I thought I'd start this, because I always like talking about the rest of the games (especially since I can watch so many of them online!), and how they relate to our beloved Fire. So, the first weekend of games is over, and though it's really too early to tell, some things stand out. The big three scored for LA in their first game. Does that worry anyone? The Metros look pretty good. Their movement up front was dangerous, and they have about a gazillion forwards/strikers. Hmmm. DC United will be pretty good irregardless of Freddy Adu. Nowak has them playing with hustle and belief, and Moreno and Esky looked good. I don't think Colorado, San Jose or KC will surprise anyone because they look to have stayed much the same (besides the speed and hustle offense of Arnaud and Wolff replacing Preki and Simutenkov). San Jose looked a bit flat on Saturday, but I wouldn't count them out in the long term, obviously. Dallas and Columbus chopped and changed and still don't look great. One thing that stands out for me is how we weren't able to make any major additions over the off-season compared to some teams. LA gets Kirovski and Herzog, Metros get 3 new strikers, and we loose two big names and get very little. Is something in the works? We're stacked on offense, but I wouldn't mind getting a bit of help for the back-line or the midfield. Any thoughts?
I agree the the metroscums may present problems this year especially when they bring in those two foreign strikers. Columbus looks as bad as last year. Same with dallas. I also agree that it seems that teams like LA can find a way to add players but we can't. The suntimes said we still have an allocation coming but will not use it until august when the fifa transfer window opens again.
from what i saw (not much, i fell asleep during the wrap) DC looks like they're getting really good this year.
One of the bad things about MLS is the unfortunate timing of the schedule, don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way, but damn does MLS look ugly at the start of the season. When you've been watching EPL and Champs league for months MLS just looks full of hacks and goons. Oh well, I love it and look forward to a good season with some competition in the east for sure.
Didn't LA and the Metros also add Brazillian midfielders as well? Saragosa and Gilberto Flores. And who did the Metros lose to find space for 4 foreigners? Mathis and Moreno...were they really making that much? Were Ceinfuegos and Elliiot making more than Kirovski and Herzog will be? We must have room--we lost Boca, Thornton and didn't keep Bolanos. What I'd like to see is a player like Mark Lisi, who's classy, composed, passes very well. We've never had many real two-way midfielders. I'm sure we'll make it too the FIFA window in August without being out of the playoff races but it would have been nice to see a new impact player. Is that what's this Buete guy is like, then? That would be sweet.
No, they have the same talent for the most part, but are now just playing like a team instead of 11 guys in the same shirt. We'll see if they can stay healthy this season though.
The difference in that game was the return of a healthy Jaime Moreno who does have skills.Like you say we will see if he can stay healthy. Nowak and Stoitchkov were good for us when they stayed healthy unfortunetly it wasn't long enough.
Well that's like comparing apples and oranges, those leagues are better period, regardless of what point in the season they're in. Also, think about how much better the opening day looked as compared to previous opening MLS days.
The Metros looked really sharp. They moved the ball really well in the attack and Magee looked much better than last year. he didn't look like a poacher. I can see him and Gaven be scary good in a few years.
Pretty much. I don't know if I'd say I dread them yet. Give them a couple more games, but if they look that sharp again I'll start worrying.
I meant to say that I dread them in the future. They're good now, but nothing out backline can't handle.
Just curious, is every week DC is on notional TV going to be as painful as this past.It was sheer torture watching Piotr on the sidelines...
Mathis and Moreno were both at Max salary, the Metros also saved about 125k from replacing max-salary Howard with the less-expensive Walker. They also saved about 50-80k from the Jolley/Bonseu trade. They cut the two Argentines and Bartolomeu. Grafer was replaced by a rookie. Plus they had two allocations to help with the cap. On top of that, only one of the 4 foreign guys (Galvan Rey) is a maximum salary player. The newest guy (Gilberto Flores) is a developmental player. It's anyone's best guess on Glenn and Taylor, though I'd guess that Glenn makes more, as he required an allocation while Taylor was a discovery. How has Buete looked in practice? I've been itching to see him play ever since draft day. If Sarachan thinks the kid is worth an allocation, I don't doubt that he's quality.
He was the highest pick for the Fire and he aparently has looked good but if you look at the match report for KC he wasn't even brought along on the trip as a sub. I don't think he is quite there yet.
I was listening to ESPN radio, an NBA show was on and they were actually talking to writer from the Washington Post about Freddy Adu. The MLS might be making it on the national sports radar.
Thanks for the reminders, Metros, I had forgotten about Howard, and hadn't realized Williams was gone (finally!) or that Jolley-Bonseu saved you that much. Good call. It still seems that we must have some room after Thornton and Los leaving. I guess Beasley, Armas and Razov must be making the most. Maybe CJ and Marsch, too. Did Curtin and Ralph get improved deals over the summer, too? I think we'd still have space to bring in a quality something, but I suppose they want to wait and use the allocation in the August transfer window... Why are there only two matches next weekend?
There are a few exhibitions going on: Kansas City is playing Dallas in OKC, and then again Monday in Tulsa. LA is playing a college team. Plus it's Easter weekend.
Hey guys, if you hear anything about how Beute is doing pass it along. He's a buddy of mine from Bowie, but we can't get any reports here in Maryland. Big Soccer is about the only thing we have Anyway, I can tell you guys this; If Scott's history is any indication, he'll excel for you guys in no time. Personally I think you all picked him as a future replacement for Armas. His style is very similar except Armas is a little more brutish, while Scott is finesse. He's absolutely a segway between defense and offense. A true hustle player like Ben Olsen with perfect vision. A bit undersized for the center of the park, but very strong and sturdy. I have no doubt he'll do just fine up there but keep in mind he's behind some great midfielders in Chi-town. Wait until Armas or Beasley has national team duty this summer. Anyway, if you ever get the chance, ask him about Beute's Boozers. Good luck this years except when you play DC.
I think the Easter weekend led to the shorter schedule, but that's just a guess. As to Chicago and Cap space, I know there were rumors that they were having cap issues, but after moving Thornton for a P-40 and losing Bocanegra, they should have at least enough to ad a player at $150-200k. Taking into account the allocation you all still hold, there should conceivably be room for a max-salary player. My only guess is that Sarachan didn't see the need to use the space/allocation, or wanted to hold it for the upcoming transfer window for the playoff run. I was against the new transfer window thing at first, but looking at the teams that opted to just hold onto allocations (Columbus with 2, Dallas, Chicago and the Revs with 1 each), I think the 2nd window is going to be way more exciting than the average trade deadline. A midlevel club can actually seriously re-tool for a playoff run. I can't wait.