I liked the Tchani for Manneh trade. Tchani wasn't amazing but I think he helped the Caps become more balanced. Chicago badly needs players so good luck to him.
I think the Arfield rumours have more weight than the Hutch ones did. As much as I would have loved to see Hutch in a Caps jersey he is much older than Arfield. At 29 Arfield fits in with the age range Robbo targets. Parker turned down 450? Okay that is fair for his level current and he may have more potential but he obviously has other plans. Best of luck to him and thanks for all the games I guess. Tchani gone? Okay I missed that one. I'm fine with that. He was cold more than warm and while a large presence in midfield lacked the agility and quickness in defence that the league has shifted to.
By that criteria, Ghazal isn't suited for this league, either. Tchani and then Nosa always looked like attempts to replace Koffie. I'll bet we'll see another player in the same vein being brought in as soon as possible.
Aly is way more quick and agile than TC was. Him I still have hope for Agree on your point about Koffie. I'd laugh if we got him back and love it. He was my favourite player.
To me, it seemed like they conceded that they made an error after moving Koffie by failing to bring in a similar but cheaper type of player as a replacement. After a year of weaker central midfield play, the 2017 acquisitions of Tchani and later Koffie looked like they were trying to rectify that misjudgment.
Tchani and Ghazal ate two completely different players evenethough they are similar in stature. Tchani is an "8" biased towards attack and Ghazal is a pure "6". Ghazal actually seems to have good range laterally helping him to intercept and tackle but he seems kind of limited with the ball, imo. Tchani is better at winning balls in the opponents end than he is at defending in our own end. I also liked Koffie and hated to see him go.
Well, looks like Jordan Mutch is joining on loan from Crystal Palace. He is an "8", box to box midfielder. Should definitely be an upgrade over Tchani.
^Loan.. well, that fits with Mr Kerfoot's finances, no transfer fee! Bought down with TAM and CP retaining salary so it costs the Caps zip out of the owners pocket. A fiscally astute move if he plays like an upgrade to Tchani. Makes sense now of why the traded Tony for TAM and not something else. On the surface I like this move for the roster and it is a well done move considering the club being unwilling to spend on DP's this year. (Shea is being bought down and I believe they have enough to buy down Kamara or at least minimize what is coming out of Kerfoot's pocket). I don't want to hear any "he is not match fit" excuses. While he isn't getting 1st team minutes, he trains daily with the club he will be in shape. I guess the other big thing will be shipping out Parker. I can't see them keeping him for the season considering he doesn't want to be here.
Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 2008–2012 Birmingham City 24 (2) 2009–2010 → Hereford United (loan) 3 (0) 2010 → Doncaster Rovers (loan) 17 (2) 2010–2011 → Watford (loan) 23 (5) 2012–2014 Cardiff City 57 (7) 2014–2015 Queens Park Rangers 9 (0) 2015– Crystal Palace 31 (0) 2017 → Reading (loan) 9 (1) 2018– → Vancouver Whitecaps (loan) 0 (0) when you see a youngish player of 26 with 6 teams in 8 year, rarely even making the bench and/or making short sub appearances in the last couple - and being loaned out 3x in that period of time-, then you have to stop and ponder this loan deal- its another body to fill a gap of depth- nothing more, nothing less- YAWN!!!!!!! another cheap loan by the Caps why you think he is an upgrade is a mystery to me (nosa was an upgrade but the Caps wouldnt pay him his value so he is gone)
They may be hedging their bets about getting Arfield with this one. Scott wouldn't be available until mid season so this fills that gap and possibly more if they can't land him. I consider this signing to be an upgrade over TC.
There is no no no on no way Mr Kerfoot approves a 2+million dollar salary for Scott Arfield. I also don't see why he would come to MLS at this point of his career. But if he does, it won't be here unless Kerfoot has a completely life changing experience.
I believe he is an upgrade on Tchani. And yes, he is the usual guy the Caps look for that has almost as many clubs as his years as a professional.
soccer writer, john molinaro, has nailed it: Yet for all of the turnover, for all of the tinkering, for all of the changes, as an outsider looking in, you can’t help but feel blasé by this “new-look” Whitecaps side, and that management mostly made a series of lateral moves that don’t improve the team in a significant way .. ...when the stakes have been at their highest, Robinson has cowered in terms of his tactics and player selection. A new philosophy has to be adopted. Complacency can no longer be accepted. They can’t be afraid of losing. They have to play without fear. Robinson must set the tone. full article- https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/van...-kei-kamara-carl-robinson-western-conference/
Well if Parker refused a deal and asked for a trade what do you do? Play him for another year and get nothing or trade and get something? Of course I hate to see that ultra reliable combo nixed.
Kamara & Blondell offer a better fit for the Caps than Montero did. I loved watching Montero play because he does everything a forward should do and did it very well. That said a couple of big physical players are going to get on the end of some crosses (depending on quality of service from the wings of course) and deJong / Nerwinski have a good range and accuracy with those. That and they are "less expensive" (not cheap)
In this specific case, I think they've made the best of a challenging situation because the feeling I get is that he didn't want to be here anymore regardless of what he was offered. I think he'll accept in his new NYRB contract a not insignificant amount of money less than what he turned down here. Felipe has some useful skills in the build up/linking midfield play which the club certainly lacks but, regardless of how much they have to pay down in his wage with their various financial resources (straight wage or allocation), the questions remain as to how to put the pieces together. Are you going to play him beside Juarez and keep the triumvirate of Davies/Reyna/Techera together behind Kamara? And where does Mutch fit in to the starting midfield mix? Does the management have a master plan here or are they going to be winging it all season and hope for the best? Their next big signing will be...wait for it...a pricey CB, probably a left sided one with decent ball playing skills. He won't be cheap but they have more acquired cap space to help that out.
well- we have bantered a lot over the past 2 months- what is obvious is that we all are invested, engaged, passionate and informed about our team, the whitecaps lets see it unfolds tomorrow- lots of new players, same coaching staff- not sure it will be much different than the last 4 seasons- bumping between mediocrity and a notch above or below- like JOE AVERAGE talk on the forum after the game
jordon mutch: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...aps-signing-jordon-mutch-left-premiership-mls quote- "I want to be a box-to-box midfielder and I want to score goals," Mutch said. "That's how I see myself playing. I want to bring assists and goals to the team from a midfield position. wont happen- he has never been a goal scorer/creator- 17 goals in 172 games since 2008 says it all- i wonder what he has been smoking??!! a soccer diva who has an inflated view of his ability
After watching Columbus win today at TFC, I was left thinking that that's how you want to play a defensive road game. Now granted, the woodwork helped them on two pieces of individual brilliance by Giovinco and the new Spaniard, and then Afful had an awful giveway that Altidore flubbed late, but Zac Steffen looked pretty comfortable in goal with the attempts he faced and, most significantly, the Crew were able to keep the ball for stretches and take some sting out of the vaunted TFC attack while releasing Zardes and Martinez on quick sorties. They could have score a few more themselves in the process. That's a totally different defensive counterattacking game plan than the Whitecaps defensive game plan, where they give up lots of possession and still rely on highlight reel saves from the keeper to keep them in it. At home, vs this opponent, I would love to see the Caps call the tune instead face of the music and get dictated to by road opponents.
TFC were unlucky to not get at least a tie, but i was impressed by columbus' counter-attack- higuain is a master at leading the club from the #10 role it takes, skill, pace, organization and a #10 to lead- the crew will not be an easy team to beat in 2018- always well-coached- well-organized with a solid game plan, but they arent afraid to go for a win, unlike our head coach- instead we get players like mutch to supposedly lead the way- wont happen if we cant beat a weakened montreal team, we could be in for a long season- but i am really concerned with our CB pairing and how waston will deal with the change- it didnt work well when beitashour was stupidly traded to TFC in 2016 and i fear it will be the same with parker gone prediction- Caps 3-1