http://www.ussocceruk.com/modules.p...le=article&sid=93&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 Bergin says: -Tron
Baker's Dozen potentially gone OK, let's be realistic. Almost certain to be gone: 1. Roy Lassiter (Production) 2. Henry Zambrano (Production) 3. Mike Ammann (Salary Cap) 4. Richie Williams (Salary Cap) High speculation to be gone: 5. Jaime Moreno (Production) 6. Marco Etcheverry (Salary Cap) 7. Ryan Nelsen (Euro Offer) Bubble players: 8. Bryan Namoff 9. Chino Alegria 10. Lazo Alavanja 11. Petter Villegas 12. Ali Curtis 13. Mike McGinty Well there's a baker's dozen possibilities. I wouldn't at all be surprised to see at least 9 of those guys go. I'd say #1-4 are gone, so we're really only talking about five more guys from #5-13. I'd guess that two of the three in #5-7 will be gone, so that'd make 6 gone. Losing 3 of #8-13 seems likely. We should have 1 "you suck" allocation, 1 regular allocation, 3 discoveries, and 3 SuperDraft picks in the first two rounds. Also, if we lose Etch, Moreno or Nelsen, we'll likely receive yet another allocation. So, there's a lot of avenues for talent to come into the squad. That's 8 spots right there. I'd say 9 doesn't seem too unlikely. -Tron
Once again, I'm attempting the futile, but no one has ever once given a plausible example of where Chris Bergin has ever made anything up.
I don't get it either. I've known Bergin's online persona for a pretty long time, since he started posting on Soccer America Graffiti as Sir Shootalot about four or five years ago. He's a fan of the MLS, and even came over to Chicago for the express purpose of seeing the Fire play United back in '98 or '99. I met him personally at that game, and I can tell you that he's completely sincere in what he reports on his new site and what he used to write on Team Talk. He reports rumors, but he NEVER writes anything on his site that is unsourced by someone connected to the league in some way. That person could be a player, a coach, a player's agent, or someone in a team or league office position. If a story that he reports turns out to be wrong, it's because his source was wrong, not because Bergin made it up. The way the league operates, with such a closed attitude towards the media, means that people who want to report on it have no choice but to report on unofficial information.
Thank you Mike. I know where Bergin gets his rep. He's the only person out there reporting on things in real time. However, we're used to hearing about things when they are done. So when he writes that there is Euro interest in Ryan Nelsen, people assume there are offers on the table. If a transfer doesn't materialize, people blame Bergin. It's all rumors and backroom stuff. Bergin's the only guy clearing even a little of the smoke. Sachin
The MLS? It's exactly because Bergin reports rumors and speculation that people need to carefully weigh what he reports. It's not gospel. Not even close. So no one should get all bent out of shape about it.
Yes, The MLS. If the league gives nothing official to any reporters, what do you want them to report on, nothing? I'd rather have some level of speculation about what might happen in the future instead of the official party line that is spewed out by league officials. Do you remember how long the league waited until the "officially" announced the contraction of the Florida teams, even though everyone knew it was a done deal? Or how about Jeff Agoos getting traded by DC United, even though the "official" party line from DC United was that he wasn't going anywhere? There are lots of other examples, but I'm too lazy to try to dig them all up. If the league is not forthcoming with info, then they deserve to have rumors reported. Again, like I said, the things that Bergin writes are well-sourced, and are based upon current information that he has at the time he writes them. If the information ultimately turns out to be bogus, don't blame the guy who writes the articles, blame the people who gave him the wrong info. For reasons that I don't understand, people on this board seem to slam Bergin at any possible oppurtunity. I can tell you from personal experience that HE DOESN'T DESERVE IT! We need people like him reporting on the league, especially given the fact that the league purposely tries to keep information close to the vest. I'd love to see someone dig up info on what salaries the players really make or how the salary cap works. The league sure as hell won't tell us.
Bergin is good at chasing rumors. If your report them when they're still rumors, most of them won't pan out. But, I like his work. It gives us a taste of English football tabloid journalism reporting on the unsubstantiated to be always breaking news. His rumors have come around occasionally (even though its often some of the more unlikely ones that actually are right). That said: 1. Ammann 2. Lassiter 3. Zambrano 4. Villegas 5. Alavanja 6. Williams 7. Moreno 8. Etcheverry 9. Nelsen He says "as many as 9." I woudl say the end of the list gets questionable. Nelsen if sold overseas. Etcheverry possible. Moreno more possible. Who knows? Of course, when we only lose 6 or 7, everybody will say he's blowing smoke again. But, I would says "as many as 12" could be on their way out the door and be equally as correct.
Re: Baker's Dozen potentially gone What's the 1 regular allocation? All allocations were used up in the contraction last year. And I thought the limit on discoveries was 2. Last year (Reyes and Q2). Did we ever get our "future considerations" from KC for Talley? Also, under old MLS rules, we wouldn't get an allocation for Etch or Moreno since they are out of contract. Allocations were only granted for missing the playoffs or having a player sold. We never got an allocation for Sanneh since he left on free transfer.
Re: Re: Baker's Dozen potentially gone Etch signed a one-year, incentive-laden contract before last season. It would appear he would need to be resigned to a new contract in order for him to stay with DCU. Moreno, however, I thought is still in contract.
We would get an allocation for Marco or Jaime because they, along with Eddie, are the three designated "marquee players." As for Bergin, you're right about that he prints a lot of rumors, which means that they don't all pan out. You should not accept anything he says without understanding that. As for up to nine players leaving...Virtually all off-season MLS transactions are made in the week prior to the SuperDraft. For him to suggest that before the Cup has even been played, without any indication who might be going or how they might be leaving, doesn't have any basis in anything other than looking at our record.
Well, I suppose Mike Ammann would be gone due to salary cap reasons. But, considering that his injury was career-ending, I think he should be in another classification.
I thought MLS did away with the "marquee player" designation and allocations? I wish MLS would come out and set the record straight on this stuff because it's confusing. Their website says nothing about these processes.
I thought we were waiting on clarification on whether he has retired or not. That would make a big difference in our cap structure.
Not really if you look at the list of players being passed around. 6-9 is a realistic number. Look at the list below. The first 6 on this list are anywhere from 60% to 100% sure to be gone. 7,8,9 are about 30%-50% gone so it is reaaly not news to report that. According to an article in the Post from a couple of weeks ago he did retire.
The Post said he is "planning to retire" not that he's done it. Although it also quotes Ammann as saying "There is nothing more [the doctors] can do to get me back and playing. They are only concerned with my everyday life and how I can function properly." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8575-2002Sep26.html That article is from September 27th. However, on October 5th, Diceson added this (found at the thread linked below): "One other item that I didn't add orginally was Ammann's retirement, only because I belive it is inevitable. At this moment, Ammann is not retired officially. In fact, as I understood it, the WP article caught him by surprise. However, re-reading the article makes it sound as if he 'might' be forced to retire, but the decision hasn't been finalized, a viewpoint I agree with totally - everyone is reading too much into the article. Olsen was able to come back from 4 surgeries, Ammann might attempt another series of surgeries and then see what options are available. He is only 31-years old, and can easily play for several more seasons if healthy. His Goals Against Average lifetime is a meager 1.77, and he was an All-Star. He still has jump in his game if he can come back." https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=17684&perpage=15&pagenumber=2
Re: Re: Re: Baker's Dozen potentially gone Moreno's contract is up... There was an article in the Wash Times on it a few weeks back. Also, I found this from the NY Times in 1999... Ahh, the power of free Lexis-Nexis at work...
Re: Re: Baker's Dozen potentially gone My understanding is he is looking to heal and maybe train this off season. Then maybe look for a move next year.
Re: Re: Baker's Dozen potentially gone Probably. Most players probably WANT to leave for Europe, because it's regarded as the highest level of being a professional soccer player. But, I haven't heard any credible information that this is likely to happen soon. He's coming off of a couple years of serious injury, and has yet to (re-)prove his long-term fitness and quality of play. One more season of MLS would be a perfect way to do that, IMO. Additionally, European teams right now in general are NOT spending much money for new players, and would be unlikely to pay as much for a player in Olsen's situation as MLS would ask. I think he'll be back next year.