More Player Movement: APC Out in NE

Reports in the Boston papers from the Revs management indicate the Revs have come to terms with Piotr Nowak and that Alex Pineda Chacon is expected to be waived "later this week." I know this really isn't a shock (and I believe he hasn't actually been formally waived yet) but to hear it in print coming from NE management just confirms what we've all pretty much expected.

Also, I think it's interesting to read the Chicago papers talking about the Nowak deal and the "deal to be announced later." We're all speculating that it involves Stoichkov. Actually, I think what is happening is that the deal involves another player AND talks about Stoichkov are still going on. By moving Kovalenko, Nowak and (possibly Stoichkov), Chicago would need to acquire an A-mid desperately. So what I suspect is happening is that they're dealing a forward (Wolff or Razov, very very outside chance it's Armas) to get under the cap and then are seeing if they can dump Stoichkov to get cap room to actually add a player or two that aren't at the MLS minimum.

 

Ummm...who's "leftovers" do we have? I don't think Kovalenko qualifies. Prideaux? Reyes? I guess Rimando qualifies as a "leftover" since he was part of the allocation draft?

There seems to be this assumption that Hudson is seeking to have a squad of over-30 Euro vets. Except by trading Moreno and Pope for Petke and the draft pick and an allocation--we got younger. Kovalenko is no gray beard. We still are relying on 19-year old Convey and 18-year old Quaranta and 20 year old Quintanilla and 22 year old Rimando to either start or play key roles for this team.

As for APC, Hudson passed on him once (the allocation draft last year). There is this assumption that if someone once wore a Miami Fusion kit, that Hudson just can't live without him. But APC isn't the holding mid or the finisher we need. I think him ending up here is incredibly unlikely--unless he signs a contract for around $100K or less.

 

And there are financial restraints this year. My point is...if Hudson was really in the tank for APC, he could have found a way to get him. He could have ditched Moreno or Etcheverry last year. When APC was mired on the bench, he could have tried to swing a deal. But....nada, zip, zilch, zero activity there.

I don't think Hudson HATES Chacon or Rooney. But just b/c he coached them in Miami doesn't mean he's in the tank for them. If that were the case (and based upon need) you'd think he'd be beating down the doors trying to acquire Serna (who's also available) and Mastroeni. But it isn't the case there either.

And APC doesn't necessarily have to agree to a lower salary. Wynalda didn't--and he left MLS. Ditto with Leonel Alvarez. APC would have been gone as well if NE hadn't taken him in the last round after everyone else had passed a couple of times.

 

First, when I said Serna was "available" I didn't mean he was being shopped by NE. Actually, I think he's still recovering from his knee surgery. I had heard one estimate that he won't be ready for the season openner--but that isn't recent info and a Revs source probably has more uptodate info. I personally think NE fans are being too optimistic about Serna. I don't know how well he fits Nicol's system, he is a very high maintanence player that benefits from a coach who tolerates exceptions and teammates who understand why some of them have to run laps and work hard in practice while others can skip practice or half-step and still be allowed to start. It's a rare coach that can pull that kind of juggling act off--and Serna is the kind of player that demands--very high maintanence. Also, I think he and Twellman are too much alike--both benefit from someone who can hold the ball and is either unselfish (like a McBride or Wolff) or can create lots of chances and then dish it off (like a Mathis or Moreno).

Second, why didn't they succeed? Multiple reasons. Serna has always blown hot and cold in the MLS. Hudson did a superb job managing him (even though he walked out in the middle of the season as I recall) and got him to perform. But he started in the Swamp and all sorts of decent players underperformed there this year (reference Arena's comment about Mathis' recuperation/rehab wasn't helped by the atmosphere in Oz's show). Then, in NE, he went to a team that basically was a counter team that sought to defend first. NE got hot at EXACTLY the right time. But prior to that great hot streak, they were in last place in the MLS Least (and given that DC United went a couple of weeks and couldn't buy a goal, that tells you something). I'm not trying to trash NE--Nicols is a great coach, they've got some fine talent and they came together well when it counted, really played well as a team. But it wasn't a team that went forward with gusto, gave great service to their attackers, or created a lot of chances. Under those circumstances, you can see why neither really sparkled. Also for APC, he's a player who likes a lot of touches, likes the ball at his feet, is a pure attacker. He was in the middle of the field (on a team that preferred to defend and then counter down the sidelines with Ralston and Kamler). And with Miami he was very much a withdrawn forward. With NE he was asked to be an A-mid.