Here's an article that mentions 4 Glasgow Rangers players as possible targets of a switch to DC United. IMHO, Dodds is the most intriguing. Scroll down to the "Hudson's Shopping" part. Lots of good United info. http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20021102-65487574.htm -Tron
We should be scouting in Madagascar: "Madagascan champion AS Adema thrashed its opponents 149-0 Thursday after the opposition, Stade Olympique l'Emyrne, deliberately scored one own goal after another in a protest over a refereeing decision."
Maybe Ray could sign Cannigia AND Gazza. Then he could take the team back to South Florida and and call them the Miami Vice.
Imagine that.... Hudson scouting for 30-something players who have one or two good years in them at best.. Friggin wonderful...... Hudson, please, for the love of God, open your eyes and take stock in some of the now plentiful American youth players... 34 year old strikers (Cannigia and Dodds) are not the answer, nor are 35 year old past it midfielders (Gazza and Ginola)... I understand the need for some experience in the lineup for a team that has failed to make the playoffs for 3 years running, but c'mon man, this is not the way to go... These European stiffs will come here with their preconceived notions that MLS is a crap league and they can merely coast through and collect a paycheck and by the time they realize that MLS is a serious league, we will be in trouble yet again... The youth on this team has not been the problem the past few years, it's been the veterans (Goose, Pope, Llamosa, Williams and Presthus in 2000 - Marco and Jaime in 01' and Jaime in 02') who have been the problem with their complacency and lack of grit.. Players like Convey, Quaranta, Nelsen, Rimando and Lisi (when he was here) were the only bright spots the past few seasons.. I just don't understand Hudson at times..
Yeah, because if any combination of Etcheverry, Williams, Moreno, or Pope may be dumped over the offseason, we should fill their holes along with any other new players we get for young inexperienced college draft picks, because Ray Hudson has such an AMAZING draft record. Didn't we try that like 2 years ago? Sure looked like it helped a lot too.
What we need are experienced, veteran players, but not over-the-hill types in their mid to late thirties. We need more guys like Reyes, from leagues where we can get more bang for our buck, and those are mainly in Latin America and Eastern Europe...Players in their mid to late twenties, possibly even in their early thirties, as long as they're fit. FWIW, I think the only type of American youth players who can make any sort of immediate impact in MLS are those from the youth nat'l team pools, a very limited number. And, let's face it, after three years of not making, an immediate impact is what we need.
Guys like Reyes are very difficult to find and if you do they're hard to convince to move to MLS. When they're the insanely good value that El Jocon is, well that's just the crown jewel. I agree more Reyes type acquisitions should trump any and all other moves, but they're hard to find. FYI, Tyson Nunez scored a consolation goal this weekend. Man, if we could get him, that'd be great. I agree that Central and South America are the places to find bargain priced classy players. -Tron
See I dont' understand this ridiculing of the draft policy in any sport. The point of drafting is for long term gains! Not short-term gains. Players like Mapp, Namoff, Santino and Convey were drafted for the long-term success of the team. Look at the NHL. The Ottawa Senators went through 5 years of mediocrity. Now, they are one of the best teams in the NHL because of smart draft moves. On the other hand look at the New York Rangers. There now mentality has resulted in an organization that is absolutely useless and ruderless at the same time with no escape plan. Lundmark who is playing well now, will be traded for some aging mercenary. Kloucek who I once thought would be a monster, has been decimated because the past coaching regime destroyed him confidence, and our current crop of mercinaries suck again. It's good to be a Rangers fan! Now back to the point. When you draft, don't look for immediate success. I think criticizing that policy is fickle at best. Sure DC could have gone the easy way and done the complete overhaul, but we've seen where that has landed the KC Wizards. Instead, DC took the harder route, which might be more hazardous, but in the ended promises an even sweeter result. That's just my opinion. Now as for all these players. I don't know. I saw Rangers play twice at Giants Stadium. I think Numan and De Boer can easily play and excel here if they are focused and committed. As for the others, I have heard of them by name, but haven't followed them in a long time.
A lot of United fans (not me exactly) would argue this point vociferously.. It's a lot easier in every other major sport to build for the future because they have the money to do it, MLS is holding on by a thread each and every year and it's not inconceivable that this league won't be around in a few years if they keep draining money.. United has been drafting youth players and they have failed to make the playoffs 3 years in a row.. In this day and age of MLS, it is easily possible to go from the basement to the Cup final with relative ease.. Just look at KC, San Jose and New England.. This is what Hudson envisions for this club.. He doesn't give a rats ass about the future of this team.. He knows his time is probably limited in getting a winner and he wants to win now.. I'm not totally against that thinking but I'd much rather sink our money into the growing American youth talent rather than some 30 somethings who have 2 or 3 seasons maximum in them.. Just my .02....
DeBoer has already denied any transfer to the US, in fact, he all but scoffed at the idea. DeBoer is still a world class caliber player unlike (imho) the others. i'd cry less if we got him, but no way in hell he is coming. i'd like us to get a more experienced, big two way dmid and a younger forward, but that is just me.
All this talk about getting young talented Americans is nice. Unrealistic but nice. If these players actually existsed and were availible we would all know about them. Now back to the list of players. One 35 yeard old veteran to help guide this team of mostly kids is what they need. Even though there are what, 4 players listed in this article all 4 would not be on the way. Just one of these players could very well be a positive influence on this team. This Polish player we have heard rumors about is 30 and the kid from Ajax is what 22? So Ray is clearly not looking to put a George Allen style "Over the Hill Gang" out there. however one of these player is a good move IMHO.
Aaaaaargh. Do we really have to waste another year waiting for the great white (pasty faced English that is) geriatric hope? I know Hudson needs more drinking buddies who can understand his Geordie rantings, but this is getting to be a parody. Besides the salary cap and "build for the future" issues, does a roster-limited team with a history of injury problems need to add more old guys?
Avergage age of this team is 26.17 years old. There are only six players over the age of 30 on the books (Ammann, Marco, Rocket Roy, McGinty, Ivan and Richie Williams). Of those six two are basically gone Ammann and Lassiter. That lowers the average age to 25.62 years old. Now according to rumors you can subtract 29 year old Zambrano and 27 year old Villegas as well. Now we are at 25.37 years old. Basically you are looking at 7 players over the age of 25. (Marco, McGinty, Jaimie, Pope, Prideaux, Reyes and Williams) The addition of one 32 or older player is needed. So your "more old guys" statement is inaccurate. This team does need another veteran leader. Eddie is not vocal. McGinty is a backup keeper. Marco and Reyes are hotheads at times as is Williams. Jaimie has shown a lack of leadership at times. So where are you thinking the leadership will come from? From players 20 year old and under? We have tried that. It is not working.
Age doesn't automatically equal leadership, and it's hard to see what kind of leadership could be expected from someone who would be coming to MLS as a form of semi-retirement. Olsen's got leadership qualities in spades. So does Nelson. Marco's shown an ability to bring young guys along when his head's in the right place. Enhancing team chemistry and committment are what we need more than someone stepping in with a lot of "let me tell you lads how it was when I was coming up."
What I want to know is who is Jaime going to play for on the weekends? I know a team or two that might be interested As for the Scotland based players. Canniggia is way to old and I don' think the coke is helping him anymore. Billy Dodds is almost too old but is in the Bishop mold. De Boer would be great but I doubt he would come and has basically said so. Numan would be a phenomenal addition, he's also doubtful because of the cap but out these 4 guys I would concentrate on him the most. He's 32 so he has a few more good years left in him. He's very talented and would be an immediate leader on this team.
I agree that age does not always equal leadership. See Gazza......but I don't want to rule out a plyer either because he had a 3 next to his age, that is is my main point.