My opinion: Keep: M. Farfan, G. Farfan, MacMath, Jack Mac, Okugo, Valdes, Williams (this is our young core, and 7/11 starters for the next few years) If the offers great: Gaddis, Hoffman, Hoppenot Everyone else is fair game, even the home growns, and until we see Soumare, he is also. New Striker- Jack Mac Garfan- ^Marfan- Okugo- New mid New L Back- Soumare(we will see)- Valdes- Williams Mac Math We bring in Zarek Valentin to play left back, an Eric Hassli (type player) for a new striker, and give Brek Shea a change of scenery. Playoffs.
Agreed, and I'm sure the names/faces will change depending on whether Hackworth's interim tag is removed or a new coach is brought in. I'd think that many/most of the players that have any connection to the Nowak-regime could be let go to further sever the ties. Then again, I'd hate for a second consecutive roster overhaul prior to next season. And speaking of home growns, anyone hear the announcers call Hoppenot a HG during last night's game? -EDIT- Watching the live Cahill presser. Kind of irritates me to see other teams splashing the cash on a "big name" player who can actually improve the roster. Granted, we had that with the Mondragon/Valdes intro at Fado, Freddy's presser last summer, and even Soumare's introduction a few weeks ago, but still.
Jack Mac is another one who can be moved on for me..........his passing is horrible and his decision making worse.......if his salary is going up next season then we need to get rid and get someone physical upfront.
My guesses as to who stays, and who departs at the end of the season: Stays: Valdes - Nat Team call up scares me though (camp is in Spain), could become target for La Liga sides....... Torres - $$ invested to get him outright, he's not going anywhere, plus could/should fit into Adu's spot Martinez - $$ invested to get him, seems to be a good fit in Hack's system Hoppenote McInnerney M Farfan G Farfan - due for a raise Okugo - heir apparent to Carroll, and solid coverage for CB's Lahoud - good player, good team guy, fits our system Williams Soumare - just signed Hernandez (HG) - should be competing for a spot in the 18 consistently next season Pfeffer (HG) - Still only what 17? McLaughlin (HG) - should be in line to compete for consistent PT next season as a sub/spot starter MacMath Hoffman (GA) - doesn't count against the cap, lots of potential Gaddis - good depth player, could develop into a good RB/LB for us Jordan Likely to be back, but could be moved on/released: Carroll - most likely back, but wouldn't be surprised if he's moved with Okugo's emergence Konopka - could be back Harrison - copuld be back Pajoy - has grown on me, but he's expensive and we need strikers who score. Good team guy though Likely to be sold: Adu - wouldn't be surprised if he's back though, but could be loaned out until April/May in Europe Will be back, but I believe in a coaching role within the organization: Albright - natural role for him it seems Looks to be on the outs: Perlaza - clearly a move that the old regime wanted, and doesn't seem to be in Hackworth's plans Gomez - good player, but doesn't seem to fit Hackworth's system/desired playing style Witkowski - Maybe he's back, but with more draft picks this year, will likely be cut due to numbers/competition Lopez - unless he's on a guaranteed multi-year contract, and in that case he'll be loaned out/traded Daniel - doesn't fit Hackworth's system, and add in his Visa issues preventing him from playing in Canada.......... So that's my take. We really need a striker who's ruthless in the box, and a midfielder who is a combination of Lahoud and Okugo (boundless energy, has some bite, and a good distributor - this could be G Farfan if we can....). A solid contributor/starting caliber fullback (preferably a LB) that would allow G Farfan to play in the midfield.
This was brought up in the Player Rumor & Movement thread, but I wanted to pull it out and try to have a discussion regarding Union players currently on the roster and, of those, who should be locks to continue on after this season, who is on the bubble, and who should plan to starting packing his bags and plan to spend next season elsewhere.* *I'd like to keep incoming player rumors etc to the other "official" thread.That said, here's my broken-down roster (in alphabetical order). Keep in mind that this is purely my opinion, so ymmv: Stay (best player at their position and/or highly valuable as sub): Carroll M Farfan G Farfan Gaddis Hoffman Hoppenot Konopka MacMath McInerney Okugo Soumare Valdes Williams Maybe (can hang around for depth, but there are better options out there): Albright Daniel Harrison Lahoud Martinez Pajoy Torres Go (hasn't shown his value and/or doesn't seem to fit into Hack's system): Adu Gomez Lopez Perlaza Abstention/no opinon (young guys who haven't cracked the Starting XI): Hernandez Jordan McLaughlin Pfeffer Witkowski
I can agree with this. I think Daniel is gone. Torres might be used as trade bait and Pajoy will definately stay unless he doesn't want to. I doubt the union will go out and buy better (ie more expensive) unless it drops on their laps and he's not as expensive as some of the talent out there. Adu will probably stay because he sells jerseys and maybe some seats for 1 time visitors. Plus who would want him? honestly. for his price and what he brings you would have to really trick someone. Gomez will probably go although I would like him to stay but I guess Hack doesn't has him in his plans.Agree with the rest. agree.
Do we know the details (i.e. length) of Adu's contract? Please say 18 months, please say 18 months, please say 18 months ...
I don't know. here is the news story from the Union. I love the very first link in the article past the blurb but before the actual article. http://www.philadelphiaunion.com/news/2011/08/union-sign-attacking-midfielder-freddy-adu
I forget where I read it (possibly heard it in an interview) but I believe he's under contract until he's 24 or 25, because I recall there was mention that that would be a perfect age for him to have another try in Europe. At least that was his stated goal at the time he re-signed with MLS. Does anyone know/remember where this info was?
G: I'm OK with MacMath & whichever guy they view as #2. * I was also OK with Knighton and drafting Sapong, so............ CB: Soumare /Valdes + TBA RB: Williams / Gaddis LB: TBA + Garfan DM: Carroll/ Okugo /Jordan LM: TBA/ Lahoud / Witkowski (Healthy look) RM: Marfan / Torres-(only because they bought the contract) Martinez-ditto LF Pajoy(bubble) / Hoffman ST: God/help us all RF: McInerney / Hoppenot *fill in with Dr. Pfeffer, McLaughlin, Hernandez et al.
Untouchable 1) Valdes 2) Williams 3) Soumare 4) Okugo Only for the Right Price 5) M. Farfan 6) Carroll 7) MacMath 8) McInerney 9) Martinez Make Us an Offer...We'll Listen 10) Adu 11) Gomez 12) Torres 13) G. Farfan 14) Daniel 15) Hoppenot Take Him, Please 16) Pajoy 17) Albright 18) Perlaza 19) Lopez Whatever 20) Konopka 21) Jordan 22) Hoffman 23) Lahoud 24) Witkowski 25) Hernandez 26) Harrison 27) McLaughlin 28) Pfeffer 29) Gaddis Sort of damning that there are so many players in the 'whatever' category.
Ah, left him off. I put him in "Make us an offer" because I don't think he's so poor that he'd be worth taking a 75 cents on the dollar for him. Problem with him (and Torres, really) is that shoehorning them into the 4-3-3/4-5-1 is only going to drive their prices down, so it'd be extraordinarily hard to get value back.
I don't know, other than letting Harrison and Knopka go try and get a starting spot elsewhere, paying league minimum for those two guys is about as good of a deal as you can get.
I might actually move the Farfan's up one group each in your list, McInerney down one. The 3 HGs aren't really whatevers as they aren't even 19 (or barely are) yet and due to their HG status they don't impact the team as much as others. They have a lot of upside to them. Albright I think is done as a player after this year. Hoffman as a GA would be better fit in the We'll listen group or price is right.
There is no one on the team that I wouldn't move depending on the offer. The players I would be most hesitant to move would be Farfans, Macmath and Valdes.
Yeah, the Farfans are a tough call. To me Michael Farfan is sort of like Nick LaBrocca. He's a very good player, and he probably has a higher ceiling than LaBrocca...but is he really going to boss the midfield for a contender? I'd be surprised, though I would have said the same thing about Zusi, so we'll see. I'm not looking to get rid of him, but I don't think he's untouchable either. For Gabe - he's an excellent 1v1 attacker, but as a left back he is still a liability defensively. This isn't really his fault, as he could probably be an asset as a left mid in a 4-4-2, but with a 4-5-1/4-3-3 he might not be the best fit. Then again just about everyone in the league could use a left back upgrade. Morrow, Dunivant and Sinovic might be the best there are right now. I could see McInerney sliding down as well--but on the other hand goal-poachers have real value. Look at San Jose, with 3 guys that don't seem to be very good (Gordon, Lenhart, Wondo) but find ways to score goals. Twellman was also like that. I think the Union hold on to him for a year to find out if he's more Wondo or Justin Braun. I think you're right that the HG's will stay and the Union should continue to invest in them. But if they cut them tomorrow I wouldn't be up in arms about it, because it's not like we've seen anything that suggests they're going to be the next Andy Najar. I feel the same about Hoffman. He's surplus to the Union's needs so they could easily deal him, but since he's GA it's not like it hurts us to have him. I don't really mind either way on that. The Union are in a tough spot, as they have a lot of good players but aside from Williams and Valdes, nobody that you'd say "this guy is one of the best in the league". At the same time you can't just turn over your roster indefinitely (a la TFC). We've seen the results of reckless turnover ourselves, this season. They need to upgrade where they can, and work to develop guys like Okugo & McInerney as much as they can.
I think parity keeps that from happening for any team in this league. -EDIT- I think it's pretty telling that the Union doesn't even get a mention in this article. The Five Most Efficient Goalscorers in MLS
Untouchable aside from a very very good transfer fee overseas 1) Valdes 2) Williams 3) Soumare 4) Okugo 5) M. Farfan 6) MacMath Guys who should be a part of the team going forward 7) Carroll 8) McInerney 9) Gaddis 10) G. Farfan 11) Hoppenot 12) Martinez 13) Hernandez (HG) 14) McLaughlin (HG) 15) Pfeffer (HG) Should probably move on 16) Adu 17) Gomez 18) Torres 19) Daniel Bench guys, if they leave I won't lose sleep 20) Konopka 21) Lahoud 22) Witkowski 23) Hoffman (GA) 24) Jordan 25) Harrison Failed experiments. 26) Pajoy 27) Albright 28) Perlaza 29) Lopez These are my rankings. Yes, they are in numerical order of their value to the team moving forward. The HG guys are ranked that highly because of their HG designation. Of #26-29, I think Albright will retire, and the other three need to be cut. I would like to see something, anything from Witkowski and Jordan before their fates are decided, but with Witkowski especially, the writing is probably already on the wall.
I guess it depends on how you read the expectations. Honestly thinking a ~$250k a year striker would be the next coming of Messi is a bit of a reach. I think he's done ok, but like anyone else nobody is safe.
He (Pajoy) has been an unmitigated disaster. He makes awful decisions inside the box, he refuses to use his size and strength to his advantage, he's a liability offensively on a team that struggles to create offense. The $200k he gets paid can be spent much more wisely, imo. And while I have the Inquirer's salary article open, add the $295k Gabriel Gomez makes, and the $125k that Porfirio Lopez makes, they would have just over $600k to play with. That's almost two full DP slots. It should also be noted that MacMath, McInerney and Okugo are all probably going to graduate from the GA program this offseason, and some of the high salary guys I mentioned in the post above are going to need to be jettisoned just to create salary cap space for those three.
Well, you're never going to have a Real Madrid or Bayern equivalent in MLS (thank goodness), but some teams do have top-tier (MLS) talent at multiple positions: LA: Keane, Donovan, Beckham, Juninho, Gonzalez, Dunivant RSL: Saborio, Espindola, Morales, Beckerman, Borchers, Olave, Rimando KC: Kamara, Zusi, Espinoza, Collin, Nielsen RBNY: Henry, Cooper, Cahill, McCarty, Pearce Obviously that's not the only concern or even the most important - San Jose and Houston are doing really well with chemistry and grit and will. But it doesn't hurt to have a top 5 guy at multiple positions. I think Williams is a top 5 right back, and Valdes is top 10, maybe top 5. And you're totally right that not having a ruthless finisher is a huge problem. That's partially why I think they have to figure out how good McInerney can be.