Waiver Day Results The Freedom Waive: Ann Cook Midfielder Meredith Beard Forward Erin Fahey Goalkeeper Rebekah McDowell Midfielder Tracey Milburn Forward These players, as well 2002 Freedom reserve Sarah Kate Noftsinger (unrestricted player), will enter the WUSA’s Waiver Draft on Monday, February 24. and we pick up: Gao Hong Goalkeeper My feelings- someone is going to pick up Fahey and we'll be down to one keeper unless Gao is up to playing since Siri will persumably be with the Nat's a bit this season. Too bad about Cookie and Flo, hopefully they'll be able to come and try back out with the Freedom. OH! AND YAY WE WAIVED MILBURN!!
We have acquired Gao Hong from New York for future considerations Thus, the most shocking waived player is Erin Fahey. I figured we were set with Siri and Erin as our two keepers. Now Erin is gone and Siri will be pushed for the #1 spot if Gao regains her 2001 form. Milburn was waived. Hallelujah! Beard was also waived, not entirely unexpected. The other two waivees are a bit of a surprise. Cook is gone - I guess her and Noftsinger were competing for one spot and Skate pulls the surprise. I am disappointed in this, while I liked Skate well enough as a reserve I thought Cookie broght more to the field and was the most underated player on the team. Maybe Cook was looking to leave for some reason anyway but I didn't like seeing this. The last waivee is McDowell. I know little about her, but why the hell did we trade Mak for her if we were just going to waive her???!!!
And the Freedom waived and traded.... We got Gao Hong from New York. Freedom players waived: Ann Cook Milburn Fahey Rebekah McDowell Beard http://www.wusa.com/press_room/342872.html
no lets keep all threee. JIMMY YOU ARE ************ING WITH MY WORLD!!!!! Ok someone make letting Fahey go make sense. *blink* In my book Fahey was a keeper. I'm also surprised about Cook. That girls has guts, heart and talent. Having surgury and busting ass in physical therapy all in time to come back and help the team was amazing. She played well off the bench last year.
Another thing I need explained.......... Why did we cut Cook but keep Casey "I like giving up last minute goals" Zimny?
Because I think Casey has the tools to be a great defender in WUSA and will be, but having an organ rupture just before the start of your rookie year isn't the best way to start out. As much as I liked Cookie, I can't say I disagree with the decision to keep Zimny over her if it came down to the two of them - Casey will likely supplant Skylar in the starting back line with a second season under her belt.
Nah. We want to look like a certain other WUSA team forum where there are mulitple threads on the same subject. I guess this could be covered in the CBA stuff...but would the Freedom have Gao at the same salary she had when she entered the league or will it be restructered to more accurately reflect her current value. And speaking of her current value...what is the status of her health? Her wrist really kept her out of action last season. One good thing though about her coming over is that she has Bai Jie there to help make the transition easy on her. I too was suprised to see Fahey waived and Gao picked up but I don't think she will contend for the #1 spot unless Siri gets her leg chopped off. One of the things that made Gao a stud in 2001 was her chemistry with that much hated Norweigian Gro Espeseth. Would she have that same type of chemistry with Grubb/Jones or whoever is back there? If the rumor of 2 reserves and 2 developmental players holds true...I wonder if one of those four has to be a GK? You'd think so especially with the callups that will be occuring throughout the season. It is entirely possible that Fahey could get picked back up again as the Freedom's third GK. Gotta agree with some of the sentiments being shared about Ann Cook being waived. On my mock rosters I definately had Cook with the team in 2003. She wasn't one of my bubble players like Zimny or SK8. Was anyone suprised that Gerardo stuck around?
I think Fahey is one of the few waived players who will get picked up in the waiver draft - she's far more likely to be a #2 on another team (and maybe #1 in NY) than a reserve for us. It wouldn't surprise me if all other players we waived were in training camp including (shudder) Milburn to compete for the two reserve and two developmental spots. Gerardo is a bit frustrating. She has a good shot and excellent passing vision, but she needs to work harder in midfield to get the ball more to make use of those talents. Hopefully Mak getting tossed will make her realize this. In the Post this morning, Gabby indicates we are not likely to pick anyone up in the waiver draft (which probably goes for most teams). He had some very odd-looking comments about the goalkeeping situation though, he sounds like he's looking to keep Siri motivated and that Gao competing for top spot will provide a new challenge for her. Odder though is his saying we "can't expect Siri to have the same type of year as last season." Huh? Lastly, it sounds like we will not get Minnert until June, similar situation as Jones last year.
I'm biased 'cause Erin is my cousin, but cutting her to pick up Gao at this point in her career really makes no sense IMHO. Erin played well the last two years when she had a chance to play, she represented the team well in their community outreach programs, has a low salary, is still in her prime, etc. I hope she ends up in NY and gets a chance to play. If Siri gets injured this year, I have a feeling they will really regret this move.
I think you are absolutely right. I do not think you are just being biased because of the family relationship. Erin Fahey IS an awesome keeper. Gao Hong WAS an awesome keeper. Siri Mullinix will more than likely be called up for the National Team during the season. That is when the Freedom will really notice their mistake (Or if Mullinix gets injured - I am definitely hoping she has a very healthy season). In my opinion - VERY BIG MISTAKE!
It looks like all of the waived players except Tracey Milburn are coming into camp as free agents. From the Washington Post: "No Washington players were selected in yesterday's three-round WUSA waiver draft, so the five waived by the Freedom last week are eligible to return as unrestricted free agents when practice begins Saturday. Button said that all but forward Tracey Milburn, who reportedly wants to return home to California, are expected to be in camp." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61754-2003Feb24.html , relevant paragraph at the bottom. What is Gao Hong's status? Is she healthy? Is she in the country?
Well, that worked out as well as it possibly could have! Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out TM! Hapoy the others will be back.
BRING BACK ANN COOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or send her to Idaho. From the El Paso Times: http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/sports/todaysstories/20030225-80578.shtml
Well I think that several of the waived players are very talented, does anyone think that they are just hanging on by coming back and trying out. I am glad that players like Beard and Noftsinger are coming back because they are young and still have a lot of potential in this league, but what about players like Cook and Fahey who are pushing 30. I think the reserve roles should be there for young players with developing potential (like Beard, Noftsinger or a draft pick). While I like the way Cook plays, I don't think keeping her around as a reserve making peanuts benefits her or the team. While we would like to keep the team the same, I think the reserves should be there to work their way up, rather then just hang on to a career.
I think Milburn would have been, but she seemed to know that. As for the others, why not? There are two reserve and two developmental spots open to fight for, and you never know who will get injured. I thought Fahey might opt to tryout for a different WUSA team (like NY or Botson) where she'd have a better chance at the #1 or #2 spot. If she wants to stay here though, I'm happy to have her as our #3 (and when Siri gets called up or if Gao dosn't work out she can still move up). As for the team view - if a draftee has the potential to be a better player than a Cookie, McDowell, etc then I agree we should at least use the developmental slots on them. If a draftee has limitations that would keep them from reaching that level I wouldn't just give them the reserve slots simply because they're younger. But training camp is the place for those evaluations and why not give it a shot if you're a player in question?
I am not saying they should not try out, I just think it serves the team better to have those spots used by players who have yet to reach their potential, but yet still may contribute. Also, I gotta imagine it would be extremly difficult for players like Cookie and Fahey who were making good salaries, to try and get by on reserve money.
Particulary with a 16 person roster, I'd much rather have smart, seasoned players like Cook and Fahey available in the case of national team callups or injuries. Younger players in the "developmental" slots still get the benefits of training with the team, and perhaps the occasional elevation to the roster. Given the tenuousness of the league, I'd prioritize fielding a good squad this season over developing talent for the future. The salary cuts suck, but aren't accepting these slots (or not) ultimately the players' decisions? Also, the league has made efforts in the past to help reserve players find work (front office, camps) to help augment their salaries.
I see that Ann Cook is on the tryout roster....for the Cyberrays http://www.sjcyberrays.com/news/rel_20030228b.html I wonder if she thought she had a better chance of making that team or just preferred to be back in San Jose.
this is interesting to me- as it the fact that Lauren Arase was seen in the DC area (at the Guest Bartending Gig) with the team-- anythoughts on this happening?
That is rather interesting. The Freedom currently have Siri Mullinix, Gao Hong, and Ruth Montgomery on the roster. I do not understand why the team would pick up Gao Hong and especially Ruth Montgomery if they wanted Lauren Arase. Lauren Arase was available when the Freedom picked Ruth Montgomery so one would think they would have picked her then. I suppose Jim Gabarra and staff could have had a lapse and forgotten about Lauren Arase (I still cannot figure out why no one picked her). I would have thought that Lauren Arase would have chosen to try out with another team that is more in need of a keeper. So to get to my point - I cannot figure out why she was in Washington with the team.