Claudio Lopez to KC?

Any updates here on the Lopez situation? ... it has been quiet for a few days.

 

Nada

 

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2008/03/lopez_wizards_update.html

Update from Goff today...looks like it's getting closer.

 

Also, it looks KC will be playing Boca and River, from the translation of the other article.

 

yep. That would fill the other two games the team is suppose to play down there.

 

Anyone know what the Wizards schedule is? I would love to see them play while they are here. (I am an expat living in BA and just found out the Wizards are in town for preseason when I read in a local paper that Lopez is supposed to sign with the Wizards at their hotel this week, if not today.)

 

http://hillcrestroad.blogspot.com/2008/02/while-in-buenos-airescoyote-vote.html
schedule is there
Day,Date Opponent
Monday, March 3 Defensa y Justicia
Wednesday, March 5 Velez Sarfield
*Tuesday, March 11 TBD
*Friday, March 14 TBD

With the news that they'll play Boca and River, those two will likely each take one of the games on either the 11th or 14th.

 

I hope you can get to see the games. Last year they were closed to the public. I have a friend in BA that tried to go to a game. But if you can go, hopefully you can get some pictures and maybe some video?(assuming you have digital camera)

 

I am a socio at River so I may be able to get in if they play at the Club and not out at Ezeiza. Last year they stayed near my house, actually, and I didn't know they were in town until I saw the team all together and I though "wow, those guys look like they are wearing Wizards warm-ups...."

Thanks for the help - I will let you know whatever I learn. I am a big fan of Curt Onalfo, so I hope I get to see the 3-5-2 experiment....

 

What are the thoughts of the KC faithful on this one? Will the Wizards do better with Lopez than with EJ? EJ had some great moments but he seemed to be inconsistent toward the end of the season. Lopez seems to have a great resume and he is still relatively young at 32.

 

Most of our thoughts are throughout this thread.

 

My thinking is that he MIGHT be better because the parts around him MIGHT be better. A healthy Scott Sealy and Carlos Marinelli are the real defining factors for me. If they're not in place, defenses will key on Lopez and it won't matter.

 

I'll believe it when I see it. It would be nice to get a player of his caliber in KC. Would much rather take a chance on a young guy for our DP slot (suggestions?) but at least it looks like we're taking the initiative and using our DP slot unlike some other cheap teams.

 

Agreed. The formation change to 3-5-2 will probably be a big factor too.

 

I'm not sure how the "world free agent pool" looks, but there may not be any younger DP candidates out there worth taking a chance on at this time. And unfortunately, we need a proven striker NOW.

 

Have the wizards forged a working relationship with any euro powerhouse teams? I remember hearing about colorado and arsenal but can't recall much else. Now I'm not a soccer executive, quite far from it, but pursuing mid-level prospects on loan from the youth ranks in Europe seems more beneficial to both sides. We get young talent, their young talent gets in-game experience and exposure. Kinda like to see this happen-seems to me to be a better use of what little money MLS teams have access to.

 

They don't have one currently, but they're working on it, as Greg Cotton mentioned here on the Wizards team blog: http://hillcrestroad.blogspot.com/2008/02/cotton-in-hizzy.html

As for loan deals and such. That's not been happening for any team in MLS from the team that they have a relationship with. The only thing the Arsenal partnership has done for CO is that it's allowed them to go over in London. 99% of the relationships between MLS and foreign clubs have been just for show. I think Dallas and their Brazilian club are the only one's that have really capitalized on their relationship.

 

That's a shame-maybe we'll get that rollin in a few years. Anyways, thanks for the input-just stumbled onto this messageboard today and have gotten succinct and sound responses to all questions. Joined the cauldron today and look forward to cheering for our boys in a few short weeks.

 

We'll be glad to have ya

 

Wow. Awesome. Too bad it wasn't last week, we just had a little Pre-season shindig Saturday night.

Introduce yourself at the first tailgate. If you play indoors, we're going to need some people for the KCSoccerdome Cash Cup team we're trying to put together that will be on March 27th and 28th. Details coming soon.

 

The problem is most first division euro teams can loan their youth prospects out to lower divisions in their own league instead of shipping them across the Atlantic. It's easier to keep an eye on them that way and a lot of the time they send them places where the manager may have connections so they know they're in good hands as far as their development as opposed to an unknown person on a different continent.

 

"domestically as well as in ... China."

woo-hoo! don't know what they're thinking, but woo-hoo!

 

Tomorrow Velez has a closed training scheduled with no press allowed. Looks like I can't get in tomorrow. Am checking on River and Boca still.