Andrew Gutman @_andrewgutman 3m Delighted to extend my contract with @CelticFC and complete a loan move to @fccincinnati Special thanks to my guy @RichardMotzkin for always having my back and making this happen. I’m excited to get started and looking forward to meeting everyone!
Oh, crap. So that's it. He is going to play in MLS, but would rather play for a team crappier than the Fire. That says volumes about the Chicago Fire front office. Good luck to young Mr. Gutman.
Smart move on his part, not signing with us. He knows how much we suck, why would he subject himself to that?
FWIW I heard from a few players that Gutman never impressed in training and they didn't understand the hype about him. I don't think Nelson ever wanted him here unless it was at a bargain.
You should have heard him when it came to Juan Quintero. Scout insisted we pay what Porto was asking, but he assured him he would get him for $1.5 million and there was no need to overpay. There were rumors of Quintero being sold back to Europe for what, 25 million 1 year later?
The kid knew better, he made the correct decision by not signing with us. I'm sure the low ball offer didn't help.
I saw that somewhere about Lindley too. Maybe they both sandbagged in order to get a ticket out of Chicago. This regime doesn't seem to believe in development and they have effectively blackballed players from the Dorn era academy & PDL team. Instead of living through growing pains with Gutman they throw a bum like Corrales out there, play someone out of position like Gutjahr, or dip into the piggy bank to get Bornstein. Live through the growing pains and you may have someone to man the position for 5-6 years, or even sell at a profit. Believe in your players that have accomplished big things thus far.
Lindley hasn't done much though has he? On the other hand, I was told Lillard has been good in practice this season, but he's getting Pauno'd.
A little, not all inclusive report on recent Fire/ex-Fire/ex-Fire Academy players in the USL: Bakero (3g), Calistri (4g), & Jason Johnson (3g) are all big contributors to top of the table Phoenix Rising, who are on an 11 game winning streak. Bottom half Memphis 901 has leading scorer Collier (5g), captain Cam Lindley (1g), and ex-academy star Marcus Epps (2g). Daniel Johnson (2g) is a first choice player at bottom half Birmingham, who have 3w & 1d in their last 4. Ryan Sierakowski (3g) is a sometimes starter for mid table Timbers 2. Stefan Cleveland & Fire draftee Grant Stoneham (7 bookings lead the league) have solidified second place Lansing's defense (1l-10g).
Lindley is on loan from Orlando and they did make him captain at Memphis for what it's worth. It would have been nice to see him apprentice under Dax & Basti. He's a timekeeper in the center of the park, not a destroyer. At IU Lillard was a good passer and lethal in the air. It would be nice to see him get a run of games, but the regime is still chasing the false hope of making the playoffs. BTW, Lillard is the 3rd generation on (both?) sides of his family to graduate from IU. After 4 years of the Pauno/N-Rod player development philosophy of "what you did yesterday, what can you do today" the team is a glitzy facade of foreign star power hiding a house of cards core. They choose a path of high cost quick fixes instead of developing their own. Cam Lindley has more upside than Brandt Bronico, but they wouldn't have the patience to develop him.