As expected Western New York is coming into the league. As of now, the expansion draft is scheduled for October. Jeff Kassouf of the Equalizer expects the protected lists to be less than 11. For discussion purposes, let's say 10. Who's on your list for the Breakers (regardless of contract status at this point)?
My list: Jordan Angeli, Leslie Osborne, Alyssa Naeher, Lindsay Tarpley, Amy LePeilbet, Lauren Cheney, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith, Kristine Lilly, Ifeoma Dieke.
Smith Scott Lepelbet Osburne Cheney Dieke Tarpley Angeli Naeher Cox I do not think Lilly will play for another team so don't start on me about leaving her off
I thought about that too, but remembered MLS drafts and Toronto taking Jason Kreis and trading him back to RSL. I dont want to give up draft picks to keep a player on the team. I know Leslie is def under contract for next year and that Cheney, Naeher. Angeli, and Tarpley should be, but who knows.
Yes but one of your stipulations was "regardless of contract status"... I don't think BuufRoch can afford to waste a pick if there is any chance Lil would just retire rather than move. Which may happen anyway, or may a couple more years away..... I added Cox over her because left backs seem to be at a premium. Now, if Lil wanted to drop back........
I'd agree with Matt: Angeli, Cheney, Dieke, LePeilbet, Lilly, Naeher, Osborne, Scott, Smith, Tarpley. Cox was certainly an upgrade over Mitts and it wouldn't be easy to replace her, so I'd hope she didn't get picked. I just see fewer flaws in the these 10. If the Buffalo/Rochester/NY/whatever whatchamacallits are looking for a keeper, Phillips or Lipsher should be appealing to them.
In terms of keepers I don't think Philly would protect both Henderson and LeBlanc nor would Sky Blue protect both Bardsley and Branam. Course the free agent thing really will throw all of this off.
Lindsay Tarpley is a free agent and thus would neither be protected by the Breakers for the expansion draft, nor would she be eligible for selection. She can negotiate with any WPS club for 2011, including the Breakers and the Western New York franchise. She would only need to be protected by the Breakers if she were re-signed prior to the expansion draft.
Last year, multiple teams protected 2 keepers in their 9 player list. That's how LA & FCGP got multiple draft picks from ATL & Philly. Granted, the 2011 draft will not be nearly as deep as the 2010 one was but still.... Thank you for the contract status on Tarpley. My semi-baseless speculation is that multiple "name" players (eg Abby & Tarpley) are out of contract this season. Clever GMs that have good relationship w/ said players (and "know" they are going to re-sign them) might be able to keep more of the team intact by delaying some contract negotiations...
In view of the players lost in last year's draft(Schmedes & Weber), of which I don't either was seriously missed. I don't expect the Breakers to lose anybody that was critical to their success this season either. It is always unfortunate to lose players but the talent pool is still pretty deep. Especially seeing as the new Super League seems to only be concentrating on signing players from the British isles. I would also suspect that Tarpley would have the Breakers pretty high on her wish list of clubs to sign with for next season.
Thanks Andy. Just thought for a minute her Breakers contract was longer than 2010, but maybe most of the dispersed Athletica folks were on deals that end with the current season. Please bring her back, but in November.
Thanks for the info Andy.... But you know me....Now I want my mile! Is Lindsay our only free agent?? How soon can we see a list of all WPS free agents?? With the new players union I'd assume this stuff to be "leaked" out eventually so I hope WPS and the union get in front of it and put all the cards on the table.... Let's keep the few of us that talk...talking in the offseason!
I'd like to think this goes without saying....but it is WPS. I hope the league (and the 7 current teams) have proper funding to return in '11 before holding an expansion draft....this time. If one (or more) teams have to fold just relocate....
As for contract status. Andy was kind enough to fill us in on LePeilbet. I know that Smith signed a 3 year deal with an additional year option. And it has been rumored that Osbourne signed a multi-year deal last year. Does anybody know of any other players that are definitely signed for next season?
I would've suspected the same thing but if I remember correctly Scott only signed a 2 year deal when she initially signed with Chicago.
For the Boston Breakers: Exposed: Liz Bogus Ashley Phillips WPS Rights to Cynthia Morote-Ariza WPS Rights to Ji So-Yun Protected: Jordan Angeli Lauren Cheney Ifeoma Dieke Taryn Hemmings Amy LePeilbet Kristine Lilly Alyssa Naeher Leslie Osborne Alex Scott Kelly Smith So...questions?
I'd love to know more about leaving Ji So-Yun unprotected, but you probably can't answer those questions. It could be that you already know she's going to sign in Germany, or you don't want to sign her, or that you think no one would select her. Curious. Otherwise the only surprise to me is the inclusion of Hemmings at the expense of Bogus. I see from the free agent list that Patrizia Panico is available. Can you sign her to a special contract that would allow her to be put in a dunk tank in Breakerstown before every home game?
We've had Ji So-Yun's rights for several months and had several conversations. We are very far apart and it makes no sense to protect that level of conversation at the expense of a valued player from what was a pretty good team this year. So that was the basis of that decision. You won't see Panico in Boston, at least not in blue.
I wouldn't want to see her in Breaker Blue, just perched over a tank of water with a pile of baseballs nearby. I might like to do worse, but this seemed more civil.
More of a comment. I like how you and your staff handled the options business. Whether or not it was intentional, it gives (IMO) the appearance that some moves were made because of the expansion draft and its rules of protection. December 1st will be interesting (I hope).