2024 Non-Champions (i.e. Other Teams’) News Thread—Streaming Now on BigSoccer +

The Browns spend out multiple wazoos and get nothing for it on the field. They're the anti-Guardians.

 

If Czichos is still at a good level, I’d be interested in him. He’s good with PKs too.

 

I doubt we pick up anyone needing an international spot. There are some names I'd be interested in.

There's a report that PSV is going to sell Richy Ledezma (CM) this window. Now he has been stuck on their bench and had dissapointing loan spells until this season. Bosz has been playing him regularly, usually at RB but almost everywhere, like Zawadzki. He's been pretty good in a top heavy league. I could see Nancy being interested. Only problem is he would be a TAM level player.

 

would be cool to have the first Saudi Arabian player on the team, but he is sooooo slow. Not really what is needed when we already have an aging Camacho

 

He’s German.

 

Fair, a German born in Saudi Arabia, I guess

 

Who knew Jozy Altidore and Omar Gonzalez were still in MLS in 2024?

 

Jozy's contract was bought out on June 15, 2023.

 

Sponsored by Arsenal FC.

 

Other than Thiago Andrade (who I like and SD traded anyway) who the fvck are any of these dudes? I feel like the last couple expansion drafts have been real head scrathers.

 

Orlando just bought bruseth for 2 million and lost him in the draft. Kijima was a pretty good draft pick in a bad draft class. Not sure why DC paid 400k for him.

 

Just to put the cat amongst the pigeons, Bez believed we should sell Cucho if we got a good number. Before you get your knickers in a twist, I have no details of a sale. I’d like to think we wouldn’t be stupid enough to sell him without an immediate replacement lined up.

It’s true, football holds a special place in Jimmy’s heart, but it’s the wrong type of football. The Crew will always be second place to the Browns. I agree with everyone, I desperately wish he’d spend more (especially while Nancy’s here). However, it doesn’t change the fact that Jimmy’s going to spend whatever he sees fit. He had no interest in soccer until Dr Pete approached him regarding the Crew opportunity.

 

There’s a reason why I always say Jimmy, Dee isn’t terribly involved other than pr. Let’s put it this way, I once asked her if it was Herrera warming up as a potential sub (I’d forgotten my glasses). Her response was, who? I followed with the new wingback from River Plate in Argentina and it still didn’t click for her. She attends FAR fewer matches (including important ones like Pachuca) than Jimmy and isn’t as knowledgeable regarding the Crew.

 

As long as they keep letting the soccer people make decisions, that’s fine. Probably better they don’t know enough to try and make decisions themselves

 

Prepare yourselves, that’s all I’m going to say. Jimmy and Haslam Sports Group have an opinion. My worry is that the longer they’re owners, the more they’ll think they “know”. It was a blessing that the Haslam’s came into this ignorant regarding soccer.

FYI, Jimmy does know each and every name/position and attends a ton of matches. Haslam Sports Group in its entirety is at every crucial game. Both Jimmy and the Sports Group (plus 4 Edwards) were in Pachuca.

 

I said at the time that Bez leaving was a disaster.

He held a lot of sway with the bosses, and with New York, sway that Issa, whatever his talents may be, just doesn't have. More and more, the team will be run from Cleveland, and the change will reflect a corporatization of the club that will markedly change results on the field.

Billionaires gonna billionaire.

 

Issa hasn’t been in charge long enough to judge him on anything.

 

I suppose, but Bill wasn't judging him, so much, as giving him the benefit of the doubt in terms of his skillset. He just pointed out what would seem to be undeniable: that Issa doesn't have the experience, reputation, track record and network of the guy he's replacing. Almost no one else in an MLS FO does.

Of course, all of those attributes didn't always get Bez what he wanted (his influence at MLS HQ didn't mean much when he asked for flexibility in signing Rossi and retaining Lucas). And his track record of being able to sign big names to big contracts hasn't always resulted in big results. Still, he was arguably the top GM/Pres in MLS. Even if Issa turns out to be some sort of Wunderkind at the job, it'll be years before he'll have a resume anything like Bez's.

 

I can judge him on this summer transfer window. And I judge him poorly for it.

 

I judge your judgement poorly......

 

Exactly. Issa Tall may turn out, in time, to be the greatest GM in league history but right now his reputation does not carry a ton of weight in the C suite.

It's no different from you or me in any job; when you're relatively new in a top tier position the poohbahs don't tend to simply give you your head and trust your experience and track record because you don't have any.

The best anyone could think of to say about Issa was that he sat in on all the meetings and decisions that Bez made. Which is great, I guess, but not the same as being the man.

And until he has that record backing him up he's just not going to have the kind of throw weight that the last guy had


It's just common sense.

 

My understanding is that Issa was the boots on the ground guy when they went to sign guys like cucho. He met with them and won their signature.

 

The Vancouver Whitecaps are for sale. Probably the franchise with the lowest evaluation.