". What I was referring to was the club/league holding the option and keeping him despite his desire to leave, which would make him unhappy, likely less productive, possibly destructive, and at the least more likely to be just playing for a paycheck next season.

I have zero problems with him wanting to leave. My statement was that I'd rather have a walk on kid from Arlington on the squad than a disgruntled star.

[IndividualEleven]

Bad contract on the part of Emilio/his agent. Consecutive team-held option years? That's worse than an NFL contract.

[DangerMouse37]

Perhaps I was unclear. I don't begrudge him at all for wanting to leave for more money, as I said I "understand his reasoning". What I was referring to was the club/league holding the option and keeping him despite his desire to leave, which would make him unhappy, likely less productive, possibly destructive, and at the least more likely to be just playing for a paycheck next season.

I have zero problems with him wanting to leave. My statement was that I'd rather have a walk on kid from Arlington on the squad than a disgruntled star.

Truth is, Emilio was likely underpaid for what he did this last year. Will Chang and I spoke at the tailgate, and its clear that Lucigol wants more money. However, as with many sports, after winning the league MVP people -- even in good contracts -- want to renegotiate and teams expect this. Emilio is no exception. MLS is a bit different given the structure, but you can't force someone to play.

I think we should bend over backwards to make this work. Without Luciano we're a very average team. Even with him we missed a 3rd striker badly. Lucigol + a strong DP and we've got a really good team out there.

Would Jaime become a player-coach? If so, we could use some of that dinero saved to keep our first 20 goal scorer in years on the team. Keep Emilio!!

(oh, and I just bought his jersey)...

[Th4119]

He signed a contract that can keep him for four years. If he were overly concerned about renegotiating every season he should have opted for a strictly one-year deal.

That said, DC will probably give him a raise even though they are under absolutely no obligation to do so.

[nobletea]

Truth is, Emilio was likely underpaid for what he did this last year. Will Chang and I spoke at the tailgate, and its clear that Lucigol wants more money. However, as with many sports, after winning the league MVP people -- even in good contracts -- want to renegotiate and teams expect this. Emilio is no exception. MLS is a bit different given the structure, but you can't force someone to play.

I think we should bend over backwards to make this work. Without Luciano we're a very average team. Even with him we missed a 3rd striker badly. Lucigol + a strong DP and we've got a really good team out there.

Would Jaime become a player-coach? If so, we could use some of that dinero saved to keep our first 20 goal scorer in years on the team. Keep Emilio!!

(oh, and I just bought his jersey)...

He was definitely underpaid, no doubt about it. That's also how sports contracts work in general. Sometimes you get a bargain, some times you don't. You try to reward players when possible, or you let them go. Hopefully over the course of a career it all evens out.

He definitely deserves a new contract. Doesn't mean he's gonna get one though. I'd be much more interested in something very incentive laden, with a reasonable boost for what he didn't earn last season.

Say, give him a $5000/goal incentive. That could earn him an additional 100k if he repeats his efforts. I don't believe MLS deals work this way, however.

[Th4119]

He was definitely underpaid, no doubt about it. That's also how sports contracts work in general. Sometimes you get a bargain, some times you don't. You try to reward players when possible, or you let them go. Hopefully over the course of a career it all evens out.

Exactly. I look at this as equaling one year of substantially overpaying Santino Quaranta.

[MillerLite]

Moreno and Emilio should swap salaries...

(Somewhat of a troll statement, I know, but was Jaime worth his salary this year? Tied for goals with Olsen?)

[penn09state]

i agree with Millerlite

[The Cold Sea]

From Goff. Rumor over:

*No truth to the Honduran media reports that Luciano Emilio is about to leave DCU. The club exercised the option on his contract for 2008 and, unless a massive offer from overseas lands on Kevin Payne's desk, he's not going anywhere. That said, his agent, Alexander Solis, tells me that he and the club have begun discussions about a pay raise. "We're talking right now, trying to get something done. Talks continue," he said. "He wants to stay in D.C. He loves D.C."

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/