This is just thinking off the top of my head and a lot of this hasn't been done. But with the possiblity of Moreno and Etcheverry being released something needs to be done to bid them a honorable farewell. They have brought much joy to RFK. Instead of the USMNT playing El Salvador the 17th. D.C. United, MLS, and US Soccer could arrange some kind of tribute games with the 17th bing an international date and the Bolivian National team not yet having scheduled a game. Couldn't all four organizations come together to recognize these players efforts in helping move D.C. United, our league and both national teams forward?
Ouch. As much as I wanted him to get the hell out of here this season, at least let him go with some pride left in him.
Moreno is perhaps the best player in the history of the league. I'd much rather see if he can bounce back next season. After all, it's not like Landon Donovan is waiting to take his roster spot with DC.
Exactly... A lot of posters seem to think it's pretty easy to just dump Moreno and find a suitable replacement for his salary spot.. Let me ask you this.. Just who out there is available to do this job? Name one person that MLS is interested in bringing in and basically say " we know you are making much more money where you are, but how about taking a severe pay cut and coming to the States to play for peanuts?" European and South American players are hardly knocking down the door to come play here in MLS.. As it happens, MLS has gotten very good at finding diamonds in the rough like Twellman and Ruiz of late (not to mention our own Milton Reyes), but to suggest that someone could replace Moreno this easily is ridiculous.. If United could land someone like Tyson Nunez, it would definitely be a good thing, but again, these guys don't want to leave their respective leagues to go to another country, learn another language, learn the style of play and to top it all off, earn in most cases significantly less than what they are earning now... Good luck finding a suitable replacement if Jaime goes away.. My experience in watching MLS for 7 years tells me it won't be easy to do...
Not only do I agree with Cweedchop, I don't understand why people seem to think Moreno is as good as gone. IIRC, Ray Hudson has made exactly one specific comment regarding Moreno's future with the club, and it was something about Ray making sure Jaime has a strong offseason, which implies United is planning to bring Jaime back. The other "evidence" is a bunch of shadowy statements about anonymous players.
While I agree that the Moreno of 98-00 will be difficult to repalce, the Moreno of 01 and 02 will not be hard to replace. I would imagine with the success of Reyes and Ruiz, that Central American players are starting to look at MLS as a good chance. It is Ray's job to scour CONCACAF and find someone who can do the job. Why anyone thinks Jaime will have a strong offseason or will work hard to get in shape is something that is way beyond me. It has not happened before. Sorry, we have missed the playoffs 3 straight years and need to stop living in the past.
As much as I agree that moreno is as good as gone I still think we keep him until spring training and see what he is like. It doesn't hurt us in any way, shape, or form to do this. However, when spring training roles around he has got to very fit, "hungry", and playing as if he is trying to earn a spot on the roster. If he comes in like the previous 2 years ditch him immediately. Doing this shows some loyalty to him for his past with the team and all he has given us. It gives him the opportunity to prove he still is worth it. Wether he would take advantage of that opportunity is unknown. Based on previous years I am skeptical that he would, but it does not hurt to extend him this one last chance to prove himself. We just need to be quick on the draw in preseason so that we don't get stuck with another year of underperformance.
Finding a replacement for his output this year doesn't seem that tough. Finding someone to do what he's done in the past will be a challenge, though.
As far as gamewinning goals and hard work goes. Ali Curtis was a better replacement this year than Moreno. Perhaps from this point forward they have similar potentials.
It absolutely does. The important part of the preseason started last Friday. By the time they start training in February, the pieces should already be in place so that they can get in some solid work as a unit. I think part of the problem this year -- in addition to the injuries and the general suckiness -- was that it all came together too late. Hudson didn't sign on until training was right on top of them, which held up other moves, the Reyes signing dragged on longer than the first Bush adminitration, and . . . . we waited to see what kind of shape Moreno came in at instead of seeking out a top-quality replacement. I think we've got to play the odds here, which seem pretty strongly to suggest that it's time to let Moreno try to start over at a new club, and get us the best new striker we can find.
HELL, with the way Moreno played this season we don't need Donovan to take his roster spot. I could do it, save the cap space and play just as crapy. TS.
The point is that Moreno could regain his form. He's only 28. It will be hard to find a replacement player with his potential even if we offerred them the maximum salary.