To add more context, he wasn't in the 18. His season had ended after their training session that day, but those who are moral are better judges than anyone else on what is right and wrong. Its a dumb discussion that is meant to shift the focus from the real discussion that he earned regular minutes this season and didn't get them. He needs to find out if he's in the plans of the new coach. Otherwise, he needs to leave.
Did you just pull random teams? You'd expect expansion teams like LAFC and ATL to spend money. Obviously, because they need to improve upon a roster of MLS expansion draft picks AND they don't have an academy to draw from. And I understand that LAG and TFC, and SSFC are historical spenders (TFC at least, the last couple years). ATL isn't the only team to spend money, although they did shatter the MLS transfer record with Barco after having taken the top spot with Almiron's purchase their first year. But it's odd to me that you included NYRB and SKC in your smattering of teams. NYRB brought multiple high-profile prospects and draft picks through its academy system. Even discounting guys like Etienne, who weren't starters, over half the starting XI was from former academy kids... Not to mention, their highest-paid DP is BWP at 1.6 million dollars, and their highest transfer fee was 6.25 million for Kaku, who is on a 700K salary. ATL spent more money on their purchase of Ezequiel Barco (15 million) than NYRB spent on their entire roster this year (13.55 million). SKC spent 3.3 million dollars on transfers in the last two seasons. Plus 9.3 million dollars in salary, so they've spent less than Barco's transfer fee too. SKC's 4 HGP's played ~3301 minutes this year, including 3 teenage SKC academy prospects. Add in the fact that the spine of their team: Besler, Zusi, Sinovic, Opara, and Espinoza, spent most of (if not their entire) careers at SKC. It's a team made up almost entirely of free transfers, academy prospects, and castoffs from other teams, some of whom were drafted/signed when SKC was called the KC Wizards. The fact that you equate the three teams is laughable.
NYRB and SKC invest heavily through their academy and USL teams. There is more than one way to spend big. Try again.
For one thing, a club either purchases players or develops them on their own. Real Madrid purchases the stars they want, but you'd consider them to be the same as Athletic Bilbao. I mean, Bilbao sure invests all their money into their academy, which is the same as buying players apparently. And as an aside, do you have any figures for what SKC, NYRB and ATL spent on their Academies, or are we just talking?
Did he know he wasn't in the 18? What if someone in the 18 got hurt in warmups or for that matter slipped in the shower that morning? If the issue is too much partying a change of scenery would very likely do him good, especially if he's still hanging out with his friends from high school. As someone who wasted some incredible opportunities at around that age by partying too much, I'd hate to see him do the same.
2018 Team Payrolls Portland = $12.5 million: AU = $11.3 million: SKC $9.2: NYRB = $7.7 million: Not that big of a difference really. Certainly not big enough that consistent systems, strong academies, and strong USL teams can't cover. AU payed $15 million for Barco. He is only 19, so not necessarily inordinately impactful right away. How much is he making? How long will he be in Atlanta? On the other hand... Real Madrid = GBP442 million : Bilbao = GBP60 million Dumb.
Almiron likely gone but Carlton likely not moving up the latter... http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-t...irms-atlanta-united-move-after-club-world-cup
ATL is the "new model" for MLS, but make no mistake they definitely opened the pockets in a way no MLS team has before and some will not be able to. Not just breaking records on transfer fees, they have one of the more expensive front offices and scouting networks as well. They are raising the bar for the other big spending owners to shift toward investing in fees and resell opportunities instead of big names, but again only a few will get it right. It's worth noting the narrow window ATL had to make all the stars align -- had they unceremoniously been eliminated by NYRB, they'd have gone on to lose Tata, Almiron, and possibly Martinez with no silverware to show for it (but some nice fee revenue). So yeah -- some owners are worried because they can't sink $15 mil on a transfer fee, even with the prospect of earning it back later. The other implications are for playing time for American pros.
But wasn't the real genius in getting guys other teams didn't value like Parkhurst, Larentowicz, Garza, Gressel…… Berhalter paid Mensah just under 900k and sent Parkhurst off to sign with Atlanta for 340k. Greg Garza makes 175k If I were manager I would see success as planning on playing about 50% domestic talent and looking to pay for some crackerjacks abroad who aren't available on the domestic market.
In fact, I would argue that Atlanta had the same model that FCD did during the peak of the USOC/SS team. Its just they spent more money. FCD got players like Castillo, Mauro Diaz, Barrios, etc. to supplement a primarily domestic defense and keeping. Atlanta got Villalba, Almiron, Martinez, etc. to supplement a primarily domestic defense and keeping. Apples and Oranges. But its all round fruits...................... I actually think that what Atlanta did differently here is that they splashed the cash to get a coach with the quality and pedigree of Tata Martino. NOW THAT hasn't happened much in this league. So Bocanegra assembled a really great squad and Martino coached the hell out of them. One thing I'm sure of: Atlanta didn't win MLS Cup because they "bought it." NYCFC has spent a hell of a lot of money since being founded, and haven't come close to achieving what Atlanta has.
The minimum pay requirement makes it really tough to use Netherlands as a step up league. Few teams there are going to spend $240k on an 18 year old with a history of bad training habits.
Put me on the side that things something has clearly changed in MLS. Symbolically, I'd place the dividing line after the the final triumph of Donovan, Keane, and Arena in the 2014 season. Since then, all 4 titles and 7 out of 8 final appearances have been split among Portland, Seattle, Toronto, and Atlanta, a group of clubs that have clearly separated from most of the competition. All 4 clubs have major fan support, intelligent management, and owners willing to spend. Portland adeptly scouted in South America; although they were cheaper in 2015, the spending has increased in recent years. Seattle and Toronto have demonstrated that it's possible to lure big money players over in their prime. Atlanta is pioneering more ambitious activity on the international transfer market and a willingness and ability to attract big-name non-US managers. I see no correlation among the clubs in the utilization of US players - Seattle and Toronto have been two of the best in the league, while Atlanta has done so less and Portland much less - so there is more than one path open for MLS clubs.
For sure, and I'm not downplaying that. As I mentioned, they had to get a lot right in a relatively short time. It's not just spreading money around, but getting the right guys and bang for your buck at the non-glamorous positions. But it remains, they had a guy they paid a $15 mil transfer for on the bench. It's a new era in MLS.
The $15 million fee is less of a big deal than having the ability to get a young South American player of Barco's caliber to come to MLS in the first place. Other teams could have paid the fee.
He's 18, on a meager salary, was a youth standout, is on the best MLS club, and was a homegrown of theirs which means they keep all the transfer fee. He could transfer to a good Euro academy for at least several hundred Euros, maybe even more than a million-plus, and they could be gambling he realizes his substantial potential there meaning he'd be a bargain.
This is laughable, and entirely overlooks the likelihood the owners are investing in their franchise by putting a competitive side on the field. As an Atlanta resident, it was easy to see the savvy job the team was doing in building a fan base. Fans that will probably support the team in future years when the team isn't as attractive. No wealthy owner, even from inherited wealth, gives his underlings the right to invest his money poorly.
The point that there "are no blue-collar teams" in MLS, which implies that MLS teams always buy their talent. That's wrong, as is the absurd notion that "investing in your academy" is just like buying players. Yes, it's really dumb that you keep refusing to use the "quote" function on here when replying to posts. Payroll difference is not a good indicator of spending in MLS if teams are spending their entire yearly payrolls on transfers. AU spent ~30 million in transfers for Almiron, Barco, and all the guys that they didn't get in the Expansion Draft. That's 4 times the amount of NYRB's payroll, a team that spent 5.5 million dollars in the transfer market in the same 2 years. That means ATL spent 50 million dollars on its roster and payroll over its two seasons of existence. NYRB spent 21 million dollars, about 2.5 times less. Atlanta purchased 8 players for 30 million dollars, while NYRB purchased Kaku for 5.5. The stats would say that ATL bought players, while NYRB developed them and spent a fraction of the money. Now, if you had some stats to tell me about the NYRB/ATL Academies that could point to NYRB outspending ATL's academy, then perhaps you'd actually have a point with evidence instead of poorly-reasoned ramblings. And, the point about RM vs. Bilbao remains applicable, even if you choose a mid-table Spanish team with a great youth system like Valencia, which is about half of the value of RM (1 billion Euros vs. 422 million). The fact of the matter is, there is no amount of money that Valencia, or Villareal, or Bilbao, could invest in their academy and outspend Real Madrid. So there is an actual difference between clubs that invest massive resources in purchasing the best players, and clubs that invest their much smaller resources into their academy, yet do it better.
a few interesting developments in the early offseason shuffle. Spencer Richey looks like the inside track to be the Cincinnati goalkeeper. Will be nice to have another young keeper to keep an eye on between the pipes. Alashe will most likely be given a second chance too. Finally, Garza getting traded to Cincy means Atlanta's left back spot is Bello's most likely right now, which is outstanding for his development. With Steffen off to City most likely, Columbus is going to have to make a move at goalkeeper most likely. Theyll probably address it with at least one in the draft, but maybe they trade for someone like Seitz, or a youngster like Edwards Jr. Mattocks leaving will give Mullins more of a chance at DC Morris landed himself a big contract in Seattle, high expectations are going to be placed on the kid. Lets see if he delivers. more to follow im sure.