It’s hard to forget the FO whining about how difficult it is to sign players during the winter window. You shouldn’t just sign anyone in order to fill out the roster. And so on. That was the excuse last winter for not replacing Cucho. Not sure why this winter will be any different. In two years, the spine of this team has disappeared. Nagbe and Morris commanded the midfield. Camacho locked down the back line. Schulte looked the next, great young American goalkeeper. In a (technical) sense, Zawadski backed up all of those spots. Now all that’s left is our Swiss Army Knife backup, and a bunch of forgetful bargain to mid level signings.
Until Summer we have to, but if it’s not working we have to dump him next season. Hopefully this offseason helps him. I think he will pair up well with Abou Ali. Gazdag had opportunities and played bad , seems like overthinking . He was rushed into the starting line up he didn’t earn a starting role. I thought AZ played better than him.
I just meant that I though that you were implying that there was not enough space on the roster for him... given that we carry such a small roster.
Oh yeah I had no delusions, I just meant that any hope we might have finally had by getting a striker replacement and by some of the kinds like Habroune settling in was going out the window, since we know they can't replace Nagbe with anyone of his quality, nor will they even try.
Crew could splash all that GAM on one player's transfer fee or set up a layaway plan like atlanta does. Think it will take a 2-3 million dollar transfer fee to do something about this midfield. Eneli is the only guy the Crew could maybe acquire within MLS. Vargas will not be transfered within the league. McKennie is thinking about coming to MLS after this summer, and he would be on a free transfer. Chicago and Nashville are interested.
This further shows the ineptitude of the front office. They lost Cucho without having anything remotely like advance planning. Gosh, our best player is gone, oh well, guess we'd better start figuring something out. Now Nagbe is going and, gosh, maybe we should send out a mass mailing or check Craigslist. Camacho? Done. Arfsten? Dont send out your laundry. Farsi? Well, if he ever shows up again, he still wants out. Moreira? Short contract, doesnt need to.re-sign for a long team rebuild. And thats the issue here: people.have been saying for a year at least that the team needed to start a rebuild. Issa didnt seem to agree: just sign a hitter and everything will.be fine. Oh yes, bring in a bunch of diaper dandies. That's not a serious plan, its hoping Santa brings you a pony. Now the team has, basically, nothing, and a hitter is not what you start a rebuild with, its the final piece. This has been royally screwed up, and we're about to see the consequences.
It shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to know that a dude who’s 35 doesn’t have long left in his career.
Even if Nagbe suddenly decided to retire, Tall should have planned on a replacement. Nagbe's underlying numbers and ghost stats were not great. A discussion about his role next year was sure to be had. To their credit, we heard they were looking at a U22 #6.
We all know that yes but he had an option for 2026. Just interesting how long he knew, no crew media knew but Tom once again breaks the story
In my opinion this isn't a story that Tom should have ran with. A guy like Darlington Nagbe should be allowed to announce his retirement on his own terms with his own timing. He's earned that respect.
This says that Nagbe decided to retire back in July. Here's hoping that Issa has been using these past few months to get a replacement - for the position, not the man - lined up.
Based on that it will take Tall till after the WC next year to determine the best fit for the organization. In the mean time enjoy random teenager play
Not to be painted as an FO apologist, but they did have something lined up for Cucho. They wanted to buy Ali then, but his club refused to sell before the Club World Cup. They decided to wait and get their top candidate. There was also the Flaco rumor, but price seemed to kill that deal as Plan B. Nagbe just announced his retirement. Lets give the team more than 24 hours to get a replacement lol.
Looking at the free agent list, here is what should happen if this team wants to be treated like a serious operation and not have this rebuild last so long that casual fans completely check out: Buyout Gazdag Decline Sejdic and Jones Pick up options on Lappalainen and Moreira Tell Camacho to enjoy USL 2 Give Bush another year if he wants it Loan Romero Transfer Arfsten, Farsi, JRR, and Hagen Purchase Herrara That leaves: Forward: Wessam Abou Ali Diego Rossi Ibrahim Aliyu Midfield: Dylan Chambost Taha Habroune (should be a forward but whatever) Hugo Picard Lassi Lappalainen Tristan Brown Cole Mrowka Defense: Steven Moreira Sean Zawadzki Malte Amundsen Yevhen Cheberko Andres Herrara Cesar Ruvalcaba Goalkeeper: Patrick Schulte Evan Bush Stanislav Lapkes Seven senior roster spots used, 13 available Two U22s used, one available Two DPs used, one available Grocery list: 1) High-end U22 CM (Aidan replacement) 2) High-end attacking creator DP (Cucho replacement) 3) Two starting-caliber CBs under age 30 4) Three versatile depth WBs (at least one per side) 5) Veteran depth CM 6) Experienced GK able to compete for the starting job and available during international windows 7) Active summer window with a net 2-3 players added on top of this who can become regular contributors by 2027
No no, Kyle. If Issa doesn't have a press conference tomorrow announcing a replacement for Nagbe he deserves to be drug out back and beaten. (/sarcasm tag for the lawyers)
Flaco was plan A , more expensive and better player from a better leauge nice spin move , not buying it
Yes, by all means, lets completely miss the point. Foolish idiot Crew fans are all upset because of one player retiring without a Grade A Prime replacement ready to.hit the field. You've touched the issue with a needle.
Romero can leave he is out of contract and we don’t need him unless Bush also retires. Farsi is injured he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon JRR - I like him but he is expendable but you can’t sell him unless you have another player lined up that’s better Hagen- good riddance (dumb having him and Schulte because of NT duty) Herrera - strictly depends on the numbers , I like him a lot but you can’t overpay because he has to be tam level and not DP obviously Derrick Jones should already be gone Goalkeepers 3 Patrick Schulte 27, 28O Nicholas Hagen - 26, 27-28O Stas Lapkes 27,28-29O Will Bush return or retire ? Defenders 8 Tristan Brown 28,29-30 0 Mo Farsi 27,28O Steven Moreira, 25,26O Sean Zawadzki, 27 Malte Amundsen 27 Yehven Cheberko 26 (26 June , O for full yr) Andrés Herrera 26 June ( parent club 27,28O) Cesar Ruvalcaba 25, 26-27 O Need a starter in middle of top quality Midfielders : 7 Derrick Jones 25,26O Taha Harbourne 27,28O Cole Mrowka 26,28O (Loan) Max Arfsten 27,280 Dylan Chambost 26,27O Lassi Lappalainen 25,26O Amar Sejdić 25,26O Really need a good player to offset Nagbe loss so essentially we need 2 starter quality CMs Forwards/ attacking midfielders 6 Diego Rossi 26,27 O Jacen Russell-Rowe 25,26O Dániel Gazdag 27,28O Ibrahim Aliyu 25, 26-27 O Hugo Picard 28,29O Abou Ali 27,28O can’t add here unless someone leaves i would first focus on CM and CB
If Wessam was supposed to be the replacement for Cucho then everyone involved in that scouting process should be fired. They're completely different players. Wessam is a finisher, not a creator, and minus Cucho the Crew had no one to be a creator. Wessam also does not track back and help on defense or zone exits; a Cucho replacement covers almost the entire field. Flaco was their Cucho replacement but they wouldn't pay the freight and then they didn't have a backup plan. Philly made it known that Gazdag was available and the Crew decided that would be their Cucho replacement, which has been a disaster, as is the case with most reactionary moves.