Ok, I admit it, I was wrong. I thought Ray and Dave Kaspar were NUTS when they traded Eddie Pope, Jaime Moreno and Richie Williams away for what looked like a bag of Cheetohs (tm), a pair of dirty socks and a six pack of Miller Lite (tastes great or less filling - I think I'll have to watch that commercial again before I decide). I was pissed. Eddie Pope has always been one of my favorite DC United players. Ditto for Jaime, but I could understand that trade more than Eddie's. However, looking at the thing with 20/20 hindsight, it appears that Ray and Dave had some clever ideas in mind. We get Earnie Stewart (for far less than max salary), we get Mike Petke, we get Ivanov, we might very well get Stoichkov as a player/coach, we get Kovalenko, we might see the return of John Harkes (who should retire in a DC United jersey), and we've still got cap room after all that. So, I take back what I said in the "Time For Ray To Go" thread. I was wrong. I was angry at the time, but now I know that I was also wrong. Kudos to Ray and Dave. Now let's win MLS Cup 2003.
OK Mike, we who were telling you to be patient won't say "I Told you so" if you promise not to say it to us if Ray takes this talent and completely screws it up and we start out 0-10!!!
don't forget Mike that we also can get Alecko - to have Convey, Alecko and Santino developing is also pretty potent .... oh - I like Cheetohs and cheese.
Back-up forwards of Quintanilla, Curtis, and Alecko sounds pretty good also. The team will have decent depth at all of the field positions (Prideaux may be on the bench, Reyes can play midfield, Alegria will likely be on the bench, also the #5 pick can be used for a quality college player or U-17). Now they need to find a second keeper with a second or third round pick.
I see the potential for a very impressive team now as well as down the line. If we do well this year, Etch can retire on top, we won't have a bunch of cap problems for the next few years. Yes, many players will increase their pay if we do well, and a few may move on (Q1), but we have a number of mid-priced, good players (St. Nick, Prudeiux, Petke, Reyes, Nelsen, Kovalencko, Benny), that are in the prime of their careers as well as a few that are still young (Convey, Q1, Q2, Alecko?). These players can be the core of a championship team that won't have to be gutted as soon as we win.
Don't get back on the bandwagon too soon. There's still a chance to F-up the draft by doing something really, really stupid like trading a draft pick for Stoichkov. I'm holding out my "Ray can stay" until I see the final roster.
We can have even more. We can hope for even more. If we hold on to draft picks, #1, 5, 11 & 14, and use the two later picks?, we can have a litter of youngsters for Stewart, Stoichkov, Harkes? and McKinley to mentor. Because this is a very deep draft, we can get a striker, a d-mid, a defenseman, a creative mid-fielder, a keeper--and a wing? (Or trade a later pick for an experienced player.) And, off the waiver wire, someone for free, possibly the d-mid or defenseman. All--including the second allocation, Ivanov--because we made the trade. People forget that the trade enabled us to pay for our first allocation--ill-earned. Without the trade we could not have been able to pay Stewart. We're not done yet.
Re: Re: OK, Ray can stay - I was wrong How stupid trading a pick for Stoichkov is depends on 1) which pick, and 2) what Hristo's new, reduced salary is (the non-coaching part). If Hristo only counts 50-70K against the cap, and Ricardo Clark is gone by pick #5, I wouldn't be too upset by a trade. And anything below a first round pick wouldn't be so bad either. However, if Hristo counts $100K+ and we trade away (essentially) the rights to Eskandarian or Clark, I'll be a little annoyed. Still, I must say that I'm very pleased with the moves thus far, and in no mood to call for the head of Hudsper on a platter.
Ray and Kasper have made some pretty good moves so far. I see no need to assume they'll screw things up with the draft picks, Stoitchkov, Harkes etc. I'm pretty confident.
1. Even with Marco retiring in 2004, we will have cap issues. Ray has admitted that. The allocation (which has the effect of raising our cap by $150K in 2003 with Earnie since he came on a free transfer) is gone so we take a hit there. If Alecko plays a lot, he'll lose P-40 status (and we'll take a big hit there). Other plays will see pay increases (especially if the season is successful). But that is life in MLS. If Ray has shown anything from his year in Miami and this season, it's that he's comfortable completely retooling. Life with a hard salary cap in MLS may require that. We got spoiled under Arena in the early years where we had a core team and then just shuffled the pieces around them. 2. Basically the roster is set. Stoichkov and Harkes are AFTER the draft (Kasper has said it's 90% sure we're not dealing the first 2 picks, Goff said those guys will come in a couple of weeks). McKinley is out (achilles tendon tear but shouldn't count on the cap or roster since it was an unofficial workout, not during the season or an exhibition). Add Stoichkov and Harkes and we're at....18 players. Everyone else is either P-40 or developmental. And we should have a shot at good P-40 players as late as round 3. 3. The only changes in this are: (a) the acquisition of a reserve goal keeper (where we may trade for someone or sign an A-leaguer--a player who isn't cap exempt and then one of our veterans would need to go; (b) we acquire someone via waivers (though a Dante Washington us much less attractive now b/c if we acquire a veteran by waivers, we'd need to clear cap room for them if they made decent bucks. PLUS, we don't need that many veterans now--especially depending upon our draft); or (c) a draft day trade (which is VERY possible). Kasper has hedged on keeping the second round picks. Wouldn't be shocked if we saw a deal with Chicago or the SoS. Chicago might try to deal us Jessie Marsch, SoS might try Moore (have no idea if we're interested in him). Both would be relatively cheap and give us depth at D-mid for when Nelsen is gone. KC might push us on a deal (Matt McKeon) but again, he's likely to be waived. 4. I think Connelly is right. Given how Clark looked at camp, the likelihood that the SoS will deal down, I think our top two picks will be: Eskandarian and Stokes. While I'd like one of the top 2 D-mids, I can definitely live with Eskandarian and Stokes.
So we're OK with Ray now? Damn, I had the t-shirts made up and everything. I think this is going to be a GREAT season. We may not have the perfect allocation of talent to position, but DANG! have we got some players. And nobody will have more passion.
These all look like good moves to this point. I however will reserve judgement to see how well it works out on the field. It will not change how much I shout from my seat. I still reverse the right, though to recall my cheers. I have gained more faith however in Hudspar based on the fact that he did not get one of the unknown foriegn strikers he was looking at. I have modfied my previous scale though: 0-10 - Rapsduh Erif 3-7 - Make the signs to Rapsduh Erif 3-4-3 - Not yet off probation 7-3 - Off probation but can return with bad results 10-0 - Free pass until Playoffs
While I agree we're headed in the right direction, I'm still concerned about d-mid. Also, he still has the draft to screw up.
... no, I'm not serious ... I still believe truly 100%, cross-my-heart, hand on my copy of Fever Pitch, swear on the grave of the pet turtle I once owned as a child that we should fire Ray Hudson today. Ah, nevermind, I just wanna be able to claim that I always wanted the bastard fired the next time he does something questionable.
Re: Re: OK, Ray can stay - I was wrong Please put me in the same category of "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." There is still time to screw up the draft or potential trades. I, too, am watching and waiting to see the final roster before I climb back on. Winoman
Hey Mike got more respect for ya if you can admit you're wrong, regardless of if you were or not. Not everyone can admit they're wrong sometimes Anyways I say let's just wait until we actually start playing some games I am concerned a little about the ages of some of the guys we'll pick up-Stoitchkov, Stewart, Harkes-and how much they have left to contribute
Their age should be a concern but how much have we gotten out of Moreno in the last year and a half? Not much by my count. I would expect maximum effort at least from these three.
This is true I agree w/that EARNIE STEWART, STOITCHKOV, DIABLO, and HARKES ON THE SAME TEAM?? J*sus man....like I said just HOPING there's some real gas in the tank left in these guys-if so-wow are we gonna be an electric team
True but I wasn't talking about just starting. End of the game Stoitchkov, Stewart, and Diablo together?? Can you believe it.......legends at the art of the game together at the same time!! Diablo passing to....STOITCHKOV??? MASTERS AT WORK Throw in the Diablo-Harkes combination, and we know how that worked.... Like I said just hoping there's GAS IN THE TANK w/these older stars. I'm just dreaming of the possibilities....I've played the game and love the art of how it's played and seeing these guys together would be just an incredible treat as long when they have some ability left
Absences What happens during all these tournaments this year? U-20, U-23, Gold Cup, Confed Cup. I don't even know all of them, but its likely that Olsen, Quaranta, Convey, Eskandarian (if we pick him), Rimando, Petke, Kovalenko, and Stewart will be gone part of the season. I'm sure i'm forgetting some tournaments and some players, but even that many gone for extended periods of time could hurt DC. Although if you've got guys like Harkes starting in their absence that's pretty good. Does anyone know if Ivanov (if we get him) plays for the Bulgarian National Team at all? Does Reyes ever play for Honduran National Team? I know Nelsen sometimes plays for New Zealand. Are Alegria or Quintanilla in their National Team Pools? I thought one of them who got called in pissed off the coach or something. Or maybe i'm thinking of someone else...
I think it is sweet and wonderful to have all of these aging veterans - but to me the most important part of the involvement of Etch and Stewart (we know), and Harkes and Hristo (we suspect) is mentoring the young pups - the future of this squad lies with Convey and Quaranta and Eskandarian (we expect) and of course don't forget Reyes and Rimando and Olson - it is not just about the fire and caginess to win now (which Hudspar loves) - but it is also about getting the younger players to produce so that we don't have another Chris Flopbright result ... this squad needs Convey, Quaranta and Esko to be major players on the national team someday and lead DCU back to the promised land. Good lord - we have been parched long enough - it is time to drink the fruit of victory and dominance again.
reyes is in the first 11 for his select side, at least he was in WCQ Q2 had some beef with the ES federation but i think he is still mostly an age group select player i believe nelsen is also a first 11 player for NZ but i could be wrong. chino is barely in DCU's plans, let alone a national team. i also can't imagine petke playing on the US side in a competitive tournament.