DP negotiations with a team outside the league aren't the same as the single entity wage fixing scheme. Dempsey's agent and Spurs certainly could have contacted other MLS teams to see if anyone would pay more.
Put that list all together and that's pretty exciting for the future. Don't sleep on DC United once they get that stadium.
Every single one of them could very easily afford to do it. But whether they are willing to or not, is a different matter.
How many MLS teams can easily afford what comes out to be around 10 million a season? You really think MLS is doing alot better than I do.
It's like they feel personally betrayed, that he owes them something. The worst, most dumbass fan of a given MLS team > any American Eurosnob
I think the point is that MLS teams tend to be owned by billionaires. So yes, they could afford it. Most of them just don't see that as a sound investment.
My favorite posts are the ones that start with the word gutted. Really? Aren't you being just a bit over dramatic?
Yeah. This is serious money, spent to field a team that contends in both league and continental competitions for the next four years. It's NOT for "buzz" -- it's to give the 40k+ who show up every week the strongest possible team. And I'm saying that as someone who doesn't much like the Sounders, their turf, or the attitude of a number of their arrogant fans. I think this will put a lot of pressure on other owners, and it's another big crack in the strict single-entity structure.
they are sure as heck going to sell a shiteton of jerseys ... and most likely become "america's" mls team for those neutrals or newbies without a team.
"Gutted" a serious clue that you're dealing with an anglophile... I bet they had their pegs knocked out from under them, too. They may even be gobsmacked!
Oh fun, they're now calling into question whether Dempsey will be ready for the WC because he's now playing in a "lesser league"
No... Yet again, that isn't how MLS works. Seattle wouldn't have started negotiating with Dempsey without letting MLS know and MLS would not have allowed any other team negotiate with Dempsey once the Sounders told them they were negotiating with Dempsey.
What does Henry get paid? I looked to Google and I read he makes 4.5 mil a year? If that's true this rumored 8 mil would by far make him the highest payed player in the league
What are you trying to say? That he's a marked man because of how much he's getting paid? I don't recall a single observer in this thread that thinks it to be outlandish that Dempsey makes that much, so why would any MLS player think differently? And do you actually believe the risk of injury is disproportional in MLS? You do realize that a goon can crack someone's leg in any league, right?
I'm "gutted" as a NE fan seeing our best "product" as a franchise returning to the league.............and our ownership not being remotely interested it seems in acquiring said player. As he goes to play with Shalrie Joseph. Just send them Andy Dorman and bring Taylor Twellman back and you have the 2006 squad on the field.
How did Seattle find out about Dempsey's availability? Do you think no one else inquired? I know you will argue any point into the ground, move goalposts, etc. So I'm not taking this further than to say that while the formal negotiations are kept outside a bidding framework, you are dead wrong when you imply that approaches for DPs, and initial transfer price setting, are within that exclusive framework. Now go and have your incorrect last word like you always do.