Offseason moves

[Aerick]

Great post!

My two cents on your analysis:

Nik Besagno has impressed me when he's played. I think he's definitely a keeper and will be valuable in this league. I think Coach E may have picked him for potential - not immediate impact.

Douglas Sequeira looked much better pre-WC, but has had trouble getting back to that form. Although, I think he's better than KC - especially lately.

[Steve-o Pastorin-o]

Goalkeepers (1):
Scott Garlick - Keep him unless something for the same price comes along
Jay Nolly - One more year on the reserves
Chase Harrison - Does it matter really?
Outside defenders (2):
Willis Forko - Solid of course
Kevin Novak - Has worked out well this year
Paul Broome - How will the injury work out? Find a replacement.
Chris Brown - Makes too much to be subbed in once in every 5 games. I am not a huge fan of him.
Central defenders (2):
Eddie Pope - Retires or sticks around one more... I am fine with either.
Danny Torres - Needs to come back healthy and strong.
Jack Stewart - Wasn't happy about the RJ trade but I do like Stewart.
Nelson Akwari - Great sub off the bench.
Nik Besagno - Young and will get better.
Cameron Knowles - no opinion
Holding midfielders (1):
Carey Talley - Replaced Brown as my whipping boy at the first of the year but he has really stepped it up.
Douglas Sequiera - Can't dribble more than 3 times without losing the ball. Please trade him. Makes too much for what he gives & takes the SI spot.
Kenny Cutler - The second he gets the ball he looks to pass it immediately. He is servicable, will never be an all-star but for what he makes it is okay.
Outside midfielders (2):
Chris Klein - Great guy, disappointed at first but I am glad he stepped it up.
Andy Williams - Was my favorite player. When he plays hard we win, when he takes the night off we lose. Sad to say it but we should see what we can get for him on the market.
Jafet Soto - keep him around until we get Beasley (A guy can hope can't he?) I haven't seen enough to judge.
Joey Worthen - Has worked out well in a very limited role.
Seth Trembly - He plays hard and is a spark plug. I am just not a fan... can't put my finger on it really.
Christian Jimenez - no opinion
Attacking midfielders (1):
Mehdi Ballouchy - what can you say about him? He is a stud here to stay for many years. I would like to see him get help back here... maybe move Jason here as a sub.
Small forwards (1):
Jeff Cunningham - a must keep for next year
Jason Kreis - Nice guy, wish he was in circa '99 shape though. I would like to see him take less money and moved AM.
Jamie Watson - Not a fan. Sure he hussles hard and plays with heart (he is the best at this on the team) unfortunately he is too hot headed and I don't think that he has the skill. I wouldn't be mad either way.
Duke Hashimoto - no opinion
Brian Gil - no opinion
Target forwards (1):
Atiba Harris - He either needs to pull his head out and play smart or we need to seriously upgrade in this area.
Adam Acosta - no opinion

I am not expert but I still wanted to offer my opinion (except on the reserves).

[Munz]

For sure keepers IMO: Jeff Cunningham, Mehdi Ballouchy, Andy Williams, Eddie Pope, Jack Stewart, and Willis Forko. (Nik Besagno even though I've never seen him play).

Guys I would like to stay: Scott Garlick, Jason Kreis, Atiba Harris, Jafet Soto, Carey Talley,and Nelson Akwari.

Other than that I could care less.

On another note I'm new as an RSL/MLS/Soccer fan but Ronnie O'Brien from FCD really impresses me everytime I see him play. What are the odds like to get him?

[Steve-o Pastorin-o]

I like Ronnie also. He was one of my first moves on Fifa '06 for the xbox, the first was shipping Mathis's sorry butt out of town.

I read some where recently that things were going great for him in Dallas but he is paid a lot of money.

[SoccerPrime]

He just signed a contract extension with Dallas, for two more years I believe.

O'Brien is great, but no way Dallas lets him go any time soon.

[prk166]

Originally Posted by Deuce

Does anyone else find it suspect that a cRapids fan wants us to trade one of our players?

Not worried about Andy Williams are you?

** whistles innocently **

No, just in terms of being an armchair manager. I think Ballouchy is a good replacement for Andy. Less goals but a better work rate and vision. And I think having a true left sided midfielder nor natural width is hurting the team. Klein, Williams, and Ballouchy all like to come inside. It's good in some ways. I'm not a fan of having some symetrical lineup with two wide players serving the ball in. I think that gets ugly. But some natural width is needed for some variety and as an outlet for the backline. And with Williams have a good 2nd half of the season, it stands to reason they could get something good for him. It just depends on who's in the market (Toronto?).

Originally Posted by Aerick

I think Brown is more valuable to us on the roster as is, then he is off in any capacity (trade/cut). If we cut him and open a roster spot, we would have a difficult time replacing him, at the same cost, with someone just as capable - if not more so.

IIRC Brown is making $80k or $90k isn't he? Seems like a lot to shell out in the MLS for a player that sees very limited playing time (300 min. so far). If the MLS had a larger salary cap and there were more players making that kind of money, I'd agree with you. But with the cap it's hard to keep someone like him around.

I actually like Brown. I just think the level of the leagues improved a bit and he hasn't fully adjusted to it. Maybe there's another team out there looking for a RM that would be willing to give up a draft pick for him.

[Loyal1]

Originally Posted by prk166

Klein, Williams, and Ballouchy all like to come inside. It's good in some ways. I'm not a fan of having some symetrical lineup with two wide players serving the ball in. I think that gets ugly. But some natural width is needed for some variety and as an outlet for the backline.

I think some of RSL's best play this season (or ever) is when the midfield of Williams, Klein, Ballouchy, and Talley are fluid and not restricted to boundaries or territory.

It's been said plenty lately and I think it's true: when we control the midfield, we win; when we don't, we don't.

[taytay33]

I agree with Loyal1. And isn't Seth Trembly a natural wing player? He'll be ready next season.

[Czar Jake]

Originally Posted by prk166

IIRC Brown is making $80k or $90k isn't he? Seems like a lot to shell out in the MLS for a player that sees very limited playing time (300 min. so far). If the MLS had a larger salary cap and there were more players making that kind of money, I'd agree with you. But with the cap it's hard to keep someone like him around.

Here are RSL's salaries:

Pos Player Base Salary Guaranteed Salary

D Pope, Eddie $330,521 $394,688
F Cunningham, Jeffrey $200,000 $212,500
F Kreis, Jason $160,000 $197,500
M Klein, Chris $170,000 $177,250
D Sequeira, Douglas $157,500 $172,500
F Williams, Andy $110,000 $110,000
GK Garlick, Scott $100,000 $106,667
M Besagno, Nikolas $60,000 $96,500
M-F Brown, Chris $80,000 $82,500
D Torres, Daniel $72,000 $82,000
D Cabrera, Gustavo $74,004 $74,004
D Talley, Carey $74,000 $74,000
M Ballouchy, Mehdi $45,000 $63,000
M Broome, Paul $58,984 $59,609
M-D Trembly, Seth $47,500 $47,500
F Watson, Jamie $38,500 $43,500
M Jimenez, Christian $31,500 $41,500
D Akwari, Nelson $29,400 $30,650
M Cutler, Kenny $28,000 $28,000
GK Nolly, Jay $28,000 $28,000
M Novak, Kevin $28,000 $28,000
M Worthen, Joey $28,000 $28,000
D Forko, Willis $16,500 $16,500
F Harris, Atiba $16,500 $16,500
D Knowles, Cameron $16,500 $16,500
F Acosta, Adam $11,700 $11,700
F-M Johnson, Ryan $11,700 $11,700
GK Palmer, Noah $11,700 $11,700

[Aerick]

Perhaps, then, Brownie should be traded for that amount. For some reason, I was under the impression that he wasn't taking up as much money.