The Power and Spirit pulled off the biggest numbers-wise trade in league history. NY gets: Margaret Tietjen, Shannon Boxx, Sherrill Kester. SD gets: Jen Lalor, Wynne McIntosh.... and the top pick in next year's WUSA draft. Make that a double for Millie, please; she'll need it after this Paul
I'm kind of bummed now. The Charge just fell to second place on the "Biggest trades fleecing the Power" list. As for dreaming up a trade, I'll give it a shot. I'll qualify this by saying I don't know squat about their team, other than they hardly scored and gave up a slew of goals. ... On second thought, I have no idea. I can't come up with any players that I'd be willing to give up that the Spirit would likely want in any deal. Part of me would like nothing more than to take a chance and jump on any chance of getting Aly on this team. The other half of me thinks about what this team has done the last two years and has second thoughts about doing anything drastic. Just use the two first round picks to add depth, get our injured healthy for the second half of next season, at the minimum, and hope for the best.
Damn right. When you do the arithmetic, adding and subtracting the bodies to gain the right to pick Aly first in the draft, SD gave up the # 2 pick and a starter. Is Aly only worth that much to NY? For all I know, Krikorian may have talked trade, but NY may not have been interested with the 6th and 7th picks, and a starter. SD have already made their move for Aly, & SD will not give her up unless it involved Pichon or Kelly Smith. With Aly out of the equation, I say keep the 6th & 7th picks. This season's crop of seniors may be deeper than last season's.
Cachundo, would our favorite destroyer make it to #6?? And if not, would trading #6 and #7 to get #3 too much a trade-off considering you'd get two picks at #6 and #7. The big issues, is what happens to the Chinese? And then roster limitations, having a #3 and NOT #6 and #7 is less roster pressure. And the #3 assumes a role which moves Fair out wide, assuming Zhao is gone???
This is assuming the Charge haven't already tried. It's actually quite possible that they offered NY something, but lost out to the Spirit. Though, I'll admit, I don't know how bad our offer would have been to be passed over for the Spirit's offer. Something like an autographed Mitts cover Philadelphia Magazine and Smith's used leg brace. If San Diego is willing to accept something involving the two picks and one player not named Smith, Frenchie, Tullock, Moore or TIMBer, than I say go for it. Otherwise, stick with what we've got and we'll let our team run through everyone, including the premier edition of the Wagner show.
I didn't say you couldn't or shouldn't. But you have to be willing to pay a high price to do so. Given your propensity to go bonkers, I'd love to see you react to a Kelly Smith for Aly Wagner trade. LOL.
Well, we all know who's going to go first and second. If BOS don't trade their # 3 pick to the Charge, they'll probably pick Orlandos. Things get a little more difficult afterwards ..... Assuming SJ hang on to # 4, their need is for another talented scorer. Sawyers is high on Cal's Laura Schott. Nebraska's Latham may not be a bad choice either. Assuming ATL hang on to # 5, they'll patiently wait for SJ to pick their choice of forward, then choose the one that's left. If SJ pick Schott, Latham would be a bonanza for ATL. ATL's direct style would be nothing new for her. With Latham, ATL takes care of one of their international spots. Plus, all those Canadians with ATL would make Latham feel at home, eh? PHL at # 6 would then have their destroyer. However, if there's an opportunity to trade up, I'd do it. I don't expect CAR to sit still at # 8. Hanging on to the two first-rounders may mean losing a talented back-up(s) to roster cuts. It really becomes a difficult choice of losing an experienced & talented back-up, or of losing the opportunity to draft a new talent.
Well, that didn't happen... Give up on Wagner, there's only one team in the league stupid enough to pass on her and they already did it. There's nothing you can offer SD that will get them to trade her rights.
We don't need her, Kelly Smith is what we need. What we have are picks 4,6,7... and pick 4 will be a pure destroyer, and we can move Fair out of that role... 6 will be Solo, and 7 will be another scorer.. It's called reloading. And if the above scenario fails, then we end up with Orlandos instead of the destroyer...
I'm not all sound and fury all the time, Cachundo... There would be limits, of course. My plan was to dangle both '03 first rounders, the '04 first-rounder and Clemens to San Diego, and see if the Spirit would bite. But the Charge did the next best thing, I believe, today. Both sides came out the better. Clemens goes home, and we get another draft pick, ahead of Atlanta. This is so un-Philadelphian of our major teams; to do something to actually attempt to improve themselves when it comes to a draft ...usually we're trading away primo talent for absolutely nothing in return (see Trotter, Jeremiah, PHL Iggles ;-) for exhibit A). Like rapper Ice Cube said nearly a generation ago, today was a good day. Paul
Sanity alert - I'm alibi-ing for the Power! (just playing devil's advocate for a moment...) They see Welsh and see the Hermann and M.A.C. POY awards she won last year and that's their justification for trading down to get her. Simple as that. But you said last month: What made you change your mind? Or am I misinterpreting things? Paul
What we have here is a reverse weauxf... It would seem, barring the second coming, she'll be one of those picks... Paul
A few college games. Call me brain-dead. But one statement was made after the fact, after all these players played, succeeded, and/or failed last season. And the other statement was made assessing the talent available next season. I don't think Krikorian would have made this trade without having a good idea who he wants. That is, if draft day was today, he'd be ready to make his picks.
Not at all trying to sound snide, but "Duh!". If Coach K, or any coach for that matter, makes a trade like this for a draft pick without having a specific player in mind, I'd wager they won't be coaching, or at least making personnel decisions, for very long. Unless his plan is to either kidnap and/or inebriate the GMs picking before him so we get Wagner. In that case, it's probably easier to deal with 3 instead of 5 people. I have faith in Coach K's decision. I just wish we didn't have to wait to see where he's going with it. Oh, and I agree that we don't need Wagner, but I sure wouldn't have minded seeing her in our starting XI.
San Diego needs to take Wagner, she's what they need and she's the best player out there, and will be a dominating player, combo Sissi/Kelly Smith... NY seems to want Welsh, but they might be willing to part with #2, for two first round picks, but we don't really want Welsh, Or do we?? NY with 2 picks, could get Solo and another player? Orlandos seems to be a perfect fit for Boston, put Pia might opt for a destroyer, but the safer pick is Orlandos. So, Charge can take the next best player, and I say Callie Withers at 5'9" and 165 has really good size, is a dominant player in the air like Iverson, tackles like Benson, and has some of Tullocks mobility and skill... #5 Atlanta, do they want a keeper or is Latham from Nebraska the right fit for their style... #6. Solo, young talented keeper who won't be thrown to the wolves at all, but can play 7 matches while Moore plays 14... #7, a forward, and my pick has yet to be named, so I won't let you know, except the clue is Cal... ALL THE ABOVE IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
Schott at #7 I think Philly will shoot for Schott at #7 - unless she is taken before us - if she is, i think Kirk from Cal is also looking very good this season - with Schott being out of 7 of Cals games this year - Kirk has really shown her stuff...and Philly needs a good midfielder to pass the ball to Pichon and Smith. Adam - did I name your Cal pick?
asmanley and runbabyrun win the award for reading my mind... they can pick up their crystal ball, next home match for the Charge... I think I'll get one out of the 3 right.. Schott is the forward...
http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat/chatESPN?event_id=2491 if you really want a sneak peek at the big secret...
Adam - I beat you to it. I posted a question for Callie this morning. Let's see what she says about the possibility of coming to Philly! Alecia
well I'm on ESPN right now, but nothing is happening. I sent a few comments... see how big she is...wambach's got nothing on her
John (Redwood City): Congrats on the season thus far! What would you say is your biggest asset to the team? Callie Withers: (4:25 PM ET ) I think my strong physical presence and my quick feet despite my large size.