2012-13 Crew Offseason Roster Thread

and a partridge in a pear tree.

 

http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/...telligence-global-salary-survey-espn-magazine

Higuain may have lifted us out of 278/278. We are trying to work our way back down.

 

All they did was take the salaries from the Players Union report in July--so that number does *not* include Higuain's salary at all. Remember too that our numbers are brought down by the fact that our reserve team salaries are counted--compared to say, the SPL team mentioned above us, where the reserve team is clearly not counted, as the overall salary amount is 500K larger but the average islower.

 

1. Duh

2. Good point, if you include total salary and not average salary we were only 276/278. Thanks for speaking up about the reserve league being included.

 

Lets face it, we really don't compete with the Bundesliga or most of the leagues on this list. For soccer fans in the US, a better comparison would be to SPL teams, which are in there, or 2 Bundesliga, Championship teams, or teams in leagues like Holland, France, Belgium, etc. Note too, that a league like the KHL doesn't seem to be referenced--and they pay quite well these days. I'd also find a comparison with the WNBA to be interesting.

Also if you calculated the average salary without the last 6-8 guys on the roster (pure reserve team players), I'll bet the average salary comes up a fair bit--that would be true for all of the MLS teams of course.

 

I know WTF was pretty emphatic but we haven't heard anything about him going anywhere else yet and we kept his rights. Honestly I'm waiting until he signs at a lower level, we get nothing for him in a bad trade, or he doesn't show up to training camp before I think he's truly gone. It was a sports hernia surgery I can understand if they want to see how he does in camp before committing to him for another year. I can also say if that's what's going on it's a smart move.

 

So... you're saying if we ignore the fact that we're cheap, it's plain to see that we're not cheap.

Gotcha.

 

Look if you compare the Clippers to the Yankees, they're cheap (LA or Columbus). Compare us to teams and leagues on the same level and then we'll see--we may still be cheap. But I'd rather be Columbus cheap than Toronto moneybags. Hasn't worked too well for them, has it?

But it is hard to compare a US sports team to any other league in the world, expensewise. The travel is a killer. The only league that has anything like the travel we do is the KHL. I'd be willing to bet that the average MLS team puts on more miles than a CL finalist in a season. Take the average SPL team. Does any of then travel more than an hour or two to play?? The greater the expenses the lower the cash available for salary.

 

Keeping his rights allows for a cooling off period on both parts (which might let him come back)--and to see what teams are left with needs after the transfer window and draft. My guess, too, is that his option was for a fairly large sum, as he had been a top pick and this would be his first contract after his rookie one. There is often a big jump in pay there.

 

But we're not terribly competitive with the MLS either. We are 23% lower than the bottom on that barrel in terms of average salary. And Higs salary last season wouldn't raise that average that much.

 

Oh, I have no problem with being cheap. In fact, I prefer to cheer for a team that doesn't simply outspend the competition (sans Barcelona, but they develop a lot of their talent). And it's certainly sweeter when a thrifty club can compete with the spendthrift big boys (like the Cincinnati Reds compared to the Boston Red Sox in the 2012 season).

But therein lies the difference. Some clubs are cheap (Pittsburgh Pirates), raiding the bargain bin just to field a team. Some clubs are frugal (Tampa Bay Rays), finding or developing the right pieces to get results.

I feel like we're trending more towards the cheap; going for the young, unknown, or journeymen. However, players like Higuain, Arrieta, and Gaven (quality at a reasonable rate) counter that thought.

I'd say your travel argument has some merit when comparing MLS to other leagues, sure. The problem is that it doesn't stand up when you're comparing the Crew to other MLS sides. And unfortunately, we have one of the smallest payrolls in the league. Right, wrong, or indifferent, that's a fact and it won't change.


Can't spend as much? Gotta spend smarter. Or hire a better coach.

 

Yet we finished 2 games above .500. Higs salary probably does have an impact this coming season as I'm guessing at least $650K and perhaps as much as $1mil. That'll push the pile a bit.

 

I made the travel argument because the original post that prompted this thread diversion was about an ESPN comparison of teams in major sports leagues around the world.

 

Let's not forget that Balchan had to have 3 surgeries to fix his hernia, keep that in mind. I fault the DR not the Player, maybe Robert thought he was exaggerating or slacking his problems and that is why he got pissed off. They sent Speas to the same guy I believe and he took a long time to recover.

 

My family doc says "never cut unless you have to--it will never be the same" (that doesn't mean I haven't had surgery--just to be careful when you do). Three times--ouch!

 

We still have the rights to Balchan, Vargas, Vuko, etc. Do we trade them away then for allocation cash, picks?

 

This is hell. I am in hell.

 

Um, sure. But what do we get in return? Maybe Sigi will give us that black & gold scarf back for Vargas' rights.

 

Someone would have to *want* them first....

That being said, Balchan's a possibility--even though he's damaged goods. The others? Probably not at the salary they'd want. I get critiquing the FO for dropping some guys--but OTOH, if they were so great, why aren't other teams beating down our doors trying to get them?? Truth is that even in the big leagues, not every transfer works no matter how good your TD and coach are. On paper, the transfers we got were good risks--when they got here, they didn't perform to the level expected for that salary. It happens. In theory, there's no difference between practice and theory. In practice, there is. While we have the rights to these guys--the rights are only in MLS and we have a world market where they are out of contract and thus free agents. Much easier for their agents in the case of the non-US players to get them a job elsewhere than fighting MLS rules. In Balchan's case, something will likely happen, but I would not expect anything until after the transfer window opens in a couple of weeks for us and/or the draft happens.

 

I don't understand why Warzycha didn't/won't resign Netzo (Nemanja Vukovic).

He had 6 assists in 8 reserve league matches.

 

One word: Responsibility.

 

The only thing I can think of is that his salary was pretty high and they thought they could find a better defender at LB for that price.

 

The Crew is asking 200,000 for Milovan Mirosevic.

 

If we got that for him, I'd do that in a minute

 

...i woke up on the wrong side of the bed....

Why even have a team this year? Looking at the roster it reminds me of a Columbus Premier team, a bunch of ex college soccer players and a few almost professionals. Sponsored by Champs Sports Bar.


(being facitious but woe is me.)