http://www.coloradorapids.com/post/2015/08/07/rapids-sign-experienced-defender-maynor-figueroa Figueroa is 32, Honduran, last played with Hull City in the EPL. Plays center back and left back. We used TAM to get him, plus trading allocation money to SKC. At the bottom of the article, Badji is gone to Charlotte for the rest of the season, and Ben Newnam is no longer with the team. Transactions: Colorado Rapids (MLS) signs Maynor Figueroa using targeted allocation money; Colorado Rapids acquire internal roster slot from Sporting Kansas City in exchange for general allocation money; Colorado Rapids loan Dominique Badji to USL’s Charlotte Independence for the remainder of the season; Colorado Rapids waive Ben Newnam If this is our 'big' signing... yikes.
I like the signing if Watts never plays again or is loaned out to any other team, USL or NASL. If he's a depth chart signing like Zac "Mr Cone" Knight, we don't need this type of signing.
Its amazing how much the pendulum can swing the other way. A few years ago we were signing millions of redundant attacking midfielders, and now we're signing millions of redundant CBs and CDMs. Is Bravo on drugs or something?
To remind everyone we used Target Allocation Money for this signing. Per the TAM rules: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...ment-club-rosters-introduction-targeted-alloc Teams get $100K of TAM a year for the next 5 years and may borrow ahead so there's no way to tell how much he's actually costing us this year, but we just signed a 32-year old CB as a DP in all but name. Also Figueroa played a total of 13 games in the 2014-15 English season BTW, according to transfermarkt.com. So I'm sure he's fit and ready to jump right in at altitude, not rusty at all... Also the press release includes this dreaded line:
I am intrigued. Figueroa was great at Wigan a few years ago. Hopefully he is ready to push Riley out of the lineup.
So, they're going to trade a centerback for a fullback, right? Might as well send Mike Harrington, too, if they're not going to play him.
Figueroa is as good a center/left back as you'll find anywhere in MLS. He'll fit right in off the bat, he was a weekly starter in the EPL with the exception of last year.
Padraig Smith stated in the pregame talk that the plan is to play Figueroa at LB and Moor at RB going forward. Seems like they think Figueroa should be ready to go pretty soon.
Ouch ..... I was hoping to see Figueroa at center back. From my perspective, it's painful to watch Sjoberg or Watts attempt to play CB.
Ouch, hope he proves me wrong but Defensive DPs always seem to be waste of money, Omar might be the loan exception. I almost wonder if this move was, were way under the cap half way through and we already funded the full MLS player salary. Signing this guy will make it almost even for rest of season... Another signing I will make the call will not be a Rapid come next year.
I agree Figueroa is unlikely to be on the roster next year but don't count out St. Ledger. Sounds like there was real interest there. (That's a bit of a teaser for a blog post I hope to have up before the town hall tomorrow, waiting on some final details.)
Sorry for the snark - I would be a lot more excited about Figueroa if there weren't so many other problems with the team that have gone unaddressed. I think you're right, he should be very good here, assuming Pablo actually starts him.
The Rapids have assigned him a number as well as St. Ledger. Does this mean both could be available this Friday?
His being a quality player (he played what, maybe 5-6 solid seasons in the EPL, was a perennial starter and was an EPL team captain for his team at one point) and his not being the right player for the Rapids can both be true. Which is what I think you were getting at, so I agree. And I didn't think it was snark but a well reasoned commentary.