I'm not sure it's about winning a championship but, rather, data they have about tickets sales, and season ticket/premium seat renewals. A pro product leads to soft demand, which has a rather clear effect on revenue.
When they said it was hard to find a center back to pises the qualities they want without being a DP, was a definite sign we need older players because it is true a young proven cb with the quality we want is certainly not easy to find.
That is all well and good, and likely true as far as it goes. Mostly, anyway. I'd argue that we seriously lacked ambition/urgency in trying to replace Morris, Cucho, and Nagbe, and have yet to successfully replace Ramirez or Matan's contributions either, or Camacho's. But that is another discussion. Here, we are not just (still) trying to replace those guys, but we are still leaking talent with the best guys we have being sold off (Rossi, Arfsten) or injured (WAA). If we were trying to win now, Rossi & Arfsten would be here, and Gazdag would not. Yes? Trying not to pre-judge, but I am not terribly excited about any of our acquisitions the last two years. Mendes maybe. Bangoura is OK-ish. Picard is showing signs of life. But the rest if the guys we have brought in (that are still here) just scream mediocre window dressing. Too soon (Picard, Ahkundzada, Giaccone, Bangoura) or too late (Gomes, Bially). Meanwhile, other teams are signing Griezeman and Lewandowski and such.
Let's just say there is a bit of a talent gap between guys like Lewa and Griezmann and someone like Bailly. One of these guys was playing at Barca, one was playing as Atleti, and one was relegated after making less than half the possible amount of appearances at a relegated Oviedo (and it wasn't due to injury). I don't hate the Bailly move, but I don't love it either. There is a reason all the clips of Bailly were from Man U and not Besiktas nor Villarreal nor Oviedo. In his prime, he was an extremely athletic defender. Lots of great last ditch tackles in that video the Crew put out, and he is (was?) good at that, but he was good at it because he wouldn't always be in the right position to start. I think he's a fairly well-rounded player. Good at everything, but not great at anything. His athleticism is probably his best attribute. But at 32, I worry about how much of that athleticism he still has. I won't pretend to have seen him in the last couple seasons, so I'm not sure how he's held up in that regard. No matter how much or little athleticism remains, it's still plenty more than Rudy Camacho, so I can live with that for now. Bailly is a stopgap signing, nothing more and nothing less.
Just like Camacho was a stop gap CB and we should have upgraded in 24 and we just now replacing him in 26
I just want to talk about the fact Moreira is out of contract next season. We should be extending him or selling him outside of MLS during this rebuild. Personally I would just extend his contract because you won’t get much and anyone can sign him for free next year which gives us NO LEVERAGE. He could sign a pre contract now and we get nothing. He is 31 and had a great WC run but I think it’s a failure that we hadn’t already extended him to 27. At age 31 I’m not sure he has any good options outside of MLS. If he signed for another MLS club after the season it would be negligence by our FO. Your thoughts ?
I’d agree to re-signing him at most through the sprint season if he’s open to it, especially since it would be a natural ending point for him to go back to France and end his career there if he wanted to. But it does take two to tango. maybe he doesn’t want to sign another contract, or maybe he’s asking for too much money and the club doesn’t want him at that price, but I think it would be hard to sell him for anything given his age.
Since Bez has been back, we have: 1) Signed Brooks Lennon on a free 2) Traded Cheberko for INT slot 3) Retained Herrera (INT slot) 4) Put WAA on IR (frees DP/INT slot) 5) Used an INT spot on Giaccone 6) Transfered Rossi to Monterrey (frees DP) 7) Used an DP/INT spot on Méndes 8) Signed Bailly on a free (used INT) 9) Likely transfering Arfsten out. Positionally: 1) Turned a DP winger/firward who did not occupy an INT slot (Rossi) into a DP winger/#10 who does (Méndes). Not sure this is an upgrade on field, and from a roster construction angle, it is worse. 2) Turned Cheberko into Bailly. Since we got an INT slot for Cheberko, it is a roster construction wash. Gotta be an upgrade, if a moderate one on the field. 3) WB/FB/WM. Likely have swapped a WB/AM who is American and productive (Arfsten) for one who occupies an INT slot and is less productive (Giaccone). For me this is a downgrade on the field AND in terms of roster construction. 4) RCB/RWB. Retained Herrera (and his INT slot usage) despite bringing in Lennon on a free. I like both moves in a vaccuum, but considering our other holes and now the fact we have more INT players than slots, I do not love it in terms of asset management. Especially with Lennon's injury history. But on the field we gained a depth puece for nothing. 5) CF. WAA to IR, not replaced. We are over on INT spots, full on Senior Roster spots (would have 1 open if Max goes), have an open DP spot and U22 spot. Marginally better in some spots and worse in others and have not filled our buggest needs (CF/Gazdag). C-.
Not a bad analysis. I’d just like to add the transfer window has only officially been open for a few days. I’ll hold off on dishing out a letter grade until it’s closed, or at a minimum until we’ve seen a few of these guys on the field.
Here's the truth about Moreira... he's been very good here, but he's just a guy in Europe. European clubs don't sign 30+ year old JAGs for transfer fees, especially when those teams are probably small teams at the wrong end of the table to begin with. The time to sell him for anything was 5 minutes after winning MLS Cup in 2023. He hasn't been as good since and is older. Use him 'til you lose him. Simple as.
For sure. The grade could be incomplete. We need to see it on the field. Window still open. All valid. But I think Mendes will be hard pressed to match Rossi's production and he uses an INT spot where Rossi didn't. We used INT spots on Bailly and Giaccone, who I am mot sure move the needle much. Bailly is a Cheberko upgrade, but I doubt Giaccone is gonna better Atfsten. And again, we used 2 INT spots vs none in the tradeoff.. We don't have anyone who gets me excited to watch them play.
He hasn’t been as good since MLS Cup 2023?He won Defender of the Year the very near year. and yes, I basically said what you said…I was just responding to a comment in this thread
I might live to regret what I’m about to post, but screw it. I’m here for a good time. I think they’re gonna swing really big on this last DP spot. I think that’s the goal. Tall/Bez have been moving in extreme silence during this window, and obviously that’s very purposeful. They’ve got the other complimentary pieces in place, and things are set up for them to make a pretty big ruckus with this last attacker spot. I really don’t see it being that Brazilian loan fish man. As undeniably as things have gone downhill the past 3 years, Bez et al are smart enough to have noticed that too, and that there needs to be a guy who’s worth the price of admission on his own. Lord help me. I’m hopeful again.
Why we wouldn’t re-sign a Cabo Verde defender who plays with such heart and conviction is beyond me. It’s not just about the stats and data. Moreira is Hejduk-like in my estimation. There’s value in his continued and possibly longterm association with the organization. Plus, he just played in a ********ing epic World Cup. He’s still a very good player. The man should end his professional playing career in Columbus. Period.
going for it would provide the name of the player you think we are going after. I think it’s MmmmmmBopp
I’m pretty stupid, but I’m not dumb enough to try to call my shot by naming the needle in the haystack. Thinking about it more, I guess my point is that I’m more encouraged and hopeful due to Tall/Bez’s silence during this window than I thought I’d be. While it’s nice to read some rumors beforehand, it’s actually pretty cool that Mendez and Bailly just showed up with nary a peep beforehand. It makes it easier to imagine a real big fish just showing up out of the blue. cue the return of Gyasi Zardes as a free agent DP signing in 3…2..
Agree with all of your reasoning to which I will add a financial boon. Moreira is a PR dream right now due to Cape Verde, we should milk it for all it’s worth.
I'd also like to opine, for what little its worth, that I think Bailly is penciled in to.center back. I dont think he can be expected to run the outside channel on the left much but hes always been a good last ditch one v one tackler. And hes fairly decent in the air. Either he goes in tandem.with Zawadski or Zawadski gets pushed into a deep midfielder spot, which hes way better suited for.
Spot on. He spent a lot of the first half season cheating up in the offensive half. Trying to make the big play. Not always tracking back. Turns 32 in August. He isn't moving the needle on ticket sales or results. Save the $$$$ to max out on DPs and replace this guy when contract is up.
I see nothing wrong with any of this. But given the success you just pointed out at the World Cup, there might be some teams knock knock knocking on his door in the near future.