2013 Boston Breakers

That is some baby-back bull chip dip.
What in the world?
The league is treating an ACL, like it stands for "absolute constraint loss" (to a team outright).
You can't control injuries. But it's an outright loss for your team, and your roster spot.
So if you have a bunch of ACL's, you may end up playing in a 2-3-2, with no goalkeeper.

 

Ouch!
The decision to carry only four defenders on the roster was a gamble.

 

Well, it didn't help they were allocated a retiring player.
They also can't help the fact their #1 draft pick (a defender) got hurt.
I like Short, and I think they "over-valued" her (#5 overall pick), but I hope she can make a full recovery and be a consistent healthy starter in this league when she's back.

And they certainly can't help that D'Agostino tore her ACL.
But yeah, they could have tried to sign another discovery player or two that are defenders, before the season (after they learned they'd be without Mitts and Short this year).

They really could use a Keeley Dowling right about now.
Carrie Dew would be a wonderful pickup for them at this point.

 

I'm guessing this relates to the player compensation limit. It's letting teams know that the $200,000 ceiling is for real. So, plan the distribution of positions on your roster accordingly.

 

As I posted earlier, Boston invited several defenders to camp back on the 14th of March.
Boston invited these players because they are outstanding defenders. They also happen to be young, fast and anxious to perform.
Boston made a decision to go with so called "experience". Never mind the fact that the "experienced" were slower and older and the possibility of injury is/was always present. Some of these players declined moving to Boston, finding a job to support themselves along with housing to play on the reserve team. This was after being told they would not get any playing time even if there was an injury to the back line.
I'm sure the powers to be thought this out completely and the problem will be solved soon.

 

On a semi-related note, how is Portland able to sign seven discovery players (Guess being most recent) when the league only "allows" four? Seems there's some inconsistency and ambiguity in the roster rules. Definitely warrants some sort of explanation by the league.

 

Were they all signed in the two week period specified for the 4 ( and sometimes 5) player discovery limit?

Now your turn. Why is Portland not getting compensation for allocated players that didn't show up, as other teams got?

They are missing one USA and two Mexican allocated players.

 

Not sure, although it would be easy enough to find out. Question remains -- why can't teams replace injured rostered players who are out for the season? Just wondering what the official rationale would be.

 

Gotta believe the powers that be in Boston knew what the rules were.
Might explain why those that were invited to stay and play on the reserve team were also told they would get no play time even if someone was injured...the injury would be covered by 'moving back a midfielder'.
I agree it makes no sense. Much of this new league makes no sense.

 

If the injured players are on the payroll while they recover, that would be the likely reason. Assuming the compensation would count towards the salary cap, they're presumably at the cap limit and can't pay other players. This also would explain why "taxi squad" members might have been told they wouldn't be brought in even if rostered players get hurt.

 

That was the only explanation I could think of. Imagine (god forbid) a side losing 4-5 players to injury. Devastating...at best. I suppose Henderson's pending post could shed some light or at least spur an explanation from someone. Lots of questions. Regardless, let's hope everyone remains fit & healthy going forward.

 

Actually it has been stated a few times in the press by team ownera, coaches, an players that nobody has been clear on all of the rules every step of the way. In fact some of the rules changed as things went along, such as the Supplemental draft.

 

If it comes from the league, confusion & inconsistency is the only constant.
Boston's decision to keep only four defenders was clearly a mistake.
They made the decision early, seemingly before camp and then they told invited players: ... to stay and play on the reserve team, but to not expect play time even if someone was injured, as the injury would be covered by 'moving back a midfielder'.
Boston either knew the rules, were incredibly optimistic/hopeful or just plain ________.

 

Or has been stated publicly the rules changed. Bash all you want, it doesn't change the facts.

 

Bash?
Since when is posting facts bashing?
You seem to be making excuses about possible rule changes.
At the risk of being redundant I, gotta believe Boston knew the rules going in.
Why else would they tell defenders that even with injuries they would have no chance of playing?
Do you think keeping only four defenders was/is smart? Optimistic maybe?
The stated plan was to go with experience and if injury occurred then move a midfielder back.
Move a midfielder back? Brilliant or hopeful?
Perhaps a couple more (fast) defenders on the roster would have been prudent.
Moving a fast defender forward seems to make more sense.

 

There is no fact that Boston knew the rules going in, only your supposition. It is fact that the rules changed during the course of the preseason.

They would not have even picked Guess up if they knew that they couldn't. Clearly they didn't understand and hence the waiver.

Perhaps they should have carried more defenders, that appears to be a roster mistake. Of course Mitts retiring so late in the process didn't help.

 

Meg at equalizer sheds some light. She did a goofy thing and asked the league.

http://equalizersoccer.com/2013/04/25/answers-on-nwsl-rosters-rules-regs/

 

Boston invited several defenders to camp on March 20th. They then asked those players to stay in Boston at the players expense, play soccer on the reserve team and to expect no play or pay. They didn't make that decision because they wanted to. They were following league rules.

According to Meg at equalizer, Boston could have kept Guess but decided per league rules, it was better for them to let her go.

Boston had those "invited" defenders in camp on March 20th. On March 24th Boston made a "corporate" decision to go with experience. Even some of the experienced players wondered about the decision to not keep more defenders on the roster.

Breakers will figure it out. Hopefully soon.

 

Boston has acquired defender Melinda Mercado from the Flash in exchange for their 2nd round pick in next year's College Draft.

 

Even though this draft is a LEGENDARY draft coming up, this is still a great deal for Boston. Defenders (especially tall ones who can run, and play balls in the air or on the ground) are rare, even at this level. Mercado has a ceiling (untapped potential) that is better than over 80% of the defenders in this league. She would be a "Tier-1" young player prospect (using baseball terminology), and one at a premium (more scarce) position on the field (defender). Her versatility in being able to play pretty much any defensive position, and being able to handle set pieces in the air (as well as crosses, etc), is golden. She can defend, she can tackle, she can mark, and she is good in the air.

Boston came out ahead in this deal, in the short run, and in the long run, if she reaches anywhere near her "sky" (her potential, her ceiling). There are no pure "defenders" that will go in the 2nd round of the 2014 NWSL draft (even though it's a GREAT draft) who have her raw ability, and combination of her physical attributes/size/athleticism.

Boston came out the winner in this trade.
I'm assuming they also get WNY's 4th round pick, to even out the draft picks.
Even if not, Boston still came out ahead in this trade.
But WNY also has some future youth to get excited about (they'll have one first round pick, and two 2nd round picks, in the 2014 draft). And it's a good thing they're putting a premium on that, since Wambach and Lloyd are getting older. Boston has more veteran talent than young talent at this point. They do have a good blend of both, but they could certainly afford to take three good rookies next year. Put that youth around Franch, Perez, Zerboni, Taylor, etc., and build a team around that.

One thing we have to keep in mind, is if there's expansion next year, then a 2nd round of the 2014 draft will be "watered down" a bit. Quite frankly, a 2nd round pick in a 10-12 team league, is basically equivalent to a 3rd round pick in a 6-8 team league (like WPS had each draft).

Mercado was the #16 overall pick (by the Breakers actually) in the 2012 WPS draft (she should have been taken higher). WNY will get around the #12 - #18 pick or so overall in the 2014 draft from Boston, depending on if (and how much) expansion there will be for the 2014 season.

This significantly helps Boston's depth this year.
Counting Dragotta (when she's healthy), they have six capable defenders.
Wilkinson, McNeill, Whitehill, Julie King, Mercado, and Dragotta.
They all will know their roles, and they can jell together by midseason.
Boston is a very dangerous team now if they make the playoffs.
They have veteran goalkeepers (Phillips, Boyd, maybe Naeher soon, to go with the younger Santiago). They have lots of firepower up top and in their attacking midfield. They have Lohman as a defensive mid. And now they have some much needed depth and versatility on their back line.

Boston is now a "Playoff team" in talent.

 

I don't even have to look outside the WCC to find two players who will be as good or better.
They were both captains of YNT teams who got silver and gold, respectively. One is playing on the full team now.

colohan and Johnson.
Throw Dunn in there, and you Have three. I find it difficult to believe there aren't a couple more if you look.

What you are looking for is somebody who isn't good enough to be picked in the first round, and this year's draft shows that it is pretty difficult to figure out what teams will go after. Maybe everyone will be looking for forwards.

 

That's why I said 2nd round of the draft.
Julie Johnston probably won't even be drafted (she'll probably be one of the 24 allocated by Sermanni in 2014). Same for Dunn. And if they are drafted, they won't last until the 2nd round (both Johnston and Dunn will be taken within the first 5 picks, maybe the Top 2 picks, probably in the Top 3 with Ohai).

Chloee Colohan will probably be taken in the first round, and certainly will, if Johnston and/or Dunn are allocated (and therefore not in the draft, allowing Colohan to be taken earlier in the draft).

Therefore, by the time the 2nd round rolls around, there is no defender left who has the ceiling that Mercado has.

Mercado > Colohan (so far) in college, but Colohan isn't done yet.
Both have a very high (and you could argue equal) ceiling.

 

They don't. It's a straight up player for a draft pick trade.

Carli Lloyd and Sarah Huffman coming back from injury would have put the Flash at 21 players, so they had to free up a roster spot. Having depth at defender (plus Huffman was a defender in college and can be moved there in a pinch if need be), and with the Breakers obviously needing one, it's a good deal for both sides.