Crew looking to sign defender

Discussion in 'Columbus Crew' started by fidlerre, Sep 13, 2007.

  1. fidlerre

    fidlerre Moderator
    Staff Member

    Oct 10, 2000
    Central Ohio
    News thanks to the "Dispatch" this morning...including some interesting trade-talk:

    And then the breaking news that the Crew looked to work an in-house MLS trade:

    Oh, and the article mentions Pierce could be out several weeks with his pulled hamstring.
     
  2. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Jesus Frikkin Christ. That's about the last straw.

    Sigi is absolutely smitten with anyone who played at UCLA and the Galaxy. He'd turn this into the Columbus Bruins if he could. Or the Columbus Galaxy.

    Which is interesting because it was the Galaxy players who went to Doug Hamilton and asked him to fire the guy.

    Anyone want to guess where Leonard Griffin went to school? You get one try.

    And if we gave up anything beyond a bag of used socks for Eddie Pope, I'd personally lead a picket line out front of CCS.
     
  3. crewken

    crewken Member

    Dec 4, 2003
    Columbus
    I'm afraid to ask who we were going to trade for Vagenes or what we thought he would add to the mix. Pope? Wow. Sometimes the best trades are the ones you don't make. Nothing in that article gave me the warm fuzzy feeling I was hoping for.
     
  4. Crew14

    Crew14 Member

    Apr 11, 2000
    Brunswick
    Really? Vagenas? Sasha? Pope? Are we even trying anymore?
     
  5. OU9601

    OU9601 Member

    Jul 12, 2003
    Lancaster, Ohio
    Isn't Pope retiring in, like, 3 or 4 weeks?
     
  6. west ham sandwich

    Feb 26, 2007
    C-bus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    seriously, how do any of those players improve this team? How many D-mids do we need?

    Pope? Are you kidding me? Unless it's EZ for Pope so both teams trade for a player who should retire at the end of the year.
     
  7. kaiser kraut

    kaiser kraut New Member

    Jun 26, 2001
    Indianapolis
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I read this article online and I was just unable to believe that we couldn't even come up with a single trade, let alone find a way to pay a USL team to transfer us a player... well, I suppose he'd be out of contract as soon as the Timbers season is over, being the only way to bring him on since the transfer window is closed.

    Still, I agree with the thought that it hardly seems like we're trying anymore.
     
  8. fidlerre

    fidlerre Moderator
    Staff Member

    Oct 10, 2000
    Central Ohio
    Pope is retiring at the end of the season.

    As for getting him, if we weren't giving up much of anything in return since he is retiring in a few months, then I think picking up Pope wouldnt be a bad thing at all to fill the hole left by Chad's departure - Eddie has been a capable central defender this year surrounded with guys like Jack Stewart and Jean-Martial Kipre, and he would easily be an upgrade from Ezra or Rusty in that spot.
     
  9. Grouchy

    Grouchy Member+

    Evil
    Apr 18, 1999
    Canal Winchester
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My thoughts exactly. Plus if we don't have Pierce for how many weeks due to a hamstring injury that leave Hejduk, Ezra (whom I'm not convinced is 90 minute fit and/or healthy) and Gonzo. For Pope it would give him a chance to play for a team that might make the playoffs as opposed to one that very likely will not. As long as the trade/compensation is fair and the Crew are still wanting to get into the playoffs then, sure go for it. Would I rather have someone as dependable as Pope but not retiring, yeah but if nobody is available at the price...

    This looks like NHL trade deadline stuff. Teams that aren't going to make the playoffs start dealing away for the future and teams that are going to need key individuals to make it to or go far in the playoffs start fixing the weak spots and look to the season first, future next.
     
  10. PVancouver

    PVancouver Member

    Apr 1, 1999
    I have to agree. Pathetic. The only player mentioned that sounds interesting is Victorine, but he is another player that has rarely produced in this league.



    "He's a left back who can play in the middle, as well."

    Doesn't say much for Zayner and Ward.
     
  11. west ham sandwich

    Feb 26, 2007
    C-bus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I guess it depends on what's being given up. A last round supplemental draft pick? EZ? Anything else, i just don't see the point. Will he help us make the playoffs? Eh, maybe we squeek into the playoffs. Does he help us get past the first round? An emphatic NO.

    So best case scenario at this point is he helps the team get into the 8th playoff spot (and 5th place in the conference which would be out of the playoffs last year and will likely be out of the playoffs next year) in an attempt for what team management thinks will placate their fans.

    I'm just having a hard time seeing this as a positive move.
     
  12. PVancouver

    PVancouver Member

    Apr 1, 1999
    I guess the good news is you guys won't have to complain about Rusty Pierce for awhile.
     
  13. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Anyone else for the fire Sigi (and McCullers) bus after seeing that trade list? Though, to be fair, Victorine is interesting, and at least they are trying (sort of).

    Chicago just got Conde. And we go after Eddie Pope. Victorine has had a decent year, but another D-mid! Wouldn't be bad as an attacking back, however. I must say the Pope move confuses me the most. Depending on what we gave up, Victorine IS interesting.

    Uggh, we need offense.

    On defense, Oughton can, and has, played in the back.

    Sigi basically has three options on defense.

    1) Play one of the youngsters: Zayner or Ward. Apparently Jed is good enough to use a 1st round pick on, but can never see the pitch. For me, I say roll him out there at RB/LB, with Migs on the other side, Gonzo and Ezra in the middle.

    2) Shift Oughton or O'Rourke to the backline, and go with (gasp!) 1 d-mid. Or if Sigi must have 2 at all times, let Grabavoy play as a holding mid beside the other, like we did at the beginning of the year. Duncan has played on the backline before and can do so again in a pinch.

    3) Make a trade. Who do we have that could help another team, I know, Andy Herron. Herron for any of the players mentioned seems like vastly overpaying to me. Assuming he was what we were dangling (which may be incorrect). We might as well trade our first round pick again, as we suck SS so bad in the draft, they are basically useless anyway.
     
  14. PVancouver

    PVancouver Member

    Apr 1, 1999
    I wonder if Joey Gjertsen could help the Crew.

    He was the USL's MVP last year but struggled this year with Vancouver.

    He is apparently playing better with Montreal after being traded to them along with David Testo, who is about the same age.

    He is looking to go to Europe next year, and wants big $.

    I've never seen him play, though, and he is not a defender.
     
  15. CLG431

    CLG431 Member

    Oct 20, 2006
    Westerville, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I am ripping my hair out right now. Is Leonard Griffin the only defender out there??????

    I am more disturbed about the quote regarding Vagenas
    "We could have traded for Vagenas" which I am taking as, if we said the word it would have been done. Do we really need him eating up $131K in salary when we are stuck with him next year??? Plus we do not need another midfielder,same with Victorine, he makes $140K.

    I am inching ever so closer to the fire everybody but Warzycha, and hand it over to him and see what he can do.
     
  16. POdinCowtown

    POdinCowtown Member+

    Jan 15, 2002
    Columbus
    I read the paper this morning and thought it was sort of pathetic that the Crew is hoping to sign a player from the USL as soon as he's done with his real job. Jeez, other teams find starting caliber players from latin America. Our much vaunted international contacts lead us to a guy we cut in preseason who we can't pry away from his USL team til their season is over.

    Did anyone ask Sigi or McCullers about our cap situation at the forum? Besides the DP slot are we cap strapped? I wouldn't think so since we bought Guille's contract down but we sure are acting like we don't have any money.
     
  17. kaiser kraut

    kaiser kraut New Member

    Jun 26, 2001
    Indianapolis
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Why throw out everbody BUT Warzycha? Who is the common link between the Andrulis Age of Suck and the Schmid Age of Suck? Gee... just one guy to choose from. What has been a major weakness for this team for years... maybe the midfield (and you can say striker/forward as well, but I argue that midfield isn't even making it so the people up top can succeed)?

    If you're going to clean the office, you clean the office. You don't do it half-assed hoping that some former player who has been an assistant for years without any real results can fill the job, then you're just setting it up for more of the same for another 2-4 years.

    If this is the route that it goes, then you fire Mark, Sigi, Bob, and any of the other old school clowns walking around that directly affect the product on the field and making this franchise a success.
     
  18. TheImposter

    TheImposter Member

    Jun 15, 2002
    Centerville, OH
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    [habitual crewfan hopeless negativity]Man, are you supporting the wrong team.[/hchn]
     
  19. tomwilhelm

    tomwilhelm Member+

    Dec 14, 2005
    Boston, MA, USA
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I just threw up a little in my mouth.
     
  20. Matt D

    Matt D Member

    Mar 17, 2006
    new orleans
    Isn't it against league rules to publicly name trade targets? I recall Lalas getting fined a few years ago for saying they would welcome Adu in New York.
     
  21. kaiser kraut

    kaiser kraut New Member

    Jun 26, 2001
    Indianapolis
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Except they aren't targets anymore. It's like, "we were in talks with their teams, but now we're not"... don't think that would be wrong... but maybe it is, don't know.
     
  22. Flyer Fan

    Flyer Fan Member+

    Apr 18, 1999
    Columbus, OH
    I have to applaud the front office for staying true, seeing those names listed above. Those guys are definitely not the stuff of fantasy thinking. Sure, "Sasha" might work into a number of fantasy thoughts, but surely not that "Sasha."
     
  23. Bill Archer

    Bill Archer BigSoccer Supporter

    Mar 19, 2002
    Washington, NC
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Columbus Crew: "Give us your old, your lame, your USL 2 defenders"

    Columbus Crew: "Definitely top half of the table - in USL 1""

    Columbus Crew: "We don't need no stinking wins"
     
  24. west ham sandwich

    Feb 26, 2007
    C-bus
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    apparently Bill's been hitting the scotch a bit early today and stumbled into the wrong forum




    *although the first one is a good one*
     
  25. Foosinho

    Foosinho New Member

    Jan 11, 1999
    New Albany, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I've been saying this for over a decade now. It's about making the right move, not just any move.

    Not directed at you, crewken, but sometimes I think a huge number of people in this forum are only interested in complaining. It seems they'll complain no matter what happens. Which is fine, if tiring and repetitive.

    I concur. Pope has been adequate (or better) this year, and let's be honest - we are in desperate need of someone at least adequate in central defense. We're out of warm bodies. The real question is what would we have to give up to get him. Hopefully virtually nothing; if I'm triaging MLS teams RSL is getting a "DEAD" tag, Pope's known to be retiring at the end of the year, and while we aren't exactly cup favorites, at least he'd have one more shot at it.

    I certainly wouldn't shell out more than a supplemental draft pick for him. RSL should be glad to have it.

    My only concern - and I've mentioned it before - is that one player is unlikely to turn this lot from borderline playoff into overwhelming favorite. At this point, I'd rather not mortgage future seasons to try and boost us over the top this season, but I'm clearly in the minority on that one.
     

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