Since I don't see a generic 2020 Roster Thread anywhere yet, here's a place for news and discussion. And here's your first bit of info: I’m saddened to say that I will not be returning to @SacRepublicFC for the 2020 season. I’m eternally grateful for the past 3 seasons I’ve spent at the club. I look forward to what lies ahead for my family and my career. pic.twitter.com/jzydmaYhIW— Hayden Partain (@hayden_partain) November 26, 2019
Sad to see him go, but at this level, being in the same city for three seasons is rare. All the best to Hayden Partain.
Mahoney, Barahona, Formella, McCrary, and Iwasa all back for 2020 https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/1068760 https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/1068960 https://www.sacrepublicfc.com/news_article/show/1069046
Interesting that none of the new contracts mention a club option for 2021. That was standard operating procedure last year. To summarize so far: Returning: Matt Mahoney - Club option exercised, contract ends 2020 Juan Barahona - Club option exercised, contract ends 2020 Dariusz Formella - Club option exercised, contract ends 2020 Cam Iwasa - Contract terms undisclosed Jordan McCrary - Contract terms undisclosed Jaime Villareal - Contract terms undisclosed Sam Werner - Contract terms undisclosed Options Declined Elliot Hord Hayden Partain Haris Chantzopoulos Ray Saari Loan ended Bobby Shuttleworth Status unknown Thomas Eneveoldson - club option for 2020 Dekel Keinan - club option for 2020 Shannon Gomez - contract expired Mitchell Taintor - contract expired Kevin Aleman- contract expired Rafael Diaz- contract expired Villyan Bijev - contract expired Drew Skundrich - no club option for 2020 announced with signing Stephano Bonomo - no club option for 2020 announced with signing
I'm good with all the signings. No problem with the declined options but thought Haris would be worth keeping. As for the rest: Bring back Enevoldson, Taintor (especially Taintor) and Gomez. Bring back Bijev IF his largely unproductive 2019 was due to lingering injury. Otherwise, he's peaked. Keinan - a couple of really bad, lazy giveaways in the back last season. I would expect better from someone with his experience. Keep if we can't find better depth. Aleman - moments of brilliance on the ball, making defenders look silly. Otherwise, his overall impact on the team was spotty at best. Best wishes to you. Diaz - Bye. Bonomo - we can do better. Skundrich - I've never been excited about him but he was a consistent starter. Bring him back IF he promises to stop missing sitters in front of the goal. Hopefully, he'll just be depth next year.
From USL's website, a list of free-agent targets for USL clubs. Top Ten Championship Free Agent Targets "Top Ten" only appears in the title as an attention grabber, I'm sure. But, since we're looking for players, what the heck.
IMHo, They are going to need a mix of young and vets for the MLS season....and now would be a good time to start seeing some of that youth and speed start to make its way to the gameday eligibles.
Skundrich has re-signed. That leaves five players from last season's roster unaccounted for. I assume the club is in negotiation with each, or their departure would have been announced by now? Enevoldson Taintor Aleman Keinan Bonomo I guess when Dunivant said during last year's struggles that he'd pick the same roster again, he wasn't kidding.
Interesting "double-down" move on his part. If they place the same or worse next year with a different (i.e. new) coach, Dunivant will probably be out, right? Or is he untouchable until after an MLS season or two?
Can't imagine he's untouchable. I just hope the new guys, whoever they might be, are signed with the expectation of being new starters. I'd sure like to hear something about Taintor, though.
New striker: 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟱 𝗨𝗦𝗟 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 ✅ 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗣𝗥 ✅ 𝟴𝘅 𝗨𝗦𝗟 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 ✅ Welcome to Sacramento, @Kharltonbelmar 🙌 ➡️ https://t.co/N3GwMvHTl9 pic.twitter.com/PaiBM9QIAH— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) December 12, 2019 “Kharlton is a big acquisition for us. He brings a dynamic element to our attack and adds both power and pace to our front line,” said Republic FC General Manager Todd Dunivant. “Kharlton is entering his prime and will be an important veteran presence in our locker room with his five years of MLS and USL experience.” ...Belmar joins Republic FC following a season with Nashville SC where he made 33 appearances, 20 as starts...he contributed three goals and three assists, elevating his career goal-scoring tally in USL play to 43. Belmar was originally drafted by the Portland Timbers in the 2015 MLS SuperDraft with the 34th overall pick... Belmar signed with Swope Park Rangers... in 2017 where he logged minutes between the USL-side and Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, who offered him an MLS contract that September...but spent the majority of his KC career with SKCII where he is the current all-time leading goal scorer (25). During the 2018 campaign, Belmar bagged seven goals in his first six matches.
Might we actually have a coach? Sources telling me that Sacramento #RepublicFC will name Mark Briggs as their new head coach. Briggs was 2017 #USL coach of the year with Real Monarchs; he resigned in mid-2018 the day after domestic violence charges against him were dropped.— Jeff Rueter (@jeffrueter) December 16, 2019
No way because almost six weeks ago, on another thread, some troll predicted the same thing and we all know how disruptive that guy can be:
Kind of late in the day for this announcement... BREAKING: Republic FC name Academy Director Mark Briggs as first team head coach. Congratulations, @markbriggs6! 👏 ➡️ https://t.co/Iq9G1FYJab pic.twitter.com/G7sMB8b9ML— Sacramento Republic FC (@SacRepublicFC) December 17, 2019 Edit: Note that this is a two-year deal, which takes us to the end of our run in USL.
Good call SS! Anyone have insight into his socer philosophy? Offense oriented? Possession-centric? Or just a "and then someone can be creative in the box" kinda guy?
Housekeeping: I am not sticking this thread (yet). I am hoping that it will be active enough to essentially sticky itself. Which sounds a tad perverted, now that I type it.