I know Timbers just had the MLS Expansion draft and we still have the SuperDraft coming up. But I wanted to start a thread to discuss the remaining offseason acquisitions that we still need to make to get this team ready? I know there has been talk about getting a central midfielder from Europe; I hope this happens cause that is a big gamble giving up Dax (still scratching my head). Also rumor is we are looking at an attacking player (rumor is Whitecaps are getting Robbie Keane) Who would you like to see the Timbers get for the midfield and forward positions (i actually would love for Robbie to come to the Timbers).
I think the Robbie Keane stuff is hot air. He is on $60,000 a week at Spurs. Harry would love to rid themselves of that wage, but if Keane does go to VWC, it won't be until the end of June. He's not going to give up that much money.
They have said they're looking at RB RM CM ST ST The central mid is said to be "South American" but no clarification on what league the player is currently registered in. Wilkinson have already made trips to South America (they would not reveal which countries) and Europe. There is also some speculation about a returning USMNT player. They have given a window of "a couple months" to complete the signings, probably meaning the January transfer window. I'd like to see them bring Kenny Cooper home.
Aston Villa is asking for Keane at a price tag of 6 million pounds. http://www.espnstar.com/home/news/detail/item540200/Villa-eye-Robbie-Keane-swoop/ Doubt Portland or Vancouver can get near matching that kind of money. On loan? Doubtful, because he costs a lot. Otherwise, Futty and Alhassan are locks judging by the number of rumors that wont die away. Nearly certain confirmation during a radio interview with John Strong on the latter. Note how John has not mentioned it since, presumably because he is in with the Timbers as an interviewer and doesn't want to blow that up. No other realistic guesses in my mind.
They should get Dustin Corea Left Midfielder/Striker http://www.dustincorea.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dustin_Corea
We're not in the market for Keane. Even our DPs will be under 30. More D2 signings coming soon. Correa was definitely a kid on our radar when he was in town but it appears he's set on playing abroad. Nice f'd up wiki page by the way.
Wiki page works fine with me. Also their two MLS team right now Corea interested in joining in but he doesn't mention the teams. Also he can't play in Europe because he has some problems with some papers he couldn't fix. So probably his only option right now is playing in the MLS. Watch 1:24 to 2:24 [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4O_1RH8bb4"]YouTube - Seleccion Sub - 20 - Llegaron al pais dos nuevos refuerzos Dustin Corea y Alan Rovira 11/10/2010[/ame]
I think most of you guys know about Steve Purdy too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Purdy [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTsuNVWmglo"]YouTube - Steve Purdy- El Salvador Part 1[/ame]
Though it doesn't happen a lot, MLS teams do pay transfer fees for DP's. The MLS itself will not pay a transfer fee, but the team can. If a player's salary is under 350,000 the difference between the salary cap and the salary goes towards the salary cap. Seattle's Fernandez is the example that comes to mind. The MLS will not pay a transfer fee, though.
On RSL, I'm only aware of transfer fees being paid for Borchers, Morales, Olave, Espindola, and now Saborio. They are also currently negotiating one for Paulo Jr. They are often paid, particularly in the form of loan buyouts.
Why would you want to cut into your own salary cap? When it is as low as it is, paying a transfer fee with cap money is about the worst thing you could do.
Does anyone have a list of Portland Timbers USL players that will be invited to preaseason camp or even signed in advance? It may be too early for any official lists to have come out yet, so speculation of any Timbers players that will make the jump from USL to MLS with the team would be nice too.
Well Bright Dike, Ryan Pore, and Steve Cronin were all signed from USSD D2 Timbers and Eddie Johnson was signed from the Austin Aztex. Aside form that nobody else has been announced although I'd be surprised if a number of them weren't invited to the camp next year to try out for the MLS team.
Portland sings 23 year old Arsenal defender Kerrea Gilbert. http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2010/12/timbers-sign-english-defender-kerrea-gilbert Seems like a fantastic pick up. While he was loaned around a lot, the kid still had around 5 years of training experience with the team. I'm excited about this.
He's already a professional, having been around for 5 years. Decent experience already under his belt. At 5'9'', not the towering defenders in the others already acquired, but will hold any more judgments until I see his play.
I am an Arsenal fan in London, and I am really surprised he couldn't find a club in the UK. There were rumours that he was going to join Blackpool but the move didn't happen. I've watched him play from a very young age and you've got yourselves a great right back. Very athletic, fast, strong and solid defensively. He's also got good technique and is good going forward. He maybe wasn't technically good enough for Arsenal, but he definitely has the ability to be a threat going forward in the MLS. I predict he could go onto become the best right back in the US. If your a fan of college soccer he is similar to Kofi Sarkodie (Akron) in a number of ways. Its interesting there's a number of ex Arsenal players in MLS now with Henry, Ljungberg, Ryan Smith, Zakuani and now Gilbert.
He's a quick rightback, good going forward and average defensively - not exceptionally skillful. A low-end-to-middling Championship player, really - a useful squad player at worst for you, but for all the "experience and still young" he looked no more convincing for us than when I saw him play a few times on loan for Cardiff.
I for one am stoked. A middling championship player = a solid MLS starter. Also, considering his youth there is the possibility he develops into something even better than that. Great signing imo.
"middling"? what is that suppose to mean? 1st of all he is quite good for the championship... and 2nd if that is saying the Championship is better than MLS, then you need to change your assumption, b/c that used to be true but surely isnt anymore(onfield product atleast)