Can you guys not see through this deal?!?! The Mexican Fed is behind this...they want Rafa to learn the secrets of Columbus Crew Stadium for the next Hex.... [/sarcasm]
“@EmpireOfSoccer: Explains the dumbfounded responses from my sources. Thanks for making me bother people at 9pm on a sunday! @MassiveCityFFC #RBNY #RafaToNo1” Thank God
Boo! The thing is we all know how good a place like Columbus can be for a DP, it's just that none of us can imagine THAT DP being happy there, or it being any sort of a good fit.
well, Marquez at Columbus could have been one helluva amusing joke (plus I want to see Bill's head explode)
Even if Rafa is or is not going somewhere. Is NY going to unload people at some point, because they cant possibly be below salary cap with the people they have on that team
http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2012/...land-timbers-kosuke-kimura-new-york-red-bulls Johnson to PDX and Kimura to NYRB is certain, Harrington is not. Believe me, the source is well placed.
The KC Star has comments from Harrington saying he's not heard anything about a trade or what it's worth.
Yup, saw that article. http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/02/3945413/harrington-to-portland-thats-news.html
How did Johnson come to be making so much ($243,750 on the Oct salary list)? Is it because he had been playing in the Netherlands?
Excellent question. I think his age plus his use in the 2009 MLS Cup run proved too much RSL FO, and they just paid what he wanted (ie a reward for hard work etc).
Looking at the MLSPU salary reports, he was making $90k guaranteed in 2010, and then took a big jump in 2011 where he made $225k. That got bumped up a bit more in 2012 to $243k. So I assume he signed a new contract after the 2010 season and RSL felt he was worth that much. Seems very high for him (in terms of MLS comparable salaries); he was the 5th highest paid RSL player in 2012, behind Saborio, Morales, Beckerman and Olave.
Johnson is definitely not worth $243K imho. He's a decent enough player - sometimes even showing some real quality - but is pretty damn inconsistent and overall isn't enough of a difference maker to justify that type of salary. Harrington would be an improvement over Kimura on the other hand. I used to defend Kimura but his 2012 - for both the Rapids and the Timbers - was so bad I'm surprised anybody would want him. Barklage should be able to keep his job at Red Bull if he's healthy.