2019 Roster Thread

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by TrueCrew, Nov 27, 2018.

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  1. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
  2. puttputtfc

    puttputtfc Member+

    Sep 7, 1999
  3. puttputtfc

    puttputtfc Member+

    Sep 7, 1999
    What's your opinion of it?
     
  4. 110toyourleft

    110toyourleft Member+

    Jan 27, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think it’s about as good as it possibly gets. For like $35 a bottle. But it’s so hard to ever find it in Ohio’s craptasic liquor stores.
     
  5. Minnman

    Minnman Member+

    Feb 11, 2000
    Columbus, OH, USA
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Let's just say I'm making my list, and checking it twice, for when Mrs Minnman and I head to Louisville on Friday.
     
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  6. 110toyourleft

    110toyourleft Member+

    Jan 27, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Found during a trip to Rochester. Regret not buying all 4.
     
  7. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well, aside from Steffen leaving in the summer, the boys are back. The entire starting XI (Steffen; Afful, Mensah, Sauro, Valebzuela; Trapp, Artur; Meram, Pipa, Santos, Zardes) plus many of the key reserves (Hansen, Williams, Abubakar, Jimenez).

    Getting impactful play from the wing vaults us to contender status & should be priority #1, ahead even of Steffen's replacement.

    Depth at CM, FB, and F are next. But those are minor, though we need something beyond Artur/Trapp.
     
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  8. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Did Rico Clark retire? I wouldn't mind bringing him back for another season.
     
    TRUJDUB repped this.
  9. puttputtfc

    puttputtfc Member+

    Sep 7, 1999
    This is not a good thing. A team needs to progress during the offseason.
     
    Kyle Crew repped this.
  10. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Once we have a new coach and TD, I'd expect some new players beyond Robinho.
     
    Kyle Crew repped this.
  11. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    We turned down his option. They said we were in talks with him the day all the option news broke. He and Valenzuela were in the 'in talks' category, and Valenzuela should be the priority.

    But since that is a wrap, I would love to lock Rico up. I have not seen him sign with anyone else. We literally have zero CM depth (Sosa or Argudo?). Plus I like Rico gor fresh legs & hold a lead late type games.
     
    Draghignazzo repped this.
  12. Draghignazzo

    Draghignazzo Member+

    Feb 24, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    As much as I was against Clark. He served well in this role. If he still has some legs, he's a DM/AM Jimenez.
     
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  13. Kyle Crew

    Kyle Crew Member+

    Feb 23, 2013
    Columbus, Ohio
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed. We tried this in 2016, didn’t work out well.
     
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  14. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Some teams go backwards. That didn't happen.

    Some teams relocate. That didn't happen.

    I am calling it a win. Not to mention we at least held steady with no coach, no GM, and no new official ownership change. And we were pretty good last year.

    We have owners willing to spend $1 mil a year on a coach, a good amount of Garber bucks, and all that Steffen transfer $$ come summer.

    And the offseason is not over yet.
     
  15. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Roster update, post Valenzuela signing as a Young DP. Do not have his actual sakary, but will guess at the 2018 YDP level.

    I did find a use for a young DP designations. Teams using a third DP have to pay $150k to the league. Unless the player is a young DP.

    Also this means we do not have an open DP slot, unless someone ekse gets bought down (Santos).

    I. Rules & Regs (2018)

    A. Link:
    https://www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations

    B. General Stuff:

    1. Salary Cap = $4,035,000.

    A) On Budget: Only Senior Roster Spots count against the Cap.
    B) Up to 20 Senior Roster spots. 18 must be filled. Min budget charge is made if spots 19 & 20 are not filled.
    C) Max budget charge is $504,375. Allocation $$ and DP rules can reduce a player's budget charge below their listed salary number.
    D) Off-Budget: Supplemental (21-24) and Reserve (25-30) Rosters do not count towards the salary cap.

    II. Estimated Roster Compositions
    1. Senior Roster: 18-20 Players:
    A) 20 Player max on Senior Roster, subject to Season Ending Injury List, Disabled List, and Loan exceptions.
    B) Generally, this is the highest 20 paid players, though HG players and GA players can be on other rosters.

    Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
    1. Higuain, M, 34, 10/25/84, 5'8", 165, Argentina, DP, GC: $1.1 mil/$1.1 mil
    2. Mensah, D, 28, 7/13/90, 6'2", 183, Ghana, Int#1: $774,996/$868,996
    3. Santos, M, 30, 4/22/88, 5'6", 139, Portugal, DP, Int#2: $747,600/$794,600
    4. Zardes, F, 27, 9/2/91, 6'1", 187, USA: $630,000/$630,000
    5. Meram, M, 29, 12/4/88, 6'1", 165, USA/Iraq: $550,008/$578,758
    6. Trapp, M, 25, 1/15/93, 5'8", 150, USA, HG: $500,004/$550,004
    7. Afful, D, 32, 7/24/86, 5'6", 135, Ghana, GC: $288,100/$363,800
    8. Mullins, F, 26, 2/5/92, 6'1", 176, USA: $249,996/$249,996
    9. de Lima, M, 22, 3/11/96, 5'11", 154, Brazil, Int#3: $210,000/$244,167
    10. Valenzuela, D, 20, 8/13/98, 5'6", 145, Argentina, YDP, Int#4: 200k??
    11. Williams, D, 30, 4/18/88, 6'2", 185, USA: $200,000/$200,000
    12. Jimenez, D/M, 30, 11/3/88, 5'9", 145, USA: $159,996/$159,996
    13. Steffen, GK, 23, 4/2/95, 6'3", 190, USA: $145,000/$145,000
    14. Sosa, M, 22, 6/20.96, 5'7", 165, Venezuela, Int#5: $100,000/$120,200
    15. Kempin, GK, 25, 4/8/93, 6'1", 175, USA: $80,256/$80,256
    16. Hansen, M, 24, 9/14/94, 5'10", 170, USA, $68,250/$75,750
    17. Abubakar, D, 23, 12/25/94, 6'0", 180, Ghana, GC, $68,250/$75,750
    18. Open (Clark?)
    19. Open (Attacking help/CM)
    20. Open
    ---------------------------------------------------

    2. Supplemental Roster: 4 Players (21-24)

    A) Up to 4 players. Do not count vs. salary cap. Subject to SE Injury Replacement, Disabled List, and Loan exceptions.
    B) May include Senior Minimum Budget Players ($67,500), Generation Adidas players (who may earn more), and Homegrown Players (who may earn more).

    Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
    21. Opoku, M/F, 22, 8/1/96, 5'7", 140, USA, GA: $75,000/$96,000
    22. Sauro, D, 28, 2/23/90, 6'3", 185, Argentina, GC: $67,500/$67,500
    23. Open (draft pick or Crognale?)
    24. Open (draft pick?)
    ---------------------------------------------

    3. Reserve Roster (25-28)

    A) Players must be either earning the Reserve Minimum Salary ($54,500) or by Homegrown Players earning more via the HG Subsidy.
    B) Players must be 24 or younger during the League YEAR. As determined by Year of birth, not date (I am not sure what this means exactly, is someone who turns 25 during the season eligible or not?).
    C) Senior Min Players & GA Players cannot occupy these spots.

    Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
    25. Maloney, D, 23, 5/18/95, 5'6", 145, USA: $55,654/$55,654
    26. Argudo, M, 22, 12/13/95, 5'9", 150, USA: $54,500/$54,500
    27. Lundgaard, GK, 23, 9/25/95, 6'5", 205, USA: $54,500/$54,500
    28. Open
    -----------------------------------------

    4. HomeGrown Reserve Roster (29-30)
    A) Must be Homegrown Players.
    B) Same Budget & Age rules as Reserve Roster 25-28 players.

    Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
    29. Crognale, D, 24, 8/27/94, 6'5", 205, USA, HG: $95,004/$95,004
    30. Open
    -----------------------------------
    If Crognale is age ineligible, he would occupy one of the open Supplemental slots.
    -----------------------------------------

    5. Designated Players: 3 of 3

    Higuain (Int), Santos (Int), Valenzuela (Int, Young DP).
    ---------------------------

    6. International Roster Spots: 5 of 8

    Mensah, Santos, Valenzuela, Artur, Sosa.
    ------------

    7. Green Card Holders = 4.

    Higuain, Afful, Sauro, Abubakar.

     
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  16. puttputtfc

    puttputtfc Member+

    Sep 7, 1999
    What is this? Optimism?
     
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  17. porchlight

    porchlight Member+

    Jul 27, 2013
    Crawlumbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Doom! thats a very low bar...just like barely making the playoffs is acceptable.
     
  18. crew2112

    crew2112 Member+

    Jan 25, 2008
    Dayton, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Clark was rumored to be signing with Nashville USL. Also IM said Trapp would be leaving. We need depth and impact players or we are going backwards.
     
  19. Tobias C

    Tobias C Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 6, 2014
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    #94 Tobias C, Dec 23, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2018
    Agree that these are the needs.

    Our new starting GK will most likely need to come from overseas but we have a little bit of time to identify that player and negotiate.

    I think if both Clark and Trapp stay....then we satisfy our low level depth needs at F, CM, and FB through the draft. If Trapp leaves we need to replace him with a high level DM from overseas that is at least a TAM worthy/quality player. If Clark leaves, I would replace him by just trading for another league veteran DM or maybe even acquiring one of the better d-mids in USL. Mark Anthony Kaye was a good acquisition for LAFC from Louisville City. Then....I would get one more #6 or 8 from the draft. Wake Forests Brad Dunwell will be one of the best DMs in the draft and I would take him if available at our pick because I think he would give us a little more physical strength in midfield. Dunwell will also personally know Luis Argudo from playing together at WF. If Dunwell is already off the board once it's our pick...I would take Anderson Asiedu from UCLA. Hes smaller but really reminds me of a raw, rookie version of Kante (I know that's a cliche) and he would easily assimilate into the team as hes Ghanaian.

    At Fullback...weve locked down Valenzuela so that is excellent. Jimenez is still here so he can hold down the backup spot at LB (and obviously RB if needed). It looks like we still have Maloney as well which surprises me. I figured after 2 seasons he would be on the scrap heap by now but whatever. Afful is still performing at a high level but has seen his best days I think, and it's time to bring in someone younger with enough talent to at least potentially be his successor, even if not close to being guaranteed. I could see us drafting Abdi Mohamed from Akron to fill this need. Played as a winger mostly with Ohio State then Embick used him as a fullback once he came to Akron. He would be a good off the field acquisition being a hometown guy...and you could see Porter already sniffing him out and talking to Embick about him. Seems realistic. If we dont use a draft pick for RB....I could also see Porter trading for another Akron alum in Saad Abdul Salaam who's at NYCFC right now. He played for Porters Akron in 2012 and played with Will Trapp that season in Akron as well as in high school at Gahanna....so he would be another hometown guy.

    At forward I would just use our last draft pick to grab whoever the best forward left on the board is. Probably more of a bigger guy to be the more like for like replacement for Gyasi if necessary and can challenge Mullins for the backup spot. If he doesnt impress right out the gate...loan him to USL for a while.

    I'm still unsure about the winger situation. Theres too much money wrapped up between Meram and Santos to viably bench them......isnt there? Or is there?? Other teams around the league have sat big money attacking players when they didnt justify starting (Accam at Philly comes to mind) and maybe ownership says F it, and let's Porter go buy another expensive DP winger. Signing this Robinho dude from Brazil has to have been authorized by ownership seeing as theres a little bit of a transfer expenditure. With his profile and experience....I assume the hope is that he can be a sure starter once we can get Pedro off the books or Meram packs it in and retires. In the meantime they probably hope he pushes Santos and Meram, lighting a fire under their a$$es to sh*t or get off the pot...and if they dont produce... then Robinho can take their spot now. The only negative I see is that the signing of Robinho might indicate that we wont be targeting a bigger signing right away....which hopefully can be okay....but doesn't really show me that were aggressively pursuing championship contender status seriously out the gate. With the new ownership group not having a new stadium to debut with (this is obviously understandable) or a wow-factor coach signing (coughGBScough, ahem) I would think they would at least kick off their first season with a big player signing. Well see...

    I just want the coach to be announced already so we can start hearing from him what this team is going to look like and what players he thinks he needs. It's making playing armchair player scout difficult!
     
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  20. Draghignazzo

    Draghignazzo Member+

    Feb 24, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    I know @hangthadj will lambast this as loser mentality, but for me Edwards/Haslam get a one year pass on improving. They've been focused on keeping us existing. Maintaining status quo in 2019 is miracle enough for me. 2020+ I need to see the ambition. Heck, by Summer transfer we need to see improvements. I get that with all the uncertainty and hubbub this off-season may suffer, and I'm ok with that. Just this once.
     
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  21. hangthadj

    hangthadj Member+

    A.S. Roma
    Mar 27, 2001
    Zone 14
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Hey loser, are you saying we are paying Caleb Porter 1 million dollars this season for status quo? That doesn't jive. Expectations can and should be higher than ever based on this hire alone. This is the message that has already been sent.
     
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  22. Draghignazzo

    Draghignazzo Member+

    Feb 24, 2007
    Columbus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nope. Coach != ownership. I'm talking roster building here.
     
  23. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good post.

    If I was coaching, I would start Hansen on one side & Santos on the other. Both guys play with good energy. Hansen stretches the D & Santos is more a possession guy. Let Meram try to regain his confidence going against tired legs. Santos can even move inside to spell Pipa if we are ahead.

    First team: Steffen; Afful, Mensah, Sauro, Valenzuela; Trapp, Artur; Hansen, Higuain, Santos; Zardes.

    Second team: Kempin; Maloney, Williams, Abubakar, Jimenez; ?????, Argudo; Meram, Sosa, Opoku, Mullins.

    3rd team: Lundgaard; Crognale.

    We have open spots. Clark & Rubinho would push us to 25. Plus the draft.

    I would love for a big $$ winger right now, but we may have to hold off until summer.
     
  24. Tobias C

    Tobias C Member+

    Columbus Crew
    United States
    Mar 6, 2014
    Toledo, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Unless something substantial changes in players performance levels this offseason/preseason.....it would be my preference as well to start Hansen with Santos....with Meram on the bench. Meram is lucky to be back here with this club that's going to be climbing to new heights. He doesn't get to rest on his laurels with an assured starting spot.

    I also really hope like hell that we can get a lot more of Crognale getting playing time. Like he needs to basically get all the playing time that William's would typically be getting. Hes 24 years old and we need to see what we have in him. His family is Crew Ride or Die and If he can be a solid contributor for this team...I would love for him to be on the field as he enters what should be the prime of his career.
     
    TKyle repped this.
  25. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    Why does Santos get a sure starting spot? Meram has done more in MLS than Santos ever has.
     
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