There are "injury problems" and there's Tab's injury problems. If Ramos had played as often as them, then yeah, he would have absolutely been worth one. He didn't, though... Ramos: 9011 career minutes played (1501 per season) Etcheverry: 14299 career minutes played (1787 per season) Cienfuegos: 16366 career minutes played (2046 per season) Nowak: 9740 career minutes played (2435 per season) Valderrama: 13719 career minutes played (1960 per season) Three of those guys also have championship rings. All 4 have spent at least half of their MLS careers with strong teams. Now, you can make the argument that, had Ramos been around more, the metros would have been better...but that's just conjecture. If DC gets an allocation for Stoitchkov, then you can be upset, because he is even less deserving than Ramos was. That doesn't change the fact that Ramos didn't merit an allocation. Well, we could have let him just go to Europe. That would have been great for MLS, letting the best youth player in the country go. The P40 designation is only there so the salary cap doesn't look completely arbitrary (instead of mostly arbitrary as it is now). And what about Lothar? MLS didn't even try to cover that up. I would have thought by now we all understood that MLS will make decisions that don't make sense if they feel it'll help the league. I especially would think that the two teams most likely to get this would be DC and you guys, but in both cases most fans are just waiting for something to complain about. Look...when MLS bends/breaks another previously set rule (it'll happen soon enough), and it goes wrong, then complain.
I disagree with this idea of having to get "big" players. We need to find more "Ruiz" type players. Young guys, who are just below that elite level, and really want to make a name for themselves. We cannot expend resources on players like Lothar (who supposedly was profitable for the league because of the television rights in Germany) just for the sake of name recognition. We have seen where that has taken us this far.
Let's get over the impulse to continually list Clint Mathis as a "great" player, okay. He's shot, and the best thing that has happened to the Metros this off-season is officially getting him out of their hair. I suspect Bradley's as pleased as punch not to have to build the club around him this season. Now, he can do what he REALLY wants to do with the offense. If they have a day for Clint this season, I'll be the one in the stands mooning the ceremony.
listen to yourself, you just pointed out we lost two great players but then you say we need great players to win a championship, not that i disagree with you but you will be constantly loose the great players..... the reason we lost them was because they were great.... we had them for 3 ,4 years and we didn't win the Cup and had some dissapointing seasons.... what we need is a great group of average players that can work together and get the job done. We have to come to terms that for one reason or another our team came to a lot of nothing and we can place blame all around all we want to, but i wouldn't put it on the players. .... it is up to the coach to bring the best out in his players, ...can anyone honestly say that San Jose has had better players on paper then us ? No you can't , but they have won the championship because their coach knew exctly 1. who to pick 2. how to make a unit out of them 3. and how to use them to get the results he needed
I get it. Really. You don't think Mathis has any talent. That's fine. You can stop telling everyone now. Especially considering your odd idea that Galvan and Forchetti are soccer gods, which pretty much throws your cred as a talent evaluator right out the window. I suspect you didn't read any of Bradley's comments after the season, ALL of which were very supportive of Mathis and spoke of wanting him back. Well, I suppose every crowd has to have at least one jackass.
I never said they were great. I just wanted them used. The only time they saw action (if that's what you can call it in MLS) was when half the team was down with injuries. It was disgraceful. I've noticed that the bashing of these two guys continues on the Metros boards. I'll make you a deal: Get off the backs of Galven and Forchetti and I'll stop kicking your beloved Superstar And Club Leader Extraordinaire. What the hell is he going to say? That he should be put to death? If this European thing had collapsed, Clint would be back with the Metros. Of course Bradley's not going to bad-mouth him. Besides, Bradley's not the type to knock players publicly. I don't care what he's said. I think he's glad to be rid of him. At least this jackass pays full price for his tickets. Don't knock it. Some of the self-proclaimed soccer geniuses on these boards seem to spend their lives looking for cut-rate deals. Yeah, real supporters of club and league. Right.
galvan & forchetti Not to get off topic, but, I agree with riverplate that the way the Argentines were used bordered on disgraceful. Particularly in the case of Galvan. From what I saw, and granted I have never attended a Metro training session, Galvan always made a good showing but was never given a chance to develope with regular play. Forchetti read the game very well. for a small guy he defended very well. He goofed every-so-often, but he also suffered from irregular PT. I don't think either of those guys would wind up as MVP calibre players, but Galvan could have become consistent & reliable. Every team needs that type of player.