And the roster speculation thread shall arrive early too. Of course, we will likely have another new manager. If there was any justice on this planet we would also have new ownership and a new GM. That is, if there is a Chicago MLS franchise to support going forward. That's why this thread is listed as Rumor . According to the ever reliable Transfermarkt site & Wikipedia there are only 6 players under contract beyond the new year. It can be presumed most of the remaining players, especially the lower paid players, have various club options available. Nicolas Del Grecco Aleksandar Katai Grant Lillard Dax McCarty Nemanja Nikolic A player on the downside of his career like Dax should be looking to play for the MLS Cup which has thus far eluded him. It is no understatement to say that opportunity is not likely to occur with the 2019 Chicago Fire. However, any deal involving Dax will be complicated by a DP level salary for a player with declining value. It's 50/50 whether, or not he stays. By now you wonder who Transfermarkt lists as the sixth player under contract for 2019. Richard Sanchez Moving on, players with club options I expect will be picked up if they choose to return are: Raheem Edwards Djordje Mihailovic Brandon Vincent Brandt Bronico I expect players with club options declined will be: Stefan Cleveland Nikolas Hassler Daniel Johnson Jorge Corrales Patrick McLain Drew Conner Jonathan Campbell Some may return after renegotiating their contracts. Campbell, Conner, Johnson & McLain s/b eligible for the MLS Re-Entry Draft. Players who should be out of contract are: Bastian Schweinsteiger Alan Gordon Michael DeLeeuw Johann Kappelhof Luis Solignac (may have club option which s/b declined) Christian Dean Matt Polster Despite N-Rod's claim the club & Basti want to renew I doubt Basti wants to return to a complete rebuild project with an organization in turmoil on & off the field. Matt Polster doesn't have much bargaining power recovering from injury. I suspect he will go into one of the MLS Re-Entry Drafts with Dean & Solignac. The rest are likely gone at considerable salary & cap savings. That leaves: Mo Adams Diego Campos Elliott Collier Mo Adams is a tossup. The current regime likes Campos & Collier. As of now all are squad players that take up international slots. Any incorrect. or misinterpreted facts are purely unintentional. Have at it.
I see Dax, Niko and Katai being traded for funny money in the off season, we are running low on funny money. Back to year one of another 3 year plan........
As a neutral, and someone who has watched the last couple of DC United games, I would love to see one or both go to DC. Yes, they would be old, but Rooney has been awesome and to have these two behind him, they would be really good.
I frankly do not want to see Dax go for anything. I would also resign BS for another season. Do not sell Nikolic. Just ********ing put a decent GK out there with a replacement for Meira beside Kap. If you have to use Vincent put him at LB. Stay healthy. Honestly that team would be pretty good. Then go sign an impact PROVEN Cam and the team is excellent.
Were they really ever as bad as their record indicated? While their stadium was being built they were playing almost all road games and preforming like most teams do when away. Rooney has definitely helped them though during their current streak..
Our healthy roster is a pretty strong team. We are massively under performing for the talent level. That is all on the coach. Bring in a decent coach, an average GK an average CB, and some better depth (or the young guys develop) and we could make a good run in the playoffs next year.
my guess is a good coach could produce a decent back line with the players we have. Pawno has just added chaos and confusion by moving players in and out of the lineup, moving players in and out of position, and bizarrely waiving Kevin Ellis after starting him in 19 of the team's first 24 matches. Has there ever been an explanation for that move? I'm not making Ellis into the 2nd coming of Ivan Guerrero, but he was probably our 2nd best defender all season before his unceremonious dumping. I get the feeling Pawno has no idea how to evaluate match performances and assembles his starting 11 based on some odd combo of player reputation, performance in practice, and whatever personal grudge is top of Pawno's mind that week. When the squad fails to perform in a match or two, Pawno panics and inserts whoever ran sprints the hardest at the last training session.
I saw the thread title and thought I would weigh in. In 2019, yes, my speculation is that there will be a roster. I don't think it will be a very good one, but there will be a roster.
I think you are being a bit optimistic with that speculation. We barely managed a roster this year, and that was coming off a stellar year last season! (Well, we were third overall, too bad it meant a 1 game play-in playoff)! We had to sign 6 players between February 28th and the first game (on March 10th) just make a full roster (with Alan f'n Gordon being signed on March 16th)
The answer is yes. This highlight is worth watching from last week. Dying seconds of injury time in a 2-2 tie game, DC has a corner kick and the whole team goes forward including the goalkeeper. The ball is cleared to the winger who has to take a touch and is eyeing up the 45 yard game winning chip. Meanwhile unbeknownst to him, Rooney sprints from the top of the attacking arc 40-50 yards and slide tackles his ass, takes the ball and dribbles back 30 and sends a long crossfield pass to the back post that gets headed in for the 3-2 win. Unbelievable. https://thebiglead.com/2018/08/12/wayne-rooney-dc-united-video-cross-tackle/
Everything that is good about the game (except a lengthy VAR delay) in that clip. Can you imagine Rooney and Basti together in a midfield? Your answer should be yes, because they played in the same midfield at Manchester United. Yes, they are older, but for MLS???? Would be awesome to see.
Is Campbell so bad that he isn't better than an our of position left back or an aging midfielder. He was great as a rookie! Has he regressed or is he just not being played?
Will Johnson fvcked up that play. WTF was he waiting for, it was three on zero break. All he has to do was square the ball and Orlando walks the ball into the empty goal, but he decides to take a couple touches.
Rooney's work rate and vision have always been excellent. His passing has vastly improved from the time he was wunderkind at Everton.
Remember last year when we were lackluster as usual until we got Basti and we started actually playing well? That's what's up with DC. They got an impact player who's raised the level of every player on the team. It's not exactly a sustainable thing, but DC does look like they might have the ability to sustain it.
Bastian signed on March 27, 2017. He only missed the first three games of last season. We went 1-1-1 in those three games. Not quite the same thing. If you mean in 2016, I agree.