Interesting story on the future of RBNY here: http://www.bigapplesoccer.com/article.php?article_id=7886
Thanks for the link. Interesting article. My two cents: 1) Arena won't find anybody better than Guevara on the market, although if he could swing a straight-up trade for DeRo, I'd be thrilled. But it'll never happen. 2) Stammler's a bargain, and I think he has plenty of room to improve. Arena should keep him. (bonus cents...) 3) DEFINITELY keep Altidore!!!! 4) Keep Woly and Dema on as super-subs, but I'd rather not see either player starting. 5) Damn, I had no idea the developmental players were making so little....
In general I agree with it all that the article says, except I'm not quite as extream. All the people on the gonner list I always expected to be gone. All the people on the fence sitters list are basically said that they may be usefull, but if the right deal came along then the trigger will be pulled. Can't argue with that. Actually if the right deal came along for anybody then I would say pull the trigger. In the case for some of the players it would have to be a pretty darn good deal we'd have to get in return (Guevara obviously, Park only if we had found at least 2 good central defenders as he would be good to keep for depth). As far as the survivers go, I'd like them all to stay, but not all of them starters. The outside backs may be the best of any MLS team (or soon will be). The deal with Schopp I think only would work for us so he's ours. Alti I also want to keep (and depending on who we end up getting in the off season, hope to continue to start). The rest of the survivers are good players to have that I hope will be there for dept. In general, the list indicated priorities with which the team should focus on, but all deals made for either the fence sitters or the surviviors (again, if its the right deal) better replacements. Hopefully those deals can be made for those players after their replacements are already signed. I do worry about Guevara though. With all the rumors about Reyna comming to the team I'm suspecting that Guevara's gonna be traded for an allocation in order to make that happen, and then slot into Guevara's A-mid role. I don't follow Reyna's games across the pond, but seem to hear about him being injured a lot. Would hate to get rid of Guevara in order to get another Tab case (no knock on Tab, but just for a very long time he didn't give us much). If there's a deal that improves us that involves dealing Guevara, then fine, but I don't know how much of an improvement Reyna is, and don't know how risky having him on the team will be.
Who stay????? Keepers: Pants and Behonick..........................................................2 Defenders: Dunnivant, Wynne, Mandez and Parke................................4 MidFielders: Schopp, Stammler, Kovalenko, Camp, Kuykendall, Vide and Ikangu...................................................................................7 Strikers: Atidore, Wolyniec, Arvizu, Cila and Laventure .........................5 Total..................(18) base players, now to look for 10 more
I say bye bye Parke even though I hate droping any of these guys cause of their work, but they can't play well dully its now do or get killed
At first I was feeling this article was a little too pessimistic, but I'm not really sure. Dissecting it the way they did, I kind of agree with what he says for the most part - I'm amazed at what some of these dudes are being paid. I want us to keep Kovalenko, Wynne, Altidore, Dunivant, Conway, Guevara, Stammler, Schopp. Other than that, I have no emotional attachments - the above named are critical to me not being disappointed in who we have repping this team next year. I love these guys. My boys Stammler and Conway need a raise! that's all i got . . P.S. I don't care what ANYONE says . . Ikangu is my effin boy, and therefore needs to stay as well.
Thanks for that ag. I can't quarrel with any of that; except to say that there should be no question of keeping Jozy and trying to develop and mature his very obvious but very raw talent.
People I'd keep: Conway (although we can probably find a better starting GK) Wynne Mendes Dunivant Dema (as a sub), Amado, Schopp, Stammler, Altidore, Woly (sub) I'd like to see more of Laventure, but whatever.
in regards to the Bigapplesoccer.com article You get ride of Edson Buddle than you have nothing to show for the trade of Eddie Gaven.... Don't forget also, we gave up two number one pick for too Colorado for Jean Phillippe Peguerro ..... What about the X Factor for 2007?... What does Bruce Arena plan to do with Johnny X Exantus? ,.... I know one person that would love to have him - Mo Johnson in Torronto FC ...
Dema as a sub??? That would be the #1 super stupid move of the year to put Dema on the bench. Dude, you take Dema out of the game and see how well that ball gets upfield. He's the most unselfish hustler on the pitch, and he creates chances. He is a starter. I want him back. I want him back so bad that I played FIFA 07 with Brondby IF and scored two goals with him this weekend. *cry*
I'm convinced that Guevara is a prima dona, he isn't a teame player, and beside all, he is like a comet, you never know when will appear, if Arena get some body like Reyna, he is gone Now, Parke is a good substitute defender, I will take him any time
I also am hoping that he's a sub, but because I'm hoping that we find a player that's better. He's a hard worker, can play WELL in a number of positions, so want to keep him on the team (like Stammler), but I'm hoping that we find a wide player that's better at the wide position. Order of priorities imho: -A forward (big need) -A left mid (big need) -A Dmid (big need, though O'Rourke, Dema and Stammy can do it in a pinch) -A Centerback (Park and Mendez did very well, are young and will likely get better, but would love to have more quality here with one of our current guys comming off of the bench) -An A-mid (if we can fine someone better than Amado, great! - but I'm thinking more for depth as if Amado gets suspended or injured we got nothing as cover) -Another Centerback (put the other of our current guys on the bench, making us the deepest team in this position) -Another forward (down so low on the list because I want Josy to get lots of playing time, but would be good to get another upgreade) -Goalie (thought Conway was fine for us, but if someone is available and we don't have to give much up for him...) -Anywhere we can add more depth
I'm disappointed by all this Dema non-love. I think its a case of the dude not getting his props, thats all. We can just bag everyone if we're "hoping we can find a player thats better." (You would give up Conway for the same reason??) If Dema gets benched, he might as well find work elsewhere because its a waste of his talents and a severe underestimation of his value to this team. He's one of the most methodical cats on the pitch, in my humble opinion, and I think he's been the single most valuable aquisition since Brucie took the helm. (I would also say Schopp, but Kovalenko performed right out the box, there was no acclimation period. My man was good to go.) I won't argue. I think while you have a good point., I consider Guevara one of the faces of this team, so I wont say that I want him gone, but I won't say I want him to stay either. If it comes down to Reyna vs. Guevara.....well, no comment. Speaking of, did anyone see the effing priceless chance he had in the second half Sunday night? I was standing right above the goal and I saw him shoot straight down the field, halfway through the box he hesitates and the ball get scooped. He had 10 years to shoot, and he totally blew it. I know there were obviously more blown chances than that, but that was one of the most painfully obvious ones I witnessed that night.
What type of game does X have? When I first heard about him I got the impression that his game is similar to Adu's, but maybe the comparison was more regarding his age rather than the type of game he has. Is he a big forward? A speedster? One who relies on his touch? Makes good runs? I hear he's good, but what is he good at?
O.k. here is my view of who should stay or go. We all know Arena is going to keep Wynne, Dunivant, Altidore, Conway, & if he does want to stay Markus Schopp. I have heard Arena like Elie Ikangu so he is going to stay. Outside of those six I also would like to think that Guevara will stay, Stammler will stay Woly, Kovalenko, Parke, Mendes. I believe Tony will only stay as a backup other than that I think he is gone. Danny O'Rourke showed some flashes of brilliance but then again he has a bad habit of losing possession easily. Sadly Jolley is gone, Magee is probably gone, Lisi is gone, Kuykendall was just roster space. Henderson we all know is gone. Cila is gone, Graham is gone, LaVenture might be gone. David Arvizu I think is going to stay unless Arena uses him as trade bait and Vide didn't look that bad. The only reason I say both Parke & Mendes stays is if Arena can find a better Central defenders, but if not they can improve under Arena and Agoos since he is now our Technical Director and he can be used as a defensive line coach during practice. Unless Arena finds better players to fill in and do well for us next season then I say whoever is on the keeper list, will be erased very fast.
So? Pardon me, but Buddle has shown us that if we keep him, we have exactly that as it is ... nothing to show for the trade. Besides, it's not as if Gaven is exactly setting the world alight at Columbus. In a way I'd like to see what BA might be able to do with Gaven; not much, I'm afraid.
Keepers= Conway, Dunivant, Wynne, Altidore, Guevara, Stammler, Wolyniec, Kovalenko, Schopp, O'rourke(he's cheap and young), Mendes(backup). Everything else needs an upgrade. Other players on roster either go or stay to fill out roster, all based on age, salary and FOs' ability to upgrade like for like at positions.
A possible option up front for 2007? From ESPN Soccernet: Another Argentine, Bruno Marioni, currently the top goalscorer in Mexico this season, is reportedly considering a move to MLS as early as next year, with the safety and security of his family top considerations for the switch. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=385199&root=mls&cc=5901
I would like to think Reyna and Guevara should be able to co-exist. Reyna has never been an attacking mid, so you slot him in the defensive mid role, and play Guevara in front of him. I also think Stammler showed extremely well the past few games so I would have no problems with him playing the defensive mid role as well. In reality, I see the Red Bulls getting rid of Meola, Graham, Canero, Buddle, Henderson and some other bench guys like Vide, Camp, and Ikangu. Then they will bring in Reyna, a solid defender, hopefully 1 or 2 quality forwards, and Luis Figo.
Henderson is the man....there a few players out there like him.....,Vide is useful,Ikangu who knows looks fast and could be good...
Henderson really? Not an attack at your expense , but henderson? Henderson is where passes go to die. If he's back next year starting or getting any meaningful minutes, or even back at all, i'll link up with you at the stadium and buy you a beer.