Glasgow has trained with the first team most of the season. My guess is he would be out of contract options at the end of this season so there's some urgency to get a deal done this window.
YES! But I hope he finds a team that fits his remaining talents and that he enjoys playing with. It is also appropriate to mention that it takes two to mutually terminate a contract. I have no idea what the deal made may or may not have included but want to thank Shaqiri for doing the deal now, especially if he made any concessions beneficial to the Fire. Completing this now allows more time to start the next step in the process of restoring the Fire.
Anybody know why Alex C says his departure does not open up a DP slot? Any guesses? Unless there is some arcane MLS rule that stipulates the slot does not open up until after end of season, I am totally mystified why no DP slot.
I believe that even if the window closes, that's only to players under contract. Aren't we able to sign out of contract players?
This is very similar to how the Fire obtained Bastian. He had been abandoned by Manchester United. The Fire did not want to pay any sort of transfer fee for him (but were happy to pay him $6,000,000). Man U wanted him off the books and fast (they were paying him $12,000,000). He and Man U agreed (after the ridiculous Paunovic meeting/stalking him at a restaurant or something) to terminate his contract effective immediately. He signed with the Fire. Hope it is a similar situation for Shaqiri.
YES! James Rodriguez here we come! Memphis (f/k/a Depay) here we come! There are also a few decent attacking midfielders out there as free agents. https://www.transfermarkt.us/statistik/vertragslosespieler
it's a pretty cryptic front office situation for someone who has no insider info but tries to figure out what is going on, especially when nobody but the team and head coach speak to the media makes it easy for people to post "you don't know what's happening behind the scenes" it's true, but not for lack of trying to figure it out!
As an outsider, it always appeared to be a package deal with Heitz/Pelzer. I know that Heitz leaving is for personal reasons, but it makes it even more awkward if the Fire are likely to go in a different direction with the sporting director role. Of course, that won’t happen until the end of the season. It sounds like they are/were instrumental in building the infrastructure that Shady dismantled under Andy, but the first team results suffered which is where the income is produced, Messi game excepted. I wonder what other domino is about to fall.
He may be able to recoup his investment, but would anyone interested in spending $600-700 million want to keep the team in Chicago? Between government and what's left of the fan base it's not like there's a welcoming atmosphere here.
sure but whose fault is that?? and I'm glad the government is not welcoming to subsidizing ANY pro team, even my favorite ones
Hope Pelzer’s stay is very brief. Somebody new would likely prefer to have some input on his assistant and not wonder where the loyalties are. I also think Joe would not want Pelzer advocating ideas obtained from Heitz.
Perhaps. He could be great for all I know, but he has certainly hidden his brilliance. Last few years have not been conducive to building an attractive resume’.
I don't know anything, but I don't have any gut feeling that Joe is looking to sell he seems to have a civic-minded motivations, he's invested in a European sister club, appears to genuinely like soccer who knows, but I don't get those vibes
Disagree. I saw him at multiple games, often with family. He just gave Heitz more time to get it right than most fans have patience for…but really is/was ‘professionally respectful’. Heitz Note: Heitz made multiple moves that were appluaded at the time and didn’t work out (Shaqiri, Torres, Przybylko, etc). But he also made multiple moves that did (Gaga, Duran, training center, etc).