Offseason Changes - Players: Keep, Trade, Cut, Retire? [R]

[jason1551]

Now that our season is over, we need to start looking at our roster and who deserves to stay on for next year.

I say we keep:

Rimando
Warren
Petke
Nelsen
Reyes
Kovalenko
Olsen
Martins
Stokes
Perea
Carroll
Baumstark

Trade Bait:

Convey
Q1
Q2
Cerritos
Stewart
Prideaux
Namoff
Eskandarian

Cut or trade:

Alegria
Ivanov
Barclay

Retire:

Stoichkov
Etcheverry


Now that's not a drastic overhaul of our starting lineup, but our bench needs some work.

Midfielders to go after:

Brad Davis
Simon Colosimo
Jake Traeger
Kerry Zavagnin
Nate Jaqua

Now those players address our midfield problems. There is youth, speed, and skill in all those players, something we desparately need.

Forwards to go after:

Jeff Cunningham
Brian Mullan
Chris Carrieri

Once again, speed and skill, but also experience.

Now I doubt we do everything that I've suggested, but I would love to see us target a few of the midfielders and go after some quality forwards (SI or otherwise). We already have a pretty solid defense and some good midfielders, but there is still room for improvement.

[MarioKempes]

Retire:
Etcheverry
Stoichkov

Keep:
Cerritos
Petke
Nelsen
Reyes
Olsen
Rimando
Warren
Namoff
Q2
Martins
Stewart (reduce salary, please)
Prideaux
Stokes
Q1
Barclay

Trade:
Kovalenko
Carroll
Ivanov
Alegria


We badly need a couple of good offensive midfielders. I think if we can get Cletus cheap, let's get him.

[greenbill]

Originally posted by MarioKempes
Retire:
Etcheverry
Stoichkov

I think that as long as this happens we're certain to be better off next year.

[monster]

Get rid of them all. Hold open tryouts and invite them.

[greenbill]

Originally posted by monster
Get rid of them all. Hold open tryouts and invite them.
I've shared this same opinion for the last 2 seasons. Although I wouldn't be upset at seeing an entirely new set of players take the field next season, I'm not sure how realistic that is. If Etch and Stoich are gone next year, I think that most of the problems will be solved.

[greatscott]

Retire:
Hristo
Marco

Keep:
Martins
Q2
Perea
Carroll
Con-VAY
Kovalenko
Petke
Olsen
Rimando
Nelson
Barclay
Cerritos
Stokes

Trade:
Everyone Else

Cut:
Coaching Staff

Get:
Strikers. Lots of them

[RMDad]

We badly need a couple of good offensive midfielders. I think if we can get Cletus cheap, let's get him.
I WILL NOT pay to see that redneck moron in our kit!
mark

[paulocesar]

Forwards are definately needed...interesting that the Revs have on their books Twellman, Joe Max Moore, Noonan, and Fabro. Certainly, DC should be able to get one of these guys.

p.s. Getting rid of past their primes Stoitchkov and Marco is a smart idea, but replacing them with Cleatus??? Err...since when is it a good idea to replace one cancer with another???

[DutchFootballRulez]

Retire/Out of Contract:
Hristo
Etch
Hudson (hopefully)

Keep:
Nelsen
Convey
Petke
Q1
Q2
Namhoff
Stokes
Prideaux
Cerritos
Martins
Kovalenko
Ben Olsen
Barclay
Reyes

Trade:
E. Stewart (he deserves a 2nd chance at another club)
Eskandarian
Ivanov

Bring in:
J. Cunningham
A certain 14 year old

[sch2383]

I think Warren would make good trade bait. The only thing we can really trade is potential and Warren did play well, his errors were mainly communication problems.

The only players we must keep are Martins, Nellie, Petke, Rimando, Dema, and Olsen. But even they aren't safe, who would have thought we would trade Eddie Pope this time last year?

Stewart only has a few years he can really play
Convey could end up in Europe soon, we all know he wants to go. I don't think his drop in form will carry over and a good shwoing at hte U20 WC could spark interest in Dutch teams. Everybody else has their own problems, I just wonder how many headcases are really on this team.

Regardless, this will be an interesting offseason.

[ignatz]

With Marco and Hristo gone, and a new coaching staff, I think this will be a whole new team.

Ivanov will be surplus with Reyes back. He may be trade bait.

I can't believe that Stewart suddenly began to stink when he got here. I think it far more likely that his performance is a result of Ray and his choatic "system" and the entire dysfunctionality of the team. Given Earnie's record, I'd like to see him here with a new coach, someone who knows how to use his talents.

I definitely would keep Convey and Q1. Convey's situation has been beaten to death on these boards. Suffice it to say that I'm with Bruce Arena, Glenn Hoddle and Bobby Robson -- I think the kid can play, and like Stewart, his talents weren't utilized here. A new coach could make all the difference.

Q1 hasn't produced in two years, as Wynalda said, but he also is 19 and has missed the best part of two seasons with injuries. Too much talent to give away cheap.

[jason1551]

How cheap would that be? Trade him for another young forward, someone who isn't injury-prone and knows what the hell he's doing on the field. I keep hearing all this "potential" crap, but it means squat if he never plays. Lots of players have potential. Let's give it to one who deserves it.

[Cweedchop]

This off-season won't be nearly as hectic as last seasons that's for sure..

Money is going to be a huge issue this offseason and some of the moves I am seeing above just simply can't happen from a financial standpoint..

All of these moves also depend on whether or not Hudson is back next season.. If a new coach is hired, don't be suprised to see a chubby #10 roaming the field for United.. If Payne gets his "yes" man on the bench, it's a good bet that Marco will be re-signed..

I think Hristo's behavior in these two matches alone seals his fate with this team, despite scoring some big goals for this team this season..

Also of consideration is the situation of Ryan Nelsen.. I think part of giving Ryan the captains armband was a move of sorts to let him know he is wanted here in D.C. and this might be a factor in his decision over the winter should an offer come during the transfer period in Europe.. If Ryan does indeed run for the money, then look for both Ivanov and Prideaux to stick around next season.. If Nellie stays, Ivanov will probably be gone..

Here's my list:

Keep:

Rimando
Warren

Stokes
Prideaux
Nelsen
Namoff
Petke
Reyes

Olsen
Stewart
Convey
Kovalenko
Carroll
Alegria


Quaranta
Martins
Cerritos
Eskandarian


Retire/not re-sign:

Hristo
Marco

Release:

Quintanilla
Barclay
Perea
Ivanov

[MarioKempes]

Originally posted by paulocesar
but replacing them with Cleatus??? Err...since when is it a good idea to replace one cancer with another???

Mathis is not a cancer. He's still one of the best players in the league. It's a pity some here can't see that.

[Gemmell]

Here is how I have. I don't think we need as big of a change as everyone else. We need a good Mid to lead the team, so that leaves either stewart, olsen, convey or Kovalenko out. If Convey trasfers in January it is a moot point, but who do we get? Our D should be ok for next year so no concerns there. At GK maybe we can trade Rimando or Warren and get anothe Foward or Mid? Probably not though. At foward I don't think we should have too much of a problem. I think we will probably start Q1 and Thiago, with Eski getting more minutes. I will probably be bashed for saying that but I think our major problems is with our midfield.


GK: Doug Warren
Nick Rimando
Clint Baumstark

Defense:
Brandon Prideaux
Milton Reyes
Ryan Nelsen
Mike Petke
David Stokes
Bryan Namoff

MidField
Earnie Stewart
Ben Olsen
Bobby Convey
Dema Kovalenko
Brian Carroll

Forwards:
Ronald Cerritos
Santino Quaranta
Alecko Eskandarian
Thiago Martins

Release or Retire or Trade:
Marco Etcheverry
Hristo Stoitchkov
Galin Ivanov (would any other team have interest in him?

Maybe keep
Jose Alegria
Devin Barclay
Eliseo Quintanilla
Trevor Perea (Who is he, is he really on the team?)

[grumpydcu]

I think it would be interesting and informative if someone would ask Sormun to give us his insight and predictions on off-season changes.

[galperin]

The ONLY ones to keep are:

Benny
Bobby
Earnie
Nelson
Stokes
Reyes

EVERYONE ELSE, including Hudson, should GO!!!

[Winoman]

Here's my list:

Keep:

Rimando
Warren

Stokes
Prideaux
Nelsen
Namoff
Petke
Reyes

Olsen
Stewart
Convey
Kovalenko
Carroll
Quintanilla


Quaranta
Martins
Cerritos
Eskandarian


Retire/not re-sign:

Hristo
Marco

Release:

Alegria
Quintanilla
Barclay
Perea
Ivanov

Hi Chris, I only made a slight change to your roster: I'd keep Q2 and drop Chino. Also I really hope Payne does not re-sign Marco, unless its for a farewell/thank-you game next Fall.

[jason1551]

I'd beg to differ. He criticizes teammates for not getting him the ball, but then doesn't score when he is given the ball. His attitude is pathetic and he needs to get out of this league ASAP.

On topic, I don't see Ivanov as a replacement for Nelsen should Nelsen leave. Not now, not ever. I would much rather see Stokes in that center-d position, as a backup or a starter. Ivanov has too many defensive problems and is more of a liability than an asset. We need P-40 players (like Perea) because they don't cost us anything and can be developed (given the proper coach) into good substitutes or better (see: Chicago).

At forward, our main problem is size and lack of speed. Q1, Q2, and Eski may be young, but they don't do enough to warrant a starting position and hardly qualify to come off the bench. I would rather see us trade them for better or equal players who have speed, have a desire to play, and are willing to sit on the bench and be in a sub role for the time being. There are young players around the league (Jamil Walker, Antonio Moreno, Eddie Johnson, Pat Noonan, Nate Jaqua, Eddie Gaven, etc.) who can come off the bench or start and their teams don't experience a drop in talent. That's the type of thing I wish our team this season, but I'm not opposed to going and getting one of the aforementioned players who are already in that kind of role. I keep hearing about "potential", but how long a time frame do we have in mind? Q1, Q2, and Barclay have had years to develop and have done nothing. I don't want us to waste roster spots on players who don't care enough to get better. Bring in someone else who has the drive to play in MLS.

[galperin]

Oh, wait.....we're getting Freddy next year.....all of our problems are solved. :)