breaking news, lee morrison to KC. looks like one less youbg player for jeffries to ************ over
Even though being traded is hardly much fun, all in all, this has to be good news for Lee. Dallas has perhaps the deepest squad in MLS, and it was unlikely that Lee would have seen much playing time had he been able to make the Burn's final roster.
It is good news for Lee, and I hope the Burn got a second round pick for him. But I am not sure I like this move. I grant the Burn is deep, especailly in the middle. On the back line, though, the Burn is down to one central defender. Thomoas might be ready to play in the MLS. If he is, then if T Bone or Minister Morrow are injured, then there is the replacement. If the other, or Thomas is injured, then the Burn has a problem. If Jeffries moves Gbandi into the middle, which is the logical move since the burn can play either Broome or Davis at outside left back, then we have a rookie in the inside. If Jeffries moves Suarez inside, then we have a talented, expereinced bak on the inside, and a fast, trash talking outside right back. I love Bussey's speed and heart, but he is lacking some very basic skills. At SMU, speed was all he needed. It won't work in the MLS. I am not asking him to score ten or a dozen goals, or to hit perfect crosses. Just keep the ball out of the seats. Maybe he will improve, or maybe he already has. Jeffries seems to think so. He better be right or lucky.
Are you really worried about having to have Gbandi or Thomas patrol the middle? I would be close to ecstatic if, by some misfortune, Bonseu or Morrow were out enough games to get Thomas and Gbandi some serious minutes. They need minutes in game situations to mature, and considering how highly both of them have been touted (Gbandi clearly the best defender in last year's draft, Thomas top 2 in this year's), it would be foolish for us not to give them time. Morrison was not going to be ahead of Thomas on our depth chart (considering the minutes he got last year, he would hardly be less of a rookie than Shavar), and so trading him now, while he still has some value, is a much better move than leaving him on the bench for another year, and then releasing him or losing him in an expansion draft. Need I remind you that four of the five teams from the west will make the playoffs this year? Even if both Morrow and Bonseu went out, I have a hard time imagining this team, even if it was forced to start two very promising, if raw (of course, Gbandi is what, 24 now?) defenders for most of the season, failing to keep itself out of last place. If we were able to extract a second round pick for Morrison, this was an excellent move, getting value for a player who wasn't going to amount to anything on this team, and securing more minutes for more promising players.
Read my post again, Chris. I have no problems with Thomas in the middle, even as a rookie. I hope he gets lots of time. There is nothing I would rather see than Morrow, Pareja, and Deering on the bench after 70 minutes. Save the Grumpy Old Men for when the Burn need them. Gbandi in the middle worries me, only because it is not a natural position for him. Can he play the inside? I bet he can, I would just rather have someone who is a natural at that spot, and Morrison is. Morrison can also play outside right. In talking about how great Thomas and Gbandi are, you are wrestling with a straw man, since I agree with you. Never do I suggest that they will be anything but great players. I would have rather kept Morrison and traded someone else. I don't think two central mids in reserve is too much. And if Ryan is hurt, without Morrison, the Burn will have some real problems.
Didn't Behncke play central defense for the Burn at least one game last season? And if my memory serves me correctly, Behncke played pretty well in the middle -- better than Suarez, in fact.
I saw Matt play in New Orleans and I must admit, I was very impressed. I'd be confident with him in the middle. .
What does this mean? Which other young players is Jeffries ****ing over in your opinion? Morrison because he didn't start over Morrow or Bonseau? Bussey because he didn't start over Suarez? Vaca because he didn't start over O'brien? Perhaps you should explain yourself. Are we seeing a little housecleaning to make room for our new additions in this year's draft or are we perhaps thinking about the rumored supplemental draft?
Gbandi played centrally for UCONN on several occasions as a libero type defender. No need to worry about him at all at that position. What we have to worry about is him recovering his health and psyche after this knee injury.
And who would be the others that he's f-u-cking over? Bussey? The guy's got a long ways to go to become a solid right back in this league. He's still thinking at the DIII level(college). Athletically he's got mad skillz. Unfortunately for him in soccer technique, tactical ability and first touch are involved and they greatly contribute to the overall quality of a player.
How much of the season do you think that we will be without two of our three central defenders? Morrow may go down for a little while (I, as well, hope he doesn't play too much), but odds are against two of our three being out for an extended period last year. And, even if they are, I would be perfectly comfortable giving the left center position to Gbandi, and letting Broome play out left. As another poster has said, he has experience in the middle from college, and I have trouble imagining him being a liabilty. Do you really think that Morrison would have a significant advantage over Gbandi at any position on the field (I don't). I will repeat, that I am glad we got anything for Lee Morrison while we still could, because considering that he only got 103 minutes last year, and we're adding two very promising youngsters (while, admittedly, dropping a veteran), he did not look to have much of an opportunity to show or build his skills while in Dallas.
Morrison was not going to make this team. Period. He was behind Behnke, Thomas and Gbandi. He was not very fast so he was not very good depth on the outside. Instead of just being cut the Burn got something for him. Good for them.
I too, have a soft spot for SMU players (you might say the Burn do too). I think every Major League sport should invest in local talent. But I interpret 'moving' players differently than some. I think Morrison and Bussey should get a lot of playing time at the MLS level in order to get the chance to develop. Yeah, just because I like SMU, shouldn't mean that all SMU players deserve a 'long look' in the MLS, but there's still a thing called 'pride'. I hope they 'make it' in some-way-shape-or-form.
My sentiments exactly. I was a big fan of Morrison's coming out of college, but I was surprised to find that IMHO, Behnke was far better than expected, and looks to be a bigger and better version of Morrison. With Shavar and Bonseu, Morrison would at best be a #4 player for the future after Morrow. On the outside Gbandi and Suarez are far better suited and skilled. Jefferies is building a very impressive back line! IMHO, KC is a great fit for him. It allows him to play in a defensive setup for a solid organizer defensive coach. He'll get a lot of playing time, learn a lot, and his foot skills will show nicely there. Gansler plays a nice build-up style beginning in the back. With Garcia, Conrad and Morrison, Gansler will be able to re-construct his defense with big strong tactically sound defenders. It looks like a good fit for Morrison and a necessary move for the Burn. Is this move confirmed? -Tron
I think your a little confused. You're right about Bussey going to SMU but Morrison went to Stanford.
I think the post I was responding to was 'aimed' at SMU players. My response wasn't in particular 'regard' to Morrison at all, but my hopes that we can keep good faith with SMU. Too bad we couldn't have worked 'something' out at their stadium. That would've been ideal.
I have just returned from the first Burn practice of the new season... And I can report that Lee Morrison has been traded to KC for a Draft pick. Jeffries would not confirm what kind, it may even be conditional. My guess is somewhere between rounds 3-5. Much more to come in practice observations. http://www.3rddegree.net/
So the Burn have started their on-the-field practices? An email newsletter I got from them indicated that practices wouldn't begin until Thursday. BTW, 3D. The "Roster Dance" portion of 3rddegree.net's home page is a bit misleading. It says "Updated 1/6 after Pareja contract renewal" when, of course, it was updated shortly after the draft.
I predicted before the daraft that Morrison would make the team and Bussey would not. Of course, at that time, I was sure that the Burn would select Jaqua and Thomas would be gone by the time the Burn picked again. So perhaps I can be excused. Still a touch worried about the right side. Pretty thin there. I suppose it would have to be Thomas. He is right footed, if I recall correctly.
overrated Lee Morrison is another player who got far too much credit for his team's success and was simply overrated coming out of college. The Burn made a major mistake drafting him and are now trying to cut their losses. We all make mistakes.