It’s still not really up to MLS, it’s up to the states. The season is a long way off, pandemicly speaking.
The complete list of free agents for the 2021 MLS season January 29, 2021 9:49AM EST MLSsoccer staff The "Dom Dwyer to New England" rumors seem to have died down. Possible backup CB option could be Axel Sjoberg? He had such a great rookie year with Colorado in 2015, but has been injury prone since. And of course, who will be Kei Kamara's ninth MLS team?
Doyle with an interesting take on the Revs depth chart: MLS Eastern Conference roster build status | Armchair Analyst February 3, 2021 11:30AM EST Matthew Doyle
Interesting that he doesn't have a starting spot for Buchanon - which I think is the conventional expectation, barring some surprise. Also, the draftees aren't figured in, FWIW. Since we have roster spots available, I wonder if training camp (Feb. 22nd!) will have some invitees ...
That was my biggest takeaway looking at the lineup chart (/spreadsheet cut & paste haha). It also generated a new thought re: CB cover...if everyone is healthy in the forward and midfield stable, does that leave Buchanon as the starting RB and Bye as cover or slotting in for form issues with Farrell and Kessler? We clearly still need more CB cover, but until I saw this depth chart I didn't realize we needed to find a place for Buchanon which likely overlaps with Bye's preferred position.
Ive been thinking about Bye as CB cover for a bit now. He is actually good at defending when he is on the back line, and at 5'11 he is small but not too small. Add in his huge hops and he could realistically be in the mix. I think DLG, Verfuth, and Bell (if he signs) are the other guys in contention for CB minutes as the roster stands. All that said Id love to see either a clear upgrade at CB or a Jahlil Anibaba type to round out the roster
I agree with much of the sentiment I've seen -- Buchanon is the starting RB in my mind. Not getting him into the 11, would be like not getting a young Clint Dempsey in. After Gil, I think he's the biggest difference maker and disrupter of defenses that we have. Bye as CB, other than in a pinch concerns me, as he is pretty slight of build. Also, Polster over Caicedo as the starter????
Yeah. Don't think so. But, since he's been out for an extended period, he has to show he's fit and recovered. I think Polster could also be considered for backup CDEF - he's got the defensive abilities (and size); IMO his weaknesses are speed and lack of agility in open space - factors that are less significant on the back line.
Agree on Polster. After the solid start, he dropped off a lot at DMID and I was thinking of this option then.
Pretty quiet since the Traustason rumors. Seems like they have room and cap space. Hopefully they are still looking and talking to players. I feel what they did was not enough to make the a contender
Theyre options are gated by a couple things. 1) the max non-dp salary charge was $1.6M in 2020. Because all 3 dps make more than that (buksa is $3.25M because of his transfer fee) non can be bought down. 2) Traustason is a guy who could fit under that $1.6M number, but it might be close. I imagine his salary in MLS would be near if not in excess of the max salary charge (>$612k). If Malmo are holding out for a $1M+ transfer fee, then he suddenly doesnt fit under that budget charge cap and cant be signed. 3) $1.6M is a decent amount of money to work with for salary+ fee. And if its a mutliyear deal then the fee gets split over the whole term. We dont know what Mafla/Kaptoum's/Turner's new salaries are, but Id be surprised if theyve uaed any of their $4.2Mish xAM 4) I definitely am getting antsy, and think they need to make another signing. We do have a little time, but its running out.
Training camp start date also pushed out, no new date given yet: MLS commissioner Don Garber provides updates on preseason, Canadian clubs and more February 10, 2021 4:59PM EST Tom Bogert
Luis Caicedo first on the list: Five MLS players who will feel like new signings in 2021 February 12, 2021 11:20AM EST Greg Seltzer
Revs can have players report for training camp on March 1st: MLS training camp updates, per source: Report dates are set for 2/24 and 3/1 for CCL and non-CCL teams, respectively.Players will undergo 7-day medical protocol before beginning any group training.— Steven Goff (@SoccerInsider) February 12, 2021
The transfer window had supposedly opened, but now it doesn't open until March 10th: Official: 2021 MLS Primary Transfer Window dates amended February 16, 2021 1:06PM EST MLSsoccer staff
Roster still seems a little thin/spotty to me. Not quite the Great Leap Forward roster-wise this year vs. last year from The Bruce that I had been kinda expecting. (Yeah, yada yada pandemic, possible work stoppage was looming etc., yes I get it - but still has some earmarks of "underwhelming" so far, even in light of those environmental difficulties) Certainly possible that The Bruce has some big big magic to drop this week, maybe even tomorrow, maybe even next hour - but it is beginning to feel like there is a fair chance that the roster will be more inclined to limp, rather than dash, into training camp. Fingers crossed that isn't what happens. (And I'm just not ready to hear anyone say "flexibility" as the explanation, even if they think they're speaking truth. That word needs to be mothballed out of the vocab used to talk about the Revs, maybe for as long as a full decade.)