Well this will be the big week for trades and cuts. By 1/3/03 teams need to be within Cap compliance and there are a bunch of teams way over the Cap. Lets post all such action here this week so we don't have 5 or 6 threads going.
First off, what is cap limit, and what are we at? If we are over, then one of the obvious things to do is, get rid of TF3.
I wouldn't dump either Cloutier or Downing at this point. Cloutier is excellent midfield cover, he can play both inside or outside effectively and has a good bit of skill. I was just watching the Mutts match where he stood in for a suspended Ralston and he played very, very well. Downing isn't the finished article but he isn't a stiff either. He's learning and how far he goes depends on Nicol's teaching and judgement. We still need depth in the back and until Joseph proves himself, we just don't know. JIM DOW
No need to apologize. Anyway, I believe Downing's still a P40, so he doesn't count against the roster. Has MLS posted the P40 grads somewhere yet?
Since we're under the limit, as far as I know, I don't anticipate we'll be doing any offloading. Well...the only thing I could see is maybe high-dollar for low-dollar trading (like Mapp/Dema, for example). Could we get a pricey midfielder from a team that's over the cap, whose salary we can absorb, for, say, a Cloutier and/or a Downing? Part of the problem here is that the Revs don't really have any mid-level players with starting-eleven potential--at least none we might want to give up. One of our problems now is there's a fairly wide gap in talent between the starters and reserves. And in a trade, I guarantee we won't get something for nothing.
McBride going to everton on a three month loan. (SkySportsNews and Chris Bergin both saying it's a done deal)) I wonder if the Crew get Cap relief for the amount the league gets paid for the loan? Next few days should be interesting. Lots of teams need to act but as usual the damn waiting to the last minute to burst. will the Revs be in on one of the trades????? As has been posted above we don't have much to send back but some team may be looking for a solid bench player and we have some of those.
I think there's a chance something will get done in the next few days, simply because there are a whole bunch of teams that will be looking to dump players. ...and on a related note, I was running down team needs in preparation for the Draft, and I was a little surprised at how many teams I think might be looking for a right back. Columbus, Colorado, and Kansas City could all be looking for one, and I couldn't help but notice that we've got two pretty good ones in Pierce and Heaps. So far, there isn't a lot of help in the draft in terms of right backs, so I wonder if the trade value of those two might be a little inflated at the moment. Just a thought.
You could be right Mike. I wouldn't be shocked to see us trade Rusty (or less likely Heaps). Will we? I think the decision rests on how management rates depth vs feeling they are substantially upgrading at another position. I don't think the Revs will have trouble filling there most obvious hole--a back up keeper without giving anything up. After that I think there is cause for much debate as to what the Revs really need to upgrade the Roste and what they will need to do to get what they need. Obviously if Serna doesn't return that's a major need but I think he will be returning or traded for something of value. The draft should get us a reasonable 4th striker. Left wing and left back are also areas often mentioned on the Board as needing an upgrade but frankly I would not quickly consider trying to replace Franchino or Kamler unless the replacement was an obvious upgrade (ie Buhlman). My guess is that the Revs won't be doing much trading unless a real bargin falls into their lap which is possible but I doubt. I'm looking forward to the next few days and the ping-pong trade action that is sure to happen
New Years Drivel Because I have the day off, and I'm tired of waiting for something Rev-related, I have the irresistable urge to blither. So following Mike's lead: Trade Rusty or Heaps? Pierce is more versatile, but Heaps, IMO, is a better right wing. Neither Heaps nor Pierce (nor Llamosa or Kante) will be happy spending significant minutes on the bench. We have no idea what Joseph can do, or who can step in at right back (Downing?). scenario 1 Rusty to Crew. They could desperately use Rusty, but would be unlikely to give up Freddy Garcia, still less Buddle. I don't think we want anyone else. Is the #7 pick enough? scenario 2 Rusty to KC. The only possibilities would be Quill or the #3 pick, which I think would be unacceptable to KC; Many may disagree, but I find Quill a waste of time - not an upgrade over Kamler. They have nothing else of interest. scenario 3 On the Metro boards and elsewhere there is the active rumor that Vaca will be going to Metro for AW and an allocation, which will become Earnie Stewart. Burn fans have responded "Why do we need AW when we have Pareja?" Burn could however deal AW to Colorado for P-40 Kyle Beckerman (Rapids don't need AW - they are getting Grimandi.) AW could then return to Revolution for Heaps/Pierce. Obviously, this is all a bit far-fetched. The talking point: is AW worth giving up Pierce/Heaps? Advantages: Being able to inject either AW or Leo into the game as the situation demanded would be prime. Disadvantage: It's going to be a long season. Without having three competent center backs and two competent right backs, the Revs might not even have made the playoffs. Bottom line: George is probably right - nothing will happen.
Sometime, somewhere, somebody is going to have to sit down with the players involved and explain the realities of being on a successful team, that is squad. In order for the Rev to improve as they face a considerably tougher, longer season in 03 they are going to need to upgrade as well as to increase their depth. For a first division, upper half team playing a full schedule, plus international tournaments and exhibitions, the Rev are going to need cover at every position. If Serna and Twellman are the starters the Wolde is excellent cover at forward. If Ralston, Hernandez, Cullen and Kamler are the midfield then Cloutier is excellent cover for them. Now we get to the backs, the most injured players as well as the most injury-prone players on the team. Between Heaps, Rusty and Franchino you have three players who get a lot of cards and get hurt a lot. Kante seems to be a rock but Llamosa could be on the trainer's table as much as anyone on the team in 03. So everyone is going to play and play a lot. Plus players like Rusty and Joey will be slotting in at midfield from time to time. I think Nicol needs to give these guys a reality check of the demands of winning soccer in the 21st century. No, we aren't Chelsea or Inter Milan but we will need to be as much of a squad as possible if the Rev are to be successful. Time for a bit of man-management. JIM DOW
Spot on, Jim Jim, that was the most intelligent and rational assessment of the Revs situation I have heard to date. Please send a copy to SN and have him post on each players locker door.
If I'm right in my assertions it will be the first time MLS and the Inner Circle of Rev Management has always had more twists and turns than a first rate mystery novel. I suspect this year will be no different. One thing for sure, the Revs, maybe for the first spring in league history, are starting with a core of good young players, a coach who knows how to win and some momentum. I for one am glad we aren't in the throws of our annual rebuilding attempt. It's nice to have a team that needs "tweeking" rather than radical surgery.
Ditto, or something like that. Like Pierce and our #9, for KC's #3 and a 2nd rounder or something like that. I think moving Pierce is probably a good idea - no amount of team attitude preaching is going to keep him happy if he's not starting. Heaps is going to continue to improve and is MUCH more durable and has better size. IF Pierce could play left, then I'd be looking to move Franchino. IF Pierce gets traded, I'd hope it would be to the west. He's not someone I would relish looking across the field at too often! He's still very much underrated IMO.
Who do you think will be available at #7? I'm guessing we would be looking for depth(or an upgrade) at left back or left sided mid? This is assuming Joseph and Downing provide the central and right side of defensive cover? Whatever happened to Marshall? Is he still with the team, and if so, where does he fit in to the puzzle? We do seem to have alot of bodies in the back, but we did last year as well, and we needed them. Lee
Watching last year's matches in dead of winter? That should get you a #1 fan nomination (and a subscription to FSW)!
A few thoughts on the idea of entertaining Pierce trade talks: - If we're dealing with KC, I would be interested in offers including Steve Armstrong or especially McKeon. McKeon is definitely available (he's essentially been on the trade block since mid-2002), and personally I think he would pair very well with Hernandez in the center of midfield. Both players are very strong on the ball and difficult to get past, but they're also offensive threats who like to get forward and can be counted on for 3-5 goals per season. He's 28... not sure why he's fallen out of favor (for most of the second half of the year KC was playing a 5-man midfield with a combination of Preki, Klein, Quill, D. Gutierrez, Zavagnin, and Armstrong), but that doesn't mean we can't make him very useful here under Nicol. Armstrong I do like as an option on the left, but as a senior international he's questionable depending on the price tag (though on the other hand we could have as few as 1 SI in Kante, depending on how Serna and Chacon pan out). Small side note, Vermes is also on the market and could be picked up on the cheap for cover if we do move someone. Proposed deals: McKeon and #3 pick to NE for Pierce and #9 pick - or - McKeon and #13 pick to NE for Pierce - On the other hand, trading one of our 5 competent defenders probably isn't a good idea (at least not at the start of the year... if Joseph or a draftee/signee prove to be competent, that's a different story). Am I correct in stating that the ONLY game all year out of 30+ in which all five players - Kante, Llamosa, Pierce, Heaps, and Franchino - were healthy is MLS Cup?
I would *not* like to see Rusty lining up on the field at El Razor in anything but Revs, white, and blue. That said, if he does, I'll be the first on my feet to give him a standing "o" when he's announced--something I couldn't bring myself to do for even AW and Chrono.
Amen. Why are so many people ready to send Rusty packing? A few things to keep in mind, before deciding that trading Rusty's the answer: 1) Rusty has been one of the few good things in the last few years (putting aside the last couple months of last season). So we'll trade him as recompense? 2) Jay Heaps, although certainly great at the end of last year, hasn't yet proven to be reliable for a whole season. Where will we be next season if the late 2002 Jay reverts to the Jay of, well, any other year? 3) No one likes or wants Rusty except the Revs, if fan response is any gauge (which it may not be, admittedly). So unless you've heard reliable rumors, let's stop the 'trade Rusty' talk, okay? We don't need to keep giving the shop away....
I originally thought the Jan. 3rd cap date would result in an orgy of waivers and trades. It's very unlikely now. Almost everyone in MLS waived a few players and has roster spots open (even if they're minimum salary). That handles some of the automatic salary escalators when a Brian Kamler's salary goes up an extra $5K. In addition, 1. LA--Hong's salary doesn't count until 2003. 2. Colorado--won't bring back Valderama, is likely to sign Grimandi but he hasn't signed yet, so they acquired cap room. 3. Chicago--Stoichkov and Marsch are out of contract, Kovalenko was dumped for Mapp (P-40). If they move Wolff to KC (as rumored) or if Nowak retires, either might get them compliant with the cap. 4. SJ--Cannon and Barrett are both unsigned and that may mean (give their other cuts) they're under the cap for now. 5. Columbus--the loan agreement with Everton and McBride takes McBrides max salary off their books until the loan ends in mid-March. 6. DC and the SoS are both under the cap, as is KC. So, what that means is that through the earlier waivers and a few budget mechanisms (like loans, leaving players out of contract for a month or two), most teams have become compliant. However, they have 14 guys on their roster! So, if we don't see a lot of cuts/trades by COB on January 3rd, we can definitely expect to see them once rosters start to fill out and teams need to comply with the cap again.
Jim, I agree with your take on this 100%. I also like the fact that probably for the first time in its history, this team has a solid foundation and can work from there to improve. No. 1 need is an attacking mid. Doesn't have to be a great one, but does need to be someone who can be effective in MLS and who fits within their cap. I would say dump any and all deadwood -- i.e. Rooney and probably APC to make this happen. This team doesn't need to add a lot, but I think they have to make damn sure they make the right call on this one.
I was starting to think the same thing Joe but if one is to believe Chris Bergin (and he seems to have as good a track record for straight talk as anyone of the "In Group" we will be seeing a whole bunch of stuff today. I don't know if you read the USSoccerUK.com board but he just posted a statement which explains a lot to me. He says that all press release must be cleared with the league and thus the league is controlling the information about all the swapping and dropping that has occured over the past week---and--is looking at how they want it released. He also points out that even players out of contract--if they have not been formally waived (eg Histo S.)--count against the Cap. Bottom Line is that a bunch of roster actions needed to be taken and we will be getting the infow "In a steady stream" over the next 24 hours.
I am told that some deals have already happened (at least one big one). In fact, there were a few deals closed by the league last week, but as George (and Chris B.) suggest, they are waiting to release the info. Suffice it to say that everyone in the league knows these deals have been consumated, and further deals will be predicated on what's already been done.