FWIW, I talked with Rimando at the Adu press conference. He said that he's 100% and anxious to get back into the mix. Remember, with ACL injuries sometimes players actually come back stronger.
Not that his positioning won't get any better or anything with time. I know what you're saying though that he's small and needs his reflexes, but why won't anyone give him credit that he could improve, especially with Simpson back coaching him. And yes, he's ready to go, the knee is fine he said when I spoke with him.
Right John. We'll take your word for it - especially since we know you're not in love with...I mean biased toward Ray Hudson, Marco Etcheverry, and Nicky Baby. Stronger? Yes. Quicker? No.
Thats the best option i've heard of so far. What about some sort of 3-way trade with another team who has a forward or DM that we like?
Something to keep in mind is that Nick is going to be one of Chivas top targets next year. I think there is a good choice that Nick ends up there and that Warren then steps into the starter role for United.
Yes, but Shawn, if you look at guys who started last year in MLS, almost all of them make more money than Rimando (Brown, Countess-though by a fluke he's still P-40, Hartman, Howard and then Walker). Since you're not likely to be able to replace Rimando with a P-40 player (but it would probably be an MLS castoff like Cassar or an A-leaguer) than you're probably talking about someone making at least $30K (and quite probably more). Saving a likely $40-50K is not likely to get us the striker that we need. I like Kovalenko, Olsen, Petke, Reyes, Nelsen and even Cerritos. But for us to get the cap room we need to afford a proven striker, clearing $50K on the cap ain't going to do it. We'd be talking about clearing somewhere around $100-200K on the cap (or getting an allocation we can use to hid cap commitments). So I still maintain that if we want to add that kind of player, we're moving at least 1 and maybe 2 of the guys on the roster who make over $100K. In my mind, arguing we should deal Rimando for cap reasons is like arguing we should deal Prideaux or Namoff for cap reasons. In theory we could get cheaper players than Prideaux or Namoff but the savings in cap amounts wouldn't be worth the dropoff in player quality. As for the Chivas argument, I have a hard time building this year's roster based on next year's expansion. Maybe Chivas (or even SJ America) would want Rimando. Maybe that means we'd get something useful (like they'd give us the first pick in the draft).
Please don't misuderstand Joe. I was not disagreeing with you. I was just giving further information.
Warren for Jaqua and a pick. Nick is a quality keeper and will further strengthen with Simpson coaching him. He has been very durable so a weaker back-up than Warren should be fine. ON the Nick vs. Warren debate, Warren has talent but has not yet been tested over the course of a season. I don't doubt his potential but it still must be proven and Sarachan seems like the type of coach to give him that chance. We desperately need help up top and a tall , skilled center forward would be a welcomed addition. We don't have the money/time to extensively scout outside of MLS for what we need at forward so this is a good option. I like Nate's game and we could pick up a 2005 pick because Warren carries a better pedigree.
You're the doctor, so we will just have to take your word that the players don't come back quicker after an ACL injury. You've got me confused with someone else about being in love with Rimando and Etcheverry. I've been very open about the team moving Etcheverry, preferably out of the league on a transfer so he couldn't come back and hurt DCUnited, since the end of 1999. IF the team decided to keep him, then they should have used him in a lesser role such as what LA did with Cienfuegoes. It's pretty common knowledge in sports, in leagues with salary caps, you move a player a year too early, not a year too late. Also, Rimando has proved that he's a quality GK. I still think he a complimentary GK, and not a standout such as Keller or Friedl. I think the trio of Rimando-Nelsen-Petke works very well, but I wonder if Rimando in another situation would fair as well. I also think that by 2005 Warren will be pushing Rimando for starting time. One season under Simpson, who I think will become one of the great MLS and National Team coaches someday, will do wonders for him. I'm in the camp that says trade Rimando/Warren only if it ends up being a deal DCUnited can't resist. But, I think Sarachan has too many options - Reis, Countess, Ring - to want to make a foolish trade. As for Hudson, I won't deny that I probably would have kept him around another year. However, let's not forget that I was the guy who wanted Onalfo taking over the team after Rongen left. I hope, and I do believe, the new direction the team is moving is the right one.
Well, no matter who you like or don't like, and just how much, the pressing question is: Are you going to be providing practice reports this week (and any other week between now and April) ?? Please say yes.
I think DC should hold out for a 3-Team Trade, so we Can get someone We Really Need. As Chicago needs a GK. We shouldn't just scuttle Any GK (RImando, Baumstark or Warren) to Chicago just because.. Work a 3 club trade with someone whom can fill a spot we need filled by a solid, productive player. Otherwise we stand pat and watch Chicago suffer.
Oh and I am not above "stiring up a little trouble". I just don't want to take credit for trouble I did not start.
True, but we have what they need, not the other way around. The bottom line of this potential deal would be filling a want for us and a need for them. You can't go into the season with a keeper with almost no experience (Ring) and just hope it works. If they don't want to give up someone that can start for us, then they can go get Cassar or Conway and watch the goals fly in. I have a thread about this in my forum, but thinking about it now, I'm not sure I like what I've said in there. Needs outweigh wants, so Chicago should have to pay for this. I've said that Warren for Logan Pause would be a good deal, but now I think there should be more. As far as I'm concerned, we still have no left midfielders at all. Convey is a must in the middle, and Freddy is a forward. At present, our solutions appear to be pushing Stewart out there (with he and Convey switching positions as the game dictates), using Quaranta there and hoping he finally turns into the player we all wanted, or finding another player. Quintanilla has some strange desire to play on the right even though he's very much left footed...maybe Nowak can show him how that doesn't fly? Otherwise, left mid is a gaping hole in our lineup. I don't know...a lot of opinion in Chicago has Brown starting as the other center back. I'd take Gray over Dema as a defensive midfielder, especially if we stick with a 442.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=ap-mls-fire-marsch&prov=ap&type=lgns Marsch out for 12-16 weeks after ankle surgery, so any ideas of getting Buete are pretty much moot.
A few quick notes from Chicago: Doug Warren is a fine player, with a great future ahead of himself. And, were I DC, I'd be dismissive of trading him away. For my money, he is the better of the two DCU GK for 2004 and for the future. Rimando is/was a flash in the pan in Miami, and had the luxury of playing behind one of the most talented first XI in MLS at the time. Adin Brown is/was more talented in one finger than Rimando has in his entire 5'9" frame; It was a mistake to take Rimando on over Brown. It would be a mistake for Chicago to take Rimando on now. Chicago still has Henry Ring, and just drafted Pickens, formerly of the Fire Reserves. It is the sense in Chicago that the front office seems to be comfortable with the keepers on the roster as they exist. Although some have stated Ring is unproven, this begs the question: In what way is Warren any more proven than Ring? Someone has stated that keepers do not garner much in the way of trades, and history has borne that out in this league. Solid keepers can be had for draft picks alone, here in the homeland of many excellent GK. This is most certainly a resource [solid GK] that the US is not lacking. JoeW has suggested that Chicago trade away an allocation for Warren, and one must ask: If DCU had to re-acquire Warren, would you use an allocation to sign him? A sub-question might be, "Do you think Peter Wilt [Clearly the best GM in the league] would waste an allocation for a non-P40, unproven GK?" [Word is that Chicago will use this allocation to acquire a foreign-based midfielding genius, in light of Bolanos being released.] Others have suggested Warren for Buete. Remember that Chicago traded the Nowak allocation for the pick used on Buete; This indicates that Wilt thinks very highly of Buete. As such, were Chicago to trade Buete at this point, Wilt might require more than a GK alone to give up his rights. Moreover, as Buete is not P40, he might require a similar salary as Barclay did for your team. Given DCU's salary cap issues, he may not help as much as one may believe. Still others suggest Warren for Jaqua. Given Damani Ralph's p!ss poor contract, he is likely to either: A) Require a huge raise, making Jaqua's P40 status more important to Chicago for the purpose of remaining cap-compliant, OR B) Move abroad if he continues to produce the goods, making Jaqua important to the team as a replacement long-term. Moreover, Jaqua for Warren is a very much one-sided trade. Wilt is extremely high on Jaqua, as are the fandom in Chicago. In the absence of duress, [as was the case last season due to the salary cap] there is no reason for Wilt to be charitable at this time. Wilt is not in the business of helping DC correct the myriad of their mistakes of the past. Unless Ring/Pickens wet the bed a la Greg Sutton circa 2000, it appears that a trade for a GK is unlikely [for now]. The more likely scenario is that Chicago may wait for an experienced GK to become available after being released by another MLS team, seek out a cheap American GK stationed abroad, or to be content with what is available in Chicago now. Cheers!
I'm with Khan on this one. Three different teams' forums are full of fans furiously trying to figure out how they're going to jack Chicago for a keeper. Shades of last year, when San Jose was holding out for Rico Clark. The league office isn't gonna make it hard for Chicago to get a decent goalkeeper, and almost surely without using the allocation.
Agreed. I think too much is being made of Chicago's perceived need of a good GK. When you trade your back up keeper you're never going to draw much in return anyway.
Critical as I've been of Rimando, I disagree with this statement. At the time, Brown hadn't yet shown what he was capable of, given the situation in Tampa and that he had only been a year removed from a serious injury. He didn't become solid until having New England's good defense in front of him. Rimando was coming off an excellent season in Miami, where his coach was the guy who we just hired. A). Youth international credentials. B). How many games did Ring play last year? Warren played something like 8 or 9 last year. I know it's really not too much difference in the grand scheme, but it's still something. True. The fact that keepers the quality of Warren and Cannon are on the bench proves this. Though I agree with you, it's not without precedent. Bonseu was acquired by Columbus with their YSA, and his only MLS experience was at the end of the 2000 season. Also, I think DeRosario by SJ was acquired with an allocation, though I'm not sure. Good point. Is Jaqua really that good? I only saw him play a little bit last year and wasn't too impressed.
No: Trade Rimando and Start Warren! I would be more inclided to recommend to the new coach to keep Warren and trade Rimando! Doug Warren really distinguished himself filling in last season for Rimando and Warren brings to the goal something Rimando never had: size! He fills the goal well... he's quick... and his reflexes remind me of Brad Friedel. I believe I'll quote Digital that Doug Warren, rather than Nick Rimando, "..is the PERFECT MLS goalkeeper..." Does Warren need training? Yes. Does he have Rimando's experience: No. But, since DCU is rebuilding... a large goal keeper is a primary essential to a team... I am not sure Rimando brings to the table what DCU needs. Further, Rimando is a holdout from the former coach... a Florida product... DCU actually needs a Brad Friedel... in absence thereof... let's trade Rimando to the Fire and make Warren a starter! IntheNet
Lanky134, I refer to the utilisation of allocations for GOAL KEEPERS, not for other positions. As I recall, Ravanelli and Zenga are the two that come to mind. How did those players help their teams? And Warren hardly has the international experience that Zenga or Ravanelli had. Sitting on the bench for youth internationals hardly counts for experience on the international level. And yes, Jaqua [As a P40, and at his age] is a great prospect for the future. I guarantee you Nowak would trade Eskandarian and another player/pick for Jaqua RIGHT NOW. He is a player for MLS for beyond 2004. And he's better than the 2003 Superdraft bust of the draft RIGHT NOW. Cheers!