Okay, I just read this, and if it doesn't scream "Fire goaltender of your choice and Evan Whitfield to Metro," I don't know what does. Dunno if we should add expansion draft speculation here, start a new thread, or let it live in the eighteen other threads in which it has shown it's face. Later, COZ
Re: Conspiracy Theory Suggesting that it means Fire GK of your choice + Whitfield to Metro is getting into "X-Files" territory. Having said that, I think its a good thing. IF the metroturds are looking to launch Walker, it could possibly increase the trade value of Thornton/Ring.
Re: Conspiracy Theory Who do the Mutts have that we would even want? Magee and Gaven are the only ones that come to mind. Sure they aren't giving Gaven up. Maybe Ricardo Clark but we are theoretically stacked in central midfielders. I don't care for any of their Internationals other then Guevara.
Re: Conspiracy Theory I want Magee... He's scored more in MLS then Jaqua. Also could be a better attacking midfield choice then what we have now.
A) - Goaltenders play hockey and lacrosse. Goalkeepers play soccer, I know Rob Stone has trouble with this so I can understand why there might be some confusion, but the position in soccer is a goalkeeper. I mean, have you ever head a goalie come off his like and yell "tender"? Thought not. I know I'm being a little anal here, but it's a pet peeve of mine. B) Word is D.J. Countess is losing his Project 40 status, will be exposed in the expansion draft and be reunited with his former mentor John Ellinger in Utah. I'm told D.J. is already in the process of moving out of his place in Chicago. So, if the Fire are sending Whitfield and a "keeper" to the MetroStars, it's either gonna be Thornton or Ring since DJ won't be available and Peter Wilt has already said he expects Matt Pickens to be back next year.
Re: Conspiracy Theory Not this year. Agreed. Inasmuch as prying Gaven away from them is not very likely, Magee would be my second choice. And he could help us out on the attacking end.
Re: Conspiracy Theory I'd take Magee. Ring and Whitfield to Metro, along with a pick even. Magee is class. Realistically, doubt we'd get him. Now (not saying this is even possible) Razov Ring Whitfield to Metros for Magee Regan picks Well...I wouldn't be happy to see Razov go to another club in the east; frankly he'll kill us; but other than asking Metro for Amado Guevara (hah) this might be something I would at least consider.
What it screams to me is that Nick S is just as big of an idiot as he ever was. Nothing like publicly disparaging/humiliating your coach and players. "He's got to fix that." "This performance is not good enough." "Our goaltending was atrocious ..." "You have to wonder what kind of difference Tim Howard would have been this year." Way to engender loyalty and trust, Nick. They must have offered B.O.B. a ѕhit-pile of $$$ to go work in that environment.
Re: Why Nick S. is a Mope I agree with this... One never hears the great Peter Wilt ever disparage anyone who works in his organization publickly. Nor does one routinely hear Sir Alex say a bad word about anyone at Man Ure. This promotes loyalty internally, and promotes percieved value of your players/staff externally. From the Metroturds' standpoint, what possible benefit can come of Nick S. terming Walker's performance as "atrocious?" Even if Walker played like shyte, A smart GM would hold back such an opinion, in the off chance that another, dumber front office would take a flyer at him. [Substitute "Perez" for "Walker" in that sentence, and you'll see an example of fine management...]
Re: Why Nick S. is a Mope Well, it's not like no one knew he was an idiot/jerk prior to this, but he has been laying kind of low this year and letting B.O.B be the mouth of the club. There might have been hopes lingering in secret places that someone put a muzzle on him, or that he had an epiphany and saw (some of) the error of his ways. Apparently not.
Now that I've opened this can of worms, about Magee... I think he'd only make sense if we let go of Razov or didn't re-sign Herron. I like him, sure, but he'd be behind those two and Ralph in the lineup, probably in a dogfight with Nate Jaqua. Same goes for Cornel Glen, for that matter, who I think Metro would be more inclined to offer. Any other ideas? I figure either Pause or Beute is expendable, either through expansion or trade. Who might want one of them? Also, if we were to, say, let go of Evan, could Pause be an outside defender in a 4-4-2? He was always touted as both a midfielder and a defender, but he's almost certainly too small to play the outside in a 3-5-2. Later, COZ
I have no interest in Cornel Glen. If we can use Razov as trade bait to get something useful, I'd be all for it. I don't think we give him up for scraps though. If he's still healthy he might have something to give. The bigger question is if he is professional enough to play a subs role if we resign Herron and he pans out.
Can't Magee play right wing, I seem to remember him sending in some pretty nice crosses and playing well there this year.
If Jaqua is still around, one. And two, I was thinking of him also as an attacking or wing midfielder. I still think we'll be hard-pressed to wring him out of B.O.B.'s hands. Mapp-Magee-Capano would be absolutely LETHAL though.
I agree: While Magee and Capano would make an attempt to earn their pay checks, Mapp will continue to bore us to death with his lack of effort! He's Bobby Convey Lite...
I've had the privilege of seeing all three play together. if the fire can get that on the field, ever we'd have the best young core if not in MLS, in all of North America.
It looks good but what worries me is lack of experience and defensive abilities. If Armas or Marsch go down for a chunk of the regular season we could end up missing playoffs again. I bet other teams would control the midfield and have a run at our defense all game. But we would probably blame our defenders again.
Hopefully Wilt is looking to bring in one or two mifielders who will control the midfield, besides armas and marsch.
I'd rather lose the rehabbing Razov than the showed a lot in the short time he has been here Herron, if I was making the choice. I'm no doctor, but I just wonder how good Razov will be anymore. Those injuries aren't easy to bounce back from.
Re: Conspiracy Theory Jaqua's going to be an unstoppable goal scorer and assist man for the Fire next season,(as long as Dave gives him time to play) He's like a young Kohler from B Dortmond. Also, Magee does'nt match up with Jaqua in any category. I would also try to keep as many players that we have now including: Mapp, Capano, Beute, Pause, and Dipsy.
Re: Conspiracy Theory I'm awed by this post. Using Jaqua in the same context as Jan Koller is an outrage. The first problem with this is Jaqua has poor ball control, it almost looks like he is still growing into his frame as he consistently struggles to get around defenders. Secondly, and more importantly, Jaqua has shown absoultley no ability to score difficult goals with his feet. Jaqua may be an asset in the air, but his lack of speed and ability with his feet will keep him what he is today: A fringe MLS player. Magee kills Jaqua in ballcontrol, speed, finishing, and passing. In fact the only think Jaqua has over Magee is aerial prowess, and age, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I don't think Magee is the answer either to be honest, he is a tweener and hasn't been able to break through despite the Metros' attack woes, I don't see him coming in and displacing Herron/Razov/Ralph (I figure at least 2 of the 3 to be here). If Jaqua leads the team in either assists or goals we'll be bottom of the table again. And I'll eat my hat (if I had a hat of course).