"Again"? It wasn't that fun to attack them last season. Let's not forget that despite the fact that they were an absolutely horrid team defensively last season, we played them three times and scored exactly one goal.
Holy crap - Alexi Lalas is a God awful GM. The average age of the Galaxy has to be approaching 95. In other news, Quaranta is apparently getting himself in shape for a try-out with an MLS club. I know many hate him for his antics while he was with LA but if he is willing to accept a major pay cut and actually, you know, bust his ass on the field - I wouldn't mind taking a chance on him for some much needed wing depth.
Can anyone verify he is still GenAd? His salary is around $75k so that would make a big deal. If he is, Lalas is a moron.
Wow--just wow! Look, I'm not a huge Quavas Kirk fan. But he's fast, he's a true outside mid, he's cheap and he's young. Lots of upside here. And right now, I'm betting we don't have Ben Olsen healthy and in-form until mid-season at best. And Fred is our backup at A-mid for Gallardo (especially with Dyachenko injured and thus lagging behind preparation). I believe that Moose, Mediate, etc. can be contributes. But having someone like Kirk (who is faster than all of them and a true outside mid rather than a utility player) is just a great move. Lalas is a fool.
Kirk has to still be Gen Ad - he has not played enough games to graduate plus he is still just 19, so he is not near the senior roster age of 25. He gives DC some depth at RM and RB, some decent size, and just occupies a developmental roster spot (it hurts the chances of a developmental roster trialist like Grady Renfrow/Pat Carroll making the team more so than a Justin Moose/Jamil Walker/Josh Gardner type trying to make the senior roster). Good trade for DC yet again especially since Vanney was not returning - I thought that DC might get a 2nd rounder for Vanney and that 2nd round has not worked that well for DC in recent draft (2008 - Jacobson, 2007 - North) - at least DC now gets a player contracted to MLS who actually has played some 1st team games and has some upside. To summarize, the single entity rules of MLS allowed DC to parlay players (Gomez, Vanney) who were not returning into: * Colorado DP slot for 2 years * Colorado 2009 1st round pick * Generation Adidas/Senior Roster Exempt RM/RB Quavas Kirk
Kirk has played exactly one game as a RB in the league, it was a home victory against RSL last season. He wasn't wonderful in that role) He's been a RM for all of his other appearances. He has potential, and seems to have the skillset required to be a good MLS player but something has held him back. Part of that has been injury problems the last 18 months. The other part is possibly coaching. I like the chances of a strong organization like yours to finally help him reach his potential. Good luck.
I thought it was a first round pick in 2009. And your list is premature. With the sudden retirement of Ty Harden, you have to believe that Jay Needham is a lock to make the senior roster for LAG. That's one more player not on DCU's roster and not in our 2008 plans that we'd likely acquire something for. You know, I don't think it's a great rule MLS has and it's hurt us sometimes in the past but man, if it's there, milk it for all we can.
Fat finger error on my part - it is indeed a 1st rounder. If Lalas were smart (which he is not), he would ask for Needham's rights as part of the Vanney trade so we may need to wait until the formal trade press release to see if Needham is part of it and if DC gets additional consideration for him or whether the deal is Kirk for rights to both Vanney and Needham. If a separate deal is required for Needham, I doubt that we get anything more than we used to get his rights (i.e. a 3rd rounder). It depends on whether LA thinks Needham is much better than its other young CBs like Troy Roberts, Julian Valentin, etc., which is debateable.
Maybe we can get this Beckman kid. But in all seriousness, I could totally see Lalas giving up more youth talent. Now I'm going to go over to the LA forum and watch thier heads explode. it's 9 am over there, just a bout time for most of them to get to work, open bigsoccer and realize Alexi boned them again.
Pretty much a daily event with them, isn't it? I wonder if they've inquired about the services of aircraft-towed advertising operating in the vacinity of HDC...
I am not unhappy that Vanney won't be "organizing" our back line anymore, but I will say this: He has a smoking hot wife with really nice jumblies, and I am going to miss seeing her at games. So, um, I am a little torn.
I know little of Kirk except I always thought his name was amusing. Can those who know a little more provide a summary of his strengths and weaknesses? Is this the speedy, winger that has been our missing piece? I wonder if he starts while Olsen recovers. Or is this just a guy for added depth on the backline. I like that he is very young, fast, relatively affordable (is he or is he not Gen Adidas? I don't see him on the ever-reliable wikipedia page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Adidas) and tall, which has been a concern of some for set pieces.
He can play at RM or RB; he's listed as a D, but has played much more RM for the Gals. In general, he'd be competing with Moose to cover Olsen, and backing up Namoff (or covering for Namoff if Namoff had to move over to replace Burch). His first touch isn't too good, but he's pretty young and hopefully can improve. For me, it's simple -- Vanney wasn't going to be here anyway, so it's good we got something for him. That something we got is cheap, and helps us with some things we really lacked (defensive and outside midfield depth). So this is good. I wonder what salary Vanney's going to be playing for at LA. I'd love to see their salary sheet right now.
I think it's worth noting that he was in the USMNT player pool as a youth. I believe the lad has potential.
I thought the same thing about Kirk a while back, but then realized he was a manchild. He was not particularly impressive in Peru at the U-17s. I am not so impressed with his skill -- yet. He has long strides and could help our team with some speed. I don't feel he is necessarily quick. I remember Donovan springing him against us a year or so back and was impressed at his top speed. I think he ended up assisting on a nice goal. That said i have never been a fan of Panty Vanney. Breaking down goals he seems to be the weak link more often than not. Thought he has always been overrated. Not real sad to seem him go. I am still really concerned about our team speed/age on the mid-flanks -- maybe quavas can help.
He is still in the US Youth pool (U20 team). In terms of the other post about him not being listed on Wikipedia's Generation Adidas page, Kirk was drafted in 2005 as a high schooler. That Wikipedia page only lists 2006 and later players since Nike used to be the sponsor with its P40 program. Until Kirk plays more 1st team MLS games, he still should be roster protected.