If we trade anybody, I don't think it will be anybody who is a name player. Maybe something on or around draft day. BTW, when is the protected player list announced?
Well, we know Stewart is not returning. I'd bet that Nellie is also not returning but has held off making an announcement to avoid deflecting attention from the game and result. While neither are trades, I do think that means we've got 2 holes. Gros probably fills the Stewart hole ablely. But with a bunch of other teams seeking to move players (such as Chicago), I wouldn't be shocked if we did make a deal. Not cuz we initiated it but b/c another team (like Chicago) was seeking to move players and made us a deal we couldn't refuse.
This is really more of an expansion issue. But....the hot rumor right now (that Michael Lewis has publicly written about) is Armas and Thorton going to Metro for Pope and Clark. It's not a lock b/c Wilt doesn't want to part with Armas (and I"m sure Bradley really wants Armas). But then Metro (if the deal goes through) would deal Walker to Chivas for an allocation. Assuming that happens, that means that the interest in Rimando in expansion goes down (b/c I can't see Chivas acquiring both Rimando and Walker, plus the following other keepers may be available in expansion: Garlick, Countess, Adin Brown, Oshoniyi, Jordan). It also means that the rumor of Thornton coming to DCU doesn't happen (and we don't have the picks to trade for him) so it would have to be a player or two. So unless someone approaches us and makes a sweet deal that Nowak and Co. just can't say "no" to, I think everyone who gets on the play gets off it as a member of DCU.
That's an interesting trade, one that significantly alters the landscape of our conference (so it's kind of DC-related, right?) It shows that Bradley thinks his team's defense was such a sieve because he had a midfield that couldn't defend more than four defenders who just weren't up to par. Armas is a ball-winning, tough-tackling defensive midfielder who would fill in nicely behind Guevara. This doesn't affect Gaven as much, since he didn't drop back and defend -- but Guevara was forced to drop waaaaay back to come get the ball and at times try and win the ball back himself. Not the role you want him playing in, and he should be more dangerous with Armas behind him. The one question mark is Armas' health/age. Has he/will he be able to put the knee problems behind him? Thornton for Walker is an upgrade for the Metros. When I saw Walker in Chile he was much, much better than he's been for the Metros (he kept a clean sheet in the bedlam of the National Stadium with his team down a man for most of the match when Asprilla was sent off for general immaturity). Maybe it was because his defense was really that weak, but I don't recall him saving their bacon in any games, at least against us. In addition, if Bradley can send Walker to Chivas for an allocation, he must already lined up (or think he can get) a big-name central defender to replace Pope (who was admittedly off his game this past year). My question is how this trade helps Chicago. Maybe Sarachan thinks Clark is the real deal, and will move beyond being a young player with fantastic tools and endless potential and into being the tough but skilled defensive/holding midfielder everyone thought he'd be when he was drafted. Maybe CJ Brown is leaving. Maybe Sarachan has a nice trade offer for Curtin. Maybe he thinks Armas is done. Either way, these are two teams that needed to be blown up, and if this trade goes through alongside the rumored Ante Razov deal, the Eastern Conference will look very, very different next year. Although we'll still want to rip the metrodonkeys a new one, of course.
Eltico, my guess is that Chicago dealing for Ricardo Clark means that they're exposing both Scott Buete and Logan Pause in the expansion draft. And I'd guess that both would be attractive candidates to take. Metro people were talking about how they were young but lacked leadership and experience. Armas certainly gives them that. But if they believe that line, they're ignoring their inability to play wide and how people used tactical fouls (including us but not just DCU) the last month of the season to shut down their midfield. Credit Bradley with being willing to make bold moves. But with hindsight, my understanding is that Nowak had a tremendous amount to do with Podbrozny, Kosecki, Kubik coming to Chicago--that he convinced them to come and convinced Bradley to get them. Those guys (plus Nowak) were the core or foundation that the youngsters could then build around so Chicago could be successful in year 1. Bradley is great at spotting and growing young talent--but it remains to be seen if he can be the architect of a great team. Nowak has already shown it once and possibly twice. In any case, I'd be surprised if any moves immediately involve DCU. I do imagine we've had some tentative talks with the expansion teams to try and feel out who (out of our potential exposed players) they're interested in to then perhaps shape who we expose and who we protect. But that was probably more tactics than an attempt to put together a deal. Especially since the team knew Earnie was going and we should know by the draft if Nellie goes, that might mean 3 allocations to play with and a little cap room.
I'm not convinced we'll see an allocation is Nelsen moves on. I have a sinking feeling Nellie will be the 2004 version of Tony Sanneh. United loses a good player because he's out of contract and has value overseas, only to get nothing in return (except, of course, helping to raise the cup). I can understand why we'd get an allocation for Stewart, since it required one to get him. But where does the potential 3rd allocation come from? Convey? I thought we got Adu for the allcoation "given" to us last season when Convey left.
I believe that was that allocation came from Marco. Did Chicago get an allocation when Bocanegra left? If so, we get one for Nellie.
We traded "future consideration" to Dallas for the first pick. Those future considerations turned out to be the Etcheverry allocation. Dallas has yet to use the allocation we traded to them. Convey's allocation is yet unused.
Ah yes, Etcheverry. How soon we forget. Regardless of what happens in the expansion draft, we should be sitting pretty, given we have space for two SIs on the roster and a couple of allocations to play with.
And I think we have a hell of a lot of cap space. By losing Convey and Stewart, we are clearing up close to $400,000 of cap space.
As Joe mentioned earlier Nowak has a history of attracting foreign players and building a core or players. To some extent the core already exists. It will be very interesting to see how he builds on that this offseason, especially with the # of SI's increasing to 4.
How much cap room is taken up by Gomez, though? Actually, speaking of Gomez, do we know what his contract situation is? Was he a loaner for the remainder of the year, or do we have him signed for next year as well? Joe, good point about Pause and Buete. However, I guess my question still remains unanswered about this really helps Chicago fill their needs. They're banking on Clark blossoming with a change of scenery, and that they can move Brown or Curtin to make room for Pope. And this still doesn't address the issue of who plays out wide in the back or in right midfield for them. I mean, it's a little like playing with house money in regard to Thornton, but I still don't see the big advantage on that trade. Back to being on topic, I think Nelsen has to be an allocation. If a member of the league's Best XI isn't worth an allocation, who is?
- Cerritos @ $147K - Convey @ $140K - Stewart @ $285K + EZ @ $50K estimated + Gomez @ $200K estimated That would still leave us $322k whoops - +Eski and Carroll graduated (+91.5k combined)
Rumor has it that Salt Lake has acquired Jason Kreis. This is the first domino to fall. Of all the players on DC that may be available for trade, I think you are talking Rimando, Prudeaux and maybe Q2. Otherwise, I don't see them making alot of changes to the core of the team. It finally came together in the last 10 weeks. Now is not the time to break it up. With the cap room remaining, DC should easily be able to get a replacement for Stewart, a decent defender and a replacement for Nelson if necessary. I expect DC to be hurt less than most teams by the expansion draft due to the relatively high number of desireable players that are exempt from the draft (i.e. Q2, Adu).