On the radio show Peter just talked about Ante and Faria as starting forwards...looks like no more Josh.
He's still on the Fire's roster, but doesn't count against the cap as of right now, something seems to be up...
1. Wilt in the radio show also indicated that Stoichkov is counted under the cap and is on the roster. 2. SA MLS Confidential also indicated that Wolff is gone to KC (that was the "deal to be announced"). 3. This means that with the departure of Wolff, Nowak and Kovalenko and addition of a draft pick and Mapp, you added no new salary but just dumped about $600K in cap commitments. My understanding was that the Fire was about $500K over the cap. If I was right, this means you've got about $100K of cap money to play with now. On the other hand, Wilt also is supposed to have said that the Fire is $1 under the cap. So maybe the $500K figure I had was wrong--maybe it was more like $600K over the cap. 4. Wouldn't be shocked if there is another smaller deal in a few weeks. Right now Sarachan basically has a team that is "Bradley-lite" (Bob's team minus some key players). He's got to make this team his own and play a style he's comfortable with. So I wouldn't be surprised if there was another swap (but not one that is cap driven--rather one that moves a player for someone that fits what Sarachan wants to do. Particularly a #10). For what it's worth, with the signing of Earnie Stewart, Dallas needs an allocation if they're going to get him. The SoS want Vaca. If Stewart chooses Dallas, than we'll likely see a Vaca for allocation deal. That may mean that either Pareja or Andy Williams (or both) are cut loose. Last of all, I feel for all Fire fans. DC United has gone through some of this in the past--the cap induced hemorraging. And the Fire has just been a model franchise in the past, from Wilt and the Front Office, to the development of young Americans, to the product on the field, to the BarnBurners.
just to clarify, i said Hristo is currently on the Fire roster, but i specifically made no comments about his salary as it pertained to the budget due to undisclosed issues. peter
How about someone set up an account, something like "Piotr Welt", and give it a simple password like "password". Then Peter Wilt, you can log in as the new Piotr and tell us all of the inside information you're not supposed to tell us. How's that sound?
Pains me to say it, but I think both trades are in order at this point. Stoitchkov is done, no doubt. I would love for him to retire and take up a spot on the bench, but that might steal some of Sacharan's wind...still would rather see that than him staying, but would love to see him retire in Fire red as Nowak should have. Lot of "Wolff needs to go" talk going around, and I partially agree with some of it. We might be able to get something decent for him, and while it would be a good thing to have a player of Wolffs calibur on the bench as a stiker, I just have that feeling that he is already gone.
Wolff is a great athlete when healthy, a lot of talent, but because of the injuries and National Team callups other player injuries, I feel he never was able to find a real connection and rhythm with the Fire. I'd love to see him stay and develop some new chemistry, with a new coach and a lot of young players, it could be something great. But like everyone else has said, I have a feeling he'll be gone. As for Stoitchkov, he is "Fire", there's nothing like the crowd reaction when he is substituted in the last 15 minutes of the game when we are tied. He motivates everyone, and adds the much needed spark to the team. He is one player that adds the element of excitement, unpredicability, and passion to the field. And it shows in the other players. I know he is past his prime, but if he can stay about 5% healthier than the end of last season I want to keep him. So many negative comments are being made about Hristo, give him one more year. A new coach, many new faces, he still has the best free kick in the league. We've already lost Peter.(made for a very depressing week) Let's keep Hristo. We need some "Firery" instinct out there! And to the one who said they'd trade in their seats if Hristo was still around, come on; I'm Fire all the way, I'd support them even if the team was all under 21 year old's even if the brought in Luiz Hernandez, I'd go to all the games if I didn't live 5 hours from Chicago, or if I had the funds to fly all over. So don't be so dramatic. I want both, if I had to choose today between the two I'd trade Wolff, but only for a good attacking mid who is fast and has striker instincts(hard to find in MLS)
This is our problem, as was DCU's problem. In the long run, it just doesn't pay for MLS teams to develop young Americans because then you get salary cap problems in two years and lose them after you've put in the work of developing them. I'd be happy to keep Hristo if we could pay him the $40,000 he's worth.
I am sad to see Wolff go, but not at all like I was sad to see Nowak go. He did pretty good for the time he was on the field for us, and I am sure he will be a threat with KC if he stays healthy. Best of luck to him against everyone but the Fire. I have never visited ussocceruk.com before till today, but they seem pretty posative that Hristo is DC bound. I truly hope this is not the case, and he can agree on something with the Fire (possibly a salary drop to keep playing, or an asst. spot on the bench). I want him to stay with the organization and retire in Fire red as Nowak should have. In one capacity or another the Fire organization should find a way to keep Stoitchkov with the team. Not a chance is hell of happening, but Stoitchkov to DC for the rights to Earnie Stewart?...okay, I couldn't even keep a straight face after typing that.
1. Almost all these moves (by the Fire) have been cap driven. At least they should be able to get you below the cap (once Stoichkov leaves) to add 1 or 2 medium salary players. Stewart though will be max salary--you'd need to move more players in order to add him. 2. Stewart has a lot of say in where he goes. He named only 2 teams: DC and Dallas. So Chicago isn't in the running. Furthermore, what you'd have to do is to trade for an allocation from DC. B/c Dallas is next in line and have a contingent deal with the SoS to acquire their allocation for Vaca. They'll take Stewart--if DC says "no" or if Stewart says "no" to DC. 3. Actually, though it's hard to feel this way right now if you're a Fire fan a present, the Wolff deal (for the 3rd pick in the draft) is a superb deal for Chicago. And I'm not saying that to bash Wolff--who is one of the most intelligent strikers off the ball, is fast, has done good things when healthy. Here's why this deal is so good. --the superdraft pool will only get better in the next week. Players may return from Europe (that's what Twellman did last year). U-17 and college undergrads will sign up as P-40. The talent pool is good this year and more players will enter in the remaining time we have. --Chicago was over a barrel. KC had cap room and could have driven a much harder bargain than they did. While their fans are probably happy about getting Wolff (and he is a fine player), I don't think he helps them a lot AND it means they're now to the max of the cap. Chicago HAD to move a max salary player and KC was one of only a few candidates you guys could talk to. I wouldn't have been shocked if you'd have gotten less of a deal than you did--not b/c Wolff isn't good, but Chicago had NO room to manuever on this deal. Kudos to Wilt and a boo to Johnson (KC GM) on this deal--Wilt made the best of a bad situation. --Teams will be going into camp in late January or early February and realize they have holes to fill and they're all capped out. If they're capped out (and SJ and Columbus will be when Graziani and mcBride return, ditto for Colorado when Grimandi signs, only DCU will be substantially under the cap) so to fill those holes they'll need to rely on the draft or the A-league/discoveries. If they're capped out, it's got to be the draft. So picks are worth their weight in gold this year. In short, if the cap deadline had been the day before the superdraft, you wouldn't have been able to make this deal. You'd have been looking at dealing Wolff for a high second round pick, not the #3 selection. It may not seem like it now (especially since the #3 selection may not be an immediate contributor), but Wilt deserves a tremendous amount of credit for getting the terms that he did on this one. It's a very good deal for Chicago considering the circumstances.
Whatever, I think Wolff for a top four pick is a good deal. Whole lot better than a second or third four pick next year for Peter.