Julien got his green card this year. But it's more if a statement on players already in the league. I'm not sure how often (if it's happened at all) players already in the league get a pay increase to DP levels.
Sucks to lose Nagbe who I believe was our most irreplaceable player outside of Josef. But, we have to move on... So, next year is a rebuilding year. That point is a fact. Personally, I hate that we have to hold onto Pity instead of Villalba, but if it were me. I’d tell the FO, let’s keep Villalba, dump Pity, and pick up a DP spot in another critical area. Barco————Josef—————Villalba LM———CM(DP)——CM(TAM)———Gressel LB—————————————Escobar ————LGP————Miles———— ——————-Guzan——————— Bench/Keep: Kann (GK) Moore (GK) Pogba (CB) Campbell (CB) Ambrose (FB) Bello (FB) Larentowicz (DM) Adams (DM) Meram (LM) Pereira (RM) Vasquez (FW) Carleton (FW) Note: Need to pick up a quality back up FW Extra/I guess we can keep: Nascimento Kunga Drop: Emo (loan over) Pity (DP) Shea Remedi Gallagher Kratz Goslin WHAT WE NEED TO SHOP FOR: -Let’s drop Pity and replace him with a quality DP in the midfield. -We need a Nagbe replacement which we should get in the midfield. -We need to drop some of the dead weight and pick up a quality left back and quality left mid. Meram was serviceable there in 2019, Shea was a dud (as expected), and Bello has injury problems. So our left side is a major area of concern to be addressed. -We need at least one quality attacking option off the bench that can play CF. TRADES, WOULD BE ON MY RADAR IN MLS/YA: -Andrew Wooten for Brandon Vasquez. I cannot believe Wooten didn’t come in and dominate for the Union. But his worth had to take a hit, and I would wager with Wooten’s and Vasquez’s age difference that this trade would be doable and benefit both teams. -Jorge Villafana at LB. I’d want someone at least worth Remedi’s worth here. I believe this would be more than doable; especially if MLSsoccer believes he’s not worth protecting. He would fit into our scheme well, and at his age, he’d be a good place holder for Bello for another season. -(Maybe) Kelyn Rowe at LM. Although I’d hope we could steal someone a little better. I’d throw Meram in the deal too if we could get someone with the worth of Meram and Shea in that deal. We might have to look outside the league to see if we can get a good deal. -The DP/TAM would have to be some of the best players money could by obviously in the midfield... I would love it if we could grab someone like Nicolás Domínguez (Vélez Sarsfield), Guido Rodríguez (Club America), Exequiel Palacios (River Plate), Alexis MacAllister (Boca Juniors), or Juan Quintero (River Plate) considering our Argentina connection. But I might also look to see what’s in Europe too. I would wonder if FdB could get someone like Razvan Marin from Ajax and stay in TAM territory. And still go big for the DP signing.
Ah, just realized I put out a 443 formation. Nonetheless, I’d see about the following... Keep Pity/Drop Villalba -go to 4411 (Pity as the second striker, Josef as the CF, Gressel at RM, Barco at LM, Escobar at RB, Miles & LGP at CB, Guzan in goal) -TAM for 2 players in the midfield. (Villalba and Nagbe money) -Trade for Villafana. —————Josef—————- —————-Pity—————— Barco—TAM—-TAM—-Gressel Villafana*——————-Escobar ———LGP——-Miles———— —————Guzan—————— Drop Pity & Villalba -go to 433 Barco———Josef———-Gressel ——————DP——————— ———TAM————TAM———- Villafana*———————-Escobar ———-LGP———-Miles———- ——————Guzan————— Notes: Ultimately, after playing with it... I cannot see any scenario where we keep Villalba. In a 433, Gressel goes to RW, and in a 4411/442, that formation actually allows for Pity to play in his best position. And, we are going to need that TAM to get two of the best CM the league can buy.
From a fb friend: This appears to be the list of unprotected players. Mikey Ambrose Jon Gallagher Jose Hernandez Alec Kann Kevin Kratz Jeff Larentowicz Michael Parkhurst (for his rights, should he come out of retirement) Justin Meram Brendan Moore Luiz Fernando Dion Pereira Florentin Pogba Brek Shea Brandon Vazquez Who should we expect to lose? Am I the only poster here who's still pissed off enough about the season that they can't wait for 2020?
Goodbye Dion Pereira... He would be who I would select. Still, Vasquez and Pogba might get picked too. Meram and Ambrose in that group too.
I read somewhere that only one can be taken. Once that one is taken, the rest remain with us (draftwise, anyway). I could be wrong.
Correct, the club can only lose one player. In the past with fewer clubs in the league each club could lose two players, with the option to protect an additional player after you lost the first one. Not the case now. Noticed Emo was protected. I can't decide if that's because the club wants to sign him permanently, or if they just want to protect his rights for trade purproses.
If I'm Miami I'm taking Flo Pogba. Viable starter potential, psuedo-name recognition factor, and someone who appears durable for an MLS season. Not likely an all-star but can be part of a good D. If I'm Nashville I take Vasquez or Meram, cause I'm more concerned about cost efficiency than draw power. Meram could start right away and contribute, while Vasquez would be a gamble that he could become a starter for years to come.
The problem with Meram is his salary. He earns to much and will certainly take a good chunk from those team's salary budget. Ambrose is leaving ATL but don't know if it's in the draft. https://www.instagram.com/p/B4-825Pg4_v/?igshid=1omcbesxfh0rk
True, but at this point you wouldn't be selecting the loan, you'd be selecting the purchase option. My guess is there probably isn't any conditions on the purchase, since even if Nashville/Miami selected it (or someone traded for it), they'd still have to come to terms with Emo, so he'd still be able to decide of he doesn't want to go there.
I guess I don’t understand why we are protecting Villalba. He was awesome his first year, but after his injuries, he has been mostly bad. Bad plus expensive aren’t a good combo, so why not leave him unprotected as a way to get away from his contract.
Tito isn't bad, his skillset doesn't fit FdB's system. He's more than capable of going to another club with the right system and turn into an all-star. You don't let that type of player go for free. Less than a year ago the team was getting cash offers for his services. If you can still make a decent sale, you keep his rights (especially if you can make sure he doesn't go to another MLS club to hurt you down the line).
Good luck to him. In all fairness, it’s the best for all parties involved, although I wish he stayed at Nashville and got a decent chance at the starting job. Meanwhile, we need a decent #2 striker
I'd give him a decent chance at starting in a few other places, at least. A lot of MLS' starting fwds would sit if their team had Josef.
DSS reporting that Goslin, Meram, Okonkwo and Pogba had their options declined. Mikey and Jose Hernandez have already left. https://www.dirtysouthsoccer.com/20...0EMPvLuNUbWXaDTxgkz1M2lO2WaAUOGfhG1SvMmgYLnpw Hoping Meram gets an offer. Re: Gressel: Commenter on DSS suggests that AU can deal with Gress now, and that the CBA isn't going to offer anything that'd keep them from doing so. You all may know more about this than I do.
Well if you just offered Gressell what Pogba made last year (more than 300K) he'd probably take it. If Julien is asking for more than that....it could become tricky.