Here's an odd lineup: a 1-3-3-3-1: Kamara Asad Flores Arriola Moreno Felipe Gressel Birnbaum/Mora Birnbaum/Brillant Canouse/Fisher/Odoi Atsem Hamid
Under Everything Lol'd is new again, I present, the wedge: Mora Asad Moreno Flores Kamara Felipe Arrola Gressel Canouse - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Birnbaum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Hamid
I like how the new shirt "leak" is basically just a cartoon rendering of the template with United stuff on it. Reminds me of:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...s-with-nbc-sports-washington-local-tv-rights/ I suddenly miss the Unprecedented Coverage thread
Paul Tenorio of The Athletic lists the following 9 players as intriguing MLS free agents still out there. Justin Meram, Steven Beitashour, Bradley Wright-Phillips, Miguel Ibarra, Will Johnson, Joao Plata, Krisztian Nemeth, Servando Carraso, and David Ousted. Outside of Beitashour, who would fill a clear need on United, I can't say any of the players on this list would fill a real need on United. Maybe BWP, but I dunno if he'd want to be a backup, or how big a paycut off of last year's salary he'd be willing to accept. Thoughts?
I've always liked Meram and Johnson, but I'm not sure they could secure a starting role. Maybe as backups? BWP is intriguing, but I don't see him accepting a backup role. (Of course he could beat out Kamara and start, but could we meet his salary demands?)
As Tenorio points out, all of these guys were on big contracts their performances no longer justify. Any of them would have to take a massive pay cut to be considered. An example is Meram. His production is worse than Segura's and Segura is a less than $200K player. Of that group, the only ones that intrigue at all are Beitashour and BWP. I would consider BWP if he was willing to accept a low base, high incentive deal. With the addition of Gressel and Flores, a poacher like BWP might thrive in limited minutes as a like for like switch from Kamara. As for the others, pass.
DCU remains in search for backline help, with focus on European market. "Whether or not we can land somebody that makes sense for this group, I think we will know that in the next week or two," Ben Olsen says.— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) January 28, 2020
If I saw Justin Meram walk past right now, I'd kick him in the shin; have always disliked that guy.. If BWP would accept league minimum, I'd grab him and just sit him on the bench, that would stop some other team from using him against us But doubt he fills a "need", though anyone with a pulse is a better backup forward than the no-one we have now Some decent players (at least in the past) on the list, for sure.
Don't want Meram, BWP, Ibarra, Johnson, Ousted, or Carrasco. They are either too old or unlikely to be productive anymore. Plata would be intriguing but something tells me he wouldn't click with Olsen at all. Plus iirc he's a winger...not a position of need. I secretly hoped DCU would sign both Nemeth and Beitashour when they've been available in the past. Salaries are higher than what we might like but I'd be extremely happy with either of em. Honestly, Nemeth as a sub for Kamara (with service from Gressel/Flores) makes my mouth water. He's a great finisher & you don't lose that ability with age...
I can't see BWP having many opportunities to start( at MLS level atleast) so he probably can't be but so picky.
Really depends on capology at this point. IMO, we need a starting RB and a backup CB, LB, 10 and FW. As long as we can cover all the remaining slots: At RB, Beitashour is a no-brainer, even at his previous salary. At forward, If we have the wherewithal to bring in Nemeth at $800K I'd do it. That would provide some real competition. If we can only afford a good backup at $400K, I'd consider BWP (unlikely he'd take that deal). If we can't afford that much, well, Sorga is probably that guy, and he's already on the Loudoun roster. There are some other interesting names there, but none play at positions of need or are upgrades on the guys they'd replace at a commensurate salary.
https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-colossus-opens-talks-to-join-mls-club/ Don't know much about him but seems like a solid pickup if it were to happen.
The New Zealand international, 31, has not played for the Hammers first team since March 2018 due to back and knee problems and the club hierarchy are willing to let him go hmmmmmmm
A guy who has missed first team minutes for almost two years due to back and knee problems gets a "hmmmmm"? From me that gets a