BMG sporting director Christian Ziege announced today that Casey Keller is one of 7 players who will not make the trip to relegation land next season. The reason cited for letting Keller go was his age, but most suspect that it was his salary. Keller supposedly offered to stay at BMG but terms of his stay were not disclosed. Keller is out of contract at the end of the season and has not played in several weeks due to an injury picked up in a match in April. No word on where he will go.
MLS Teams that could use Kasey Keller: Toronto RSL Colorado Dallas Columbus DC United I'd love to see him come home. If Watterus is making $200,000, Keller deserves at least that much, if not $250-300. He'll have to take a pay cut, but at this point in his career he's probably willing to do it. I'm calling it now: Kasey Keller, coach of the USA MNT for 2018 World Cup.
I just don't know about this. Kasey will probably (I have no way of knowing this, I assume) command a salary that would make him a DP spot. Would he be willing to take a substantial pay-cut to come back to the US? Is there any team that would use a DP slot or maximum MLS salary slot on a goalkeeper? You can get guys like Pickins and Perkins off the MLS scrapheap, who'll do just fine. Now RSL could use a GK big time, but they also have other holes to fill that might be higher priority. Then again, would he be willing to be a backup keeper somewhere in Europe for more money?
There are a lot more considerations than whether these teams could use Kasey Keller. Whether that is salary cap, senior international slots, DP slots, etc. Those teams don't have a keeper as good as Kasey, but they're keepers are fine. DC United does not need a new keeper. Perkins was GK of the year.
RSL needs help. Seitz will be with the U-20's this summer and Rimando is just an adventure and a diaster waiting to happen. Other than that I don't see anyone needing him that badly espcially with the salary he would command. The Seattle Sounders should use Keller as leverage to help facilitate a move up to MLS
He was willing to stay at BMG. Me thinks he might be headed back to the Prem as a back-up somewhere. Or maybe even to Colaship.
If the list is supposed to be teams whose keepers are sub-keller level, it's all of them. Keller would be the best keeper in MLS. He'd, probably rightly, also expect to be the most expensive. As noted, though, MLS has lots of very nice keepers, so the problem is, who is willing to spend a lot of money on an upgrade at a position where they're probably just fine _when they have other positions with a greaters disparity between what they want and what they have. I think he can find another job in Europe. he's not a three year signing, but for one, he's fnie.
How good was Keller at BMG this year? I'm sure the stats were awful because the team sucked but were there ratings anywhere?
Given Keller's history and Ziege's comments, I'm guessing Kasey will be unhappy signing as a backup somewhere. What EPL or Cola-ship or Bundesliga 1 or 2 teams would sign a keeper for 1 year?
Actually, he was pretty decent. BMG has yielded 39 goals ranking in top 7 in fewest goals given up. Their attack only scored 23! That's where they need an upgrade!
Funny, I was just going to say that given he offered to stay at BMG means that he does not mind playing in the 2.BL. I am sure he does not want to be a back-up there. You kidding? Any 1.BL team playingin Europe next season would KILL to have a guy with his experience as back-up. Leverkusen, Schalke, Werder and Stuttgart could all use him. Hell, there are several 2.BL teams that would sign him on 18 months or 24 months. At 37 he is still a good buy.
While I agree Keller would provide an ample blend of skill and leadership to numerous teams around the league, I fail to see where you can equate his worth with Watterus. The fact is, Bruce could have swooped for Keller this summer, but he managed to bring in a younger, similarily experienced international keeper of some stature. If MLS is to progress as a league, ability should be foremost in the salary equation. Beyond American nostalgia, Walrus is every bit the keeper Keller is and has proven a great fit in NY. Lets hope Keller can do the same at a price that works for MLS.
You "fail to see where you can equate his worth to Watterus?" ......I could understand you saying that Keller isn't better, but come on! He's not even equal?? "Younger?".......He's a whole 9 months younger. I won't quibble with the rest.....I think Keller is better, but that could be the "American nostalgia."
Ummmmm...no. Dallas has Shaka Hislop...making over $200k on a guaranteed deal and Dario Sala, also pulling down 6 figures. What the hell would we want with Keller? We should dedicate 25% of our salary budget on old keepers? No thanks.
How far is keller's egg farm from Salt Lake city, Utah? is his family still in Washington state? I say RSL should go after him.
I have a lot more respect for Keller for offering to stay after BM got relegated. I would have thought he would have told them to suck lemons. It will be interesting seeing where he goes.