so it seems that it's 18 plus draftees. so that's good Quote from www.washingtonpost.com _______ A waiver date of Feb. 7 should be announced by the WUSA once the league and player representatives finalize a collective bargaining agreement that will determine the salary cap, roster size and other compensation issues. On that date the Freedom will pare its active roster to 18 players, not including draftees, in anticipation of a waiver draft tentatively scheduled for Feb. 11. Most WUSA players are in the final option year of their contracts. _______
What's the sentiment on the Mak trade? I'm not too impressed w/ Ali Fennell. I'm surprised Laura Schott lasted this long. She's a prolific striker, but with DC's forward corps, probably won't see much PT.
I was impressed with Skate because she came in and contributed immediately, but I don't see her as competitive with most of our current midfielders, and I assume Gabarra isn't trading for players he doesn't expect to have significant playing time. It's a shame in a way, but maybe she'll catch on someplace else.
For whatever reason, Mak never lived up to expectations, and there was evidence that the coaches had lost confidence in her. She might be better off someplace new where she can make a fresh start. I'm a little disappointed that she wasn't given another chance here, but perhaps it's for the best.
I agree with everything SCF said about Mak. She was a much heralded player coming out of UND that for several reasons (injury, call-ups, coach) just never panned out in our nation's capital. I don't know what Philly's teams needs are or who is on their roster but I do hope Coach K. gives Mak a fresh start and revitalizes her and I wish her luck this season.
draftee trivia It looks like Ann Cook may have some Freedom company who knows her way around The Hill. Draftee Darci Borski is the daughter of Robert Borski, the ten term Representative from PA's 3rd CD who recently retired due to redistricting. Former Rep. Borski is also a Democrat, though not nearly as liberal as Cookie's employer, the junior Senator from NY
Okay, so since we have like, oh...17 forwards..does this mean Mia is going to be in the midfield again? I really hope not, Siberia is not the place to put your best attacker. Unless, of course, you're Jim Gabarra, then you put her wherever the hell you want
I'm curious why there's so much criticism of Gabarra after he took this team to the title game last year? I know a lot of people (me included) questioned some of his moves last year, but they paid off. Shouldn't he be given benefit of the doubt this year? Just playing devil's advocate...
I agree with Figo (nice goal over the weekend BTW). Jim made good moves last year and these moves deserve some patience. Mak had not worked out like we hoped. Give her a chance someplace else. I don't think we will miss Pu much either.
Looks like the league will set the roster size at 16 plus 2 reserves. Start coming up with your roster lists.
Laura Schott If anyone would like to see Laura Schott Here's an article ;I don't know how to make it a link. www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2002/09/03_schott.html
That's INSANE. I understand this is a developing league with cash problems, and there is no schedule congestion problems like in MLS, but basically 18 players? Three injuries and you're in trouble. RS
What about national team call ups? Are teams going to travel w/ 13-14 players most of the year? Of course this strengthens the W-League, which isn't all bad.
No, because as the saying goes, even a blind squirrel finds a nut. He's bringing back essentially the same team as last year. The expectation should be that DC will win the league. I still think he doesn't know how to get the best out of his players and constantly puts them in a position to fail more often than succeed and Makinen is a prime example of that. I think that he doesn't get along well with the player and Mia in particular (I have no proof of this it's just a gut feeling I get when i see them in certain situations) and that this influences his decisions. I also feel that he just isn't a good coach. From his bad mullet down he was and is the wrong coach for this team considering the wealth of experienced coaching talent that the DC area has available they picked the worst guy out there.
Also.. Didn't the league the past two seasons limit the number of players on a traveling team to like 16? ----------- In other news... A Missy Gregg article in today's edition of USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/wusa/2003-02-05-gregg-wusa-notes_x.htm
Boy did we roll the dice! We went from looking like having the least to do in the draft to being the most active. Effectiveness of all moves TBD. Essentially trading Susan Bush for Lori Lindsey - If Bush doesn't get healthy in WUSA we get a very servicable player for nothing, if she plays to her potential it could be a steal for SD. Missy Gregg - If this was who we wanted over Bush anyway then we did get Lindsey for nothing. Will SHE come back from injury and can she put up numbers at a higher level than Div II? It takes balls to drarft someone who opted out of the draft! Makinen for McDowell - Mixed feelings on this, Mak is a player with great potential that hasn't been close to being realized in WUSA. I guess we decided she never would and ate our draft mistake in 2001. Krikorian made a living of recruiting Scandinavians in college, maybe he feels he has the key to unlock Mak's ability. Don't know much about McDowell, but if she can actually defend she can help our sieve-like midfield. There are too many questions yet to be answered to say if this is all good or bad, but it made for a much more exciting day than I anticipated as a Freedom supporter!
mcdowell is more a dmid player she doesnt have much to offer offensivly but does do a good job as a distroyer...she was a bit of a letdown in the charge's faster scheme...but with the freedom she may have some untapped potential and she is UNC
It looks like Gabarra had nothing to lose so he took the "wait and see approach" They don't really need her right now and she is not healthy anyway, so he used an otherwise worthless 3rd round pick so he can sit back and see if she turns out to be the real deal. If she stinks it up in the W-league then he doesn't have to sign her and it cost him nothing. If she looks good, then he can bring her up when a roster spot opens after Bai's departure. Either way, he went from knowing he wouldn't get much, to the chance he gets a real steal for next year. Not a bad plan.
I entirely agree. He had a choice between drafting an almost certain backup-level player at best versus one who might either be a total-steal impact performer or nothing. By that stage you might as well roll the dice - it could really pay off for us late in the season.
Is there a relationship with the W-League, similar to what MLS has with the USL, that allows a player to be called up in case a team's roster is depleted due to injury or suspensions?
"Essentially trading Susan Bush for Lori Lindsey - If Bush doesn't get healthy in WUSA we get a very servicable player for nothing, if she plays to her potential it could be a steal for SD." Lindsey is more than serviceable - she is a very good player. Apparently sources advised DC to make this deal happen. Though San Diego's new coach referred to her as "slower" that is not the case at all. She has great technical ability, is very good at headers, and is hard to knock off the ball. Remember, she was a 2-time ACC POY. That doesn't just happen for no reason.
That doesn't mean anything. Anne Makinen and Meredith Beard were co-National Players of the year in 2000, (Anne won the Herman and Meredith won the Honda) and neither has done much in their WUSA career. Lindsay may be a good player, but she needs to show it at this level. As of yet, she is unproven. She will have to make the team just as everyone else currently on the roster.
Well, for starters, Lindsey already out-scored Makinen in one year - 2 goals, 5 assists last year for San Diego, with few starts, 1/2 playing time and infamously constant changing of lineups, which any player out there would tell you stunk! P.S. One of her goals made the list for best goal in S.D. last year.
>Lindsey may be a good player, but she needs to show it at this level. As of yet, she is unproven. Hard to "prove" oneself on a team that featured different line ups in nearly EVERY GAME last season, with an inexperienced GM anointing himself as coach after firing Carlos. Tough season for a rookie (not to mention everyone else), to say the least. San Diego: so much promise last year, so little success. Very disappointing. Lori will earn a spot on Freedom's roster and make the most of her opportunity in D.C., I have no doubt. And, yes, I am a UVA fanatic and have had the pleasure of watching her play for years. She's special.