-Is anyone NOT able to participate due to injury? -Is Ngodzo practicing? How does he look? -Where has Joseph been playing? -Where has Noonan been playing? -Ditto, Moore? -Ditto, Leonard? -Is Ibrahim Kante any good?
I think the scrimmage Saturday at BC will give us all a lot of answers as to waht we may see on opening day. Man, am I hungry for information. This news blackout has been unreal.
...scrimmage is at BU actually. I also can't wait to get some news...only two more days till Saturday!
1. JMM apparently played about 30 minutes in a scrimmage yesterday, but sat out today. Saying there's a 95% chance he'll start the opener was probably a bit of a stretch on my part. I think there's a pretty good chance he'll play, but it'll be limited time for now. It doesn't appear to be a long-term problem, though. 2. As far as I know, Ngodzo is not with the team any more. Jason Moore arrived in camp today for a trial. 3. One of the things I like about Shalrie is that I think he can play just about anywhere in the lineup. I think he'll start in central defense, but he just might be one of those guys that SN has to find a place in his lineup for. 4. Noonan's viewed by the coaching staff as a guy that can cover for either Kamler or Ralston. And it does sound like he's pushing Brian Kamler a bit. 5. I think they're still looking at JMM as an out and out forward. 6. Marshall Leonard's a left-sided defender or midfielder. 7. I haven't seen a whole lot of him, but I'm told Ibrahim's a player. Supposedly, has a rocket of a left foot, he's quick, he's fast, and despite being a bit on the short side, he's supposed to be built like the proverbial brick outhouse.
Jason Moore? Did Chicago waive him at the end of last year? From his bio, he has 1 goal in over 5000 minutes. Maybe they should take another look at Buhlmann or Uribe. But thanks for the update, though.
MLS Confidential reports that Andy Moeller (sp?)/MLS talks are ongoing, and although he won't be available till the end of the Bundesliga season, the Fire and the REVS are the teams expressing interest! It mentions that Chicago has an allocation (and didn't mention that the Revs don't) FWIW.
So pretty simply, it looks like if Moeller becomes available, either Chicago has to ditch one or more players to get cap room, or the Revs need to trade for the allocation. Sounds to me like it might be easier for the Revs to find someone that Chicago wants (haven't heard Llamosa's name in a while) than it would be for the Fire to cut several players in mid season - in order to bring in a guy with out one day the league. Regardless, doesn't sound like anything's going to happen anytime soon.
Well, let's say that hypothetically we do trade someone to Chicago for the allocation they couldn't use (or didn't want to use if it meant gutting their team even more). Unless it's someone fairly cheap, they will still have to cut some cap to take on a guy like, say, Llamosa, who is in the $100,000 neighborhood. If they took someone relatively cheap, then is it worth it for an allocation (unless it's a fluke case like Twellman, not that the Revs would ever be that stupid) So it looks like Chicago got stuck with Nowak's salary no matter what. Besides, why would Chicago need an expensive #10? They just signed Andy Williams! Tom
The article didn't say that Chicago was the only team that had an allocation, only that they do have one, and they are interested. As for what the Revs could trade for an allocation (that wouldn't kill someone's salary cap), Pierce, Cullen, Kamler, Heaps or Franchino are mid-priced (good value) guys that come to mind.