Buyout language...it appears the 'mutual' part may be key to getting the Salary Budget freed up...but doesn't make much sense why a player would be a buyout and not end the contract. Buyout of Guaranteed Contract A club may buyout up to two players (including a Designated Player) who have a Guaranteed Contract and free up the corresponding Salary Budget space each year. Such a buyout is at the club's expense and may apply to any mutually terminated contracted player or to a contract that remains in effect. The buyout may be conducted in-season or during the offseason. If the buyout is conducted in-season, it must be concluded by the close of the Secondary Transfer Window. Before a player is considered a buyout, the league in its discretion may place the player on Waivers to be made available to all clubs. If a team no longer has its two buyouts of a guaranteed contract, it may enter settlement discussions with a player, but such settlement shall continue to apply to the team’s Salary Budget. If said player is a Designated Player, he will continue to occupy a Designated Player position on the team’s roster.
I haven't been on a MIR97 podcast all year. At least not an official one, I've been on Hot Takes. Personally, I'd never talk sh!t about Lewy. That would probably be John. I don't know, I've gotta catch up on the pods because I took a month off from the gym and that's where I usually listen. EDIT: John usually looks at MLS a bit more conservatively, wanting the club to utilize more domestic quality. He's the guy who's a big fan of Dean, who went after Bamba earlier in the season. While I am "John", we make sure there's the distinction when I'm introduced as Jiggly.
Wherever they were and whatever they did, it was still a team that had three forwards on the field, and not because of injury or something. It was intentional.
Drinking, sleeping, also been dealing with some bad mental health stuff through the holidays, fatigue from this finally being the end of the school year. I think I told someone that any sports opinion I tweet out on school days between the hours of 3PM-5:30PM KST should not be trusted because my brain has not fully recovered from dealing with these children.
First line of rule you quoted says a Buyout frees up the Salary Budget space. Also- actual contract is with MLS, not the club. Not sure it makes any difference but a contract only be mutually terminated between player and MLS. I am going to continue thinking a Buyout under MLS rules does not require player consent/ agreement while a Mutual Termination under MLS rules as mutually agreed upon and might include concessions by player when a contract is ended or modified.
I'm pretty sure the details included a 300,000 pierogi buyout clause with a 60,000 Halupki( Gołąbki ) tray transfer fee.
Internationals: Bamba Barroso Cuypers D'Avilla Dithejane Franco Glasgow MHS Mbokazi Radojevic Saletros Waterman Zinckernagel Fortunately, Lod already has his Green Card. I imagine Cuypers and Waterman and Glasgow should be close to receiving Green Cards MHS should, but, as has been discussed, that can be difficult for people from Switzerland. Zinckernagel and D'Avilla and Bamba and Barroso are least a year or two away, most likely. The new guys (Dithejane, Franco, Mbokazi, Radojevic, Saletros) are years away.
The good thing here is that there are not glaring holes going into the season. Areas of continuing concern: Back up striker (still and always) Left Back (we all like Gutman, but we could/should do better and we know nothing about Radojevic) Right Back (a kid and the "competent" Dean do not fill me with optimism) I think Elliott and Waterman both start. If Waterman is not starting, he should be gone.
Agree we are in as good a place going into the season as we have been in a long time -I'm not worried about backup striker. Hugo is a workhorse, Shokalook is 'a good young bench rider', and it keeps the door open for Lewy. -Having U22s for both LB & RB trying to take starting duties from 'veterans' in front of them makes me not worried but anxious to see their play. Hoping Gutman and Bamba can reignite the chemistry they had early in 2025. -Not sure why you'd dump Waterman if he isn't starting over Mbokazi...Waterman + Mbokazi makes it possible to play 3 CBs and provides much better depth than Rogers. -My main concern is CDM. Davilla is good, but raw and has not found how to connect with the back line. Our weakness last year was Goals Against (GA)...Davilla's play was a part of that. Pineda is good depth, but not really a 'midfield boss'. If we don't get Lewy, this is where I'd look to use the 3rd DP tag....which would bring backup striker back into consideration. Option B) maybe Saletros slots in at CDM when Franco returns and the DP tag is held until a marquee name to open the new stadium can be acquired
MIR97's 4-3-3 looks accurate, the alternate 3-4-3 (thought about it because of the Waterman should be gone comment). Granted the CMs could be side by side or diamond. I like the idea of one being more distinctly tasked with connecting with the back line and the other to connect between the lines, in reality it would likely be a mix. Just comes down to GGG wanting Waterman or Davilla on the pitch and how we match up against the opponent. P.S. No realistic 2 striker options with current roster...would change if Lewy joins.
I did NOT say that Waterman "should be gone." I said he should be starting and if he is not starting, he should be gone. I am yet not convinced that Mbokazi will step in and start from day 1, especially as I have never seen him play (nor had I heard about him previously), although the reports from AFCON are very encouraging. That is a very different sentiment than the way you portrayed my comment. He is too good and too expensive to be a back up for this team. I would say precisely the same thing about: Cuypers Elliott Zinckernagel Bamba That said, IF Mbokazi is as good as it seems, then we have greatly improved center back, what was a weakness last season, at least until Waterman arrived. If Mbokazi is that much better than Waterman (and that very well could be, and, hopefully, should be, the case), that makes Waterman expendable for the Fire. Waterman is an MLS veteran. I am sure there are plenty of teams (like the 2025 Chicago Fire) would could use a good, steady, veteran MLS quality center back. I do not want Waterman to leave. I want Waterman to play...unless we have improved the position to the point that he is no longer needed. Edit, I take back my comment about Waterman starting or leaving. He is made $555,000 last season, per MLSPA salary posting. I thought he was making closer to a million, which factored into my comment. If Elliott and Mbokazi are the first tier center back pairing, we can keep Waterman as our own veteran back up. I retract my previous position. Keep him. Play him. Hold on to him as a back up for Elliott or Mbokazi.
Simply because last season we scored 68 goals and gave up 60 goals (should be 40 or less), and we added Waterman and Mbokazi to help the back line but stayed with the young U22 CDM. Davilla started the season horribly (lots of boo birds), he made good growth throughout the season, but finished with multiple ‘reasonably avoidable’ mistakes as the season wrapped up. I’m not hating on Davilla, he doesn’t suck, I’m just doubting he is ready to anchor this strong attacking team for a cup run. Depth-wise, Pineda is nearly an even trade (better decisions and connection with teammates, not as good of an athlete). And as I look across the hypothesized formations, it’s the position that I think upgrading would make the most difference. Bottomline, CDM is not ‘a problem’ just the position I have the most concern about.
I admit I too worry about D'Avila as a lone cdm starting. That being said...maybe he will not start depending on...1) We get Lewy (formation change?) and 2) GGG starts someone over Dje. Dje is still young after all. And I do not mean starting Pineda over him but one of the new guys...and...that might make for a 2 cm intertwining sort of thing as someone mentioned...which honestly if the duo can pull it off...I love that sort of free flowing movement back and forth...but that takes damn good chemistry. I could see Berhalter trying it though.