I realize that many mls fans have different views on selling players to european clubs, but I am quite happy with tim's move to england. I believe this is great news for D.C. United. Now one of the best teams in mls has lost one of its best players. Following the same thought process, I would like to propose selling some other players overseas. How about selling (or sending)a certain ex-terrapin now with the revolution back to germany. DeMarcus, Ruiz, Donovan and others look ready to go over. I think this would be great for our team. Since we can't seem to improve with trades, lotteries, whatever, why not by weakening some other teams. With Howard gone we might actually start scoring again(at least when we play them) We could soon be on top of the division and on our way to our fourth title. And all it would take is to sell about a half dozen players. Isn't life great being a d.c fan. go team
That's TERRIFIC news for us MLS fans that Howard was sold. I wonder what cut of the $3 million goes to the league. From northjersey.com: The MetroStars will receive an allocation from the league to replace Howard and will now have considerable salary cap space with Howard's $270,000 off the books.
I believe that from what I wrote it is more then obvious that I am being quite sarcastic. I was just trying to point out that for some(NY fans) things seem lost, but for others(DC), losing one of the best players on one of the best teams. Even if they pick up a good keeper, the defensive flow will be gone. It will take a while for defensive players to jell. For anyone who has played soccer, and I have, you know that split second when you are playing and you have to decide whether to go back to play defense or stay where you are makes all the difference. As far as selling players I am all for it as long as they are not dc players.
Losing Howard is no problem. The MetroStars - evil as they are - have the best back-up goalkeeper in MLS. http://www.graferspants.com/ Well, at least he's the most entertaining.
Please God let this thread die before the other teams' fans see it and realize how pathetic we've become.
bigredfootball, I believe our record will do just fine in the before other teams notice area. They know that the quality of play that our team shows is horrible. Players are either injured or simply don't care. I as a fan do care especially when it comes to the evil that is New York. On a more serious note, I think that sending players over to europe is a good thing. What makes players great is competition. Knowing that they have to give everything they have or they will be embarrased. knowing that if they take a practice or game off that they could be benched. That competitions is what will make us a great team and a great national team. As a fan of MLS, I want to see strong teams compete. One day these strong teams will develop a strong fan base that will enable us siphon off good players from over seas.
Good for Howard. I hope he gets a good shot at starting time with ManU (though I find it hard to believe he'd automatically be slotted in--I suspect they'll acquire at least one more GK talent if they drop Barthez). And Metro will be fine. They were looking to be in MAJOR cap distress next year (I didn't think Howard was at MLS max--I thought it was $200K plus encentives that didn't count on the cap). Mathis and Howard would have likely gotten salary increases (unless they were allowed to leave). Clark and probably Magee would likely be on the cap (and not P-40). Digi would have gotten more money. And they're at the cap limit now. So selling Howard gives them an allocation (to use for cap purposes) plus $200K on the cap. They could go sign Joe Cannon and that's not too shabby of a replacement. Actually though, this sale has MAJOR implications for DCU. We've already seen how Arena has, basically, an "All-MLS" National side for when the Europeans are in club play (and calling over an O'Brien or Casey or Gibbs or whomever) might endanger their starting role. Howard has evolved into the de facto starter for that side (the All-MLS national team). With him at ManU, I think that means significantly more shots for Nick Rimando. Obviously, Brown or Thornton or someone else could displace him. Heck--Countess could be in the mix soon (I thought he's been Dallas' player of the match 2-3 times--not too shabby giving that he's also been hurt). But with WCQ starting up very soon, you have to figure that it's unlikely that a Hartmann or Countess (who haven't been in the National team picture recently or at all) would get the call--unless they're on the Gold Cup and/or Confed Cup squads. I think Rimando is (right now), the most likely guy to get the call for starting GK on the "all-MLS" side. And that's a team (the all-mls contingent) that I think is likely to do most of the representation for the WCQ initial rounds. Earlier I'd kind of "poo-poo'ed" the suggestion of Warren getting A-league games (b/c I figured practicing, even if he didn't start) with the Olympic side plus DCU was a good workout. But I now think (assuming the Howard sale definitely goes through) that we could miss Rimando for as many as 5-7 games this season. So I now change my tune--let's get Warren on a bus down to Norfolk post haste to get a few minutes.