On Soccer: Revs have burning questions Mike Biglin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x939366009 Good article where he calls out Twellman's agent(s). He does make the following comment that I find interesting, but it is not clear if this is completely the author's opinion, OR something in talking with the players that he has been told. The quote from Franchino seems too vague to clarify. But the need is screaming out, especially up front and in defense, and it must be addressed - not just for the obvious reasons, but for team morale as well. "I don't know (how things will pan out)," said veteran Joe Franchino. "But the guys up top who make those decisions have made good decisions in the past, and we'll see how it pans out."
Almost every article being written in the past week has had quotes from players that, in my opinion, show the whole team has definitely been shaken up over the off-season transfer saga. This is definitely a team in transition. Players are still pointing to a core of veterans returning, having only actually lost 2.5 starters from the 2007 squad, but at the same time no one is denying the team needs more. I guess the good news is even Mariner freely admits the team needs more and clearly Nicol agrees by his continuing scouting trips. Paul said he would be going on some himself as well. Let's just hope we actually get something to show for it this time around.
Clearly many people on these boards have not felt this was "definitely" a team in transition just to judge by the draft threads and related threads. And should SN and PM fail to find a super cheap diamond in the rough, many will go back to denial as we enter the season with a light roster that has failed to adequately replace any of the losses from the last couple seasons. I guess it is okay for us to be in denial on BS but for REV management to spend so much time with its collective head in the sand (I could pick another dark place...) is a topic that the local press could and should push much harder. Why don't they? I guess the REV's Maginot Line has to fall spectacularly before they'll realize they need to adjust. Or, maybe they realize and they just don't care. For this management/ownership just making the playoffs appears to define success. So, in that context, they may easily avoid any spectacular failures. At any rate, the current scramble really highlights to me the apathy toward planning and scouting in the REV organization. Realizing the week that you start training camp that you're roster is thin and then having to send your head coach out on a snark hunt is EMBARRASSING. SN and PM may work miracles as coaches but Sunil and his front office henchmen, including SN and PM, have their proverbial shorts down around their ankles right now.
The players don't know what they're talking about. Everything is going to be ok, just wait until opening day.
You guys are hilarious. Everything is not black and white. The more optimistic outlooks on these boards, of which I share, are not trying to claim that nothing needs to be done and to accuse anyone of failing to see the issues at hand is ignoring the truth for the sake of your own argument. With that, I don't think anyone involved in the Revs organization has put on that nothing needs to be done. Every comment coming out of camp right now, from players and coaches alike is that something needs to be done and something is being done. The MLS transfer window is open until April. There's still time. Something could have and probably should have been done before now, but there is still time. I don't think Nicol and Mariner are 'scrambling' for players. They are doing their homework, taking scouting trips and trying to bring in people that they feel will be able to contribute. I wish they would do it faster, like EVERY person on these boards, I'm sure. To make comments about disloyalty, ignorance and the like or to insinuate that anybody else has done the same is just silly and weak. Why does every thread have to turn in to something like this!? (yes, I know I contributed to it, but it's not as if I started it, or intended to start it in any way.)
I'm not really getting into this as everyone knows my opinion on this subject. But you do have to admit where people could see this as scrambling: we're now 2.5 months since our season ended, haven't brought in anyone from outside the league yet (while losing four, maybe five, players from the team), have started training camp without anyone from outside the league, watched one of our main rivals sign not 1 (which is hard enough for us) but 5 players, are extremely short on our senior roster, the January transfer window for Europe is already closed, etc etc. Personally, I would have loved to hear they were doing this early January so the players would be here to begin camp.
When they start doing stuff I'll shut up. If you take away draft picks, and the Albright trade, the Revs have done nothing in 3 years. I would say that history says we can expect nothing more this offseason.
I too would have loved to hear about more activity earlier in the window. However, there are a number of ways to look at it. The one that I was alluding to is that we are merely in the second month of a 4 month long MLS transfer season. Of course, at this stage we can only sign out of contract players, but that's pretty much the only kind of player any MLS team ever signs and I'm sure there are other rules that I'm missing, but in general, there is still plenty of time. I think we all agree. Something HAS TO be done. Having only 15 senior roster players just isn't even an option. In an attempt to bring this closer to the original subject, it is encouraging to me to hear that even the players are willing to recognize the problem and say something about it.
13 senior players right? And I know you'll all be shocked, but I know we'll add players. I can't see this organization saying that big of a FU to the rest of the players and to the fans. But the question is what level players will we get? Will they just be scrubs? That's the question I really would like to get answers to ... yesterday.
I thought it was 13 senior players in camp, but you're probably right. I actually agree with you on all accounts.
I'm hoping this will encourage them to build a youth academy. Having players from all over New England at your disposal in a few years is surely an encouraging thing, and most could be had on the cheap (which I know our board will like)
Gee, if only we could have somehow known in the last few years that we would need to add players, we wouldn't be so shorthanded now. I guess all we can do is try to find the best people available in the next couple of weeks. I mean, this isn't the kind of thing you can, yknow, plan ahead for.
I want them to get a youth academy, but I pretty much assume it would be the most mickey mouse of all the YA's in MLS. Actually, I read that as long as you have a youth program, you can pluck un-signed guys from other teams' youth academies. There's the Revs answer, have just enough to be considered a youth program, and just pluck the players out of other teams'.
Just for reference here are the players, other than draftees who are officially making a move into teams this year. It's obvious there are a lot of teams that have not yet made the changes they need. Note Toronto: A lot out and zip in so far. Chicago In: Andy Herron (trade w/Columbus) Chivas In: Jim Curtin (trade w/Chicago) Alecko Eskandarian (trade w/Salt Lake) Atiba Harris (trade w/Salt Lake) Colorado In: Jose Burciaga Jr. (trade w/KC) Chase Hilgenbrinck McDonald (Nublense - Chile) Columbus In: Brian Carroll (trade w/San Jose) DC In: Jose Carvallo (Universitario de Deportes - Peru) Marcelo Gallardo (Paris Saint-Germain - France) Gonzalo Martinez (Millonarios - Colombia) Franco Niell (Argentinos Juniors - Argentina) Gonzalo Peralta (Almirante Brown - Argentina) Zach Wells (trade w/Houston) Dallas In: Duilio Davino (Club America - Mexico) Houston In: Bobby Boswell (trade w/DC) Tony Caig (Gretna - Scotland) Kansas City In: None Los Angeles In: Celestine Babayaro (Newcastle United - England) Clint Mathis (trade w/ NY - later moved to Greece) Carlos Ruiz (trade w/Dallas) New England In: Chris Albright (trade w/LA) New York In: Zach Thornton (free agent) Salt Lake In: Matias Cordoba (Tigre - Argentina) Ian Joy (St. Pauli - Germany) Jamilson Olave (Deportivo Cali - Colombia) TorontoI In: None
Not sure about all of this list, but you're missing Swiss National teamer and world cup vet Raphael Wicky who just transferred to Chivas.
The list is the most up to date "OFFICIAL" running list on the MLS Board. They don't add a player until he's officially signed (see stories on a dude named Veron )
Fair enough, although it's being reported as a done deal at multiple swiss news outfits, one year contract with a one year option. I think this one's a little past the "Veron" stage, which was never reported as a done deal anywhere but MLSrumors.
I'd be a lot more patient if the exact same post wouldn't have been relevant two years ago. Last winter after Dempsey left, a lot of us were nervous that he hadn't been replaced. "Be patient," we were told. "They're looking, but they're secretive." Sorry, but after three years of nothing, I've lost patience. It's no longer good enough to tell me they're looking for players. Whatever they've been doing, it hasn't been good enough. I'll be satisfied when they've signed two or three good players, and not a second before.
Mike, don't you think in all fairness this year is quite different to the last three? Up to this year the Revs have been an unusually stable roster and the end of season results show that even though they could have well used some additional quality add-ons the team was solid. This year is really different. No one---no one is of an opinion that they don't need a real infusion, least of all the team and coaching staff. To think that they won't be adding some muscle is just being unrealistically pessimistic. How well they will do remains to be seen. Clearly the needs this year are different from the last three.
No I disagree. If you are well-prepared, and forward thinking, you constantly have stuff in the hopper wether you need to take advantage or not. Now suddenly the Revs seem to be scrambling on all these "secret" missions - and Twellman's injury is the kind of the thing that was miracuously avoided last year. And now the fact that they seem to be scrambling - does that mean we are getting the quality players that Nicol really wants - or are we getting what we can get in the timeframe the Revs have backed themselves into? Who has confidence about this? This year is no different that since Dempsey left - the Revs have gambled and done nothing every year. The last 2 they got lucky, this year, their lucky streak is over, and now they are facing reality. Instead of being well-prepared, they are playing catch-up. How that does not even in the slightest frustrate people is beyond me.
What's your point? Toronto not bringing in players does not make me feel good what so ever about the Revs having a full roster.