[I PINCH!]

It’s that blue-collar work ethic in him, that is why we bet on David Beckham,” he says. Mr. Leiweke says AEG is now in talks to bring a second international star to the Chicago Fire, another of Mr. Anschutz’s soccer teams. “We are working on a deal right now,” he says, before suggesting whom he is trying to snare. “There are only four players that move the needle: Ronaldo. Beckham. Zidane. Ronaldinho.”

Picked up from the article posted today in the NewYork Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/bu...ewanted=6&_r=3

[Chicago1871]

Not sure how that would work.

I'm all in favor of the Fire adding some talent, but not at the expense of the rules or trading away someone homegrown for a second DP spot (which incidentally I think should be guaranteed to every team - one DP spot per team that cannot be traded till things financially move forward for the league).

[I PINCH!]

Originally Posted by Chicago1871

Not sure how that would work.

I'm all in favor of the Fire adding some talent, but not at the expense of the rules or trading away someone homegrown for a second DP spot (which incidentally I think should be guaranteed to every team - one DP spot per team that cannot be traded till things financially move forward for the league).

Ummm to get Zidane I would trade away my mother. Your nuts!! Did you see the list of guys they are talking about. Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldhino

[Chicago1871]

Originally Posted by I PINCH!

Ummm to get Zidane I would trade away my mother. Your nuts!! Did you see the list of guys they are talking about. Zidane, Ronaldo, Ronaldhino

Ronaldinho is not coming to MLS any time soon. Ronaldo, maybe. Zidane, quite possibly.

The reason I don't like the idea of moving DP slots around is the whole concept becomes a slipperly slope to the NASL. MLS has managed things well to date with slow and steady growth (yea, they've still lost money, but it is hard to start a league in this country).

If I had to choose between Zidane or Ronaldo, I take Zidane in a second despite having a number 10 in Blanco. That said, I'm not sure I want to give away a growing talent or high draft pics just for a season or two of him. There are some positives to be taken, but to be honest I kind of want to see the wealth spread around so the league as whole benefits.

[lammygeek]

Originally Posted by Chicago1871

I'm not sure I want to give away a growing talent or high draft pics just for a season or two of him.

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, and I'm not sure that from the perspective of on field performance the best long term answer is to continue signing these brink of retirement stars. *However*, as I watched the match yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder how much longer we'll be able to enjoy watching Rolfe play before he's sold.

The downside of developing our domestic youngsters is that as soon as we find a good one and develop them, the market demands that we sell them (see Beasley, Boca, Ralph and others across the league). I totally understand that developing domestic talent is a major goal for MLS, and I agree it is a good thing. It's just frustrating to watch them develop and then go as soon as they mature. Ultimately, you get a similar amount of productivity from the youngins as you would from the older vets we're talking about.

So I guess it comes down to the 'business decision'. Is it more profitable to invest in Beckham or Blanco, or save on salary and spend money trying to market future US stars? It will be interesting to see how it plays out. If signing these big names grows the league and increases revenues, then hopefully we won't have to sell our young stars as soon as they are mature.

[CHI_TOWN_BALLA]

OMG. This is like telling Chicago "don`t worry, expect something else, were not done yet" and im glad we aren`t the neglected child out of the 3 ^_^



Its pretty kewl though, combine Mexican/ Blanco fans with that stars/world soccer fans and I think thats a recipe for a sellout ^_^

Ima def. pay close attention to this!

[Chris M.]

Originally Posted by Chicago1871

The reason I don't like the idea of moving DP slots around is the whole concept becomes a slipperly slope to the NASL. MLS has managed things well to date with slow and steady growth (yea, they've still lost money, but it is hard to start a league in this country).

It's not, however, because the league has a firm limit of two per team after a trade, AND you have to account for about $700,000 under your cap.

[bbsbt]

Originally Posted by I PINCH!

It’s that blue-collar work ethic in him, that is why we bet on David Beckham,” he says. Mr. Leiweke says AEG is now in talks to bring a second international star to the Chicago Fire, another of Mr. Anschutz’s soccer teams. “We are working on a deal right now,” he says, before suggesting whom he is trying to snare. “There are only four players that move the needle: Ronaldo. Beckham. Zidane. Ronaldinho.”

Picked up from the article posted today in the NewYork Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/bu...ewanted=6&_r=3

I suspect he was alluding to Blanco, for the "second international star".
That sentence above doesn't necessarily imply "a second Chicago Fire international star", but rather a "second international star(after Beckham) for MLS".

Which means that the story and interviews by the author, although published in the paper today, were done before knowledge of Blanco's signing.

[Chicago1871]

Originally Posted by Chris M.

It's not, however, because the league has a firm limit of two per team after a trade, AND you have to account for about $700,000 under your cap.

I just don't personally agree with the immediate jump to two DPs for no other reason than it just doesn't feel quite right. I would have liked to see a single DP allocation for two years and depending how the project developed, added another. In the end MLS had made many good decisions and a few bad ones. I'm hoping this is the former.

[CHI_TOWN_BALLA]

“There are only four players that move the needle: Ronaldo. Beckham. Zidane. Ronaldinho.”