Dallas has waived Lee Morrison, former standout at Stanford. We should think about picking him up, I believe he could develop under Yallop into another Eddie Robinson type defender. Agoos and Dayak won't be playing too many more seasons.....
maybe we should ask in the burn forum if he has been released, and then if so, would be worth taking a look at him.
Take a look at Dallas' roster. http://www.mlsnet.com/teams/dal/roster.html He's not on it anymore..... BTW, Dallas in the deepest team in MLS with quality defenders. Morrison is a very good player, he just lost out on numbers. Their loss could be our gain. Rumors are that Carl Bussey is on the bubble as well, I like him even better.....
well hell, couldn't hurt to have a look at him if he is returning to the area. Might well and truely be a good idea to sign him.
Lee was waived by KC. I think the cap is not an issue since he makes the league min and all you have to do is make room in the roster. Last I read had him thinking of trying out in New Zeland or something like that.
He's under contract by MLS, right? I bet he's near league minimum, so salary cap shouldn't be a problem. "Discovering" him might be. We'd have to cut someone as well. I'm just thinking that we'll need someone like him down the road. Yallop has to figure out if Morrison is better then these guys: Chris Roner (he can play mid or defender) Jamil Walker Craig Waibel Todd Dunivant He lost Ibsen, Conrad and Barrett from last year's defense. Only Waibel has experience (and not much to be honest). If Morrison was a natural right back, I'd say it's a "no brainer" to pick him up. Truth is, he's more like a Conrad......only cheaper.
Ah would luv it if Quakes were to bring Lee back to the Bay Area... I was a several years ahead of him @ Jesuit HS up in Sac and was in the same class as one of his older brothers.
goburn, Not to pull the thread too far away from Morrison, but what do you think about the rumors that Carl Bussey may not be on the team much longer? If I were Johnnie Moore, I'd pick up the phone and see if Dallas would take a 4th or 5th round pick in next year's draft for him. That way Dallas could save face and say "we got something for him" instead of waiving him. It's not like we keep our late draft picks anyway (and next year's draft is suppose to be much weaker then this year). Bussey is very much in the Barrett/Corrales/Mulrooney mold. He's a natural D-mid who can score and has big time speed. He's bigger then both Barrett and Mulrooney and I think he would make a perfect right back in Yallop's version of the 4-4-2. He could get forward and cross or even finish himself. I'd be pretty happy to see a Quake's backline of: Dunivant Robinson Morrison Bussey in two year's time. That defense would score and be tough to beat! I'd give up Walker, Roner and even Waibel to get Morrison and Bussey.... Looks to me like Jefferies miscalculated and drafted too much defense. Morrison and Bussey are quality, but of course both need some playing time to develop. No way are either going to play in front of guys like Suarez right now....
To continue my thought: Hindsight is always 20-20, but Moore or Yallop should have asked Dayak to retire and join the coaching staff. There is no way that we could have afforded three large contracts in the back (Agoos, Dayak and Barrett). Without Dayak's salary, we could have asked MLS to raise Barrett's pay and played Robinson at centerback. Now we are looking at the possiblity of losing both Agoos and Dayak soon, without enough quality players to replace them. That is why I'd like to see us develop some young (and cheap!) talent like Morrison and Bussey. Defenders who have improved greatly under Yallop: Barrett Robinson Corrales Conrad Defenders who have improved somewhat: Agoos (see his form under Rongen for reference) Dayak Mulrooney Only guy who never improved Ibsen I think any young defender who can "stick" on the roster would have to be excited about learning from Yallop. He has the "touch". Same would go for goalkeepers..... It usually takes a few years for fullbacks to blossom. Only a handful of guys were sharp thier first year (Pope, Suarez and Garcia come to mind). Morrison and Bussey should be close to the right amount of experience in MLS to move into the next level with quality coaching.....remember how long it took Wade Barrett and Richard Mulrooney to become stars.
yeah, Bussey is hanging to the last roster spot now that Cerritos appears to be staying one more season. I have to imagine Jeffries will get at least one new player other than the draft picks and Brad Davis, and when we get that player Bussey will have to leave IMO.
Boy, would he be the perfect right back in Yallop's 4-4-2. Knowing the Quakes, they'll be in the wrong position to acquire him (injured players that can't be cut ala Bower and a full roster) and someone else will pick him up and watch him blossom into an All-Star. *sigh* Note to Yallop, here's your chance to atone for the mistake of picking Carrieri over Suarez. Grab Bussey for a cheap draft pick and turn this kid into a right-sided Wade Barrett!
Really interesting thoughts on a possible backline in a few years jeff. Very interesting to see 3 local college players be back in the bay area. I admit I'm ignorant of Bussey and Morrison, but I've heard good things. I believe some posters wanted him in the draft in 2002. Maybe he can make the cut. Way too late to resign as DP?
Naw, Morrison and Bussey can't sign DP contracts now. Bussey isn't local, he grew up in Texas and played with Lucci Gonzalez at SMU. Bussey is an impressive athlete. He was All-State in football (big accomplishment in Texas!) and track (as a sprinter) in high school. Dallas fans think he needs to improve on technique and tactical awareness. He's played some U-17 and U-19 national team soccer. I think one season he was the second leading scorer (behind Lucci) at SMU. Not back for a defensive midfielder, eh?