I will do my best to do my best and since I will probably have to start in third division it doesn't really matter if I screw up badly.
Until Zip swings sentiment against you. I will offer you a freebie: if Joshua Tree is an available answer as a National Park, TAKE IT.
We will not be signing a DP during this window. However, we are in talks with one to come over to start next season. More info when @cleazer announces the start of season XVII
Is this DP in connection to the right of refusal? Or has that already been asked/answered? Have mercy on me. I am trying to follow these matters while working.
No, but we are talking to him. Not happening before the end of the season either. If you can't tell, I don't think they believe we have the skill without pipa and Milton to make a run.
Well, they're not alone in thinking that. Maybe it's my memories of MLS 1.0 that concern me here, but I'm always a little worried about bringing in player for the start of our season, which means (in many cases) buying a player who's in the middle of his season somewhere else. The opportunities to find the kind of attacking player we (or MLS teams in general) want seem more limited in the winter window because of this. Then again, MLS clubs are spending a LOT more to acquire talent now than they used to, which I'm sure changes the equation in our favor. And it all depends on the specific player and his specific situation, I suppose. Still, if there's no DP signing this summer, I hope to hell that we really do have someone in pre-season camp, and its not one of these "winter" signings that only actually show up in Columbus some weeks/months later. It some point, too, I hope we get clarity on just who next year's crop of DPs will be. There are several names carrying various DP tags alongside them right now: Santos, Zardes, Valenzuela, Diaz. A true DP signing now or this coming winter implies, well, change of some sort. Maybe Diaz is no longer a young DP once his transfer fee is out of the equation, or maybe it would then only take a modest use of GAM to get him below the DP threshold. Maybe we can similarly buy-down Milton's number. Who knows? (well, Bez, presumably) I haven't a clue what Pedro's status is beyond this season, but few of us are convinced that he's really DP material. Zardes seems to be one of the few players on the current roster that Porter considers one of "his guys," so I assume going forward he remains a true DP. Bottom line: I'm waiting to see whether our three Designated Player's actually feel DP-quality.
I keep thinking about Trapp. Where he will be in a year. He is a Columbus kid who played under Porter at Akron. I cannot help but think he might survive the refitting of our roster. Though I am not saying he should because boy his stock has sunk.
Repped and quoted for accuracy. I love the kid. But he hasn’t fully developed into the midfield boss I think we all expected. Maybe my sights were set too high for him.
Funny thing is, I think he needed a complementary d-mid partner and that's never really panned out. Artur was supposed to be the guy who, I think, helped create a link between our defense and attack - allowing Trapp to sit back more defensively, where I think he's more effective - and that's never happened. Well, perhaps not since the halcyon days of midfield boss Tony Tchani.
@cleazer you drive a tough bargain but I'll post one more thing before you announce the new season... Robinho is gone because he hated Columbus. He made it abundantly clear to the front office that he would never settle in here. Thus, we got what we could for him. Porter didn't think he was anything special, regardless.
FacePalm.gif directed at previous group for scouting and recruiting him. Did he think he was coming to sunny and hot Austin, TX? Am I doing this whole .gif thing right?
I was told not to reveal the name so I can't. I wasn't told that until today. If anything, blame @cleazer because I may have said it yesterday LOL. There is more info, but there are no bombshells 1) because the two players are NOT signed, just talking and 2) the other info is more about where we see the team going rather than anything concrete.