Rapinoe reportedly to play for Lyon

I get your point, but Walsh wasn't really in the peak of her prime when she came to WPS.
I remember watching her around the 2005-2007 years, and her being phenomenal whenever I watched her, as a playmaker and as a scorer. I understand she's not at the same position as Rapinoe. And believe me, I think Rapinoe is the best midfielder the U.S. has now (maybe by far). So Rapinoe is certainly no slouch. I was just that high on Walsh, around that time. During a couple of years with the Matildas, she was maybe the best overall player I've ever seen from them.

Rapinoe is certainly the better player "right now" though.

 

I wish I had the chance to see Walsh play in her prime. She's been so unlucky with all the injuries.

 

Megan Rapinoe's Lyon will face Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women's Champions League final May 23 in London. Look forward to being there.

— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) April 21, 2013

 

I'm glad I was able to at least catch the first half of the game yesterday. Here are the goals if you missed it:


Loved the long through ball to Schelin on the second goal.

 

In the interview Rapinoe said she might play for Lyon again next year. Is that possible or probable? Somebody, somewhere said she's making 14,000 a month in Lyon -- which I suppose translates into 10,000 Euros per month. I would guess that is more than she would make in the U.S.

 

I think it's probably upto Rapinoe herself now if she's going to return in the fall or not. She's been playing well lately and the Lyon president quite obviously wants to keep her. About the salary I'm pretty sure that's incorrect though. Lyon haven't commented on exact figures, but have said that neither Rapinoe or Ohno makes more than 5000 Euros per month. That's still more than she would make in the US though isn't it? With a 200,000 salary cap for allocated players, they can't possibly make more than $2500 per month or so.

 

The $200k salary cap does not include USWNT, CanWNT, or MexWNT players. They are separately funded by their federations. But $5k a month is probably on the low side of the correct range, $30k for a 6 month season. I would think it is higher.

 

Really? That's interesting. What I had heard was that each team had a $500k salary cap in total, of which $200k was to be spent on the non-allocated players. Right, I got that confused earlier obviously. This means $300k for the in Seattle's case 7 allocated players. So, $40,000-something per year? Might be more for the US players and less for others I suppose. And at Lyon she would if one is to believe French media make $50-60,000 in a year with her current salary. If she were to sign on for longer than just a few months, I'd guess that she would get a higher salary though. Lotta Schelin is the highest paid player with $12k per month, as an example.

 

The source I saw was Sam Borden in the NYT in this article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/11/s...-in-us-and-in-france.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Which includes this quote:

 

I think there may be a difference in Rapinoe's full pay and what Lyon is paying in terms of base salary. Perhaps the 5000 euros base is supplemented with bonuses and sponsorship money? I know I heard Ohno's salary is much higher because the Japanese fed and (perhaps a sponsor?) is paying a portion.

 

I don't think the total cap is $500k. That was just a number thrown out last summer, before any details came out. The reality is reportedly much more modest.

http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2012/...occer-league-portland-thorns-coach-salary-cap

That the Thorns linked to the article says something, And $200K is the number the New York Times went with as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/sports/soccer/national-womens-soccer-league-to-begin-play.html

The $6k to $30k range is a direct quote from the league commissioner in ussoccer articles.


As to what allocated players make, that was in the 2006 CBA the team signed with a modification that gave a lower figure for players who signed on with clubs.

Those salaries were in three four tiers, originally ranging from around $30k to $70k with annual increases.

That contract was modified when the WPS came in to give lower salaries to players who played for clubs and to allow an annual increase. It would not be unreasonable to expect current salaries increasing to near 100K now. Of course we have no details on the new contract just negotiated.

 

Additionally, players would earn $1,000 bonuses for victories in all non-World Cup and non-Olympic games, AP reported. For the 2007 Women's World Cup and the 2008 Olympics, each player would get $10,000 for being on each qualifying tournament roster; $10,000 for making the 20-woman roster for each tournament, $50,000 for finishing first in each event, $20,000 for placing second and $10,000 for taking third place.

Should the Americans win either the Olympics or the Women's World Cup, the players would split $1.2 million for a 10-game celebration tour....
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This explains why they take no prisoners in their club friendly schedule. $1000 extra for each win. That's probably more than $20k added to their totals for a calendar year.

Tasha Kai said at a 2008 friendly vs Brasil, they got about $75k per 9 friendly tour games.

I see why Wambach (not as much, since she carries sponsors external to the federation), Rampone and Boxx aren't rushing to a retirement party.

 

I don't think any USA players are in any particular rush to retire. A residency contract is the top of the world structure for anyone not named Marta.

And Remaining a residency player has always been competetive, as your example of Kai demonstrates.

 

Grant Wahl of SI is reporting that Rapinoe is seriously considering returning to Lyon next season.

Quote lifted from Equalizer.com

 

The same article is at portlandpilots.com

The paragraph before that is:

It will be fun to see if she can help the Reign at least a bit.

 

It's just a cold, business like decision tho. She has to know that she let Seattle down once already. Now she finally shows up (assuming Lyon doesnt want a signed contract now) and she has an expiration date. She is basically on loan from a French team that doesnt even need her. Every time Ive watched her with Lyon theyve taken her out just after the half. The Seattle season is already in the tank due mostly to the worst run of injuries I can remember. Now, they cant even say "wait til next year". If Im Seattle I try and trade her to a team who thinks they can win the league with her. Get a good US player who actually wants to play in the league and maybe a draft pick.

 

Call it cold, call it realistic. She owes Seattle nothing and will still be there.

At he end of the year, every player in the NWSL will do what is in their own interest.

It's up to the team, the league, and ussoccer to see to it that the player's interest and the team's is the same.

Pro sports is a business.

Tell ya what. Get Tobin to agree to a trade. ( and actually show up)

 

Can't say I blame her, but this just shows that she was a waste of an allocation spot. The rules allowed her to have her cake and eat it too. Wish she'd done like Press and Klingenberg and just made it clear she was going overseas. But can't blame her for wanting to game the system. The league better make this up to Seattle, big time. Otherwise they'll be a joke twice over.

 

I'm guessing she doesn't get paid until she plays for Seattle, but she blew it for another young mid-fielder to get an allocation. Seattle needs to try and trade her ASAP to a contender like someone else said. To me, she doesn't make a difference for the squad. Yeah, she'll do some fancy dribble and a freak goal every three games but they will still be bring up the rear. At least they signed A-Rod for next year, given she probably won't get an allocation and wants to stay West. With her and Solo and another forward, they will be at the top of the table.

If they are going to play in Euro, then they don't get an allocation. USSoccer needs to get that straight. What a waste of a paid rosters spot! Club owners seem to be doing their part, so USSoccer and the NTers need to do their's.

I predict KC gets ripped apart if the two Canadian teams come online next season. They are going to mess that situation up too. if You don't keep a marketable stud team there, I can see their attendance going down the toilet.

 

I think you have the cuisine timeline wrong. The cake got et by ussoccer. They got to allocate a player they didnt have ( oops)


She made her choice before the allocation draft, unlike some other players.

The allocation draft was Jan 11.
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/nwsl/2...-55-national-team-players-to-eight-clubs.aspx

Grant Wahl has a sports illustrated article from January 14 that starts with:

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/news/20130114/megan-rapinoe-nwsl-seattle/#ixzz2U5pCTgZP

So, she was actually in France with Lyon at least 4 days before the draft. I suspect strongly that means she didn't decide on Jan. 6 and hopped a plane that night. I also suspect that as a residency player she would need approval from ussoccer under that contract. You might ask the "experts" that actually made the allocation how they came to their decisions.

Perhaps if they read her Facebook page on Jan 7 that started with " Heading to France today!" they might have allocated differently.

And the French transfer window is Jan 1 to Feb 2.

The USA window starts Feb 12, which gives a player the option of signing or being at the mercy of others for 6 months.

What would you do?

 

Heath may very well follow Rapinoe's example, again. U want to get the league's attention? Let Morgan sign in Europe.

As to the trade, I dont see Heath helping Seattle. At least Rapinoe can score. The only good from that is Rapinoe being in Portland might be better than the money in Lyon.

I proposed a trade on Equalizer. Send Rapinoe to FCKC for Mewis and Loyd. Mewis becomes a building block in Seattle and prolly meet the allocation requirement as she is a USWNT regular. Plus she can score. Loyd, well she'll be Loyd regardless but she will get to start every game unlike riding the KC bench. Loyd, Mewis, Fishlock & Solo might give them hope for better things next year and if they get their defenders back, might make the second half competitive.

As for FCKC, well a midfield of Rapinoe, Cheney, Farrelly, Scott and Buczkowski is kinda scary on any level.

 

Does Loyd have interest in leaving KC? Isn't the signing about the owner and the location of her husband? Pinoe kills the continuity of that team with her free-wheeling. You have a better chance of beating them with her in the mid-field. As a KC fan, cut a deal with WNY and pair her with Wambach instead. Maybe that makes her happy to play with her ex. KC just needs Henderson to eat again, so they can get her back in game shape. Her loosing all that weight is like A-Rod loosing 20 lbs. by nature, they are both small, chunky forwards.