With Wade, Joe gone, how come the Quakes keep Graziani? With both salaries gone why is there not enough cap room for Graziani.
I would like to think the Quakes will spend most of the money they would have paid Wade and Joe on solid replacements at their respective positions. PS--Fixed the thread title (added the word "didn't"), otherwise it made no sense...
Looking at the Quakes from the outside, here in Colorado, I wonder if Graziani is kind of a head case. Does he really add more to your team the Rosario. Last year it wasn't totally clear why the Quakes made the trade that brought Graziani to your team.
I thoght Graz was a lethal finisher when he first came to the club. But it seems like he was shut out for the entire last 1/3rd of the season (Except for the miracle deflection that ended the game where, contrary to league reports, Ronnie scored the goal of the year if not the decade.) Anyway, maybe it's just my perception but it seemed like he and Landon never quite got on the same page and that his production really dropped off down the stretch...
wade and cannon were out of contractwith mls....graziani loaned out by mls....two totally different monsters....
Because it's time to let Donovan, Barclay & DeRosario all be on the field at once, and at a lower price. I don't think Barclay counts against the cap or roster. Not to mention Bower & Russell, if they are still on the team. Also, you picked up another young forward in Brian Mullan from the LA Galaxy on draft day. I'm a KC fan, but I think all 6 of the players are capable of playing full time in MLS. I think DeRosario is a legitmate star in the making, and will ultimately be better than Graziani. James
Not really but those are the cards we are currently dealt. (You are right about Barclay. He's P40) One is (Russell) the other isn't. I agree on only Donovan. The others have shown nothing much and it is not for lack of opportunity. Then they need to "make" him stop trying to dribble through whole teams and get his head up--see his options. He also goes down like a cheerleader--easy. I like his aggressive attitude but he needs to introduce some passing into his possessions and STAND UP, for the love 'o' Mike!!!
Graziani YEAR TEAM 2001 Dallas Burn 2,208 Min 11 goals 8 assists 2002 San Jose Earthquakes 2,289 Min 14G 5A Cerritos 2001 San Jose Earthquakes 1,954 Min 11G 6A 2002 Dallas Burn 1,209 Min 4G 6A Graziani also had more ball skills and more aggressively attacked and was able to gain control of the ball readily while being marked closely. I do have to admit that Cerritos was really fantastic on headers. I hope DeRo gets well soon from his injury and he should be improved from last year.
Graz certainly did more here last year than Cerritos did in Big D. But Cerritos didn't start all the time, and then he got injured for the season later on. So a head-to-head stat comparison is unfair. I think Cerritos was starting to help out. From a pure contribution standpoint, though, we got the better of that deal. Even though Graz faded off at the end, he was money when we were missing guys due to the WC. I agree with Sonofapitch that DeRo's game would improve markedly if he'd get comfortable playing with his head up.
Mullan was playing well, then had a nasty injury that he came back from late in the season, I don't think he was ever 100%. Barclay hasnt had much opportunity. His time in Tampa, he was freaking 17 years old. He is no Donovan, but ultimately, is fully capable of playing a lot more than he has in the past. He certainly won't replace Graziani or eve Cerritos from the past right away, he has a whole different game. DeRosario, his fearlessness, and dribbling are what make him a star in the making. Too many players listen to too many coaches about "not taking anyone on". Your right, he could pass more, but if he doesnt try to take someone on, and always looks to pass, he won't become the special player he can. How many times do we see American players (i know DeRosario is Canadian), Donovan in particular, look to pass instead of shoot? Top forwards in the world need that killer instinct and selfishness IMO. SJ will be fine if you can get a goalie. James
Re: Re: With Wade, Joe gone, how come the Quakes didn't keep Graziani? My right what? What about it? Anyway, you're right to a point. But the problem with DeRo is that he just doesn't look, let alone look to pass. He needs to keep his eyes on the game or he will never succeed in either "taking players on" or passing.
Barclay and DeRo both want more minutes. They stand to get more this year. It has also appeared that Yallop is a believer in both of them since he continually inserts them in games while the rest of us have grumbled about their shortcomings and sometimes second-guessed Frank. He sees something he likes in both. No doubt more playing time will help both. I'm just reluctant to declare either a 90-minute man yet.