Let me preface this question with an admission. I know little about the rules, salary cap regulations, or even front office effort that is required for the following topic. However, I see something that concerns me regarding the Wizards recent roster moves, or lack thereof. So the question already: Why aren't the Wizards out there signing some transitional internationals? And if it is a matter of money, why can the Metros add two of them (seemingly as an afterthought) as the deadline approached? Do we have that much money tied up in our current players that we can't go scout a few young internationals? I don't mean to be arousing any doubts or uncertainty, nor am I trying to create conflict. I really just don't understand and was hoping someone could clear it up for me. Thanks, Scotty
Check out this link, it may answer your questions. http://www.mlsnet.com/about/regulations/index.html#rosters But the Reader's Digest version is that each team is allowed 3 senior international players, called S-I(s). The entire league allows for 20 total young international players, called T-I(s). These Transitional Internationals do not need to be equally distributed to each of the leagues 10 teams. They do count against your senior roster limit. So, the Metrostars can have 3 S-Is and as many T-Is as their 18-man senior roster and the league total will allow. I guess that makes sense. The Wizards have two S-Is in Simutenkov and Walsh. We also have one T-I in Thomas. If Jewsbury is moved to senior status to fill the spot Harris vacated, then the 18-man roster is full and we would have two developmental roster spots open. Hope this helps.
Thanks BenC. My bad. He isn't listed that way at MLSnet.com but he is on the KC web site. I wish KC's site listed the P-40s and the DEVs like the MLS site does.
It's also worth noting that this past EPL season, ManU went and bought their fair share of their equivalent of "transitional internationals" , and Arsenal did'nt buy Jack squat except Lehmann and Reyes halfway thru. look at where they are now. I mean, not that that siuation makes me happy, but facts are facts. and they MAY work in our (KC's) favor.
Thanks for the information guys. I appreciate the explanation hartley. We have all seen the number of allocations/discoveries etc... that have not panned out the way the signing club had hoped. And some of these T-Is may fall into that same category. I just hope that the Wizards, as an organization, have their eyes open for players as the Metros seem to. Maybe they just haven't seen anything they liked...who am I, or any of us really, to say otherwise. I just hope they are looking. Thanks again
The policy the Metrostars are practicing could come back to bite them unless some of their T-Is get green cards in a couple of years. Or if their current S-Is end up leaving the team in some fashion. Bradley is using his full 3 S-I slots and using 4 T-Is. That's seven internationals taking slots on the 18-man senior roster. There's a reason the number of internationals is limited. One of the goals of the MLS is to develop U.S. players. KC uses it three S-I slots on Armstrong, Simutenkov, and Walsh. I think the hope is that Walsh will get a green card. Therefore if Thomas works out, he could fill the other S-I slot when necessary. Anyone know more about this? Maybe Thomas could get a green card too for that matter. What does it take to get a green card?