Aren't they related though? Salary cap in this league means ownership must be smart with how/when they spend. Bloated contracts & salaries will only hinder how you can fill out the remainder of the roster.
Put these charts together: So not any news really, just that the Union consistently just below middle of the pack a bit below the league average in payroll every year. They increase payroll just enough every year to keep their pace and stay right around the league median. There is also most definitely a bit of a correlation between spending and likelyhood of winning the Shield or MLS Cup. Open Cup is the best bet for a low spending team. Also worth noting this doesn't include transfer fees... so things like the cost to get Kaku and Barco aren't taken into account here... would be interested in integrating those numbers into these payroll totals.
I dug through transfer market and came up with fees for active players for each team in MLS... some interesting findings. Couple of notes: I'm sure there are some data holes in transfer marekets information. I left out loan deals since more often than not there was no information on them, so the Union are probably a bit understated due to Dockal. I also left out any internal league transfers like Accam because Allocation money is just league issued stuff exchanging hands. But either way here it is: I'm not going to claim this is perfect by any stretch, but the real take away for me is when people say... "LOOK AT OUR PAYROLL WE AREN'T CHEAP!!!" never really takes this into consideration a team like New York is actually investing 4.3 million in spending under the median here. (RBNY) The company we are keeping when it comes to spending isn't great...
I suppose, but we're literally hamstrung by like 800k contracts lol. Mbohli wouldn't set Atlanta back 3 years
That, and they can buy out bad contracts in the offseason and choose not to. There was never any reason to have Jay Simpson on the roster this year especially at that cap number.
I was checking out the stats leaders and noticed our boy Local Helmet somehow finished 3rd in the Audi player index rankings so we have that going for us. https://www.mlssoccer.com/stats
J-Mac's introduction for the starting lineup in their first USOC game next year: "The reigning 3rd place finisher you in the MLS Audi Player Index...goalkeeper Joooohhhhhhn McCaaaaaaarrrrrthyyyy!!!!!!!"
So there is no "minimum minutes played" on this index? How is that even remotely considered a relevant stat?
Well, it gives concrete, irrefutable evidence that J-Mac is the most moneyball player EVER. Perfect for the Union.
Mattylip's "stone cold lock" of the day (other than the Union losing to NYCFC of course): Tonight will be Dockal's final game in a Union uniform.