Okay--it's been rumored for a while. But with his signing all but announced, it looks like Colorado has announced Valderama will not return and Grimandi will take his place. Since he's primarily a defensive midfielder, what does this mean? I don't think they'd be seeking to move Mastroeni would they? Or, if they're going to pair Mastroeni and Grimandi, that would be a very defensive, counter-oriented lineup (with good counter punching ability, defensive in the middle of the park). I know this is about Colorado, but I'm wondering about the implications for United. 1. Grimandi is available on a free transfer so they don't need an allocation (so they won't trade for us to get one). If they sign Grimandi, that fills up El Pibe's cap space so they don't have room to compete for any teams seeking to dump cap obligations. 2. They might be seeking to move Mastroeni (to free up cap space and sign an attacking mid). In which case we'd definitely be contenders for Mastroeni's services (he'd be exactly the kind of holding mid Hudson would like--even though Ray used him at right back in Miami). 3. this might mean Colorado is in the market for a budget A-mid (Lisi?) who doesn't start but can be subbed for Grimandi when they're down and need to push up. Any other thoughts about what this might mean for United?
It's hard to say what this means since there tends to be very little news out of Denver about anything. I agree that this makes the Rapids very defensive- too defensive. It seems like now the main links to the forwards are the wingers Henderson and Chung and maybe Beckerman. I can't see Beckerman being ready for that responsibility yet and while the wingers are very good they can't both man their position (including playing defense) and fill El Pibe's void. Your thought that they may try to find another budget a-mid type is possible. Maybe though, they might slide Chungy to the middle? (I know I'm reaching there, but, what are they doing?) I can imagine them moving Maestroeni to central defense, but that doesn't really help their offense. I think the whole league would move players to create space for Maestroeni right now if he were on the market, but I doubt that's the case. I conclude then that Grimaldi's signing probably doesn't mean much to us unless there's talks that we don't know about, like they might move one of those wingers- could Henderson be reunited with Hudson? Do they want our second allocation? What are we doing with that allocation anyway? (I know, probably waiting for things to unfold further.)
Thanks to Goff for the update in the Post today. I think our chances of getting Mastroeni are better than most, and I'd love to see it happen. On an OT note, what do you guys think about Grimandi coming to Colorado? Will he help their team? He is only 32 so not that old really.
On their boards, the one lineup I've seen posted has is Henderson-Mastroeni-Beckerman-Grimandi-Chung. However, Chung played in central midfield quite a bit towards the end of last season with Henderson switching wings and Zach Kingsley playing on the right. My guess is that Hankinson wants to play this midfield: -------- Mastroeni Grimandi Kingsley ------------------ Henderson -------------- Chung The thing with that is, though, that I doubt they can afford it right now. They don't have the cap room and even at 32 Grimandi won't be cheap. He's a class player...you don't start at Arsenal that often for that long otherwise. He's not a fancy player, but he's dependable and good enough. They're going to have to move someone, and we need a defensive midfielder more than anything else. Mastroeni would be a perfect fit as our destroyer...the question is whether Hankinson wants to give him up or drop salary elsewhere. Colorado only has 2 strikers, so I'm thinking we could trade the #1 pick and the second allocation for Mastroeni. Hankinson could take Eskandarian and would have bargaining power over LA and Dallas in the race for Earnie Stewart. We would get our destroyer. Both teams win. If Hankinson didn't want to give up Mastroeni (completely understandable), we should try to go after Kingsley. I would say Henderson, but we can't be paying salary for one of him, Olsen, and Convey to sit the bench. Kingsley won't be making much and will give us good cover for the wings. The #5 for Kingsley could give them a shot at Jacqua, though we might have to take him at 5 to force the deal. Colorado isn't going to make a deal without getting a striker, since right now they've got 2 real forwards and Henderson as cover.
Since Grimandi (sp?) has been signed and plays were Pablo plays that would make Pablo expendable. With Pablo's performance this past year why would they want to bring in somebody that would play in Pablo's place? Grimandi is obviously an SI and commanding top dollar (league max or close to it) I doubt he is being brought in as a bench or bit player and mostly likely not to take Carlos’s playmaking role. We have all heard about the “embargoed” player coming to DC. From what we have heard he is a “name” player, an American, plays in MLS, and someone we may want to see in our lineup. Could this mean that Pablo is our “embargoed” player? Taking a step back and looking at all the little pieces, it does seem possible. 1) We do have an extra allocation (something I would trade at the drop of a hat for Pablo). 2) We have the cap space to bring him in. 3) Colorado brings in Grimandi who plays the same position as Pablo 4) Pablo has played with Ray in Miami 5) The embargoed player is American, a name player, plays in MLS, and someone DC fans would like to see in the line-up. Maybe I am reading to much into this but there seem to be some possibilities here, or I could just have my head up my arse
So this is why DCU signed Etcheverry. Sending him to Colorado for Mastroeni is a brilliant move by the Hudspar braintrust.
While the move by Colorado to get Grimandi is a good move on it's face, put me firmly in the camp that says Grimandi is not that great of a player.. He will do well in Colorado, don't get me wrong, but lets not put him amongst Europe's best just because he played at Arsenal, which he did sparingly by the way. Giles was second choice in both midfield and central defense behind players like Petit, Vierra, Keown and Adams.. I honestly don't think we have a prayer of a chance to get Mastroeni unfortunately.. I'd love to see him line up at d-mid for United but don't count on it... We would have to give up a lot to get Pablo.. Would I trade the #1 pick and an allocation for Pablo? In a second, but I don't make the decisions, Hudspar does and despite his obvious love for Pablo (Ray said at one point last season that we would have taken Pablo #1 in the dispersal draft had we been in that position), I don't see Ray passing up the opportunity to take a guy he really is talking up a lot in the press (Eskandarian)..
You can't jump to that conclusion. Hankinson could (and, likely should) be going for having the best central midfield combination in the league. Mastroeni and Grimandi can play alongside each other...at Arsenal Grimandi would play alongside Patrick Vieira, so it's not at all unreasonable. I'd say our chances of getting Mastroeni aren't great, but there's still a chance. I don't know if they can afford both of them, and they do have Wes Hart so it's not like they're tapped out of defensive midfielders if they move Mastroeni. Hudson and Kaspar should be all over this, obviously.
The reason I make that jump is that he brought Grimandi in. I don't see a need for Hankinson to bring in someone like Grimandi when you have Pablo unless there was the likelyhood of loosing Pablo. I don't know (or can't think of a reason) why Hankinson would make a move like that.
If we take Eskandarian over Mastroeni (that's what this is, in essence), I will be flabbergasted. To me, that would be on par with any awful deal we've ever made, including the second coming of Diaz Arce in terms of stupidity.
2 defensive midfielders. I'm not saying you're wrong...I'm just saying it's possible you are. Does anyone have an estimate of Colorado's cap room or lack thereof? Hankinson has always played 5 in midfield with 2 in behind Valderrama. Could he be thinking Grimandi and Hart there and ready to trade Mastroeni? Or could he be looking to move someone else getting 6 figures instead to have Mastroeni and Grimandi alongside each other? That would be the best central midfield partnership in MLS, even if it is entirely designed for counterattacking play. The lack of information coming out of Colorado makes it hard to tell what's going on.
As far as 6 fig salaries I would guess: Chung Henderson Pablo Carlos Spencer Garlic? Grimandi Granted I don't know their roster that well, but that is who I would think would be up there. Carlos is apparently gone which would leave money for Grimandi, but they would still need an A-mid.
I also don't think United has a realistic chance at getting Mastroeni, because the Rapids would be very unlikely to give him up. But, if he were available, he'd most definitely be worth more than the #1 pick in the SuperDraft. He would also probably be worth more than either allocation. He probably would be worth it even for the #1 overall draft pick and a minor allocation (unless both of ours are major allocations, I'm not sure about that). He has the strength, tenacity, ball-winning, speed, stamina, holding ability, and decent offensive skills to man that position as well as anyone in MLS. Plus, he's young and American. His only drawback might be that he has a Euro passport, so he'd be more likely to move to Europe. Obviously he'll be called to the Nats a lot, but I can live with that because there's not much likelihood of him missing any playoff games because of it. Defensively, there are a few Dmids in MLS that are excellent, and to contend, IMHO, United needs someone in the category of these guys: Elliott, Mastroeni, Mulrooney, and Armas. Each has differing strengths, but these guys are all difference makers. IMHO, Richie Williams did a terrific job defensively and holding-wise last season, but he's gone now, and he's older, so I'm not listing him. I also think Grimandi is of this caliber. -Tron
Robin Fraser might, but I can't think of anyone else. Last season they had Mark Chung playing in the middle, and he could take over as the playmaker. Or, someone could trade one out there...lots of possibilities with that.
Link? I cannot find the story online. What did the New Year's Day story say? Did Goff suggest that Mastroeni was even an option? As for Grimandi, yes, I think he'll be good, and I would say that Hankinson has acquired an impact player. Their defense should be much improved next season. -Tron
1. Colorado could play Grimandi and Mastroeni together. Remember, NE made the final playing Cullen and Hernandez (and Kamler and Ralston). A Grimandi, Mastroeni, Hernandez, and Chung would be a better midfield, more technical, faster, and better at attacking. But it would still be a team focusing more on counters and defense (strong defensively as long as Garlick was consistent). 2. Grimandi may have used to be strong. But he's taken a year off from competitive soccer. Sorry--scrimmaging (not even playing) with 2 french second division clubs--that is not a way to retain your competitive edge. And that is part of the value of signing someone from Europe--their competitive edge from. Doesn't mean he won't turn out to be a fine player, just means that I personally don't think he's the best choice for them. 3. Mastroeni as the "embargoed player"? Could be. The Grimandi rumor has been around for about a month (Colorado has been after him) so that would fit the circumstances with Mastroeni. And Mastroeni would be a SUPERB fit here (b/c of his technical ability). I don't see him playing central "D" with Colorado (given Fraser and Herdsmen). 4. Forget the idea that a #1 pick isn't enough for Mastroeni. The thing to keep in mind is that by signing Grimandi, Colorado is then pretty much at their cap limit--unless they move a big salaried player. After the seasons Henderson and Chung had, I find that doubtful they'd be moved. Fraser and Mastroeni make good money (but not the max) as I think Garlick does. Spencer? Kind of thin on the frontline. Mastroeni is the player that makes the most sense.
Joe, I gotta disagree here...Colorado doesn't sign Grimandi and plan to move Mastro (hypothetically) in the first place unless they know they can get serious value for him. Why would you plan get rid of arguably one of the three best Americans in MLS in a fire sale for a 32 year old that plays the same position? If there's a player coming from CO, I bet it's Henderson -- or if it's Pablo that we give up two of the following to get him: #1 pick, cap space, Etch, allocation.
RE: Rapids needs. Bench depth. Somebody who can head the ball on set pieces, preferably someone at forward to get on the end of the well-served crosses from Hendo, Chung, Kingsley in the run of play. RE: Chung He filled in at A-Mid in Valderamma's absence (generally good games by my recollection). Chung and Hendo had a good understanding, flipping sides of the field freely, so there is a lot of flexibility in the Rapids mid. RE: Bringing Grimandi in with the idea if trading out Mastroeni. How does this upgrade the position? Rapids pay more for a D-Mid with no guarantee of improving the position since there is always a question when foreign players make the transition to MLS. Only if the Rapids get strong trade value for Pablo, which means DC would have to give up something significant. Alternatively, the Rapids can play the counter, as pointed out. In terms of matching up to skill levels, a quality D-Mid from Europe could maybe play some good distribution in MLS. Flexible roles in the midfield might be the order. Also, Pablo might be a decent libero. The criticism would be on his passing though.
I was thinking similar thoughts about Gilles. Just because Arsenal put him in as a defensive plug, it's no reason to pidgeonhole him into that role in MLS. Could it be that one of the reasons that he's turned down bigger Euro offers is that Colorado has said that he can be a more offensive minded player everyday here?
I see the Rapids bringing back Jason Moore and putting him in the middle in front of the French dude and Pablo.
Interesting point of note: in college, Mastroeni played striker. He played forward in one of the Rapids exhibition games last season. Maybe Hankinson is thinking of letting Pablo play more offensively next season? Anyway, here's what the Rapids midfield will be in 2003: Starters: Chung Mastroeni Grimandi Hart Henderson Off the bench you've got: Beckerman Kingsley Trembly whoever replaces Palacios I don't see the Rapids moving Mastroeni anyways, so this whole thread is most likely moot.
Grimandi's a good player, I saw him score in person for Arsenal against Coventry a couple years back. Sure, he's not a real attack minded midfielder, but there's no reason Colorado couldn't start two holding mids in the center with some attacking wings, just like Arsenal does now with Viera and Gilberto Silva in the center of the field. A midfield of Chung Grimandi Pablo Henderson would be very strong in MLS.
I don't know if it made it online but after going back over the print version I found it in the sports briefs.