I agree. I would have preferred all three return (although Bastian return as CM and at much reduced salary), but we should be able to upgrade all three positions. A good/excellent center back who is actually a center back. A good CDM who is younger, more versatile, and probably less expansive than Dax. A world class DP at striker. With the three of them gone, the Fire have over $8,000,000 is salary savings ($700k for Dax, $1.9m for Nikolic, $5.6m for Bastian). Oh, and dump Marcelo ($798k) and Ousted/Sanchez ($361k and $162k) for a $1.2m additional savings. That is well over $9,000,000 to play with on new players, without spending any "new" money. Find a new CB at just below DP money. Find a CDM at the market rate (again, dumping Mo Adams was dumb). Go big on the Designated Player striker. It has to be a major splash. Everybody here knows my first choice, a "little pea" from Mexico. We will have to cough up more for Gaitan, as he will be a DP next season, so that eats into the money a bit. https://mlsplayers.org/resources/salary-guide
I agree dumping Mo Adams was shortsighted and many of us angry raccoons said as much at the time. Regarding Gaitan, he's worth the DP money as he's a known commodity, has proven he can be a string puller at this level and is a true game changer. Keep please!
I was a huge Gaitan fan, but I kind of would like to see us move on from him. Especially considering our double pivot is not the 2017 combo of Dax and Basti, I want our 10 to put in some defensive effort to not overwhelm Medran and Bronico(?!). What I am okay with is if Gaitan is brought back as a TAM guy and we put him on the wing. However, that means Katai would have to make room and I think I would prefer Katai over Gaitan. What I would like to see: ---------------------DP Striker (Prefer Giroud over a younger option) Gaitan/Katai------DP10---------Frankowski -----------------DP------------Medran Bornstein-----Calvo-----Kappelhof-----Bronico ------------------------Kronholm Not really sure what else there is in terms of money to spend. We would definitely cash in on something from selling Djordje to Europe. Obvious improvements can be made on that back line. A Bornstein level LB that isn't Bornstein old would be great. Either a good RB or CB(moving Kap to RB) would also be welcome. Then you upgrade the bench beyond Sapong and Bronico.
I'd obviously love Quintero, I'm just not sure that we're the team in for him, if that rumor is even true. Haven't heard anything about it though so maybe we are. What I do know is that we are in talks with a young striker who would cost in the 8 digits. Never seen this player play before, but quick research has him also linked to a much bigger club. This would be a Cristian Pavon like transfer if it's pulled off, which is why I am skeptical we will get it done. Anyways, this is also the wrong thread for it, so apologies there.
With Katai, that would require 4 designated players. It MIGHT be possible to pay down Katai's salary to bring him back under DP status. I doubt Gaitan would take a large enough pay cut to allow him to qualify as a TAM player. It is not likely that we could find $1.5+million of TAM in the cushions of Andrew Hauptman's old office couch. Also, why play Gaitan out of position? His skills would not translate as well to the wing. Medran? Does anyone know if he is any good?
I thought Katai is a TAM on the option for his contract. I have regularly been reading that over the past year. Gaitan has actually played on the left wing quite often in his career. Even when he plays centrally, he has a habit to drift more left. He'd be more tucked in if he is playing on the wing, so a fullback that could provide overlap would be a huge asset in that scenario. I wonder if Joevin Jones has a job. Oh... Medran, who knows. He's a TAM guy so he has to be penciled in as a starter.
It appears former welsh intl and Celtic player Joe Ledley has been spotted around Chicago with Fire employees . He also posted to instragam pictures of his stay in Chicago. He's been out of contract (Derby county) since January , and had some hip issues . He would be Dax's obvious replacement . A younger Ledley would no question be an upgrade , but I don't know about current Joe as there is an 11 month gap of unknown .
If Ledley is healthy, he would be a good pick up. He is 32, but has not played that much over the past few years, so a healthy Joe Lesley could be a player for years to come. Would he have the amazing beard?
So, I have something that should probably be considered less than a rumor and should be taken with the biggest grain of salt imagineable, but I’m bored and would love for it to be true #cf97— ۟ (@FireTransfers) November 8, 2019 So yeah, here's that guy
Can we please move further "2020 Roster Speculations" to the 2020 Roster Speculation Thread? It is feeling very lonely. Nobody has posted since October 21st. Thank you. https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/2020-roster-speculation-thread.2105867/page-10
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2019/11/12/official-dax-mccarty-traded-nashville-sc “We are entering a new cycle with the team’s roster. Dax helped us through an important stage in the Club’s history and he will be remembered among our fans’ most favorite players. We wish Dax and his family all the best with their new opportunity in Nashville.” - Nelly I thought there was a new cycle every year with Nelly at the helm? Important stage in the club's history? He must get some good weed in Jersey.
Suck---->Sell all good players----->Spend all GAM/TAM, etc.---->Suck a little less---->Ruin all decent players with terrible coaching/training---->repeat
So, I feel like I'm missing something. If Nashville wanted him, presumably they could have gotten him for nothing in the expansion draft, no?
If, and this is a big if, the Fire left him unprotected. Considering his salary, it is possible. Considering he was the captain, it was not likely.