Seattle have been active in the trading market to bolster their squad acquiring Bruin and Shipp the past few days, both good moves IMO for Seattle. I think Bruin is a great option off the bench, but Shipp is the real story here, who could conceivably replace Freiberg in in the midfield. Roldan and Shipp in the Sounder midfield could be fun to watch.
TBH I think we're only about 10 years or so away from the league being strong enough nationally to be able to consistently sell out a neutral site MLS Cup regardless of the teams taking part, and once that happens you can rotate it between the Sun Belt cities plus whoever has an indoor venue.
Shipp is likely back up insurance for Lodeiro who cant be asked to play every game - between flights back and forth to S.America for WC quali's. I'm not a Bruin fan but they definitely need depth up front.
Maybe I'm reading too much into it but maybe bruin is also insurance of knowing Dempsey is almost done
Really rooting for him, it's very weird how a guy with as much skill as him isn't starting in the league. Hoping he can pin down a starting spot in that sounder midfield. I think he's on at least the same league as Rowe, who is s talented player in his own right
I read an interview with Lagerway somewhere (probably on MLSSoccer.com) saying that he saw Bruin as a Valdez replacement. He said they still don't have any idea about Dempsey.
It was always a question of athleticism with Shipp. I thought he belonged there when they had Martens and Dempsey.
I don't think Shipp is anything more than a backup right now. He's not athletic or dynamic enough to command a starting spot at AM.
Steve Clark and Michael Parkhurst, the team captain, btw, are among 5 players whose contracts were not picked up, primarily for salary concerns: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/sports/2016/11/24/crew-sc.html
Maybe but he doesn't need to with Roldan and Alsono behind him. They can cover the ground. lodiero can and has been used wide and can/would interchange with shipp. The real question is will how Morris is deployed which depends on Dempseys health
I am expecting Morris to be employed on the wings a lot again in 2017. With Bruin up top. Dempsey being healthy or not doesn't effect this. Dempsey starts in the center of midfield if he is healthy. Lodeiro right, Morris left, Bruin up top. Alonso and Roldan as the 2 DMs. And don't worry, Morris will still get plenty of time up top in games. The attacking 4 are going to be pretty fluid. Unless the Sounders bring in a DP winger. Then its a fight for that CF position. I don't think Morris just gets that position for free with Bruin there to push for that starting spot.
If Dempsey is done I think Seattle would be wise to look for a DP winger so Morris could move centrally. Morris easily beats out Bruin for the spot. But Bruin will provide you different looks when brought on and allow for different game plans when needed.
Seattle could have told Houston they would only take Bruin if Wenger were thrown in. Their wide capabilities are a little suspect.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/14202/m...be-move-dead-after-celtic-and-timbers-fail-to One source tells Goal USA that the Timbers are in the process of trying to sign a designated player to play as a wing midfielder, an addition that would help offset the expected departure of Argentine midfielder Lucas Melano, who the Timbers are preparing to unload after a disappointing two seasons in Portland. Multiple Argentinean clubs in the market for Melano's services. Another player who could make his way to the Timbers is former longtime Portland midfielder Rodney Wallace. A key figure on the Timbers' MLS Cup-winning team in 2015, How interesting it would be to see Melano in Seattle. I always thought Wallace should have stayed in Portland because he seems much more like a Caleb Porter kind of guy than Melano. I believe Wallace was actually US eligible at some point. I wonder what Melano would do at Red Bulls.
I tuned in to Houston games to see how he was doing - there wasn't much other reason to watch them - and I'd wait for him to get the ball. And wait and then wait some more. At some point towards the end of the season he scored a goal and I was wondering how many he had so I checked the team statistics. He had 4 which was tied for the lead on the team. If anybody actually explained to him how to play he would have a double double every year. Looks like they will hold him hostage in Houston.
Not sure how he fits with Valderama but I expect Houston to be much improved. Their style will become very similar to FCD and if both Pareja and Valderama stay for awhile their systems will become the norm in Texas.