You mean the guy who is currently out with a broken jaw because he got in a bar fight with a professional boxer might have some off field issues? Why else would Cincy be looking to dump him as soon as possible? Why else would I say he's available for pennies on the dollar? Got a better idea for acquiring a goal scorer who is in the 99th percentile for non-penalty xG? Maybe Fisher will feel generous and hand Leitch $20 mil?
Not sure he'd be a great locker room guy. Maybe fine, maybe not. But if he's not, that can have a more profound effect on the team than a few extra goals, in many indirect ways that ultimately show up on the field. The only thing that's prevented this team from completely imploding is that they seem to be sticking together and it seems like Luchi has not lost them. Losses are piling up but every game is competitive, and we're still working in our new DP CAM, so there's still a chance that we move up the table with largely the same set of key players.
Correct and apparently Gabon also kicked him out of the NT. The guy comes with baggage and certain issues, at the price it would require (DP) to get him, not sure it would be a great pick up. Campana from intermiami is the one dp forward I'd like to see us go after especially if rumors of more superstars going to Miami in the summer window is true.
There's no reports of him being a locker room problem... Cincy did win the Supporters Shield with him last season. That was because he didn't arrive in Gabon on time... who cares.
Well, locker room or not, Cincy is looking to dump him - for a reason. Even if he's technically fine "in the locker room", the off-field stuff is an unneeded distraction and does affect the locker room indirectly. Bottom line: we're a "nice guys finish last" team. Don't rock the boat!
And again, how are the Quakes acquiring a guy with these kinds of stats unless there's a reason he can be had on the cheap? No one is answering that question!
Sure,who cares!?....until it starts happening to us. There's a reason he hasn't stuck around long enough at any of his previous stops.
Why are you convinced he'd come on the cheap? Wouldn't we be picking up his existing contract with the league? Just asking, so many rules in MLS I'm honestly not sure how it would work.
Boupendza would take a DP slot, which is why it would depend on getting rid of Gruezo (either selling or buying out) to open up a slot... the "cheap" part is that the Quakes would just have to pay his $1.7 million salary, whereas Cincy paid a $7 million transfer fee for him. To get another player at that level, you'd have to pay a large transfer fee. I just don't see the Quakes doing ALL of: - Eating Gruezo's contract (also $1.7 million, plus they did pay a $3 million transfer fee for him) - Paying a $7 - 10 million transfer fee for an similarly talented attacker, maybe even more - Giving that new guy a $1.5-2 million contract The biggest expense is the middle one, with Boupendza you avoid it because Cincy is looking to dump him.
Our buddy xbhaskerx is reading much between lines that is not implicit or explicit. All the article states is that Cincy are unlikely to get what they paid for him from AN MLS TEAM. It also states that he has played in leagues that have teams with the resources to make a good offer from Cincy - i.e. implying there's no chance in hell he's going to another MLS team...
Just to be clear, I was poking fun at my own argument with "nice guys finish last - don't rock the boat". Sure he could help us. And he might be a bargain, but if he's a bargain it's for a reason and there's a risk associated with that. That's all part of the risk / reward equation. As for Jebo "barely having a pulse" anyone who's watched him play can see that he's a very hard-working forward with the way he's constantly tracking back deep to participate in the buildup. His shortcomings are not about effort, they're about effectiveness around goal - he ties himself into knots sometimes trying to get it on his left foot, sometimes he arrives too late due playing so deep, his shooting is not all that great - and forget it with his right foot, etc. But effort / "pulse" is not one of his problems. Also remember that Boupendza has been playing with Acosta over the last year while Jebo's been playing with, um, Monteiro, Skahan or Niko as CAM. So in theory Jebo should be getting more and better chances now that Hernán has arrived.
San Jose should eat the contract of Gruezo and then trade Eboboisse for Boupendza. Unlikely, but that would be a boost of morale for me at least for this team. I still would take Vela over Ebobisse & Judd.
Hard Working doesn't always get you results. We've had a lot of guys who are hard working but don't and didn't produce results. Jebo isn't a start worthy #9 in Major League Soccer and he's borderline MLS 1.5 level. Portland couldn't wait to dump him and found clowns in us. Jebo needs to figure out does he wanna be an 8, 9, 10, 12 or 7.
So here's a more general question. If the Quakes are going to make any moves this summer (and I'm skeptical they will make any of significance) what are the priorities? Let's assume that if there's any signing it's not going to be a "big" signing, because, let's be realistic + I don't think we've got much left under the cap or the budget. I guess for me, it would be: d-mid - any chance we could get a Gruezo upgrade for relatively cheap? center forward? Other than that I don't know. If it's not going to be a clear upgrade to anyone, then it's just depth and I'm not sure it'll do anything other than just kind of muddy the waters.
IIRC a major issue he had with Portland is that they wouldn't play him in the 9 role, and that's what he saw himself as and demanded to play as. I don't think Luchi is strong enough to make him see the error in that.
I have no free agency ideas, but I do think we need to be buying out Gruezo. Substituting your high priced DP at the hour mark in two consecutive games really says it all.
No argument needed for that, we all know he works hard. He doesn't work smart. Can't stand that guy. I'd rather have Edleman.
They should also bring in a #3 CB behind Rodrigues and Wilson and ahead of Beason and Munie. Doing so wouldn't cost that much money. Maybe trade for a guy within MLS if international slots are being used elsewhere. To make space on the roster either trade away Beason, or send Walls on a season-long loan to a USL team.
I think Munie could be better than an MLS veteran that you could pick up for the kind of FishBucks we have and under the cap, etc. At some point you have to give the guy a chance. If he's fine, and he's looked fine so far, now you have a serviceable or better CB that you can play and for pennies on the dollar, the rest of which you can spend elsewhere. The only risk is that we get hit bad with CB injuries and wind up having to play Munie and Beason or something. But I suppose in a pinch Morales could also play back there.