The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread :: Part I

paddyhokie · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Cantankerous said:

On the Dema handball goal, a taller keeper would likely have gotten more of a touch on the ball.
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I love how he whiffed on punching the ball out of the goal mouth and punched Nellie in the grill instead. Rimando is downright scary on corners and good/decent crosses. I don't think Perkins is a long term solution either but he seems to be a slight upgrade for the present. We definitely could use an upgrade to our GK position but I would think defense would be an even bigger position of need (especially since we more than likely won't re-resign Nellie).

ursula · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Yeah I was surprised that Rongen didn't pick Q2 also. But then think of it: Q2 has some holes: he's slow and small and his right foot is completely alien to him. If we knew the Chivas players that his team is importing, maybe Q2 would just be an unneeded duplication for for Tom.

It's great that we still have him. He gives the best midfield in MLS (even without Stewart) great depth. He also allows us to entertain trades of him or another midfielder to get help on the defense.

revelation · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Lanky134 said:

Maybe Rongen just didn't particularly like Q2. Ellinger didn't seem to think too much of him, either, and he only picked Ara, Williams and Brenes as his midfielders.
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Ellinger seemed focused on "young American" talent after selecting Williams. I didn't really expect him to select Q2 as a result but Chivas seemed to be on the look out for Latino talent available at the begining. I guess in the end they took several players based solely on talent and not their heritage.

Anyway, I hope that Q2 proves his worth this year and really shines when he gets a chance to play.

Knave · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

It's funny. Immediately after the draft I thought both teams drafted about evenly, and that neither team drafted optimally. I still don't think either one drafted optimally, but now I'm convinced that RSL had the better picks. My back of the envelope calculation says that RSL's picks average just about 1 1/2 years younger than those by Chivas. The youngest picks by Rongen are from 1981, but Ellinger picked three from 1982. RSL also has a very balanced picks with no real holes. They're getting the pieces together. Maybe Chivas has an ace in the hole with all the guys they'll bring in from Mexico, but who knows.

Now here's the thing that's relevant to this thread. Rugman is right. What's up with Chivas not picking Walker? Are they really going to bring in a goalkeeper from Mexico? That just doesn't make sense to me. You've gotta think something is up, and I have to wonder if they're not eying Rimando for a trade.

Lanky134 · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

revelation said:

Ellinger seemed focused on "young American" talent after selecting Williams.
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Martins, Scott and Brenes are foreign. Kamler isn't young, and Brown is 27. Pierce is 25, but he's been around for four years. I think he knows only two (Countess and Akwari) from the youth national teams. So really less than half of their players are both young and American.

revelation said:

I didn't really expect him to select Q2 as a result but Chivas seemed to be on the look out for Latino talent available at the begining. I guess in the end they took several players based solely on talent and not their heritage.
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Well, they did take Perez and Ziadie...

revelation said:

Anyway, I hope that Q2 proves his worth this year and really shines when he gets a chance to play.
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So do I.

Lanky134 · Nov 20, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Knave said:

Are they really going to bring in a goalkeeper from Mexico?
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God, I hope so.

NattyBo · Nov 21, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Adu got an assist (from all accounts, nearly a goal) and a goal on a PK in the US U-20s 2-1 win against Mexico.

Of interest, El 'Tri' got 3 players sent off, 1 for stomping a US player after a foul and 2 for pushing and verbally assaulting the ref after the US PK was awarded (by all accounts the PK was warranted)

roachboy · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

griffin1108 said:

I agree with you Lucifer. Look, I came out of my seat screaming when Rimando saved the last PK against New England. My son and I will never forget that game. However, in MLS Cup, Rimando let in his one "howler" goal on Burciaga's long range knuckler and his positioning on crosses was awful and his lack of height prevented him from controlling the box. Remember, in the NE game, the Revs scored the last goal when Rimando came off his line and whiffed on a clearance when a larger and bigger keeper might well have knocked the ball away. (I know it was shameful that the two players were unmarked, but given the lazy cross floated in and the lack of power on the header, Rimando, because of his size, would have been better off staying on his line and possibly punching the ball away.)

I'm not sure in Perkins is the long-term answer, but I agree that DCU should upgrade at keeper if possible. However, that position is not the primary concern -- central defense is.
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Two words: Kasey Keller. Talking in the media in Englad all the time about how he would be happy to 'go home'.

Zman Gunner · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Knave said:

Now here's the thing that's relevant to this thread. Rugman is right. What's up with Chivas not picking Walker? Are they really going to bring in a goalkeeper from Mexico? That just doesn't make sense to me. You've gotta think something is up, and I have to wonder if they're not eying Rimando for a trade.
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Chivas Guadalajara seems to be leaning towards having its #2 goalie (Alfredo Televara) play for Chivas USA. At Chivas Guadalajara, he is stuck behind current Mexico #1 goalie Oswaldo Sanchez. The Goats plan for Chivas USA plan looks to be one in which some over-the hill vets (i.e. Ramon Ramirez) to give the team a few players which whom they can identify will be joined by a bunch of their younger reserve players (filling TI slots). All in all, it sure looks like a reserve team for the Goats from the South. Sprinkle in a few MLS vets with Latino (i.e. De La Torre) and/or California ties (i.e. EZ) and presto - you have a MLS team that will evoke passion among a lot of the Mexican community and hatred among the rest of the league. With 4 SI and 5 TI slots comprising the majority of a team's starting line-up, the Goats plan could develop into the model for foreign team investment in MLS.

Bring this point back to Rimando, I do not see him traded to Chivas USA. Kevin Payne made the point at the MLS Cup Fan Celebration that Rimando was the best goalie in MLS. While you would expect your President to make those sort of comments, Payne was accurate in terms of his other "MLS-best" comments about the players (i.e. Nelsen = best defender, Moreno = league MVP) so I assume that he thinks very highly of Rimando. Only a Keller-type player from outside MLS would be viewed as an upgrade.

PSG Stunna · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

I would be perfectly happy having Kasey Keller in the net in DC if we needed a keeper..

sch2383 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

PSG Stunna said:

I would be perfectly happy having Kasey Keller in the net in DC if we needed a keeper..
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The only issue is that he would miss a lot of time with National Team duty as well as eating up a lot of cap space. He would also count as an allocation, which he should, but I think we could put that allocation to much better use.

Knave · Nov 22, 2004

... Mastroeni Being Traded? ...

A reliable source has informed us that there is an offer in place that involves trading Pablo to another MLS squad.

Reportedly the offer was initiated by another club, who is offering one forward and two midfielders as bait.
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http://www.rapidsfan.com/

And these two thread that'll probably end up merged:
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152388
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152389

Lanky134 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: ... Mastroeni Being Traded? ...

Knave said:

http://www.rapidsfan.com/

And these two thread that'll probably end up merged:
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152388
https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152389
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Let's see...

Thompson (P-40 with lots of potential, but not likely to get much playing time with us. Could be a good target for Spencer if he stays.)
Kovalenko (to replace the experience and toughness that Pablo has)
Quintanilla (another largely superfluous player)

GoDC · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Who would turn down Pablo but aren't Olsen and Carroll handling that midfield area pretty well for us?

Mason16 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Rimando fan here going back to Fusion FC. But if the goats want to give up major Superdraft picks for him, I'd take that deal. As much as I like Nicky, he has a few holes in his game, namely dealing with crosses/commanding his box that keep him from being a protect-at-all-costs keeper. In addition, there are many keeper options in the league.

Lanky134 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

GoDC said:

Who would turn down Pablo but aren't Olsen and Carroll handling that midfield area pretty well for us?
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Pablo has played in central defense before. I don't know how he'd work in a 3-5-2, but Nelsen adapted to the switch from d-mid pretty well...

sch2383 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Lanky134 said:

Pablo has played in central defense before. I don't know how he'd work in a 3-5-2, but Nelsen adapted to the switch from d-mid pretty well...
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Yeah, but at 5'10 he would be better on the outside not in the middle of a 3-5-2.

However I think it might be New England that is going after Pablo.

tmas · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

sch2383 said:

Yeah, but at 5'10 he would be better on the outside not in the middle of a 3-5-2.

However I think it might be New England that is going after Pablo.
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Don't they already have their D-mid set as either Joseph or Dempsey? And in defense don't they already have Franchino/Llamosa to take Pierce's place?

Actually, I can imagine this trade happening.

Th4119 · Nov 22, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Pablo is expensive and is going to miss a ton of time next year with the U.S.

I'd rather keep Carroll and Olsen who are probably about the same price as Pablo and will be missing less time next year for call-ups.

Jose L. Couso · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Thamlin19 said:

Pablo is expensive and is going to miss a ton of time next year with the U.S.

I'd rather keep Carroll and Olsen who are probably about the same price as Pablo and will be missing less time next year for call-ups.
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I agree.

Although, I think Ben should be given a shot with the U.S., he deserves it.

dsheon · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

It seems to me we were hampered by many fewer lost games to injuries (OK so don't say that to Qs1&2 and Martins) and also fewer players lost to the national team. That counts for developing chemistry.

All of that said, Pablo would be a welcome addition if Nellie is a goner. But there's no reason to fix one problem by creating another - and that's what would happen if you mess with our midfield right now. We have an allocation coming and we have a lot of cash on hand.

So Pablo's not going to be the fix if a player trade is involved. Now if we could trade cap-space for him, then maybe. Can teams still do that or has that stopped?

Sundevil9 · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

ds39heon said:

It seems to me we were hampered by many fewer lost games to injuries (OK so don't say that to Qs1&2 and Martins) and also fewer players lost to the national team. That counts for developing chemistry.
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Well, we probably lost the same number of man/games lost to injury this year, we just piled up most of that stat on Tino, Q2, and Martins. Among the players that played the most time this year, we likely lost more games to suspention than to injury.

Birdman · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

From inside sources rumor has it that Dema Kovalenko has asked D.C. to trade him back to Chicago. As much of a loss it would be to D.C. it gives him the opportunity to live in his home that he owns in Chicago and he has always loved the huge Ukranian population.

Knave · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Birdman said:

From inside sources rumor has it that Dema Kovalenko has asked D.C. to trade him back to Chicago. As much of a loss it would be to D.C. it gives him the opportunity to live in his home that he owns in Chicago and he has always loved the huge Ukranian population.
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On a scale of 1-10 (1 being the average BigSoccer.com hack, 10 being Nowak, Payne, or Kasper) how would you rate your source?

True or not, it's certainly imaginable that Chicago would go for this. They're expected to clean house this off-season. They've got a couple defenders who I'd think DC United would be interested in.

Nowak did try to trade him last off-season. And I don't think Nowak is a fan of the disciplinary problems.

And if we're going to trade anyone Kovalenko is one of the most expandable and most valuable players we have to offer.

revelation · Nov 23, 2004

Re: The Off-Season Near News and Rumors Thread

Knave said:

True or not, it's certainly imaginable that Chicago would go for this. They're expected to clean house this off-season. They've got a couple defenders who I'd think DC United would be interested in.
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oh, can we get BigBird? How cool would that be?