At least the offseason will be shorter this time. But will the grounds crew be able to have a field ready in time for Champions Cup? Round 1 starts February 4th.
Pulled from MLSPA Top Bunch had at least 3 appearances this season. Arranged from most $$$ to least First Name / Last Name / Position / Base Salary / Guaranteed Comp Cristian Arango CF $1,899,996.00 $2,088,746.00 Diogo Gonçalves CM $1,650,000.00 $1,797,108.00 Justen Glad CB $1,150,000.00 $1,330,000.00 Matt Crooks AM $1,000,000.00 $1,000,000.00 Pablo Ruiz CM $825,000.00 $911,500.00 Anderson Julio CF $750,000.00 $820,000.00 Braian Ojeda DM $600,000.00 $658,653.00 Dominik Marczuk RW $600,000.00 $675,500.00 Brayan Vera CB $475,000.00 $532,000.00 Alexandros Katranis LB $400,000.00 $469,875.00 Diego Luna LM $400,000.00 $448,833.00 Marcelo Silva CB $400,000.00 $400,000.00 Zac MacMath GK $350,000.00 $350,000.00 Nelson Palacio DM $330,000.00 $373,167.00 Andrew Brody RB $275,000.00 $300,678.00 Lachlan Brook RW $252,000.00 $274,883.00 Javain Brown RB $205,000.00 $218,688.00 Maikel Chang RW $195,000.00 $218,750.00 Bode Hidalgo RB $125,000.00 $129,294.00 Gavin Beavers GK $120,000.00 $125,583.00 Emeka Eneli DM $89,716.00 $89,716.00 Philip Quinton CB/RB $89,716.00 $89,716.00 Noel Caliskan CM $89,716.00 $89,716.00 Rubio Rubín F $626,400.00 $699,247.00 Erik Holt CB $225,000.00 $243,750.00 Benji Michel LW $185,000.00 $209,667.00 Kevon Lambert DM $180,000.00 $198,150.00 Zack Farnsworth LB/CM $125,000.00 $139,750.00 Jude Wellings CM $110,000.00 $130,000.00 Axel Kei F $110,000.00 $126,000.00 Luis Rivera LB $89,716.00 $100,816.00 Ilijah Paul F $89,716.00 $97,229.00 Bertin Jacquesson RW $89,716.00 $97,042.00 Jaziel Orozco DM $89,716.00 $89,716.00 Tomás Gómez GK $89,716.00 $89,716.00 Zavier Gozo CF $71,401.00 $84,124.00 Tommy Silva LB $71,401.00 $77,383.00 Delentz Pierre CB $71,401.00 $76,836.00 Matthew Bell LW $71,401.00 $71,847.00 Kevin Bonilla RB $71,401.00 $71,401.00 Luca Moisa CM $71,401.00 $71,401.00 Marcelo Silva and Maikel Chang are obviously both out for next year. Both 35+ and out of contract. Not happening. I think #1 priority is to find a solid 3rd CB, that would seriously threaten Vera and Glad for time, or push one to the bench. Possibly trade one of them? RB needs to be sorted out. Need someone speedy on the left wing to give us a different look when needed. We have a glut of players that play DM/CM. Somebody has to go. CF..... WTF?
I figure at some point this offseason, a story leaks about what the hell happened to Chicho in the second half of the season.
Yeah this wouldn’t surprise me I think the fanbase is going to be in store for some news that is uncomfortable to read and learn about. I would rather it stay out of the limelight. I doubt it will Edit: this reads in a cryptic way like I might know something. I truly don’t. I don’t want to, either
I haven't actually looked at these number this season. ********ing pay this man! This guy could literally be making more money with is degree than playing for RSL.
He signed a guaranteed contract that kicks in Jan. 2025 and goes through 2028 with an option for 2029. I think this was a negotiation to keep him off the senior roster this year? If that’s how it works?
It's probably a combination of on and off-field stuff. But on-field, he continues to look a step or two slower than he was, with worse decision making, a hair trigger temper tantrum waiting to burst, and a worse touch than before. That suggests some sort of injury to me. If it was all mental, then I'd expect some other lousy news to be the full source. Unfortunately it seems likely to me to be both of those things.
As far as Chicho goes a guy on Twitter was suggesting that he had an insight into the situation and that it may not have been as serious as implied. Kind of hinting it might have been an overreaction by MLS to blunt Chicho stealing lime light from the chosen one. Seems a stretch but time will tell.
Seems easy enough that it wasn't all that big a deal, but the leap to it being done to make sure Chicho wouldn't overshadow Messi is quite the stretch.
Have to remember that the salary budget is only for 18-20 players. 2-3 guys at the bottom of the top group plus Ruiz didn't count this year. One of Ruiz, Ojeda and Palacio will probably be gone. Silva and Chang are likely both gone. Don't necessarily need the money, but the roster spot. I don't know if Holt is back, but I wouldn't bring him back. I like Brown at RB unless you can find a clear upgrade for Katranis money. Hidalgo and Quinton are good, cheap depth in the back. I'm fine with Brody being the main backup LB, but if one of the HGs pops, he'll need to go. I wouldn't bring back Michel. Caliskan is fine as cheap depth, but I want to see some HGs pushing him. I'm done with Vera (love what he brings as a CB), but to get reds the way he does two years in a row, I don't want that on my team. I think RSL needs to be bold and try to move on from Glad. He's good, but I don't think he's worth $1.3m+. This roster needs some bold decisions if they really want to move out of the first round in MLS, not to mention have a chance in CCC. I'm expecting a new formation for next season. It just doesn't work with this group. I wouldn't be surprised if Luna was sold, but that might happen next summer (Brook is an almost direct replacement). It's frustrating, but we shouldn't be surprised that Goncalves didn't gel quickly. If we're saying the same things at the end of next season (maybe even next summer), I'll be ready to move on. Pretty sure we'll hear some contract decisions in the coming days. There's an expansion draft and guys like Glad, Vera, Ojeda, Palacio and even MacMath would be good players to trade and not lose for free. But maybe San Diego will be dumb and not build a spine with MLS vets. I'm looking forward to the off-season, it'll come quick and lots to discuss. I wonder if they've forgot that the club doesn't have a GM though...
I think you're right. I do kind of want to know, but right now everyone needs to put it out of their minds and move on. Talk about it after he retires?
We're barely two days into the always unexpected off season, boo, but what are your knee jerk thoughts on how the team will look by February? Will RSL find that elusive GM? Will Kurt Schmid make some surprising changes? Will we be surprised by players leaving or joining RSL? Will it be tweaks or an overhaul and what would you describe as a tweak or an overhaul? It's early days but I would not be surprised with something between just past a tweak but not really an overhaul. But I think in the end it will be closer to an overhaul than perhaps expected. My initial thought, which is the same as at the start of last season, is the back line. This is all kneejerk at this point but I really can't imagine having both Vera and Glad back as the starters. They are both pretty good number 2's in a pairing but this club needs CB that is an improvement on either of those two. It will also be a huge mistake if RSL goes in to next season with Brody, Bode, Brown, and crew as the best guess at RB. Maybe that's a role that Eneli falls back into if RSL is making a formation adjustment but I think he is better in the midfield. Pablo M is certainly not on the hot seat but 3 straight first round exits, start hot and finish cold pattern emerging, locker room bs and distraction again, Savarino last year, heard that Dami may have been a bit of a distraction as well to an extent, and then you have the Chicho crap from this year. The player stuff is not on Pablo and it's not his fault but good coaches find ways to work around that stuff and RSL has really been hindered from within, looking from the outside at least. Don't expect Pablo to go anywhere any time soon but things can go south in a hurry. Knock on wood. We will see how it all plays out as we go through the roster deadlines, expansion draft, etc. If I were a betting man I would say that there is better than a 60/40 chance that RSL makes more than one surprising roster move that will upset the more sentimental of RSL fans. But that's not hard to do, amirite. Man it sucks this season is already over.
We really need to sort out the backline. CB for sure. We could also use a better RB. Hopefully Diogo fits in better next season. Crooks felt like a bust early on and now he looks a lot better. I wouldn't mind a new keeper. Beavers doesn't seem to be ready yet, and we could do better than MacMath
That's quite the understatement. I think we all saw it coming for the last couple months, but I was at least hopeful they could figure it out in time.
I agree on the keeper situation. If I'm MacMath maybe I see the writing on the wall and look for a nice place to land. Maybe an expansion side in San Diego or as an experienced keeper on a team looking for stable veteran leadership etc. I don't think that the keeper by committee thing worked particularly well for either Zac or Beavers. If you are going with a young keeper like Beavers you have to play him. You have to give him a serious run to grow and find his groove. You also can't consistently give up 3 goals a game too though. It would also help a young keeper to have a better back line so there's that. If RSL is wanting to groom Beavers to sell on that is a tough sell if you want bring in a better option. Either give it to Beavers, if you really think he is the future, or rethink your approach to that position. Having a solid keeper like Rimando seemed to be a better option than whatever they are trying to do at the moment. Pick your poison.
Most teams have 3 GKs going: - starter - solid back up - developing Thomas Gómez as our #2 is quite baffling. Behind Rimando (and Cassar) we had several guys (Atinella, Melia, and one more I think) who became regular starters at different clubs. Beavers is very young. MacMath is OK. But there should be another guy realistically pushing for minutes that we can at least re-sell to another club.
RSL supposedly has a great GK pipeline in the Academy. I think that's where #3 comes from (Delgado?). I don't have anything to back it up, but it feels like MacMath is still an average level MLS starter. I don't think he's ready to be a backup and I don't blame him if he needs to leave. I think it's a solid idea to replace one or both starting CB's and load up that position if you're going to play Beavers. Better CB's would be nice, but not a requirement if you think MacMath is the starter next year.
I don't think RSL does anything at the RB spot unless a player wants out/they get too good of an offer. I think Hidalgo is the likely starter if he doesn't get injured and I think Brown looks better after a training camp. Brody is your 3rd RB if he's not your 2nd LB (he probably needs to be gone if he's not your backup LB though). If the club has a Katranis level (or better) player lined up, sure, but then you have to figure out how to get rid of a player or two.