So I guess this signals we are waiting on the end of the playoffs, so we can hire a GM from a playoff team...
It also means we are going to scramble in the next two months to get organized... So at least we know it is going to be a crap season now...
Just listened to the RFK Refugees podcast and it's even worse than I thought. The roster decision deadline dates begin in 8 days (bona fide offers) and options, etc. are before the end of the calendar year. Complete radio silence and they noted that Tom Bogert said that some prospective hires were less interested in taking the job because of the delay. What this means is that Dumpster Diving Dave and his muppet sidekick Mairs will still make the initial roster decisions. Jason Levien is a cancer on this team. I am so glad I gave up my season tickets, those assholes have turned this franchise into something worse than a laughingstock -- it is just irrelevant on every level.
I had a bit of hope that we might get a team in place and get ready for next year before December. Why? Because I am a very stupid man...
With a pair of 32+ yo DPs, I've been calling 2024 a throwaway since early last season. This wasn't hard to see coming. Least shocking news ever. Unfortunately.
Fourth MLS Cup. 19 years ago today. 🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/FXYiX9BpeU— D.C. United (@dcunited) November 14, 2023 good timing
From Goff: D.C. United has finalized a contract with Nashville asst GM Ally Mackay to become its chief soccer officer and general manager, source familiar with the deal says Mackay will report directly to ownership. Longtime executive Dave Kasper moving into an advisory role, as reported here a few months ago. Mackay will lead the search for a head coach.
as reported by Goff last week: this morning club announces MacKay hiring: https://www.dcunited.com/news/d-c-u...y-as-general-manager-and-chief-soccer-officer Goff has follow-on report: Ally Mackay hired as United’s general manager, chief soccer officer - The Washington Post
Now we have a little over a week to clear out players and get the contracts settled before the 12/1 deadline. It will be tough.
? All 12/1 is, is the decision deadline for whose options we're picking up and whose we aren't. Everything is contractually agreed already. I am not even sure they need to do anything other than submit paperwork to the player and the league that the option is being exercised. According to Sportrac, the following players have a club option for 2024 - Asad, Najar, Robertha, Ruan, Eric Davis, Fajardo, Ravel, Samake and Ted. This is an easy list to navigate. Ted should have been picked up by now. They also have an option on him for 2025. I am unsure what the escalation is with those options, but at $85k, he's a no brainer and they should prolly offer him a better deal before he decides not to sign and walks for nothing after the 2025 season. Samake is cheap depth. Maybe you have to think about Ruan, not sure why, but that's my gut on how the back office world, anywhere, actually works. And then there's Najar who can't make $500k to only play a third of the minutes and come back injured from international duty every window. The rest should have been declined by now.
I haven't seen any updates on this and as we didn't have a GM until today I'm not sure who would've made those choices. Maybe they were made, likely not.
looks like today was media day for the new GM. Pablo and Goff both have interviews up https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/11/28/ally-mackay-dc-united-new-gm/
Goff's piece says Kasper will still be in the room. Only if it's to serve food and clean up the mess afterwards. That guy is a club killer.
I'll take it as a we have a new GM. He has zero reputation and all the good will. Every move we make from here on out will determine his efficacy and his reputation. This is his first GM role as well and I think he would be eager to make his reputation.
Well, he will end up with a reputation no matter what... Hopefully he can become know as the guy that brought a moribund once great side back to consistent top of the table life...