Personally, I think Mastroeni would be a good addition assuming we don't give up more than a few future draft picks (i.e. they don't all have to be 08 draft picks). I definitely don't think giving up even a portion of DP allocation slot is necessary for a player that is not a DP. He brings veteran leadership and is also versatile (can play either in central midfield or defense). Then again, this is all RUMOR at this stage and may come to nothing. But it's definitely a lot more fun speculating about player movements than about when the team would be back
I hope this is just a rumor. As many have stated, Mastroeni is getting older and is expensive ($298,000 guaranteed in 2007.) One thing that hasn't been called out in this thread is just how little he plays in MLS. Since he joined Colorado, the most games Mastroeni played in a season is 23. 23! Year - Games Played 2007 - 23 2006 - 20 2005 - 14 2004 - 17 2003 - 18 2002 - 15 So, a chunk of change for a guy that plays half a season at a position where there are an abundant amount of serviceable players, and he picks up a bunch of cards to boot? No thanks.
I'm not sure about 2003-2005 but in 02 & 06 he had an rxcuse as he played in the World Cup. 2006 - 20 2002 - 15
Mastroeni would be an awesome addition to the Quakes! The only concern is the cap hit. Yeah he hasn't been at his best form with Colorado, but that organization is shite. How the eff is Clavijo still running the show? Pablo's only help was Cannon, but Cannon was shipped out for ... Ihemulu? Please. Yallop can bring out the best in him, playing as a central mid. As much as I'd be happy to have Mastroeni, he wouldn't bump Cochrane, or Goodson if they agree to a contract. Cochrane has two rings to Mastroeni's zero (doesn't help his overall cause, does it?). Someone suggested Ballouchy over Mastroeni? Ballouchy is a helluva hack these days. Can't compare him to Mastroeni. Aside from the cap hit, I worry about whether staying too long in Colorado has poisoned Mastroeni. Colorado is no good to players. Don't forget PM was also a part of that great Miami team that Ray Hudson put together. The Fusion never compared to the Quakes though.
I'm a huge Mastro fan and would love to see him in Quakes blue, but this is an excellent post. There's always a trade-off when you get a big-time national teamer. I'll take that. Besides, Mastro probably won't be used for many of these upcoming games against minnows. Less Nats/MLS overlap would spare him some injury time I'd assume. And I bet Yallop can keep him from the suspension stuff.
I'd kind of rather have Ballouchy to Mastroeni as well except that I think you run the risk of having a midfield that won't get stuck in since Ned Grabavoy won't. Creativity or a battler? I think Pablo's a far better DM than center back. I don't know that I really want him unless he's free or close to it except for taking his salary on.
For those who would rather have someone other than Mastroeni, and for those who object to the fact that he hasn't played a full complement of games in a season (perhaps ever?).... remember that what you get is more than just the games he plays. He is also a defacto "trainer/coach/role-model" for the young d-mids that we will have (Vide plus whoever else we get). It's quite possible that his influence will run deeper and longer than his playing time on the field. That said, I'm not completely sold on him, but I do think he has the potential to add to the Quakes both short AND long term. And that could be a very good thing. For those that just think he is an over-aggressive prick... I have no rejoinder. Perhaps you would consider the "He-may-be-a-prick-but-he's-our-prick" rationale? ...maybe not.
True enough that he would, undoubtedly, bring the experience and leadership (at least, leadership so long as he keeps his poise.) What I am most concerned about is his age and diminishing skills. I give you that he has been a marvelous player BUT he comes with a marvelously big price tag (by MLS standards.) Some will point out that we, as an expansion team, have extra $$ and resources (draft picks, allotment) with which to play for these purposes. That's fine...dip into those reserves if you must, but do it wisely. Especially at this early stage in the team's development, treat each player as an "investment." Don't "invest" short-term. Mastroeni may teach the younger players stuff that WILL carry on after PM, himself, retires. Wonderful. I just think that there must be other players out there who are either younger or could be had for less which could bring the same qualities. If he CAN be brought in for a lesser amount, sure...let's have a look. Remember who owns the team--same folks who brought you "Moneyball" in baseball. They are not likely to "go long" on a salary unless it is a sound investment that will bring long-term benefits. I don't see Pablo as being "long-term" at this stage....just my opinion.
I never saw what either the USMNT or any MLS club saw in the guy. He is no Roy Keane (as one poster purpurted to). Sure he gets cards but nothing else he does on the pitch make you think they are cards worth taking. He should have been replaced with Rico a long ago on the USMNT, he's washed up. and has been for quite a few years. If we are going to spend 300k + on a player i want Rico Clark. Other than that I'm fine with young Joe Vide. As for Pablo M as a Central D? Thats just a joke, tell me you guys are just kidding, right? Danny Calliff will come at half the price, certainly not a dollar more than the hack DM would cost and he'd add an instant organizer in our back line. We could still sign a quality AM with whats left over. I really hope this deal does NOT come off.
Thank you. That's all I'm saying. Nobody has said what he actually CAN do. What, is he a good ass defender? A great distributor? Frankly, there are a lot of good defenders available with experience and for cheap. As for distribution, well no American can do that well, so I know that he can't. We still lack good distribution on the national team. We need an American Huddlestone or a Beckham or a Pirlo. Somebody to put the ball in the right place. And I sure as hell know that Mastroeni doesn't score. He has 3 goals in his professional career. That's the same as Paul Robinson.
If you look at Mastroeni's qualities as a player, high work rate, good ball possession skills, able play multiple positions,and (i think) a good team-mate. He would definitly add even more intensity to what is already a decent defense. Also, to don't discount him for not scoring many goals at Colorado, with only one other real good defender, he likely didn't have many chances to get forward. And in the WC2006 - he actually had a nice shot from distance. IMHO he would be a very good fit for San Jose. If he wants to be here and isn't too much a burden on the salary cap, I would want him here. But that is this issue - for what price. a) Being an expansion team I don't think we can afford his current salary for that position. (we need be looking more for strikers that will turn a half chance into a goal) b) With only half a roster we don't have anything that we can trade, and save one or two players I wouldn't trade anyone we currently have. c) We need to build a team that will be competitive three years out. Mastroeni's impact on the field will be immediate, but will fade over the next few years - just when we should be improving.
Maybe the coaching by those in charge of Mastroeni (Arena and Clavijo) was not a good fit. Maybe he'd do well with someone else. Like Frank.
Actually I consider Mastroeni one of the key reasons we (USMNT) did well in WC2002. If Armas had been playing in that position in 2002 we wouldn't have gotten too far. By WC2006 - Clark might have challenged him for a spot but I think would have been a back-up. Now I think Clark, Edu and Bradley (of course) have the edge. Pablo even today is still one of the best (3-4) d-mids in MLS.
2007 Record with Pablo: 8-8-7 27GF 25 GA 2007 Record w/out Pablo: 1-5-1 2GF 9GA GF per game played w/Pablo: 1.17 GA per game played w/Pablo: 1.08 GF per game played w/out Pablo: 0.29 GA per game played w/out Pablo: 1.29 A player can have a huge impact on an offense without scoring goals. If a team can't possess the ball or take the ball away from the opposition, your offense dies as well.
Exactly!!! D-mids rarely make the highlights but have a key impact on if a team wins or loses. They determine ball possession,and with a good first pass can start a counter before the other team has a chance to recover.
Rep for you. This is a great breakdown of exactly why he is so valuable. It is really hard to support any D-mid's contribution with statistics, and this does it perfectly. I for one would like to see this happen, but will not be getting my hopes up. Rumors are what they are. We are going to need some veteran leadership going into the season, and I think PM is a great candidate for that role.
I really haven't watched much MLS in the last two years, so I don't have much to say about Pablo's play (or anyone else's). I will say that Defensive Midfielder is one of the key positions on a soccer team. A good d-mid helps you keep your shape, stay organized, wins possession, starts counter attacks, slows opposing attacks allowing your defenders to get in position. I don't think it's possible to have too many d-mids on your roster. The questions here are: What can he do for our club? Is he still good enough? How much does he cost? and can we afford him? Who else is available? and at what cost? But yeah, this is just a rumor. I'm not going to hold my breath. I can see good and bad in signing him. I do think his best days are behind him, so from that point of view, I'd rather sign someone else. But who else could we get? Go Quakes!! - Mark
These are BS statistics. Perhaps if Pablo's supporting cast had remained in the lineup during the copa america fiasco these numbers would mean something but quite frankly we saw players breaking into the MNT for the first time or very near it. This more like comparing the Club Tapatio vs. Deportivo Guadalajara when Omar Bravo moved up. Nice try. The guy is still a hack.
Um, Pablo wasn't called up for Copa America. How is that even remotely relevant to Pablo's contributions? But to play your game, the Rapids went 0-2-2 during the cup. If anything, that's a greater reflection on his ability to hold the team down during those games. During the 109 minutes he played for the squad during the Copa America timespan (I believe this was the stretch of the season he came down with a crippling flu, the same one Petke got later on), the Rapids gave up 1 goal. When Pablo wasn't on the pitch, the Rapids gave up 4 and didn't put a goal in for 341 minutes. The two ties, however, were without Pablo...but they were scoreless, against Columbus and a then-inept Chicago. I'm not trying to sell you on Pablo (hell, if Wasson was still with the Rapids I'd be all for sending Pablo packing...but since we don't, this just looks like Clavijo bending us over the barrel again). But the guy has more than enough positive impact on the pitch to overcome his attraction to yellow cards, and there's a reason he earned the team MVP, beyond that the rest of our squad was incompetent last season. But thank you for your opinion. Next time, if you have some facts, please share them.
Um.. yeah, that is my point. Neither were the usual MNT starters from which these statistics were based. How can it be said that the USMNT in 2007 was soo much better with him when there isn't a stable control group that would reflect what his actual value is to a team.