Very cool. I would really like to see how Gibbs does with the burn, I also wonder if this will get him more time with the Nats. With several MLS players heading over seas, I have to wonder if Kirovski and Gibbs maybe see MLS as a way to get attention from other clubs. Especailly for Gibbs since he's 24, but may also apply for Kiro. If Gibbs consistently starts and does well for an MLS side then may other clubs besides Bundesliga 2 and 3 clubs will give him another look. Also if he gets more time with the National team by playing domestically, he can also draw more attention. I also think that this is a good sign that there's a two way trade in talent, we lost some guys to Europe, but some of the guys (who are not at the end of their careers) are coming back and giving MLS a chance.
I agree. I think is great news too, if true. Seeing how both of these players fit into MLS, for their own individual reasons, will be interesting stuff. I think it's a big help to both teams. I imagine Burn fans are pretty happy, though some are crying for allocations to be filled from other parts of the blobe. Galaxy fans probably think they got "second-hand" goods, but as a strike partner for Ruiz, Kirovski might be the perfect fit. Will be interesting to see.
I think both are great fits for their teams. Hopefully this and Ed Johnson stepping up (I'm guessing) will mean the Burn compete's next season.
Interesting query. Maybe they're the only team that wants Kiro. (Doubtful though; since he's from Escondido, about 20 miles from where I sit and about 65 miles from the HDC, LA was probably the only place he said he would come.) So how did the Galaxy get him? (Maybe an allocation for Cien?)
Kiro You know I was the first one in line to take shots at Kiro when he was with the Nats, but I don't think this is too bad of a fit for the Galaxy. I'm very interested to see what he can bring to the team, how well he stacks up against MLS defenders.
Ruiz perfect fit for Kirovski Since Carlos Ruiz is a two year proven hero that scores the majority load of goals for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Sucha a situation could minimize the blame and finger pointing that Kirovsky normally earns for his style of play or lack of production. Jovan Kirovsky could actually look good while Ruiz is running wild at opponents goal keepers. Kirovsky could occasionally feed balls to Ruiz who would score whether Kirovsky was ever on the field or not. Kirovsky's lack of scoring would seem not to be a problem as long as Ruiz continues his fantastic scoring pace he has set for two straight MLS campaigns running. p.s. $24,000 salary by published reports, if that is true, Carlos Ruiz is Grossly underpaid. Since the league owns his contract and he cannot be bought by a competitor MLS team, L.A. virtually can under pay him without fear until his contract expires!!! If someone knows of a different salary amount for him please advise. On general principle Galaxy President should be ashamed!!!
If I'm not mistaken, Ruiz has a $30,000 salary but a $50,000 minimum per year guaranteed contract due to bonuses, signing bonus, etc. Plus, he's also getting paid by Municipal back in Guatemala an additional sum, but nobody knows how much. Yes, underpaid, but he signed the contract. And I suspect MLS will be offering him another much higher one in the near future (just a guess of course).
Come to think of it, Kiro couldn't just sign with MLS. He was on the books at Birmingham so MLS would have to pay a transfer fee unless they let him go for free.
Ruiz gets two salaries. 24K from MLS and an unknown amount from the Honduran team that shares his rights. Probably still underpaid but he will make up for that soon.
If MLS paid a transfer fee for Kirovskiy that was pretty stupid. I would assume that Birmingham probably just let him go because he will certainly have to take a pay cut. Kirovsky should have done this several years ago. He probably finally realized that he is not going to get more playing time in the near future than he is now, which is zilch. It's a shame he didn't come to MLS earlier because he would be a much better player now. Gibbs hopefully will turn out to be one of the better defenders in the league and develop into a consistent back for the National team. Neither of these players could be described as giving MLS a chance. They were both in desperate situations and saw MLS as the best option. Kirovsky wasn't playing and Gibbs was playing for a crap team.
Directly from the Soccer America press release re MLS salaries: Ruiz, Carlos $30,000 (base) $50,000 (guaranteed) Plus money from a Guatemalan team: Municipal.
These are huge pick ups for MLS. I think that they should look into bringing Thorrington into MLS (as he seems to be lingering away, is he out of contract?), and a couple of cheap young Latin American types to improve the overall quality of play.
I doubt think there will be as many Kiros and Landons (guys taking off as teenagers to go to Europe to further their career): there is not as pressing a need to do so. W/ Gibbs and Kiro, it truly is significant that 2 Americans are coming to MLS to further their careers. Roehl Sybing? comments?
By complete, do you mean Gibbs wants to help a team get relegated for three straight years? If so, he came to the wrong league. Besides, the Burn did the relegation dance well enough last season without him.
I'll bet he plays better than Kelly Gray, or whoever the Fire trots out next to Curtain in central defense.
Oh I thought Kirovski could go to the Fire and him and Razov could sit up top and hold hands. Then they could both watch each other choke, time and time again.
What teams other than LAG had cap room to take on Kirovski? Not saying that's the reason - just asking where the league could have placed him (of course this involves speculating a little about what he's being paid.) And maybe there was a Cienfuegos retirement allocation - although it would have been nice if the league had made that clear. BTW: Seen no confirmation from LAG to date that this has actually happened.
It'll be interesting to see how Kirovski plays against MLS competition. We certainly saw what he couldn't do against international competetion.