Offseason moves

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

OK, so the end of the season is just a few weeks away (whether RSL makes the playoffs or not), and this site has been real quiet for some reason, so I'm starting a thread for your opinions regarding signings/waivings/trades this offseason.

Below is our current roster, sorted by position and within those positions my opinion of their value (several players play multiple positions - I've sorted them by where they play most often). This list should give a good idea of where RSL is loaded vs. where they lack (in parentheses is how many you need on the field at once).
Goalkeepers (1):
Scott Garlick
Jay Nolly
Chase Harrison
Outside defenders (2):
Willis Forko
Kevin Novak
Paul Broome
Chris Brown
Central defenders (2):
Eddie Pope
Danny Torres
Jack Stewart
Nelson Akwari
Nik Besagno
Cameron Knowles
Holding midfielders (1):
Carey Talley
Douglas Sequiera
Kenny Cutler
Outside midfielders (2):
Chris Klein
Andy Williams
Jafet Soto
Joey Worthen
Seth Trembly
Christian Jimenez
Attacking midfielders (1):
Mehdi Ballouchy
Small forwards (1):
Jeff Cunningham
Jason Kreis
Jamie Watson
Duke Hashimoto
Brian Gil
Target forwards (1):
Atiba Harris
Adam Acosta

To me it looks like we lack attacking midfielders, outside defenders, and target forwards. OTOH, we have too many central defenders, outside mids, and small forwards.

IBIK's chopping block: Paul Broome, Chris Brown.
IBIK's trade bait: Nelson Akwari (unless Pope retires), Seth Trembly, Cutler OR Sequiera, Jamie Watson, Atiba Harris.
IBIK's Christmas list: Chris Albright, Dwayne DeRosario, Brian Ching (yes, I'm aware we'd never get this list, but I never got what I wanted for Christmas anyway. It doesn't hurt to dream).

Your thoughts? Comments? Rude remarks?

[Jose Luis Luviano]

I got bad grades in my calculus class, so I can't figure out FC Toronto's foreigner rules.

Is there any chance that any of our guys will be eating Ketchup Chips and Tim Horton's next year?

[I_Believe_In_Kreis]

Originally Posted by Jose Luis Luviano

I got bad grades in my calculus class, so I can't figure out FC Toronto's foreigner rules.

Is there any chance that any of our guys will be eating Ketchup Chips and Tim Horton's next year?

I don't think so....while we could lose players in the expansion draft, almost any player we left unprotected would count as a senior international for TFC. Assuming we protect guys like Cunny, Klein, etc., I wouldn't waste a SI spot on a scrub.

[beaveman]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

Attacking midfielders (1):
Mehdi Ballouchy
Small forwards (1):
Jeff Cunningham
Jason Kreis
Jamie Watson
Duke Hashimoto
Brian Gil

DesNews recent article on Kreis talked about him maybe dropping back to midfield as he ages - his position throughout high school, and he has played there several times since then.

[Deuce]

With Bruce Arena given the freehand from Red Bull to make wholesale changes to the bulls lineup in the offseason, I see players like Wynne, Buddle and O'Rourke being placed on the auction block to stimulate trades.

I think any one of those three would work well in the RSL lineup...
but who would we have to give up to get them?

[Aerick]

Originally Posted by beaveman

DesNews recent article on Kreis talked about him maybe dropping back to midfield as he ages - his position throughout high school, and he has played there several times since then.

I think that's accurate, he'll be removed from the Small Forwards list and added alongside Medhi at A-Mid.

I have no idea who Brian Gil is - and I can't say whether he'd be a keeper or not. Although, if he's a youth player I gotta trust Coach E's instincts on him.

I agree with IBIK on Broome, but not Brown. I think we mgith drop Knowles at CD and pick up someone else as an outside defender. It could be that Coach E was using this season to determine whether to keep Knowles or Besagno. And I bet that he'd like to keep 5 in that position due to an aging Pope and all the injuries we seem to have at that position. That would put us at 5 for both CD's and OD's.

With that said, once we drop Broome, we should pick up another low-cost veteran defender to replace Broome as a backup for Forko. It seemed like the reason we got Broome was not only because of injuries, but because of his speed. Becuase of his injury, I would be doubtful that he could return to form fast enough to retain his spot - as I imagine we could get someone else with his speed at that spot on the cheap. What about Frankie Hejduk or Wade Barrett?

[montgjules]

Originally Posted by I_Believe_In_Kreis

this site has been real quiet for some reason

This could be why: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=956

People have slowly been drifting back to BS one at a time over the last few months, darn it. It used to be such a nice, quiet little place to actually talk soccer.

[xlyte]

i agree with ibik on brown. He may be a defender, but more often than not i've seen him put in up front, we sure have enough forwards that we don't need to put a defender up there? I've just generally not been impressed with what i have seen from brown.

[prk166]

I'd trade Williams if I were Ellinger. He's not an outside midfielder. Even though he can work hard, Williams defensive abilities leave a lot to be desired. One of the things RSL still lacks after 2 years is a true left sided midfielder. Williams playing well in the 2nd half of the season is an opportunity to address that problem.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by prk166

I'd trade Williams if I were Ellinger. He's not an outside midfielder. Even though he can work hard, Williams defensive abilities leave a lot to be desired. One of the things RSL still lacks after 2 years is a true left sided midfielder. Williams playing well in the 2nd half of the season is an opportunity to address that problem.

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?