Don't know if this is old news but according to the latest MLS Confidential, sorry don't know how to make a link, Nelson is eligible for a work permit because New Zealand is in the top 70 in the Fifa rankings (they are 48) and he has played in at least 75% of their "A" internationals. It goes on to say that there are two option years remaining on his MLS contract. It also mentions that he turns 25 and will count as a senior international, I thought he counted as one this year.
Yes, he was already an SI (along with Moreno and Zambrano). As for the "option years", I presume you mean they are club options, right? So, he's not a free agent after all? If that's the case, unless the option years are for overly high salaries, his odds of being with us next year are much greater than I thought. Anyone know if he'll be ready for the Spurs match? (Unitedmania's practice notes say he worked out, but did not practice yesterday).
I am fairly certain that most of the contracts include League options so I would assume the MLS will excerise those options. I doubt he will be ready for the Spurs match - as I understand it he is doing strength rehab - not actual practice.
He told me he wouldn't be able to make the Le Bonheur event in early November, so he wouldn't be ready in time for this game. Dave
I spoke to Nelsen at one of the post game events and while he didn't say anything specific, he made it very clear that he has options in Europe and is trying to decide whether to pursue them or not. As for option years with MLS, I'm not certain of course, but I believe both the player and the league have to agree to the option, not just the league. I'm pretty sure if Nelsen decides to go he can. But, just to confuse things further, Kasper said specifically at the Capitol Lounge that Nelsen would be rewarded for his excellent season and that everything is negotiable. He expects him to return to DC. I'd say it's 50-50 whether he comes back or not.
Hmmm. Well I hope the league has the option, because if both have to agree then that's not an "option" by the legal definition. There is no such thing as a bi-lateral option, but there is such a thing as two separate options. The two separate options scenario would mean that either party could require the other party to honor the remainding discrete portion of the contract. While MLS usually retains a unilateral option or series of options, Nelsen may be different, as he had European interest prior to signing with MLS, and he negotiated a significantly better deal which was only consumated just before the SuperDraft. So, his options may be non-standard. While I definitely want Nelsen back, if he has the option to go to Europe and wants to excercise that option, I don't want to overpay him just to retain him. Reyes isn't making more than 100K, and I cannot see paying Nelsen more than Reyes. I love Nelsen's attitude, aerial ability, enforcer bite, good positional defending, general health, organizing ability and potential upside, he's never going to be fast, and I haven't heard anyone claim that he has any interest in obtaining a greencard, so he'll always be an SI. If we're cutting costs, we're not going to overpay Nelsen. I'd hate to lose Nelsen, but I'd hate it even more if we signed him to a long term contract for too much money. With Pope making the maximum, we don't have that much room to spend on over-paid defenders with a 1.7M cap. If the league has an option, then I bet it's for a reasonable sum of money. If that's the case, then by all means, resign him. If not, this presents a real dilemma. -Tron
I would like to pick up the option if it's for a reasonable amount. Hell, even give the guy a raise. But, we don't have much cap room left sitting around (even with Ammann going away). I'd like to see Nelsen stay in a DC United uniform for next year. But, if he gets a good gig in Europe, I'd continue to watch him along with the rest of the DC United alumni group.
Looks like the offers are already starting to come... http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=112786&cpid=218&title=English+sides+in+for+Nelsen Stockport and Wigan rumored to be interested...
What? No mention of an MLS Record transfer fee? Bergin also must've used a Nelsen quote from last year because he talks about being a d-mid. Dave