http://www.3rddegree.net/ Since we feel bad for not having a Practice Report this week due to work commitments, we went out and got a list of trialists and practice players for this weeks camp.
3rd, I have gone by the UTD campus three times last week to watch the Burn practice. Each time I go, I can't find them anywhere. Don't they practice on the main field right off Campbell? Also, do you get any sense that the a.m. practice might be better to watch than the p.m. practice, or are they about the same?
All I can tell you is they change fields a lot, escpically with bad weather... Most likely this week they are inside at Blue Sky. IF they are at UTD... they will either be on the main UTD soccer "stadium" field, or on one of the practice fields around it. Once or twice they move across the main entrance to one of the fields over there... I suggest you call the Burn office and ask. Usually the person who answers the phone will have a practice schedule. If not ask for Bobby Hammond. He will always know where and when practice is.
There is some interest, but they have a "cap slot" for a backup, and I think Johnny Walker will come in above that. They are in talks with Cassar. My thinking is.... They will wait and see what number Walker signs with MLS at. If it is in their cap window then they will put in for him.... Since he will be in one of those weighted lotterys if two or more teams put in for him. If he is above their cap number, they will go with Cassar. Unless they come to a number agreement with Cassar that is too low to pass up.
I just talked to Bobby Hammond. He said he was pretty sure they will be at UTD this afternoon. Hopefully this time I will get to see a practice. I am really interested to see some of the new players, Gbandi included, working with the veterans. Though I will not have anywhere near the insight or detail that 3rd provides, I will try a give an opinion of this afternoon's practice.
Makes sense. According to a San Jose newspaper, "Jonny Walker said that he and Major League Soccer have agreed on a one-year contract and that he's waiting for Coach Frank Yallop to tell the league whether the Earthquakes want him." http://www.bayarea.com/mld/bayarea/...kes/5146587.htm Thus, it appears that Walker and MLS have agreed to terms, but to me, at least, it looks as though he's yet to sign an actual contract with the league. It would be interesting to know approximately how much Walker's salary would be should he sign.
He'll probably be the Burn's starting keeper this season since Matt Jordan is apparently not returning to the Burn.
My guess would be lottery, kind of like the Kartes situation where he was eligible for the draft, but didn't come to terms until after. What's the deal with Higgins? Been around a while without you guys picking him up.
Higgins His name has been around for a while, as in we've known he was coming over for a trial for a long time. But I think this week is the first time the Burn have had him in camp.
Well, I only got to stay for about 30 minutes of practice. There were so many guys out there it was hard to tell who was who. During the warm up, the players got into pairs and just went up and down the field getting touches on the ball while getting their heart rate going a little bit. One note: Brad Davis was paired with Ed Johnson. Davis is extremely silky smooth on the ball. It just looks so natural the way he moves with the ball at his feet. After warm up, the group split into two groups. Mids in one drill and forwards/defenders in another. The forwards were going one v. one (then up to two v. two) with the defenders trying to get shots on goal. Like I said, there were so many people out there it was hard to tell who was who. One note: The name I kept hearing the players cheer on was Drew Moore. Bussey looked extremely quick and very determined to earn a spot on the team. As for the mids drill, the only thing I noticed was that Higgins (at least I think it was Higgins) is HUGE! I had hoped to provide a better assesment, but I ended up talking to a local club coach that was in the stands watching practice with me.
My understanding is that Salyer would have to go into a weighted lottery just like Johnny Walker. UNless of course no other team puts in a claim. In fact we don't know that the Burn have either. I hate to burst everyones bubble, but initial reports I am getting from camp on Higgins are not good. I would be VERY shocked if he is around much longer. http://www.3rddegree.net/season/dance.htm this is a good place to check back to. I more players up and down based on my observations, reports form others, and talking to coaches.
This really isn't much of a surprise. I was never able to verify how much (if any) he had played in Everton's junior program and apparently he's only played once for Ireland's U-18. Higgins, however, did attend and play for the same school where Damien Duff and several other prominent Irish footballers were discovered by EPL teams while in their teens.
Someone at the Monday practice told me: "If I was starting a rec-league team I would call you first, Peter, before I call that Higgins guy." So that is pretty damning, cause I suck. So i guess he is not the 2nd coming of Roy Keene. peet
Does McKeon have a real chance to make the team and if he makes it whose spot does he take? It sounds like he would only be interested if he got serious minutes so Deering is his prime competition. Is there room for both?
That's the name that jumped out at me, too. Does Deering still have one of the bigger salaries on the team, or did he negotiate down to a more reasonable price at some point? I assume Chris Klein would have the opportunity to re-sign with MLS at a lower wage, since he wasn't picked up on waivers. Then, if Dallas could sign him at the lower wage, he could play the role of "midfield-destroyer" that Josh Keller was expected to play and that Deering never could. That would mean Deering and his salary could be cut, right? Later, Deering could renegotiate to a more reasonable wage. alansl
Deering is in the 3rd year of a deal he signed just after Jeffries became coach. I think it was a 3yr deal.
A reasonably priced McKeon might be worth having around this season. Someone to push Deering a little. Could he handle not being the starter, though? I'm much more intrigued by the idea of the Burn going after some of those U-20 players (Moor and Klaas) if they go P-40 after their World Cup in March. We've got a couple more P-40 openings that they'd fill nicely.
According to Higgins' agent... "Stephen Higgins will be leaving the Dallas training camp early as he has picked up a serious ankle injury. He has struggled with the conditions over there, and while he has reported that Mike Jefferies and indeed the majority of the playing staff have been exceptionally welcoming to him,it is in his best interest to cut his trial short and maybe return when he knows what to expect. He was however full of compliments at the standard of play which they possessed and can see that the MLS is really going places."