Re: Expansion Draft for KC GA players? Like Pore and Watson? I do two things. First I decide if leaving Marinelli available will get him picked on my roster and every other in MLS roster. Based on that, I try to trade him for something worthy of at least my #11 protect slot. RSL seems a likely canidate to trade for him. Similarly I do this with everyone I might trade…Garcia, JBJ, EJ if certain to leave, Zags, and Sasha. I try as hard as possible to trade for picks pre-draft. Next I figure if EJ is leaving or not. If he is OR I think I can execute a fantastic bluff, I leave him unprotected. With that in mind I protect: Arnaud, Conrad, JJ, Hartman, Sealy, Harrington, Colombano for his irreplaceable speed, Raybould, Garcia, Morsink and Marinelli/whatever you get in return for Marnelli if traded. *If I can't trade Marinelli pre-draft maybe I get something for him after it. Someone's going to have a hole to fill. *If EJ stays then I leave Garcia or Raybould out depending on plan *Kronberg - I can't worry about as the reserves gave up a ton of goals and there's Hartman. If Kronberg is anywhere close to ready, I trade Hartman later for his value and live with growing pains*I leave Colombano out only if I know SJ has plans for all SI slots. Zags would be in. *Raybould has more value for a new team than Zags does. Raybould is the type of young utility guy SJ must select. KC can't allow it. Zags' loss at age 33 would hurt more now, but less as time moves, etc. KC probably will lose Zags or Burciaga. Ultimately, the thinking might be geared for the new stadium opener rather than the next two years. The public voice will always be, "We're here to win now!"...at least it should be.
Re: Expansion Draft for KC Our GAs are Pore (if he's not graduated from the program) and I believe, John. Dave, I don't see Marinelli being traded, Onalfo will either keep him, or he'll be let go. There's no way he goes to RSL, because RSL already has their 3 SI slots filled at this time, and by the way those 3 played late in the season, I doubt that RSL will get rid of any of them. I also don't see us trading away Garcia, JBJ, EJ, Zags, and Sasha, while they're getting older, a few of those players are major backbones in the team, and getting rid of all of them would be a complete roster turnover that I don't think we've ever seen in MLS in a while. I like Raybould, he's a good guy, but he's certainly not worth protecting. He's a player that we could pick up a basic carbon copy of in the draft with the same results. I'd be much more interested in protecting a player like Hohlbein over Raybould. As for leaving EJ available or not, I think you leave him available either way, past history has shown that expansion teams are not going to use picks on high priced players, that's why you see so many players making the league max exposed in these things. I could definitely see Jose being the one drafted from us if he's left unprotected. That said, here's the list of 11 that I see being protected (John and Pore protected under GA rule, until we hear either or both have graduated) Arnaud Conrad Hartman Sealy Colombano Morsink Harrington Jewsbury Zavagnin Hohlbein/Raybould/Wahl (one of those 3) Victorine That leaves these guys exposed Jose Burciaga Jr. Edson Elcock Nick Garcia A.J. Godbolt Willy Guadarrama Eddie Johnson Chris Konopka Michael Kraus Eric Kronberg Amir Lowery Carlos Marinelli Ryan McMahen Ryan Raybould/Tyson Wahl/Aaron Hohlbein Lance Watson Jose is the most tempting one on that list. If by some chance he's protected, then I think we could be one of the teams without a player picked (TFC only had 10 picks last year).
Re: Expansion Draft for KC Yeah, I don't see it either. I still try to get something for him...anything. If I'm another GM, I wouldn't give much value for him, and then only if I know my coaching would improve him...which is pretty arrogant and ultimately how CM gets signed everywhere. I just hope he's not part of the '08 master plan. Agreed. I'm not saying trade everyone. One will probably get picked. If it was me, I protect my youth. I also shop and see what the vet's values are. KC can probably be not very good until the stadium's second year and still be very viable. This isn't the only expansion draft coming. You draft well and some vets become expendable. OK. I have not seen much of Hohlbein {Holy?, OK maybe not} so you could be right. We arrived at the same place roughly. This gets more intereesting once the protected list is published.
I thought DPs were automatically protected too. In any case, there are so many scenarios where Johnson does not have to be protected, I would leave him off the list. What is the reasoning for not protecting Nick? I agree JBJ would be the most likely to be left off and then picked up, but left backs are so hard to come by, I would rather try to get trade value for him. We could get quite a bit for him. I think Sasha might get left off too. He is our 6th highest payed player and he is borderline holding his starting place I like how he can play anywhere in midfield, but I think Morsink has enough potential to be a quality replacement in that regard. I agree with WizChart in that KZ would be a big loss this year, but would not hurt us long term. I still don't thik we expose him though. There is no way we expose Sealy. A forward with a low salary is a must hold. When do we have him signed through?
Protect at all Costs Arnaud Conrad Hartman Sealy Harrington Protect if at all possible Garcia Jewsbury Zavagnin Eloy Toss-ups Marinelli Burciaga Victorine San Jose, Take 'em if you want 'em Morsink all the backups The only name I left off the list is EJ. I honestly have no idea what the club should do with him. Even after a career high goal tally, he still seems like a paper tiger. Not that I know who to replace him with, because I don't. He just doesn't seem like he's going to lead us to any silverware. Morsink has shown me nothing. I honestly have no idea what Curt sees in him. As for Burciaga, I'm not quite ready to give up on him yet. In fact, as well as Harrington has done at left back, I'd like to see Jose more in a left midfield role, where his defensive lapses won't be as damning. Victorine seems like he's on the downside. I'd rather keep Marinelli and Jose out of the Toss-up category.
List seems pretty complete, but you also have to keep in mind the cost factor. If CO likes players like Morsink who makes about $30,000 or other smaller salaried players and considers them suitable replacements for a couple of more expensive veterans (I understand people disagree but looking at it from CO's point of view) he'll protect them to make some room to get a "pricier" forward for example. You could see for example Kerry being left unprotected for Morsink or Sasha for a Watson (OK maybe not the best example). Again, like everything it's pure speculation but cost cutting and saving might allow management to bring a more expensive (attractive) players to KC and put more buts in seats and therefore might be a route they go. I do hope Jose stays because I believe he has a lot to give. I also think he'll protect both Argentinians because they are his picks (or Vermes'), but again money could play a big part since Marinelli does make a lot.
As a general aside, not directed at you or anyone in particular, but I'm interested in seeing how well Morsink does next season. While I didn't agree with the number of starts and PT that he got, it was his first season and while he didn't perform wonderfully all the time, I don't think he played as poorly as everyone made it out to be. Obviously Onalfo sees something there (or Morsink has something really juicy that Onalfo doesn't want anyone else to find out). I somewhat agree with the assessment that he might be worth keeping considering his salary and that he'll no longer be a rookie (and much farther than your average 2nd year in terms of PT). I also agree on Jose - was very intrigued when they played him in mid and I wonder if we might see him in that roll more next season. It almost feels like Harrington and Jose can switch where they started this season... Harrington seems to do better with getting back after getting forward, both are great coming up and since I felt that Jose's defense improved a great deal over this season but that Harrington also played well in defense. Heck - even have them trade off in the middle of the game, that'd mess with the opposition's minds a bit I'd think. I definitely don't see either Argentine leaving. I see EJ getting sold to some high Championship side or low EPL side... or Fulham. I think they'll leave Zavagnin along with Victorine... I wonder if Zavagnin really fits into the style that Onalfo wants to play as much (although his possible Goal of the Year makes it seem like he could). Problem with losing Victorine is that we is our other aerial pressence. I figure that Quakes might end up going for Pore, Wahl, Raybould or Hohlbein anyways. These are relatively cheap players which have shown some promise and at the very least can give you a few good games when other starters are out (which I do feel they did a very good job for us this last season in this role). Depends on what the rest of the league does too, I suppose... but assuming they have no particular needs (holding midfielder for instance) that's who i would guess.
Bump. Next on the agenda....probably losing a player in the expansion draft. Does anybody know if the protected lists are made public on a website, or is somebody with connections going to have to dig to find it tomorrow?
they're suppose to be out tomorrow, but I don't remember if they were published online last year, I think they were eventually. Last year Chad got us the list, we'll see if he needs to do it again. 11 players will be taken per Goff's blog, so 2 teams won't have players taken.
Here's the protected list: Davy Arnaud Jimmy Conrad Nick Garcia Michael Harrington Jack Jewsbury Eddie Johnson Carlos Marinelli Kurt Morsink Scott Sealy Sasha Victorine Kerry Zavagnin Therefore the Unprotected Players are: Burciaga, Jose Colombano, Eloy Elcock, Edson Godbolt, AJ Guadarrama, Willy Hartman, Kevin Hohlbein, Aaron John, Will Konopka, Chris Kraus, Michael Kronberg, Eric Lowery, Amir McMahen, Ryan Pore, Ryan Raybould, Ryan Wahl, Tyson Watson, Lance Not to happy with leaving Jose and Eloy out there. I have a feeling Jose will be snatched up. Also, I'm kind of confused on why you would protect Kerry and Morsink if they basically play the same position and you are looking to secure starters. I'm sure CO and the staff have a plan; it's just a little weird. Well, the forum is open to comments.
I thikn Morsink can play KZ's position too. But I bet Onalfo sees Morsink as a player that can play attacking role, defensive role or wide role - which he did play this season. Dropping the argument about whether or not he is good enough, my guess is that Onalfo wants him due to his versatility. Keeping KZ is good - very experience and a leader on the team. Onalfo is high on him. I'd see us trading Kerry before letting him go for nothing.
Honestly I'm a little sad the Quakes didn't take Jose. It'd be really nice to not have to worry about which team Jose is going to play for on a particular Saturday.
I doubt Jose will be around next year. That pains be a bit because I have grown to love him but at some time there comes a point when you see a player has nothing left to offer for the team. He is still young. Maybe in 2-3 years he shores up his defence and sticks around and makes a comeback one thing is for sure and that is he will be around this leauge for a long time. Hell Zotinca is still out there playin and I know if given a choice of the two who I would pick.