AEG might well sell to a local investor who had really deep pockets if AEG thought that the new I/O would get some sort of vastly improved stadium deal done. There are several possibilities for a new stadium: A, a completely rebuilt Spartan with the Quakes running it, B, a new SSS at the fairgrounds, C, a new SSS near Great America, D, a new SSS at Mission College, E, a new SSS at West Valley College (or some other local junior college). AND, there is at least one other possible site which SSV has not announced yet. There may well be some old industrial sites that could work. I think that AEG would be concerned about moving the team if a local investor(s) stepped up to purchase it. The negative PR hit would be huge, but the bottom line would be important too. GO QUAKES!! - Mark
And do what? Perform spin control after Mathis gets 86'd out of both bars in SLC? To those in Utah, I'm only kidding. And I don't think Erin will be going anywhere, either, after she moves back home.
Thorrington is coming to MLS. But not with the Quakes. It's Chicago. http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050111&content_id=20840&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp Just a name player to go along with the likes of Ching, Mullan, Mulrooney, and Onstad and can create scoring opportunities. Or we got the "No Names" to go along with those who have remained.
I think he'll do well for Chicago (health with be the real issue, not talent). I wasn't so much frustrated that we didn't sign him, but the fact that he was somewhat close by and we didn't even INVITE him up to tryout. Maybe he sucks, but we took a complete PASS on him after losing so many experienced players. If we had a full roster, that's one thing. Now we're in a position to scrap the barrel looking for Chris Roner type players (not dissing Roner, just saying that we're going to have to find some players with ANY experience that no other MLS teams want....).
The thing that bothers me isn't that we didn't go after Thorington in particular, it's that I don't hear any good news coming out of the Quakes camp. Are they trying to get Wade Barrett back? And does MLS want an allocation for him?! We don't know. Are we really trying to get Cerritos back? The Quakes aren't saying. (And would Cerritos play striker, or attacking midfield? There's a thought.) I hope that Dom, JD, and even gAlexi are out scouting players and trying to sign some good guys for us, but there is zero evidence that this is happening. It seems as though gAlexi thinks that looking for players can wait until after the draft. That's a dangerous strategy. The window of opportunity is short and players that we could afford and sign will be signing contracts with other clubs (not necessarily MLS clubs). I want to see some action! Or at the very least hear that our coaches and GM are in fact scouting. This bites! GO QUAKES!! - Mark
Look here! Quakes not doing Squat! Exactly my complaint. This article ought to say: "Coaches and GM to scout the MLS combine having just returned from a scouting trip to Central America." or maybe, "Coaches and GM to scout the MLS combine before going on a scouting trip to Central America." But if we're only looking at college players we are in deep doo doo! GO QUAKES!! - Mark
Called front office yesterday to square up my season tix. I asked the ticket rep how sales were going. He sounded enthusiastic about the amount of new season ticket holders. He then laughed and said, "Now we just need to get a team on the field!" Not funny..........
Chill the F out. We entered into the Alex Yi lottery: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20050112&content_id=20872&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp Did it the report say that they were scouting college players exclusively? No. At that given moment they were focused on the collegiate players because the draft is this Friday. 9 picks out of 4 rounds. That's a high amount, with plenty of opportunity to pick up some good players. The draft also features top youth national team players as well. Chad Barrett (UCLA + U20s) and Tim Ward (St. Louis U + U20s). They missed the combine because they are with the U20s, with Alvarez. Ever thought that with Alvarez's involvement with the U20s, we might have a better idea of the players in that group? After the draft, we have 3.5 months until the beginning of the season to acquire yanks abroad, other internationals, trades, or some other allocation/discovery signing. Chill the F out.
Why do we need another defender? As a trade bait, maybe? Our chances to get him are pretty high, though ...
Dallas got him. (Actually happened yesterday, but when I tried to link the article, mlsnet had an html error pointing to the wrong article...)
Ever so articulate. Yeah, we still have three and a half months between the draft and the start of the season. But when does the FIFA international transfer window close? Um, I think that's the end of January. I could be wrong, but it closes much sooner than the start of the MLS season. So we need to find "foreign" players now, or in the immediately near future. Also, if the "action" that we can expect from the "brain trust" currently running the Quakes consists of trading our starters (Dunivant) for someone else's subs (Moreno), we're screwed. And hey, maybe I like to stress out eh? Maybe panic is my natural state? And why do you even care if I'm stressing here in remotest Vancouver? And I am "Angry Mark" after all right? So now the team needs to focus on getting some midfielders. I'm hoping that we scour Central America for a Cancela or Guevar like player. Maybe they are hoping that Cerritos can play the attacking midfield role for us? Or maybe they don't have a freaking clue. GO QUAKES!! - Mark