Rebuilding Strategies

absolutely keep:
pope, reyes, rimondo, convey, Q1, Q2, nelsen, olson

probably should keep:
richie, alegria, curtis

maybe it's over:
marco, jaime

dump:
villegas, lassiter

reacquire:
llamosa

no real opinion on the rest

 

Llamosa? We don't need high-priced defenders right now, at all. Any excess salary cap room should be spent on improving the offense that was dormant for most of the season.

 

Look, we've gotta keep Etch considering the way he's been playing lately. He needs a supporting cast and has had a very limited one for the most of the season. In fact, once Olsen returned, so did some of Etch's effectiveness (and decent flank play). Plus, I wanna see more of Diablo's partnership with Convery in the middle.

Villegas isn't a bad option off the bench, he's not really costing us very much. We do need a new D-Mid and some good talent at forward.

I may get booed off this board for saying this, but I think we actually didn't do too bad in the goal scoring department this year considering we had no teeth up front...Our SUPPORTING CAST put up good numbers this year. Add one or two frontrunners and another strong flank player and you've got an MLS Cup contender next year.

Finally, as much as I like Llamosa, he's the last thing we need--our defense has been pretty solid this year. Plus, he's old and has been injured too much this season.

 

he almost cost us the game when he handed the ball to faria last week... he's a constant liability, the only thing i like about him is that he has a hard shot and isn't afraid to pull the trigger.

llamosa is a rock... our defense was largely successful this year due to rimando -- my vote for team mvp.

 

I'll say again, Villegas is good as a sub...but no more. Don't get me wrong, I'd much prefer ading a top notch left winger in the offseason.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on Llamosa. Still, here's my question: Why keep Pope and add Llamosa if as Ray has hinted the 3-5-2 is permanent?

And while I think Rimando wasn't his best tonight, he's had a great year--seven shut outs with a team like this! He is incredible.

 

The only thing that I know for sure is that Richie Williams and Jamie Moreno are way to expensive to keep on the field. Jamie is scared to shoot the ball and Richie can only do one thing. We need a foward that will rip a shot with out hesitation, and we need a Dmid that has some distribution skills.
That is my take on what needs to be overhauled. Villages is good enough to come of the bench so we also need a left-mid.
Rimondo
Pope Nelson Reyes
new D-Mid
New left-mid Etcheverry Olsen
Convey
Q1 New Forward

Off the bench Q2, Villages, Curtis, Chino, Mickinly, Mapp, (Namoff, I could go either way)
That is my assement of what has to happen.

On another note, I thought Olsen and Convey had terrific games tonight.

 

I think with Ray's overseas contacts and the current economic state of football he could find players to replace Etch and Moreno. However, I'm willing to keep Etch another year. He played like a leader at the end of the year. If we do keep Etch, however, we have to design the team around him. Keep the 3-5-2. A five man midfield creates more attacking options and gives Etch more space, which is when he is dangerous. Dump Williams. Playing Williams is always like adding a very short, slow defender. So a 3-5-2 with Williams is no different than a 4-4-2. Look for a left wing. Convey seems to be taking over the middle so we need a new left wing because strong wing play also helps create space for Etch. I don't mind keeping Villegas on the bench, he's starting to learn what defense is. If Mapp has a good off season maybe he'll be the low-budget answer. The winger doesn't have to be a star, just someone willing to put in the effort and put in a few decent crosses. If we're only playing three defenders we're good. Pope, Reyes, Nelsen, and Prideaux are all worthy of starting. Namoff, once he learns the position, can fill in. The big question, then, is up top. Santino is a lock. Eliseo is still young, and though he doesn't look all that dangerous he's not a bad third option. Curtis has earned at least one more year. Lassiter is obviously gone. The question is Moreno. I don't know the answer. That's a nice salary spot to have when shopping.

Really, when we're not suffering injuries, we can move Reyes to D-mid and maybe Mapp or Eliseo to the left wing and I'd be pretty impressed with the starting lineup.

The key is to find a D-mid, find a star striker, and bring in more bench players like Chino and Ali who are cheap, willing to play any role, and hard-working.

 

I think what we mostly need is either healthy forwards who can put the ball in the net or new forwards who can put the ball in the net. I don't really care which.

We don't really need Llamosa. The last thing we need is another max-salary player who only plays 10 games a year. We already have at least 3 of those.

 

LLAMOSA??????????!!!!!!!!! You've got to be kidding. I have fond memories of Carlos, but it was wise to trade him when we did. Bringing Carlos back would be adding a high-priced, relatively slow central defender on the downslope of a fine, but brief career. Plus, I doubt that Revs will be tinkering a lot with their defense. It solidified greatly when Kante started playing.

Remember what we reported that Ray said at the "buy the fans a beer" night at Capitol Lounge: if MAE is back in 2003, the team's first priority is the guy that starts behind Etch in the formation.

Q2 is, I think, a midfielder that we put at fwd because of need. He provides good depth at fwd and midfield.

After resolving the MAE matter and the player behind him (or replacing MAE), our need crying for attention is a forward with size and speed who will shoot the friggin ball on frame more often than not.

DCU is a very small team that gets muscled around at fwd and mf. We've got to either go with extreme speed and quickness, or we've got to get some skilled gorillas. (now there's a sight!)

JMO/YMMV

GM

 

Rebuilding strategies....here goes....

1. Clear cap room. Irrelevant of what you think of them as players, unless you feel someone offers great value for their dollar (ie: you can't find someone else in MLS or outside of MLS who can provide better numbers and performance for the same pay), then they're gone.

That means Moreno and Etcheverry and Williams (who basically didn't count on the cap this year) and Zambrano for sure. Possibly Olsen and Pope. Love 'em all as players. I think Olsen and Pope and Etcheverry contributed alot in the last 8 games. But you can find someone better than Williams for less money (mind you, that still may not be the answer at that position). Olsen contributed mightly. But outside mids are the easiest positions to find cheap help at.

2. Pay raises and extensions to the following players: Rimando, McKinley (no, I"m not a big fan of his but Hudson made him a promise), Quaranta, Prideaux (a reason he was traded by KC. BTW, he might fall into the "better value" category where as good as he was, for $75-90K we might be able to get a better player. Still, my read is he's still a good guy to have at that salary). Keep Convey, Mapp, McGinty and Reyes. Probably resign Nelsen (I'd guess he'll sign for somewhere around $90K). I think DCU will allow him to explore Europe with the idea that while he played well once he asserted himself and we'd love to have him back, he's not fast, not tall, and for the money we'd be signing him for, we could get someone from SA or the Carribean with more skills for the same amount. Remember--Reyes is making around $70K folks. Ruiz is substantially below the salary maximum. I like Nelsen and want him back. And, we can easily sign another player with better skills for what he's likely asking for. I feel the same way about Quintanilla--a decent find but his best spot is at midfield. Worth having but not the guy we're going to build the team around and we can replace him easily enough. Try to keep him but don't waste a lot of energy on it.

3. Be open to trading the picks for players. Teams (especially Columbus and Chicago and NE) will want to dump salary for picks (which they can use on a P-40 or college player).

4. DO NOT go for a higher priced MLS player (especially max. salary) unless you're confinced that (a) he'll be able to play 90% of his games and (b) be a dominant force on the field--one of the 3-4 best players at his position in MLS and (c) is either a finisher, creative forward, schemer, or defensive midfielder. So Llamosa--forget it. APC--highly unlikely. Rooney--only if he takes a major paycut. Ralston--not really. Wolff--absolutely not--unless we found a Ruiz-type finisher playing for $100k.

Not b/c these guys can't play but b/c we don't want to spend maximum salary slots on guys in periphery positions. Yes, you want good outside defenders and good outside mids. But a decent finisher (Milos Molnar who played for KC in their championship year) with this team playing exactly how we played this year and we win 5 more games easily. That's a difference-maker, a force multiplier.

5. Keep everyone in limbo (I hate this part). I think what is likely to happen is NOT that DCU will renounce Etcheverry or Moreno and then seek to fill those gaps. Instead, Hudson will go a calling, see who he can sign and only THEN announce if a player is "moving on". Players like: Villegas, Curtis, Namoff, Alegria, Lassiter may be invited back (b/c they make minimum or close to it) or maybe not if we find a draftee, free agent, A-leaguer at the same salary who offers more value.

Hudson has shown he can build teams this way. The key phrase here is "value" (it might help if you think "bargain."). We don't want good players. We actually have some of those and many more will be made available in the offseason. We want value. We want guys who will perform at or above the level of expectation for their salary level. That means if you're in a max. salary slot, you'd better play 24-25 games next year, be one of the 2-4 best players in the league at your position and win us 2-5 games by yourself. That means if you're making between $70k-$180k you need to be a team "rock"--a guy who's always on the field, incredibly consistent, probably versatile (able to play multiple positions--unless your name is Ramando), a contender for MLS all-star at your position. Everyone else is minimum or just above minimum. Or they're on the team only b/c we're in the process of finding a player who is a better "bargain" or "value".

 

First question I have is "Has Etch followed up on his statement at midseason that he was retiring?" I am sort of counting on him not being here, but only because he made that statement (which I know he has made before). If so, who do we get to replace him? Gazza? It's going to be really hard to find someone of Marco's caliber three seasons ago for even the maximum salary, but it won't be impossible. This is where Ray's cross-pond connections will benefit us. He can find players in the lower English divisions through his "spies" that might be willing to play for the paltry salaries MLS offers.

Next, who at D-mid? I have no idea! We definitely need to replace Richie. ITT? He has decent vision, but would he play deep enough and is he "rampant" enough?. We need a Richie-ITT hybrid. Someone who is going to run around like mad, destroying the other teams build-up, while having the sense and ability to make that first, good pass out of the back. I vote for Ian Bishop !!! HA HA HA!!!!

Left midfield- I wouldn't mind giving Mapp or Q2 the opportunity to work their way into the lineup in this position. Villegas can play there, if necessary.

Forwards- I'll take anybody who can put the freaking ball into the net, especially an open one...and those PKS!!!! Curtis is great off the bench, but I don't see him being a 90 minute player every game. I think most of us agree that Moreno is gone. I just hope it is to another league. Lassiter-GONE DAMMIT!!!!! and DON"T COME BACK!!! Zambrano-whatever. He did alright in his limited time, but I wouldn't shed any tears if he didn't come back. We really need help at this position. Tino is one answer, but he needs a good, and preferably experienced, partner to play beside. Maybe we can get Sergei Rebrov form Spurs to come over. He isn't getting any playing time. And I think Spurs only paid like $11 million for him and I am sure they would be willing to take less now just to off-load him. MLS would cover that, right? Or maybe a loan....that's the answer. Excuse me, my morning is becoming a fantastical delusion.
So, at forward we have Tino, Curtis and Q2 in emergencies. One high powered forward and a decent sub should fill out that position, especially if Q2 can play on the wing, which is still up in the air.

As GM said, we definitely need some size.