Not knowing all the things that happened behind the scenes, it’s extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make objective evaluations now of this deal on an overall basis or strictly based upon on team field play. Perhaps we can by end of season. Really rolling the dice so the payoff better justify the risk.
I know everyone is worried about Lewy getting injured, but Cuypers could also get injured as well. Wasn't he already injured earlier this season. I know it stings because Cuypers was good player and great guy, but you do not turn down the opportunity to get Lewandowski. I was one of the ones really upset about losing Harry Shipp and Mihailovic too and thinking the fire totally missed out, but neither of them became superstars like we all thought.
Rewatched the presser, and the two topics that stuck out to me were 1) 4-4-2 was ‘an experiment’, not GGG’s preferred tactics 2) (with DP tag and GAM) looking to improve the team in other parts of our game (e.g. CDM )
Actual quotes from the presser… “Robert is going to have to play, that's why he's here,” Berhalter said. “He's here to play games, and we are going to get him as much game time as he can handle until these next couple weeks, next couple months.” “If you look at our team right now, it's the same except for Robert switching out for Hugo, and we've done fine up until then,” Berhalter said. “You would think, based on that equation, we would be better“
If this was true Cuypers would be in the running to be a striker at Barcelona, not Monterrey. Barca tried to keep Lewy, he just wouldn't accept a nonstarter role. I can't wait for him to play and shut people like you up.
I'm sad this move put Cuypers in a position where he wanted to leave, and I'm not convinced we are a better team today than we were before the Lewandowski signing. I don't care about big name signings as much as I care about the success of the team. I trust that Berhalter knows what he is doing, but at the moment, these moves have decreased my excitement for the rest of the season. In the end, Cuypers is a player who could have been a major part of this team for the next 5-7 years if he wanted to stay, and that's obviously not the case with Lewandowski.
I may have missed it, but I do not recall ever seeing any Indication from GGG that he is looking to depart Da’Villa.
It does not generate any GAM, when it’s the first contract the sale has to be greater then the purchase price.
He did note name names, just said strengthen other areas…I added the .e.g. is for example because it would seem the most obvious area to improve. I’m curious, what other part of our game would you t honk GGG would be referring to? It may not be CDM specifically that he was referring to, but (as crowded as the midfield is) it seems the most likely area he was referring to. After that, it would be giving up in Barroso and bringing in a stronger RB
Franco, D'Avilla & Barroso were brought in through the influence of Portugese former assistant Felipe Çelikkaya, now the manager at Hungarian club Zalaegerszeg TE. Ironically, the youth coach at ZTE is former Premier League and France defender William Gallas.
Option c) use the DP tag on a KDB type 10 (and shift plans for Franco to the 8). But knowing GGG has preference of playing 4-3-3 with dual 8s I’d not expect he’d go after a true 10 Me, I’d go after a Bousquets type/style DP CDM, as you know
If Cuypers wanted to stay he could have. He chose to leave despite the fire modifying their system to 4-4-2. It's his perspective alone that made him want to leave. Getting a player of Lewandowski's caliber would've have helped him too but if his ego was hurt and he asked to leave, I wish him luck, but I care about the fire winning in all aspects and want them to get the best in the world. I'm sick of seeing the best players go to Miami and LA and felt Chicago should also do that. Lewy's signing is not just for short term change, but long term. I for one was not against his signing, obviously.
And D'Avilla. Right back & CDM are not hard positions to fill with domestic players in MLS and they should only take up U-22 slots if they are big talents. Use U-22 slots for attacking players that have the potential to bring in a big return in 2-3 years. If Barroso could stay on the field he could pay off. D'Avilla has been given every chance to show his tool kit and it's barely above MLS replacement level.
There is something to be said for having a Busquets, Nagbe, etc type to be a destroyer and connect the defense and offense
Doubtful it was ego or not wanting to play with Lewy… I’d wager it was career arc, money and age. Could he have waited, taken the option at current wages and gotten more this time next year? Maybe. Is it ‘good business’ to lock in a significant pay raise with lots of unknowns ahead? Certainly.
Maybe my mind is befuddled. Or maybe yours. Think there was a different rule for DPs that had something to do with your comment but believe it has been changed. Also, it is not the purchase price that is used, it is the unrecovered cost.So the amount drops to zero as time passes. I believe Cuypers is down to $2.1 million at mid-year so this should not be a problem. I would check all this once again but just do not feel like it. You should check for yourself if you doubt me.
The only other angle that comes to mind is if the Guti GAM hit the $3m cap for 2026, but I thought it was executed Dec2025 and 2026 was reset to $3m possible GAM capture.
Mueller didn’t travel? Mbo carrying a ding from the WC? Chicago Fire FC availability report vs Inter Miami #cf97 #VamosFire pic.twitter.com/GISazFIHPy— Joe Chatz (@JoeChatz) July 21, 2026
True but I think any GAM generated by sales at/after Mid-season can be designated for current or for following year. Not positive this is correct but did see it someplace.