It's official. I think Koutsias will do very well in Lugano. He'll get plenty of playing time for sure. Lugano is certain to make the knockout round of the Conference League and has a pole position to advance directly to the round of 16. They will be heavily favored to advance in the Swiss Cup. Oh, right, . . . they are at the top of the table in the Swiss League. Meanwhile, this move will open up a U-22 spot on the Fire roster. 1867585938530156928 is not a valid tweet id
There had been rumors of using a buyout on Koutsias…doesn’t look like that is the case, which I’m glad to see.
The Fire’s Poreba Signing/Promotion combined with the Koutsias loan to Lugano has the potential to be a very good long-term move. It could accelerate the development of both players. The Fire Koutsias announcement clearly stated both an international slot and a U22 slot were opened up. For now, I will assume that Koutsias salary is no longer included in Fire’s MLS Salary Budget and that the one per year Buyout for 2025 was not used. Despite the listed positives, these actions do not address the main weaknesses which need improvement. I do not remember anybody saying “the one thing we really need to do is to get Koutsias off the roster.” Hopefully things will change in the near future.
The Fire have apparently not selected a player in the Stage 1, Round 1 of the 2024 MLS Reentry Draft. This is not really a surprise, since the Fire have not selected a player in the Reentry Draft since 2012 (the "great" Miacon Santos. Incidentally, he was the ONLY player selected in Stage 1 of the 2012 MLS Reentry Draft). Also, only 3 or 4 players were selected in Stage 1, Round 1 this year (As far as i can tell, RSL, Minnesota and San Diego snatched a player apiece off the old scrap heap). We did grab Cory Gibbs in Stage 2, Round 1 in the 2010 Reentry Draft. By the way, Stage 2 of the 2010 Reentry Draft had some great players selected: Josh Wolff (grabbed by DCU) Jimmy Conrad Juan Pablo Angel Cory Gibbs Frankie Heyduk Jeff Cunningham Chris Seitz Tyrone Marshall And some good players who were not selected: Dema Jaime Moreno Dario Sala Pat Onstad Jovan Kirovski Preston Burpo and others Basically, you could build an MLS 1.0 "all star team" out of the players available.
I did not really think that much about it when I posted. I just saw it as a strange phenomenon that so many good/great players were being dumped by their teams. Actually, now that I think about it, it is the opposite. In 2010, there really was no "free agency," so this was often how "more experienced" players moved around. I mean Jaime Mareno and Heyduk had been in the league 14 seasons. Josh Wolff, Marshal, and Cunninham for 12. Insane that they were not able to just select a new team to join. Now, pretty much every one of the players on this would be a free agent, having met the definition of a free agent. The players currently in the "Reentry Draft" are players who are going out of contract AND are not eligible for free agency. Frankly, at this point, they need to dump the Reentry Draft and simply allow all out of contract players to become free agents, like pretty much every other "Major" football league does. The Reentry Draft is an archaic concept and (after reviewing every Reentry Draft since 2010, thanks Wikipedia!), a concept that almost not team buys into anymore. It is a restraint on the free movement of players not bound by contract to one team or another. Also, not really bound to the league anymore (which, of course, actually, still "owns" the players' contracts).
I’m not sure what browser you use but look for the button titled “Favorites” or “Bookmarks”, or something like that.
Well, there must be a number of deals in the works. Otherwise, the loan of our only other competent forward (besides Cuypers) makes no sense. The "Koutsias will get playing time at Lugano..." argument is silly, as he could get plenty of playing time here as things stand. The logical conclusion is to presume we are signing at least one or two attacking players who are better than our young Greek. The defense is also in shambles, but we all know that.
Replies in reverse order. Paragraph 4 - Defense needs a total rebuild. When available Teran is our only MLS starting level defender. Paragraph 3 - Hope so. Paragraph 2 - As long as Cuypers answers the bell he will get the bulk of the striker minutes. Koutsias will get better experience playing in knockout games and a title chase. Not silly. Paragraph 1 - Hope so.
Paragraph 2... Or, and hear me out with this crazy, crazy unheard of idea, we play with TWO forwards once in a while. Utilizing the talent we have. How does Liverpool manage to start three? Impossible! Shocking, I know. (I know that will not happen for us) How many "knockout" games make this worthwhile? Wait, the 2025 Chicago Fire are already out of the title chase?!? That's sad!
I believe Cuypers could be a second striker to Koutsias, but it will never happen. And while Liverpool has "forwards", not all are "strikers" in the way that all murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murders, councilor. Koutsias will be in a situation where he will be the man, which won't happen here. Until proven otherwise, the Fire will always be "an opponent" for the glamour teams.