here's a good topic for discussion If Atlanta gets a team within the century, should they go after Clint Mathis? I would have to say yes. simply because i think his stock would drop by the time Atlanta gets a team and if he started banging in goals he would definately bring in the crowds.
i think he's still getting paid in the $200,000+ range. If we could drop that down to $30,000-75,000 range it might be worth discussing. Still, you have to admit that is absolutely VITAL that an Atlanta team have some Georgia players...mixed in with some other southerners. What's Clark, Wolff, Leonard, Fuller, Mathis, Camp, Martino, Reis, West, Moore, and Wagner getting paid now?
Here you go: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mls/longterm/2006/mls.salaries.html That has almost everyone for the MLS. Josh Wolff is at $350,000, but for a GA native I think we could pay that.
Ok i'm not an expert on this so forgive me because i'm just going to throw some numbers together.... But according to the different salaries this is some "fantasy" negotiations i would like to see the Atlanta team make: (i fully expect most of these to be rejected) MLS Georgia Players: (at least with some tie to Georgia)...top priority M-F Mathis, Clint $270,000 -100,000 (170,000) F Wolff, Josh $350,000 -50,000 (300,000) M Martino, Kyle $81,675 +0 (81,675) M Clark, Ricardo $160,000 +100,000 (260,000) M Camp, Blake $28,000 +0 (28,000) D-M Wagner, Blake $30,000 +10,000 (40,000) D-M Leonard, Marshall $65,000 +0 (65,000) D Vaughn, Lawson $11,700 +25,300 (37,000) D-M Moore, Justin $30,000 +5,000 (35,000) GK Reis, Matt $100,000 +50,000 (150,000) Other MLS players that i'd like to see get a look...to fill the gaps: F Barrett, Chad $36,750 +30,000 (66,000) M Mapp, Justin $95,000 +45,000 (150,000) M Simms, Clyde $42,500 +0 (42,500) F Jaqua, Nate $50,873 +30,000 (80,873) F Rolfe, Chris $50,000 +30,000 (80, 000) D Robinson, Dasan $11,700 +20,300 (32,000) GK Guzan, Brad $47,250 +40,000 (87,250) M Szetela, Danny $41,081 +30,000 (71,081) GK Gaudette, Bill $11,700 +8,300 (20,000) D Yi, Alex $29,400 +0 (29,400) D-M Sturgis, Nathan $45,000 +40,000 (85,000) D Larentowicz, Jeff $16,500 +13,500 (30,000) F Magee, Mike $48,875 +0 (48,875) F Laventure, Jerrod $11,700 +5,000 (16,700) M Vide, Joe $11,700 +9,000 (20,700) GK Palmer, Noah $11,700 +9,300 (21,000) GK Countess, D.J. $0 +45,000 (45,000) YANKS-ABROAD TO TRY AND BRING IN: GK Brown, Adin (offered $60,000) D Whitbread, Zak (offered $34,000) M West, Brian (offered $50,000) M Denny, Jay (offered $16,000) GK Yelldell, David (offered $24,000) F Fuller, Kephren (offered $25,000) D Karbassiyoon, Daniel (offered $30,000) D Joy, Ian (offered $28,000) M Kazlauskas, Charles (offered $24,000) D Lancos, Chris (offered $22,000) F Ochoa, Sammy (offered $50,000) M Fielhaber, Benny (offered $85,000) F Zimmermann, Preston (offered $40,000) D Pearce, Heath (offered $85,000) F Vint, Colin (offered $26,000) F Zewe, Joe (offered $30,000) D Fearrington, Jamil (offered $35,000) YOUTH PLAYERS TO BRING IN: GK Seitz, Chris (offered $30,000) GK Gustavson, Mike (minimum) GK Bendik, Joe (min.) GK Marfuggi, Phil (min.) GK Papadakis, Justin (min.) GK Hughes, Justin (min.) GK Reins, Marcus (min.) D Sarkodie, Ofori (offered $35,000) D Wallace, Anthony (min.) D Alston, Kevin (offered $22,000) D/M Dalby, Greg (offered $15,000) D Igwe, Amaechi (offered $25,000) D Myers, Chance (min.) D/M Beltran, Tony (min.) D Valentin, Julian (min.) D Harrington, Michael (min.) D Lewis, Cameron (min.) D Helton, Kyle (min.) D Arthur, Sam (min.) D Collier, Jonathan (min.) M Ring, Brad (min.) M Villanueva, Jonathan (offered $35,000) M Mascarenhas, Brian (min.) M Irizarry, Danny (min.) M Nakazawa, Kyle (offered $30,000) M Bone, Corben (min.) M Hall, Jeremy (min.) M Soroka, Ryan (offered $19,000) M Evans, Brad (min.) M Kelly, Daniel (min.) M Lichaj, Eric (min.) M Videira, Michael (min.) M/F Zizzo, Sal (offered $22,000) M/F Davies, Charlie (offered $25,000) M Arguez, Bryan (min.) M Patterson, Randi (min.) F Seabrook, Jordan (min.) F McLoughlin, Ellis (offered $18,000) F Williams, Sheannon (offered $20,000) F Marosevi, Perica (min.) F Gonzalez, Omar (offered $26,000) F Grella, Mike (min.) F Dworsky, Bill (min.) F Sambursky, Mike (min.) F Ashe, Corey (min.) F Dominguez, Bryan (min.) USL Players to look at: (all minimum) M Rios, Rodrigo M Dawkins, Fabian F McLaughlin, Jesse F Jarun, Omar F Weaver, William F Gjertsen, Joey F Cunliffe, John F Sardon, Chris M Rodriguez, Mario M Hollingsworth, Ben M Moojen, Frederico M Jafta, Nathan FOREIGN PLAYERS TO LOOK AT: (i'm getting kind of bored, so i'll let someone else comment on these)But players that i think could possibly be affordable and would attract crowds... Edgar Davids, Rivaldo, Jay Jay Okocha, Ariel Ortega, Rui Costa, Alvaro Recoba, Roy Keane, Karel Poborsky, Steve McManaman, Jared Borgetti, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Ze Roberto, Roberto Ayala, Hernan Crespo,... *the + or - is saying how i would try to negotiate their contract
i think a good line-up from this would be: (forgive my nerdness, i had to wait on my wife to get out of her appointment and had an hour to kill....also, i'm not too familiar with all the regulations and other crapola so feel free to tear it apart.) GK Matt Reis $150,000 GK Palmer, Noah $24,000 (Dev) GK Gustavson, Mike $11,760 (Dev) GK Bendik, Joe $11,760 D Yi, Alex $29,400 D Sarkodie, Ofori $35,000 D Karbassiyoon, Daniel $30,000 D Whitbread, Zak $34,000 D Wagner, Blake $40,000 D Leonard, Marshall $65,000 D Moore, Justin $35,000 D Vaughn, Lawson $37,000 (Dev) D Collier, Jonathan $11,760 (SI) M Rivaldo $500,000 M Simms, Clyde $42,500 (SI) M Rodrigo Rios $11,760 (SI) M Dawkins, Fabian $11,760 M Villanueva, Jonathan $35,000 M West, Brian $50,000 M Camp, Blake $28,000 M Clark, Ricardo $260,000 M Martino, Kyle $81,000 F Mathis, Clint $170,000 F Wolff, Josh $300,000 F Kephren Fuller $25,000 F Omar Jarun $15,000 F Barrett, Chad $66,000 (Dev) F Bill Dworsky $11,760 F McLaughlin, Jesse $11,760 (Dev) F Bryan Dominguez $11,760 -------------Barrett-----Wolff--------------- Martino------------Rivaldo---------------West --------------------Clark-------------------- --Leonard-------------------------Vaughn---- ------------Whitbread------Moore------------- ----------------------Reis--------------------- Bench-Palmer, Sarkodie, Karbassiyoon, Simms, Villanueva, Camp, Mathis *LM or not...if you had to pick between Martino and Rivaldo to play AM...who would you pick? *even though i doubt they could afford that....that would seriously have to be one of the best and most entertaining teams in the leauge.
Jarun is a defender, not a forward. I'd say he, Rodrigo Rios, and Tony McMannis from the Silverbacks would be good in MLS
The Silverbacks list him as a forward even though he hasn't seen a minute there this year. It might be a situation where they needed someone to play in the back more than in the front. You also left off Machel Millwood as someone would would be good in MLS. I can't really say how good his dribbling skills are but I know his speed and shot power/accuracy are excellent. He has scored a couple of goals this year from ridiculous angles by just ripping it past the goalkeeper. A lot of forwards could learn something from him.
Omar Jarun is a converted defender. Who are the Silverbacks players that should be brought in to an MLS Silverbacks team? Rios, McLaughlin, Dawkins, McManus, Jarun, and Millwood? anyone else? What about Afful, Hayes, Smith, and Ukah? what about some college kids that i didn't list? I heard the Loftus kid was supposed to be really good from Duke(?).
I would not be surprised to see Scott Buete back in the MLS next year. He is as good a midfielder as you will see in the USL in my opinion. http://chicago.fire.mlsnet.com/MLS/...r=buete_g&playerId=bue622937&statType=current I think an injury really slowed him down until he had surgery.
MPoole just mentioned something about Ronaldo on the team name thread...thought I'd comment here although maybe even this isn't the right thread. I think one needs to go no further for proof that Atlanta is a "Big League" town than to look at the Silverbacks vs. Miami FC. Up until now they are regularly pulling about 2k in attendance....not bad....improvement over Dekalb MS. Now when Romario and Zinho come to town....Waalaaa! 3k sellout with hundreds of fans lined up on the hill getting turned away by cops. The hardcore, often anti-MLS Silverbacks guys have these idealistic dreams of the Backs making it big within the friendly confines of the United Soccer League, but the fact is that it will never happen with USL. MLS is the league where Youri D plays, where Paco Palencia plays, where Dwayne De Rosario plays, and where L Donovan and many of the US National Team play. MLS is the league that fans can see on national televison and read about in the papers and on ESPN.com and the league that is pulling hundred million dollar sponsorship deals with Adidas. Being as it is, no USL team can possiblely have appeal ouside of its limied local area....especially if they don't market themselves *cough, cough. An MLS team in Atlanta with a big name player, who brings other big name players here on a weekly basis to play against can potentially have the means to appeal to fans throughout the southeast and I have no doubt that whoever makes that jump...the Backs FO or the Hardball group or whoever...will find out what we know already...that the ATL is ready for some top level soccer.
Agreed, and the players that I want Atlanta to put in the $ for are Oguchi Oneywu, Bobby Convey, and Kasey Keller. Let's get the best of American soccer players back on American soil!
I would like to have guys like Keller come back and i would like to bring in young american, rising talent like Jonathan Villanueva. As far as guys like Convey and Onyewu, i wouldn't want to mess up the Euro careers and they probably wouldn't want to take the paycut anyways. To me it would be better to go cheap on the Americans and big money on the foreigners. bet you'd never think you'd hear me say that!!! Still i want to bring in some homegrown players like Clark, Wolff, Mathis, etc... But the only way you are going to bring in the eurosnobs is by big name talent..."FC" in the name is not going to do it. And i have to admit, I'd love to see Rivaldo or Edgar Davids playing in an Atlanta Marauders uniform one day.
For something new to discuss- I think it's pretty obvious that a team name isn't going to bring in your die-hard soccer fans....I think the best way to bring in your die-hard soccer fans is through player signings. If Ronaldinho was wearing an Atlanta Marauders shirt than i guarantee people will all start wearing their Atanta Marauders shirt with Ronaldinho on the back. The question is what foreign player(s) could the team possibly afford that would help bring in fans? a couple players i suggest: Jared Borgetti-yeah, i can't stand him. but he would be very popular among the Mexican supporters that reside in Atlanta. how much should the team offer for him? $500,000? Rivaldo-he'll probably be too old by the time Atlanta gets a team, but Rivaldo would definately put butts in the seat. what to offer? $300,000? Ariel Ortega-this would be a huge signing and at 32 he could be affordable. $250,000? Paulo Wanchope-he could easily become the leading goalscorer in MLS and would probably be our DC's Moreno. $650,000? Carlos Hernandez (Costa Rica)-now he wouldn't be the most household name, but every time i watch this guy he's very entertaining because he has one hell of a shot. $50,000? Cuauhtemoc Blanco-popular among the Mexicans and probably could get him for cheap.$65,000? Frederick Ljunberg-by the time Atlanta gets a team he may find himself winding his time down with Arsenal. $350,000??? Luis Figo-he seems like the kind of player that could be the backbone of this team with his experience and i don't know how much longer he can keep it up in the Serie A. $550,000??? Patrick Vieria-well known name and should be winding his career down soon. $300,000??? Edgar Davids-one of my all time favorite players. he should be affordable now anyways. $250,000??? Hernan Crespo-seems like he is going to be struggling to find playing time at both inter and chelsea. he has some good years left, but retirement isn't too far out the window. $400,000??? Others worth mentioning-Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha, Javier Zanetti, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Robbie Fowler, Christian Dailly, David Weir, Karel Poborsky, Jan Koller Some Younger Players worth trying to go after: Emmanuel Adebayor-i don't see him struggling to be a regular with Arsenal's first team and he plays a very attractive style of soccer. if we could grab him it would be a great steal for Atlanta. $800,000??? Kasper Schmeichel- The great dane's son would be HUGE!!! at least as far as publicity! and he's playing for Bury so a move to MLS might actually be good for his career. (i'd have to see him play) Kieran Richardson-extremely underrated player. trying to lure him away from Man U would be a great signing. highly unlikely, but he might get pissed off he can't be more of a regular at Man U. $600,000 Jerzy Dudek-is he still at Liverpool? He might not be my numer one choice in between the pipes, but being able him first team play could lure him away from Liverpool. $180,000???? Djibril Cisse-highly unlikely but if Liverpool are dumping him off. there's always that small chance that Atlanta could lure him to play for them. it'd be costly though $950,000??? Shaun Wright-Phillips-Chelsea ruined his career, but he still has a lot of talent. i'd like to see Atlanta make a move for this guy. it'd be costly though. $600,000??? Michael Owen-Newcastle may grow tired of his injuries and may want to put him up for sale. It's probably unlikely he would want to come to MLS, but it would be great if he did. $900,000 David Suazo-highly unlikely, but it would be nice to see him playing for Atlanta. $500,000??? I'd even like to see a move maybe for his cousin Maynor. say $150,000??? Damani Ralph-Maybe we can persuade him to come back to the US!!! Russia must be pretty cold for someone from Jamaica $200,000??? Stern John-same as Ralph. might want to come back to finish his career off here $250,000??? Christopher Birchall-MLS would definately be an improvement from Port Vale. $100,000??? Carlos Tenorio-After watching his performance in the WC, i would like to see Atlanta go after this guy. $180,000??? Chun Soo Lee-extremely talented player from South Korea. could easily be one of the best players in the league $600,000??? *Anyone else feel free to mention.
I certainly dont want or mean to get at all your posts, But a few of these are crazy I want to see some quality home grown players, The MLS, does not have the money or the fan base to compete in a global market for the real stars right now. Nigel Reo-Coker cost us $800,000 from the MK Dons a few seasons ago, now he is turning into a real star, Arse and Manure want him. Thats the sort of person i think the MLS needs to start grooming, Home grown stars, and then keep them. Buy a bunch of geriatrics that are too old or drunk to play anywhere else wont get the MLS any respect.
Clearly Eleven we have very different views and needs, from what we would like to see and get from an Atlanta MLS franchise.
Evidently The NY Red Bulls thought that Steve Nash was good enough to play pro when he joined the team for their pre-Barcelona practice. Maybe he could play for Atlanta in the offseason! Basketball and Soccer don't overlap too much, and Deon Sanders did it with Football and Baseball. Why not?! He said that he loves soccer, and if he didn't play basketball that he would have been a pro soccer player!
hey i was just kicking out some ideas. instead of trying to be condescending to boost your self esteem, why don't you offer some other ideas for players? For what it's worth, Palencia, Valderrama, Etcheverrey, and others were extremely beneficial to bringing in fans to a new market. I never said have a whole entire team of old geezers trying to pick up one last check, but bringing in one or possibly two well known names would only be good for business.
I'm not being condescending at all, It is a genuine statement. With the names you threw out, you seem to want a EPL team as it were with some big stars etc. Not saying that a bad thing. It's just that i have that in West Ham, I am really looking for a team i can get behind to fix my live football craving. I did throw out my idea for the players, I would like to see some home grown talent and youth come through. A major trait of West Ham i would point out aswell.