Alright, so let's get all of this together in one place. I wanted to create this thread just to discuss what may or may not happen with the Crew's backline. It's already been discussed that Frankie Hejduk could be coming to the Crew. I figure his natural position is right back. There is also the yet to be determined contract of Dunseth. We also currently have Denton, McCarty, Torres, Clark, Leitch, and Akwari, right? There is now the talk that maybe Oughton will move to the backline. I also found this article: http://www.ussocceruk.com/modules.p...e=article&sid=177&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0 which states that Carlos Llamosa is probably going to be traded by NE to make cap room for JMM. Now, who is going to be lined up where? Could we make a serious bid for Llamosa? I'd rather have Llamosa than Hejduk honestly. As it stands, I wouldn't mind tossing Torres or maybe McCarty, depending on who else we have. I would love to see something involving Oughton in the back if he will play it well, so that there will be some more room for our new middies. At the moment, I am a bit confused as to what the intended lineup might be, or what kind of plan Greg has.
Frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing Torres get booted off the team. And I would rather have Dunseth over McCardMe. Gimme a backline of: Denton-Dunseth-Akwari-Leitch/Hedjuk and Clark as a central defender off the bench, and I'm happy. I see no reason to move Oughton from a defensive midfielder position. All of this takes in account that Llamosa won't be coming to Columbus.
If Hejduk is signed, I think one of the defenders will be gone, probably Leitch to make room for Dunseth. That way the Crew are free to sign Dunseth. Now what kind of scared me was the statement in the Dispatch that Akwari made the signing of Dunseth, not as urgent. Now I really think it was a messege sent to Dunseth that he needs to sign a contract soon if he wants to be a part of the Crew. However, if this is managments real feelings on this, they need to concider that Dunseth was the most consistant CB the Crew had last year. I really liked Andy's back line.
It appears that Llamosa is leaving not only New England but MLS itself, not because NE can't keep him under the cap (if JMM signs) but because he wants more money than MLS is willing to sign him for.
Actually, I can't take the credit for that nickname. I saw someone else (who posts here) using that at one time. The nickname is quite apt though
I would STILL take Akwari over McCarty. I think that if you pair the youngster with Dunseth, he could do ok back there.
Is there any news on where Llamosa might be headed? I haven't heard anything about other clubs showing interest in him. I wouldn't be surprised if he goes to Spain or Portugal... maybe even France. It's a shame to have him leave, because I think its good that he is more available for NAT callups and is more likely to be playing w/ and against his NAT teammates.
I've read on Revsnet that he may be heading to Central or South America. And Serna is heading back to Colombia as well.
Andy, you guys need to stop your bias against certain people on this team. "McCardme" had some lousy games for us but he also was a stable force for us in the playoffs. Maybe you forgot that without him we wouldn't even had 3 games against the Revs. And his last card didn't hurt the Crew although it did cause some tense moments. I feel comfortable with most of the guys back there, even Leitch, who had a horrendous final 2 games vs Chicago. The only one that has made me nervous and has me wondering what happened to him is Torres. Hope he's over whatever he ate last year and becomes a productive member for the Crew in 2003.
I just feel that McCarty, although he is a tough defender, is merely a yellow card waiting to happen. He's more "hack" than actual defender, and generally a liability back there. He has his moments where he plays well, but overall his shortcomings overshadow his positive contributions.
Andy, well your comment may be right in the future this just rings of total bias against McCarty at this point. I eman can you honestly tell the people here that you have seen Akwari play enough to make that statement. Even the people on the Metros board haven't seen him enough. Now unles you are out on weekend scouting missions I don't know how you can be so sure at this point. Other than that I completely and entirely disagree with your assesment of McCarty's shortcomings being more than his upside. But to each his own bias, no matetr how unjustified it is, right?
McCarty did manage to garner a call-up from The Bruce. FWIW. And after last summer I've got a lot of trust in The Bruce.
You don't think that McCarty is anything more than a slow, physical central defender who has a propensity to hack and foul players badly to earn yellow cards? I'm not the only person to think this. I'm not sure where you are getting this bias thing. It's factual that he has a thing for getting cards. He let the team last year with 31 caution points, 8 yellow cards and 2 RED cards. League wide, he was tied for 2nd in yellow cards, tied for 1st with Cartman Meola for RED cards. Those, are facts, hang. Dispute them at your peril. Akwari, although being young, has a pretty impressive resume so far. He's been with the U-20's USMNT. Is THAT any good?
Congrads then Andy, you aren't the only one who thinks he is. Super. Here's a cookie. I think he is a defender who steadily improved as the season went on, he didn't seem to leave himself outta position as much as earlier and I think he'll probably start for us. But since you have seen Akwari play so much on your weekend scouting trips and whetever the hell else you do, you probably know better.
As long as it's a sugar cookie, I'm happy And don't make this personal, hang. It's simply a difference of opinion, and we'll leave it at that. Ok?
I like my cookies more bitter...I'm not erally a sugar guy. 3stripe would probably tell ya that. Difference of opinion is fine, I am just curious if you actually seen Akwari play more than most of us here...if so give us the scoop!
I just have a preference for sugar cookies. To each their own I haven't seen Akwari play as much as you all have. I'm basing my opinion of him from what I have read and heard of him online. He's a young defender who has proven himself capable during his stints for the U-17, U-20, and U-23 teams, as a central defender. I just feel that McCarty is expendable if you have a younger more capable player who can fill his spot, especially if that replacement is Project 40.
Isn't McCarty only 24? Either way, last season was his first off of a near career ending ankle injury, he got tons stronger as the year went on, and I don't think we've yet seen his full potential. He reminds me sort of a Marcel Desailly type player, big tank like force that clears people out and takes up a lot of space. I think that McCarty and Akwari could potentially be the starting central defense pairing if Dunseth doesn't sign back, I think Dunseth will though, so it'll be McCarty and Dunseth.
1. Nicols has said in print that he wants Llamosa back. But it is true that JMM is going to NE. The word is that Serna will go to Colombia (ideally, sold, which would give an allocation to NE to use on JMM). 2. But the league is balking at signing Llamosa for $200k. Last I heard was that his current contract was for $175K so that figure of $200K makes sense. This is a situation very similar to Tony Sanneh's where the team wants him, is recommending he be signed, and the league doesn't want to do it. As Nicols pointed out, the longer this runs on, the less likely that he'll be signed. The rumors that he'll go to Central America or Colombia are just speculation. Llamosa wants to stay in MLS and just feels that the other central defenders on the US National team (Agoos, Pope, Berhalter) all either make MLS max (Agoos), max+ (Pope, clost to half a million) or more (Berhalter, Energie Cottbus in the Bundesliga). You can see his point. Don't know how it will play out. 3. Frankie Hejduk would probably command close to the max. I'd think he'd be looked at as an outside mid, not a backline guy. But that would be Andrulis' call I guess.
Andy, McCarty captained the U23's. He's had a callup to the training camp with Bruce for the full Nats. He's only 24-25 years old. And he improved consistently throughout the season. Yes, he did get yellow cards, including some very deserved ones. But he also seemed to be targeted by the refs for that same reason. Look at his second yellow card in the US Open Cup Final and then look at the NE-LA MLS Cup match and see what Franchino got away with after getting an early yellow card. Too much inconsistency with the way cards are given. Or do you believe that McCarty's fouls are much more violent than the ones that Moreno and Stoitchkov routinely get away with? Now, McCarty took away the right back position from Leitch for the playoffs. Why? Leitch getting beaten in successive games by the Fire (conceding a PK and a goal), McCarty's toughness in the back, the way he held his position and came up when needed, experience, leadership and work ethic in Obetz (from my visits there, he's one of the hardest working members of the team while they practice). Like I said, I'm glad that we have Akwari on the roster. And if Torres recovers his 2001 form and Dunseth gets signed, we'll have a solid backline no matter who's out there.
DGA57 - I feel that McCarty probably does get targeted a bit more by the refs for cards, but only because of his physical style of play. He is young, and might be able to mature and learn to play without committing fouls that get you yellow and red cards. I hope so, only because it will make the Crew backline that much deeper.