I read somewhere that Lazo Alvanja wasn't offered a new contract by United. But his name wasn't among those players waived. Did United sign him back up after all? Anyone know anything about that?
Players on the roster form the 2002 season remain under contract until Dec 31st. It is my understanding that if a player's contract expires and a team doesn't want them anymore, then all they have to do is not offer a deal. The player is then essentially cut lose that way. I have no idea if another MLS team can offer them a deal or not... Either way MLS main office does these deals on behalf of teams.
I suppose so, but Jeffries already traded him once. Personally I like him as a player, but I can't imagine jeffries going "backward."
I think we actually got two second round picks for him from Hudson when he was at Miami. Can we trade or what?
So in essence we got T-Bone and someone else for Lazo? Didn't we trade the other second to Chicago for a future consideration?
Lazo Alavanja was one of the worst players to ever wear a United jersey. Trust me you don't want to pick this guy up, let him find himself a place in the A League.
I've heard similar complaints amongst other MLS fans who've seen him play. Bid him farewell, I'd say.
I wish Lazo all the best, he's a nice guy and a total team player, but unfortunately he doesn't really have the confidence and hasn't played up to his ability offensively. Occasionally he'll click into offensive mode and do fine, but those moments are few and far between. He hasn't mastered playing both at the same time, and that's his real downfall IMHO. That said, I think the Burn are the deepest team in MLS, and there is no way Lazo makes the Burn roster. Guys like Behnke, Morrison, Bussey, etc. are fighting for roster spots, and I'm sure they all have decent trade value. Lazo simply cannot make that team. -Tron
Yep. Drafted because he had scads of potential -- great college experience, good physical presence, ability to read the game at the college speed very well. Both the Burn and Miami/DCU saw those plusses. I was really looking forward to what he could do for the Burn. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to make the jump to MLS.
Lazo Alavanja was injured in a car accident at the end of the season. MLS rules prohibit teams from waiving injured players. Thus, when it came time to announce the first set of cuts for the waiver draft, to be fair to Alavanja, United announced they had no intention of re-signing him (so teams who might be interested could contact him or his agent) even though he's still under contract until his injuries heal. At which point he'll be waived. Should the injuries last longer than his contract, he simply won't be resigned after Dec. 31st.