Over on the SJ boards, there's "which five players SJ should protect in an expansion draft thread", and with all of ElJefe's speculation on wether or not this group of vets is good enough to bring a MLS title to Dallas.... Just as food for thought, if Garber suddenly announces at MLS Cup that there will 2 more MLS teams next season, which 5 players do the Burn "protect" in the expansion draft: Here goes: Suarez, Bonseu, Chivas, Vaca, Kreis
in the last expansion draft, teams got to protect more than 5 players. It was more like 12 or 13 players, and left 5 exposed, if I recall correctly. Expansion won't be for next season. If they announce at MLS CUP, it will be to begin play in 2004. It will take that long to get a new front office, GM, stadium, uniform, roster, contracts, etc. taken care of. And actually, for 2004, an announcement at MLS Cup is on the cusp of too late. First kick 03 is as late as they can wait for a team to play in '04. MLS needs at least 8 full months of marketing time to have a good first season in a new city. So, who would I expose in the draft? Deering Zarco Olivares Jordan Bussey Morrison Rhine if I had to offer 7.
I don't think it's likely that an expansion team would take a mercurial 32-year old dmid who earns the max and is a questionable locker room presence. Even if we lost him, we would be able to find a pretty solid replacement and maybe fill another hole with all the cap room he opened up.
that's my point...Deering would be a perfect pick for someone trying to be .500 on their first year. MLS and German experience, solid if unspectacular, consistent, and learned his lesson about leadership. And he's a perfect off-load for the Burn, who have Stone, Bussey, Gbandi, Broome, Suarez, Behnke, and a draft pick who can all vie for his spot. Zarco gets paid a lot to sit on the bench. Too much for a bench player. If they expand in Houston he will help them pack the stands.
Sorry, I'm a little confused. IMHO both Zarco and Deering can be head cases, so which is 32? Believe it or not, I've heard people on the Metro board talk about trading for Zarco to play DMID for them next year. Metro trades for Dallas vets might become a reality if Dir becomes their new coach.
Not sure what Metro has that Jeffries will want, other than another pick. But a three way trade might happen. I think Dir and Zarco are friendly, but I don't think that Dir would see Zarco as a "must have." Just my opinion. If the Burn off-load his cap room, they are in the good shape. He's not making max, but he gets good money.