Pretend You Have Dave Kasper's Job

[QuietSide]

Pretend You Have Dave Kasper's Job:

Today is December 29. MLS Draft is January 16, a little more than 2 weeks away.

According to dcunited.com (which, incidently, still lists Ray Hudson as the head coach -- I guess he still is for another day or so), your job as Technical Director means you work "closely with the coaching staff in identifying and signing talent as well as developing a draft strategy."

Given that there really doesn't seem to be much of a coaching staff around (except Trask...), it looks like you're on your own.

What is your plan to rebuild United:

Here's what you start with, according to Dcunited.com. Note also that every player except Etcheverry is reportedly under contract for next year (and thus can't simply be waived -- I think?!?)

Alegria, Jose
Barclay, Devin
Baumstark, Clint
Carroll, Brian
Cerritos, Ronald
Convey, Bobby
Eskandarian, Alecko
Etcheverry, Marco
Ivanov, Galin
Kovalenko, Dema
Martins, Thiago
Namoff, Bryan
Nelsen, Ryan
Olsen, Ben
Perea, Trevor
Petke, Mike
Prideaux, Brandon
Quaranta, Santino
Quintanilla, Eliseo
Reyes, Milton
Rimando, Nick
Stewart, Earnie
Stokes, David
Warren, Doug

Here's how they break down by possible position (note, some players listed in more than one position):

Forwards:

Cerritos, Ronald
Eskandarian, Alecko
Martins, Thiago
Quaranta, Santino
Quintanilla, Eliseo
Stewart, Earnie
Adu, Freddie (will be selected with No. 1 pick)

Midfielders:

Alegria, Jose
Barclay, Devin
Carroll, Brian
Convey, Bobby
Etcheverry, Marco
Kovalenko, Dema
Namoff, Bryan
Olsen, Ben
Perea, Trevor
Quaranta, Santino
Quintanilla, Eliseo
Stewart, Earnie


Defenders:

Ivanov, Galin
Namoff, Bryan
Nelsen, Ryan
Petke, Mike
Prideaux, Brandon
Reyes, Milton
Rimando, Nick
Stokes, David

Goalkeepers:

Baumstark, Clint
Rimando, Nick
Warren, Doug

You must also consider the different status of players under the MLS System:

Senior International (Maximum of 3 per team):

Nelsen, Ryan
Ivanov, Galin

Transitional Internationals (?? Maximum league wide):

Alegria, Jose
Quintanilla, Eliseo

Developmental Players (2 slots per team, Don't count against roster limit or salary cap?):

Perea, Trevor


Nike Project-40 Players (Limit per team? Don't count against roster limit or salary cap):

Barclay, Devin
Carroll, Brian
Eskandarian, Alecko
Stokes, David

Tools you have to build the team:

Allocations Possibly as many as 3 (You Suck, Etchverry departure, Stoitchkov departure) but at least one automatically goes to Dallas for Adu and after that, nothing is for sure at this point.

Discovery Budget: Do we have any of this left? Not sure, perhaps someone like JoeW has a better understanding...

Draft: I can't seem to find the draft picks we have this year, but if memory serves me correct we have next to nothing (maybe one in the third round?)

Wheeling and Dealing with Other MLS Teams: The days before the draft are generally high volume trade periods in MLS.


Other important factors to consider:

World Cup Qualifying for the U.S. (and other CONCACAF teams) will begin this summer. You must assume that National Team players may miss games as a result.

The 2004 Olympics are set for August 13-29 2004 with a team camp likely scheduled for before the games.

DC United players listed as part of the U-23 pool include:

Carroll, Brian
Convey, Bobby (captain?)
Eskandarian, Alecko
Stokes, David
Warren, Doug
Note also that the Olympic team is allowed to bring 3 overage players.

Convey can reapply for a work permit in England in July or August if he has an interested team.


Ok, with all of that in mind, what do you do?

What are the obvious holes we need to fill (i.e, forward)?

How would you realistically go about filling them (is there someone in league you want and think we could get in a trade, someone in the draft, an allocation)?

I know there are ideas out there and, frankly, I think Dave Kasper could use the help...

[Knave]

Most of your technical questions are answered here: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=82109

[QuietSide]

I knew I should have looked around more. Thanks...

[owendylan]

Originally posted by QuietSide
Pretend You Have Dave Kasper's Job:


I quit!

[John_Harkes_6]

Originally posted by QuietSide
Allocations Possibly as many as 3 (You Suck, Etchverry departure, Stoitchkov departure) but at least one automatically goes to Dallas for Adu and after that, nothing is for sure at this point.


We have no You Suck allocation - we made the play-offs.

[grumpydcu]

Originally posted by QuietSide

Note also that every player except Etcheverry is reportedly under contract for next year (and thus can't simply be waived -- I think?!?)


Can someone finally lay this one to rest. I haven't been able to find anything in the double secret MLS personnel rules, but as I understand it, contracts in MLS are not guaranteed and a player can be waived when the team sees fit. The only exception being a guarantee date (June 1 ?) during a season, after which date the player salary is guaranteed for that season. I also seem to remember something about a $5000 penalty if a signed player is waived before the season begins (or before the guarantee date?).

As far as Kasper is concerned, he is a shill for Payne and will stay quietly in the corner until he is told to do something.

The new coach needs to be in place now to be able to make any rational personnel decisions before the draft date.

[MeridianFC]

If I had Kasper's job this team would be well and truly *#*#*#*#ed.

[Th4119]

Originally posted by QuietSide
Forwards:

Cerritos, Ronald
Eskandarian, Alecko
Martins, Thiago
Quaranta, Santino
Quintanilla, Eliseo
Stewart, Earnie
Adu, Freddie (will be selected with No. 1 pick)



Who else feels that group is still very weak? Cerritos is iffy at best.
Alecko didn't do a thing to impress last year. Martins is out a few months into the season with an ACL.
Quaranta has done nothing but dissapoint lately.
Quintanilla is a midfielder.
Stewart should be in the midfield.
Adu is 14 and while very talented, probably not likely to go 90 minutes in MLS yet.

The defense is solid, no need to draft anyone there really. The midfield is decent, especially if it can stay healthy. I'd say what this team needs to focus on is using either the draft or forgein means to get a real forward.

Also, do we get money for discovery picks again this year? Last year they were still paying off Reyes' from the year before, but I can't remember if that lasted through this upcoming season as well.

[QuietSide]

Originally posted by Thamlin19
Who else feels that group is still very weak?

I certainly agree with that sentiment. In fact, with the exception of Adu and Stewart (who I think/hope will have a greater impact under a new coach), it wouldn't bother me if a single player in this groups wasn't with the team next year.

Cerritos, Ronald: Looked good for a couple of games and then completely disappeared...

Eskandarian, Alecko: Did absolutely nothing to impress me that he is ready for this level or has the any real potential. Would happily trade him to the Metros for a draft pick. Let him go to that East Coast team.

Martins, Thiago: Didn't really impress me either but he certainly brings a dimension (size) that we are dramatically lacking. I'm indifferent. He could leave or stay as far as I'm concerned, but I don't see him as a starter.

Quaranta, Santino: Tino has the potential but seems to have a serious attitude problem. He is probalby good trade bait - a team that thinks they can corral that talent may be willing to take a chance.

Quintanilla, Eliseo: Yes, he is more of a midfield player but in the end, he was signed for one reason: he's from el salvador and Kevin Payne thought it might bring back some fans. Aside from a two or three games, has shown me nothing...

[QuietSide]

Originally posted by John_Harkes_6
We have no You Suck allocation - we made the play-offs.

I stand corrected. Although we did suck...

[TCompton]

Originally posted by QuietSide
Cerritos, Ronald: Looked good for a couple of games and then completely disappeared...
I agree, but even when he looked good, we really weren't great with him.

Eskandarian, Alecko: Did absolutely nothing to impress me that he is ready for this level or has the any real potential. Would happily trade him to the Metros for a draft pick. Let him go to that East Coast team.

He was a rookie and expectations for him to play like Ralph really aren't realistic. I'd keep him around another year.

Martins, Thiago: Didn't really impress me either but he certainly brings a dimension (size) that we are dramatically lacking. I'm indifferent. He could leave or stay as far as I'm concerned, but I don't see him as a starter.
Give him a few more games to get settled with the team so that they know his tendancies and he knows their's and I think he'd be a great power foward. The guy's got a wicked shot and is so strong. You have to keep him.

Quaranta, Santino: Tino has the potential but seems to have a serious attitude problem. He is probalby good trade bait - a team that thinks they can corral that talent may be willing to take a chance.
I'm not so sure it's an attitude problem. Probably more a motivational problem. Something needs to change for him to succeed, and I highly doubt we'll see whatever he needs at DC United next season. Trade him.

Quintanilla, Eliseo: Yes, he is more of a midfield player but in the end, he was signed for one reason: he's from el salvador and Kevin Payne thought it might bring back some fans. Aside from a two or three games, has shown me nothing... I really like Eliseo, but he's got one move and isn't fast enough to be a striker. I'm a little more indifferent after this season. He does have his good games, and when he does, they're great games... but there only seems to be 2 or 3 of them per season.

[roadkit]

Originally posted by QuietSide
Quintanilla, Eliseo: Yes, he is more of a midfield player but in the end, he was signed for one reason: he's from el salvador and Kevin Payne thought it might bring back some fans. Aside from a two or three games, has shown me nothing...


I won't dispute what you say, but I like him. He seems to have a lot of fire, although his tendency to draw cards because of his temper is a drawback. Besides, I thought the El Salvador angle was the reason we brought in Cerritos...

[nancyb]

Quintinilla was here before Cerritos.

[Th4119]

Originally posted by TCompton
Give [Martins] a few more games to get settled with the team so that they know his tendancies and he knows their's and I think he'd be a great power foward. The guy's got a wicked shot and is so strong. You have to keep him.


That's why it's such a shame he got hurt. I think the preseason could've really helped him get in sync with his teammates.

[Jose L. Couso]

Have any of the Dave Kasper pretenders hired a coach yet?

[Jose L. Couso]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
If I had Kasper's job this team would be well and truly *#*#*#*#ed.

Why? What kind of beer would you have them on?