I hope so. I just started following soccer two years ago and since then Zarco and his fat contract haven't done much. If Gbandi is what they say, I think Broome can take over Zarco's role of utility man. Stone should start getting some playing time as well, so that should cover the d-mid spot when Deering is out.
not offically... but he is out of contract, and doesn't appear to want to return at the contract number the Burn would be willing to pay for a backup.
What about Cerritos? What is his status? He had a horrible year last year and I can't see him starting over Kreis. I think EJ needs to start getting some serious looks and Rhine is a good sub. With Cerritos having a max salary, I can't see this being a good situation for the Burn.
Cerritos is under contract for 2003 (i don't know how much after that). His larger contract makes him virtually untradable. He is not a max contract however, as the Cerritos/Graziani trade actually gave the Burn cap room to sign Bonseu. http://www.3rddegree.net/season/dance.htm this is a pretty good place to keep up with all contract and roster stuff....
thanks Thanks for the info. I actually hit that site about twice a week and check for new info. Any ideas who/what Jeffries is looking at in the draft?
jeffenbauer, for someone that just started to get into soccer a couple of years ago, you sure have the info and lingo down ... I wouldn't say Cerritos had a horrible year. Certainly better than Kreis down the strech. I would trade or get rid of either of those two guys for a better forward.
I thought that Cerritos was actually playing well in the second half of the season. He had started scoring at a decent clip, which was nice because Jason was going on his annual late-season fade. I think the thing that screwed us most in the playoffs was his going down against the MetroStars. Without him, we were left with Jason, who rarely scores in the playoffs, Bobby, who had obviously burned out, and Eddie, who had started stepping up but wasn't yet ready to carry the scoring load. Let's face it: Another goal or two in Game 2 or Game 3 and we advance in that series. So I'm looking forward to having Cerritos back in 2003.
Cerritos Sorry, I should have explained myself a little further. Cerritos had a slow first half of the season and then when he started to show what he had in the second half, he got injured. Add those two together and I consider it a bad season. And I still want to know what Jeffries is thinking about the draft. Since there is no radio outlet for him during the offseason, someone should get him to show up in here every so often.
Jeffries is supposed to post a "Coach's Corner" column every so often at the Burn website, but the latest one there is dated 9/21/02. Once he get's his contract settled, a couple of us should email the Burn to see if they can get Coach J to write a pre-draft Coach's Corner column.
Re: Cerritos I have talked to Jeffries about the draft and he has indicated that he is a believer in taking the best player avaliable. Last year for example he felt there were 4 or 5 players who were impact players. Jeffries also feels he has a pretty solid team without a glaring NEED. So at the #4 this year, expect them to take the best player left. It is too early to say for sure anyway as there are too many P-40 and undercalssman who may be in the draft pool who are not right now. But rest assured they have a very short list of players they are looking for at #4.
NOT MUCH TIME LEFT Will there really be that many new signings between now and mid january for the draft? I do like it that they want to take the best player available. I like our team already, so just getting the best player available would seem to give us the most options as far as lineups, trades, and building for the future, etc... Thanks for the info 3rd degree. You should have your own website!
I'd like to see EJ start with Cerritos this year and see what they can do with some serious playing time together.
I just hope Cerritos can come back with a similar form than when he went down. He was playing sooo well, and the Burn really needed his production. A healthy Cerritos and an inspired EJ would make for a GREAT cheering section.