Prethus to MetroStars Of course rumors are flying that Tim Howard will go to ManU. If they indeed want him, they're probably not going to wait until the end of the MLS season to get him. So what should the MetroStars do to replace him? According to Harkes on last night's MLS Wrap, the best keeper to fill in for Howard would be Tom Prethus. He doesn't think the current Metros #2 is up to the task. Prethus is a veteran starter who could lead the MetroStars through the playoffs if Howard leaves. If this were to happen, who could the Crew reasonably expect to get from NYNJ in a trade?
God I hope not. He is playing some good soccer for a midget, but I still don't want him wearing the black and gold. I want Ricardo Clark! Bradley isn't that stupid though so who knows what we could get out of them. My guess is not much.
if management wanted to trade presthus to wherever, could he somehow opt out and retire. he has a recently-built house in columbus, a wife and son, and i don't think he'd be too willing to move them. with that being said, we'd be down to Busch and Ultschey. if Busch would have to sit, i'd wager that management would be pretty hesitant to start Ultschey. we'd need a GK in return.
Then let me throw a bone to the dogs in order to see what happens --- Instead of Presthus, the Metros are able to lay their grimey hands on Buschy. J-Busch might be riding the bench in a couple weeks, with Tommy-P as our starter. This scenario isn't too unheard of...
Actually, with the "compensation" the Metros would get for Howard, they could probably afford to go just about anywhere for a replacement keeper, with MLS blessing... Personally, I wouldn't directly give them a keeper, or any player that would help a conference rival. If they lose Howard, and need a keeper, I would only give them Presthus if his stock is truly on the way down and we get something better in return both short and long term. We could also see how the season goes. If the Crew start tanking, and the season looks to be relatively lost, then the Crew could look to offload some roster for better long term choices.
Just what the Crew needs.... of course, ABMOD would find a way to make up for his own goal when he was with DCU.
Toon, thanks for bringing that up! It just made my Memorial Day a little brighter! ---Best own goal, EVER!!
I'm still trying to figure out why everyone is down on Busch. He's allowed 7 goals in the last two games. The ones I saw from the MLS wrap show of the San Jose game had them scoring on a sliced cross that went in far post, a free kick by Agoos very well placed into the side netting, and a goal by Donovan from a sharp angle. Can't remember the second goal. Then Kamler had two and Twellman one yesterday. Of all of these, the only one that I would say he should have had was the one by Donovan. Some may argue that he didn't move in time on Agoos' free kick but I would probably counter that he moved as soon as he saw the ball - which was too late. There's are goals where the keeper has a big contribution to it, like the ones Presthus helped on last year by completely waving bye-bye at crosses, or the own goal by the SJ keeper earlier this year, or even one allowed by Howard last week where he fumbled the ball across the goal line. I don't see any of the goals allowed by Busch falling in that category so I still don't see why you want Presthus starting. Maybe we should figure out where the problem was that allowed NE to waltz through the middle twice on Saturday (i.e. Hejduk's overcommittment in midfield that gave Kamler an open path to goal, or the defense ball watching while Twellman got himself some space).
I do not want Presthus starting. However, if this goal-scoring pace against Busch keeps up (even if the goals aren't directly his fault), Andrulis will not leave this alone and will start to play with the roster. My question was: in 1-2 months, if Buschy gets pulled for a red-hot Tommy-P (we saw it happen last year with roles reversed), and hasn't played a game since NE, would we still get rid of Tommy-P or would Busch become expendable?
I don't see anybody here being down on the guy. I for one still believe in him and think he'll be fine. It is, however, fairly common to give your keeper a break after getting hammered a couple times. Not having seen the game Saturday thanks to the morons in South Bend (I'll see it later today) (and by the way, Lefty was magnificent, particularly on Sunday - playing as the DMid he blew up more attacks than the Air Force over Iraq) I can't really comment, but like DGA I saw the highlights and it looked more like bad defense and/or incredible shotmaking than bad goalkeeping. We need BMaze back. Beyond that, if Presthus got shipped, I would hate to see a guy who has now played exactly one professional game, (last weekend in the A League, per myshap) be the only thing standing behind Buschy. Anyway, he needs to be down there playing, not up here sitting. There are other A League options, like Bryheem Hancock with Atlanta, who have some time under their belts and are clearly caught in the USA logjam at keeper. If there's a benefit to MLS and US Soccer in general in letting a guy like Howard go overseas, it's that it creates another opening for one of the potential superstars we're stockpiling.
Pardon the intrusion of an outsider, but I was a Presthus fan when he was with DC United & thought he got unfairly blamed for the collapse. Some nights it was like he was the target in a shooting gallery. My guess is any trade would come down to salary cap. Keepers apparently aren't the highest paid players in MLS (supply & demand) but my guess is that Presthus went from DC to the Crew with a starter's salary & Busch had a back up's salary. Busch might have gotten a raise this year, based on his performance last year, but if not, he could be headed for a raise (if not for the bench). It seems unlikely that Andrulis would want to have two keepers making starter keeper's pay, and therefore would not be averse to trading one of them.
Hold on there champ. I have the feeling that Andrulis wouldn't mind one bit if he had two keepers that were making a starters salary. However, I just got off the phone with Jim Smith, and his comment to me was, and he said I could quote him, "Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money Money"
That's the problem with being an outsider. He didn't get blamed unfairly and it wasn't because he was allowing goals like the ones Busch has allowed the last two matches. It's because his mistakes on crosses directly contributed to three losses in his last four starts. Yitbos, I think it would be a mistake to take Busch out now when it hasn't been his defensive lapse that has led to the goals. It would send a negative message to your #1 keeper when there's nothing he could have done better on most goals. I'd say we start Presthus during the Cup run and see how he, and Busch, perform during that stretch.
Busch is a midget with a big mouth. If he were half as good as he thinks he is Columbus would be dominating. You can keep him and Presthus. Jon Conway's the guy.
It's insight like this that makes me glad we have Big Soccer. A midget with a big mouth? What's the real story? Does your boyfriend think he's cuter than you?
Who left the lights on! We've attracted some moths... Until Presthus proves he can handle crosses - Bushie's the man.
What about that Jonny Walker that plays in S. America somplace. I read where he was interested in MLS. Also will Joe Cannon be available, I thought he was released?
I'm under the impression that Walker and MLS couldn't come to terms, so he headed back to Chile. Joe Cannon hasn't been released permanently.
I thought Johnny Walker signed somewhere in MLS but then got hurt in camp and hasn't been heard of since
Apologies for my Busch rant, I might have been drunk at the time. Soberly, let me say that I think Busch's size is an issue that will always keep him from being a top keeper. It could also cost him his job now if Presthus is in good form. Another bad loss and Andrulis will make the switch. Presthus won't be getting traded because there are too many other options for the Metros on the open market and if they're going to deal with an MLS team it'll be with San Jose for Cannon's rights.
AIR, SanHoseGay took a run at him when Cannon split, but he was less than impressed with the money here and went back to Chile or wherever. Could be wrong (wasn't paying that close attention) but I don't believe he ever even worked out for them. As for Bushie, he suits me fine. You don't have to be huge to be a good keeper. Outstanding reactions can easily make up for the lack of a couple inches. And except for just giving the guy a break, I don't see Greggy A sitting the guy down right now. I fail to see how much of what has been happening back there is his fault.
The Metros will either sign Cannon and owe SJ something: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/story/87553p-79796c.html Or they'll go with the Boca Jrs. reserve keeper that Bradley has brought in. No Presthus.