Sorry if you construed my post directed against you, try reading it again. It wasn't. It was directed against socceramerica and myself. I'm still confused that the quote makes any sense in English grammar to me. Looks like a typo to me but I was hoping someone could explain to me if it isn't. Seriously, nothing but self-deprecation and a question. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
i know alot of the young players will want to be unprotected if they don't get adequate new contracts...
So will Roberts and Powell be back? Martinez and Delgado will both be SI's. So one of these players has to go and only one can be left unprotected? (not sure if 24 y/o TI's count against unprotect at most 1 SI rule). Trembly finally graduate p40? Protect Spencer for his allocation? Is it time for Chung & Henderson to retire? Don't think either can go strong for 90 minutes anymore. Looks like there'll be some cap room available next year. Hopefully there'll be some free SI room to get someone who can actually contribute. 3 discoveries and spencer allocation I think de la Torre to Chivas somehow? not sure if injured but he hasn't been used this postseason Hopefully Cila will improve and can be part of the answer. Not convinced Beckerman will be good enough to take the team all the way Protect for sure: Borchers Cannon (duh) Cila (if graduated from developmental) Crawford Mastroeni Probably protect Beckerman Kotschau Peguero Have to protect: all SI's but one Graduating? not sure if protect Lewis Trembly haven't decided for the rest of the roster, probably would keep Sullivan though I haven't seen him play much
In no way should Beckerman be protacted, especially if Hankinson is not fired. Beckerman has killed more attacks than the rest of the team combined it seems. This may be bacise Hankinson has stifled him so much that he's lost his confidence, but he's got to prove himself all over again at this point, and that's best done somewhere else. Other than that I agree with your list, though if Hankinson stays around Pablo should be moved (traded/transfered) as he's another player who isn't used effectively in Hankinon's system.
Re: 2005 - Rapids Roster A sensible, well thoughtout, worthy post. That's calling it like it is!!! My roster choices cuts somewhat deeper. It is: **Senior Roster (limit 18)** 1. Zizi Roberts (SI that doesn't count due to injury) - GONE! *** Senior Internationals (age 25 or older) 2. John Spencer - GONE! 3. Daryl Powell - GONE! 4. Alberto Delgado - GONE! ***Transitional/Youth Internationals (younger than age 25) 5. Rey Angel Martinez- 24 - GONE! *** and... 6. Kyle Beckerman 7. Nat Borchers 8. Joe Cannon 9. Mark Chung 10. Matt Crawford 11. Antonio de la Torre 12. Joey Digiamarino - GONE! 13. Chris Henderson 14. Ritchie Kotschau 15. Pablo Mastroeni 16. Jean Philippe Peguero 17. Jeff Stewart - I doubt that he will recover from his injury and therefore will be - GONE! 18. Scott Vallow - Either Foss or Vallow - GONE! **Developmental Roster** limit 6 (P-40 or age 23 and younger) Jordan Cila - 22 Michael Erush - 21 Bryon Foss - 24 (now) - Either Foss or Vallow - GONE! Garry Sullivan - 22 Ricky Lewis P-40 - 22 Seth Trembly P-40 - 22 - GONE! - Elsewhere another poster reminds us that players develop after age 22. Certainly true. Although the cut-off used was U-20 (not 23) in acquiring these statisitcs, only 9% of the players in the 1994 World Cup had representing their country as youth players. Nevertheless, at 22 y/o Trembly remains the same immature brat that joined MLS at U-17. He has not progressed in technique, tactics nor ability to play under pressure. His value to the Rapids is nil!!! IMO the Rapids need a complete International overhaul, a new coach and new GM.
When thinking about the roster next year ... there are things that need to be considered. The #1 thing to consider is the fact that they plan on expanding rosters. So can we really afford to just CUT a player like Beckerman? I know many of you would like to ... including that loud mouth meanderingjeep who I sit with BUT ... realistically we can't. What the Rapids need is DEPTH ... and whether you like Beckerman or not ... he'd be a good depth player to keep on the roster. So to just use WJMarx (not picking on you ... just last post) if his GONE's were to come be ... we'd have 14 players ... and perhaps need to fill in 10 rosters spots in a year where two MORE teams are joining the league! That can't happen ... or our entire team will have the ability of Seth Trembly. Realistically, with expanded rosters ... we'll replace our SIs .. and add maybe 3 American players ... and keep pretty much everyone else.
This has not yet been decided. There is a small chance MLS will decide to keep the purse strings tight. I think the league will be stupid to do this, but the chance of having the same roster size and salary cap still exists.
Which is why I suggest he'd be a good player to keep on the bench. This team needs to start moving in the direction of having options of the damn bench! He's a crappy option true ... but he'd be better than some 5th round draft pick most likely.
Let's not forget about Henderson and Chung. Four goals combined in the run of play in 32 games and these guys are offensive midfielders.
I've been waiting for someone to bring up Chung. What happened to him this season? He and Spencer were the biggest disapointments for me this season. 10 more goals between the two of them would have helped the team a lot.
Not to make excuses for these two ... because they certainly are front and center to blame ... but perhaps it was because they hate their coach!
They did fine the year before with the same coach and arguably worse circunstances (remember all the roster tinkering and junk Hanki was doing in '03). I don't know what happened to Chung but it sucked. Maybe he can bounce back next season the way he did after 2001, but I don't know. He's turning 35 next season. Season G A Pts 2004 3 4 10 2003 11 6 28 2002 11 10 32 2001 3 6 12 2000 3 11 17 1999 3 7 13 1998 2 8 12 1997 10 8 28 1996 8 9 25
I think Marx had it about nailed. One player that concerns me is Chung. If he's not playing well we're playing short. Henderson, by contrast, gets back and works when things aren't happening. I'd consider seeing what a trade would get us, or let him go to RSL. Beckerman's a player that I'd consider trying to put a trade together for. I suspect that other coaches in the league will see his value, and make something of him. I'd like to see that. I'd like it if he worked for us. If he can't then get someone who can.
Not to make excuses for these two ... because they certainly are front and center to blame ... but perhaps it was because they hate their coach! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well everyone on these board makes excuses for the over 30 players... they are to blame so cut the excuses and say it like it is...Everyone player on this team hated the coach!!
If the coach goes away, I would give Chung and Beckerman another shot. Hanki has stifled them. Either way, the only non-developmentals worth keeping are: Cannon Pablo Borchers Kotchsau Crawford Peguero Cila None of the SI's. Well, if we were forced to choose, I would give Rey-Rey another shot. Please don't bring back Trembley or Lewis. Its embarassing.
None of the SI's. Well, if we were forced to choose, I would give Rey-Rey another shot. Why he is such a rec league player who really doesn't want to play..Tell me one thing that he did this season? I don't want to hear well he was hurt. He came in with a knee problem (hankinson's doing ) and kept milking it to no end. He would come in for 1 play and go down hold his knee etc...
Of the over-30 crowd, Henderson's one I won't lay any blame on. Sure, he didn't find the back of the net like he has in the past. But he's a racehorse who's still got the legs and runs as hard in the 85th minute as in the 5th. When a team works that, good things happen. When it's just one guy with that level of effort, it's hard to catch some breaks. The only other person on the team I saw that consistent a work rate from was Cannon. On the other side of the field is Chung, who's work rate isn't even close. He layed off of many 50-50 balls this season, doesn't show to the ball as often as he should, and doesn't go from goal line to goal line. The effort isn't there for a full 90. He'll knock someone's head off if the ball gets teed up to his left side... but so will Trembly for that matter.
If it's my railroad, I keep the following twelve, add 2 new SI's (attacking mid & a strong/physical forward), a GK from the A-League (backup for Cannon), along with the players we pick in the draft. Nat Borchers Joe Cannon Mark Chung Jordan Cila Matt Crawford Michael Erush Chris Henderson Ritchie Kotschau Ricky Lewis Pablo Mastroeni Jean Philippe Peguero Gary Sullivan
The first game he played he was very composed on the ball, even in the penalty area. He broke a defender down twice just outside the 6-yard box. Of course he was out of shape, so he picked up tickytack injuries for the rest of the season. I expect if he had a healthy pre-season, he could be servicable, or a reliable 3rd or 4th striker. We got to see a lot more of Delgado, and I was not impressed. Plus I think we get him on the cheap, don't we? Dump powell, zizi and Delgado. Find a dangerous first choice.
Looks like things are going to move quickly after MLS Cup. Read in the Dallas News today: "Sometime before the expansion draft, tentatively scheduled for Nov. 22, MLS will rule on which players will “graduate” from the league’s Nike-sponsored Project-40 developmental system." It will be interesting to see who "graduates." This article was speculating about EJ in Dallas leaving p-40 status. The article was talking like they might let him get away, while I highly doubt that, maybe we could get EJ in some convoluted MLS way.