Will we ever get him back

My heart (all the history, great guy) says yes.

My head (ineffective in 3-man backline, injury history, qualifiers coming up, age) says no.

 

I'm curious to see how people feel about this, too, but I would not like to see Pope back here. I think he would add nothing to our back line that we don't already have; we need a solid central back who can keep the defense organized. Pope is a solid defender, although he's not the solid center you want in a 3 man backline. Plus, I don't think he's a good organizer; that, I believe is part (if not all) of the reason why Bradley is trying to offload him.

I'm tired of the DC-Metro merry-go-round (although we got the best end of that by FAR this season ) and I don't think Pope will be back here next season.

 

If we could get Pope for David Stokes and nothing else, then do it. Otherwise he costs too much, gets hurt too often, and with qualies coming up won't be around too much.

I think a backline of Prideaux---Petke---Namoff will work. Aren't we also supposed to be getting Alex Yi? Also we do have an allocation, maybe Berhalter would want to move to the States (though he has some of hte same problems as Pope).

 

Y'all can have Goose back if you want him!

Lee

(Just kidding, Jeff has been great out here for the most part)

 

I'd gladly take him back, assuming Nelsen goes. He's still top quality for MLS, better than Petke (who I still think is fine as a starter), and would be crucial insurance for red-cards/injuries. Any thoughts on how Eddie would do outside in a 3-man back, assuming we proceed with trying to find a quality man in the middle?

I have a feeling Chicago wants Rico Clark-for-Armas; I bet Pope can be had kind of easily.

 

Boy people around here have short memories

Pope was great till he went to the Metros, and as many players have experienced something I like to call the Metro Death Spiral, I would be willing to take a chance on Pope like we did with Jaime, if nothing else out of loyalty. Besides, who else is there?

 

I will take an injury-riddled Eddie Pope over a healthy Brandon Prideaux any time. Prideaux was a major liability for us the past two seasons. He hardly rises to the level of "serviceable." He is not someone this team needs in its future.

 

I'd rather have Goose than Pope. While Pope is a good player, he's not what DC United need - i.e. vocal on the field leader. Pope's been rather unimpressive for the Metrodonkeys and I don't see him coming to DC and lighting the joint up.

Goose may be too old to play at a high level but at least he is a good leader. He'd get burned by all the young guys but darn straight the defense would be organized to take care of the threat!

 

Actually, i'd take Goose over Eddie. The big thing we loose with Nellie is leadership (our other defenders have proven they aren't up to it) and Pope has proven in the past (and with the Scum) that he just doesn't fill that role well. Goose on the other hand is a great anchor and good organizer (and is still lethal on long range FKs.

-dave

 

You've got to be kidding, Agoos over Pope? Whatever you're smoking, send me some ASAP

Im surprised that old man is still flexible enough to put his shinguards on!

 

I love Eddie Pope, and always will, for giving me the best soccer moment in my life in Foxboro in 1996.

He is not half the player he was three years ago, and I wouldn't break the bank for him.

However, if we could get him back as a less than a max-salary player, I'd take him back in a heartbeat.

 

I wonder if Pope could cut it in a 3 man back line. He is probably too expensive. Besides, didn't RH draft Stokes to be the next Eddie Pope?

I want to see if Nowak really has connections to Europe. I'm sure there are plenty of top-notch eastern Europe defenders out there ready to play in the USA.

 

Actually i'm not. But i'm also not advocating that we pick Goose up. I'm just saying that Goose would be a better fit to our need/loss (leadership) than Eddie would.

-dave

 

Who know maybe Stokes might have what it takes.Lets not hold him back like RH did our other younger guys and we see how the blossemed.

 

I'm still giddy about Sunday but I've gotta have some of what you've been smoking!

I'm amazed that anyone might think Eddie Pope wouldn't seriously upgrade a Prideaux - Petke - Namoff backline. Yeah, they'll work if all you're looking for is someone to fill out your lineup. I love all three of these guys but we saw how much weaker defensively we were this year without the Kiwi.

Pope is getting older and has always missed games due to injuries and Nat callups but he's a better prospect now than Jaime Moreno was 12 months ago. I'd like to get him for less than the league max salary but to devalue him to Stokes' level is ridiculous. It may be true that Pope hasn't been a vocal enough leader on defense but he's better than anyone on our current roster (or, IMHO, the more vocal but much slower Goose).

As long as we're wondering about former DC players that can help plug the hole left by our dear departing Kiwi, what about Tony Sanneh? He had a poor game in his last playoff outing against the Revs, but Andrulis had him trying to play creative midfield. Arena (if you believe the projected lineups) is starting him as a central defender tonight against a Jamaican team with plenty of weapons.

 

Just like Galin Ivanov. I kid.

I'd take Eddie back on three conditions:

150K base salary.
Commits to limit time with national team.
Commits to becoming a more vocal leader.

Two of the three are guaranteed not to happen. Therefore, we are better off looking for an alternative.

Tim

 

Ok, so did you see Stokes play this season? Nowak gave him a chance to play and Stokes played. The net result: Stokes played himself off the team.

Great guy by all accounts but I would rather have a team of A-holes that won than a team of great guys that couldn't hang with my amature team...

I don't want to see Goose or Pope back in Black unless it is at a minimal salary (i.e. less than 100k) with incentives. If they step up like Jaime, then DC wins and the player wins. If they fail to produce, the team is not out a lot of money.

All in all, I'd like to see what other options are available before seeking one of these older guys.

 

Jaime was fine to bring in early this season because our options were extremely limited. Yes, he worked out magnificently, but do we really want to press our luck with another aging, injury prone re-tread who in addition will be missing a couple handfuls of games due to WCQs?

I'd like to think we can do better looking elsewhere.

 

There's gotta be better options than Pope. I say that cuz I don't at all see how Pope would come cheaply either in terms of trade nor in salary counting toward the cap.

 

I still hold out hope that Stokes might become a player. He has all the tools. I just hope that the switch goes on in his head and he picks up MLS-speed thinking.

A good start would be to accept an apprenticeship at Richmond or somewhere he'll get minutes. Perhaps the reserve system will be tailor-made for him.

If he does blossom, picture him as our central defender. Tall, strong, fast, and young. Time will tell, I guess.

 

I would think PN would know the quality players from the Ivanovs of the world. Besides, I trust PN's opinion more than I trust Stoichkov's.

 

I think a coach like Piotr would be able to motivate a player like Ivanov. I never thought he was THAT bad, just unmotivated (like most of the team).

But I agree, he probably has a better eye at recognizing talent to begin with than Stoich did/does.

-dave

 

But Nowak's just coaching a lil' old MLS team in Yankland while Stoichkov is coaching the BUlgarian national team.